Group 10 - Motifs

Erik Nelson

Mike Gennuso

Eric Sanschagrin

Nature in FrankensteinNature as a motif connects

mostly to Victor Frankenstein and his troubles. Victor constantly feels ill, emotionally and physically, throughout the novel. The source seems to mainly be because of his guilt due to the deaths surrounding him because of the creature he's created. Often comforted by those around him, the only thing to truly ease his pain is the realness of the nature around him.

Nature Continued "At first I wished to hurry on, for

I longed to console and sympathize with my loved and sorrowing friends; but as I drew near my native town, I slackened my progress…I remained two days at Lausanne, in this painful state of mind. I contemplated the lake: the waters were placid; all around was calm, and the snowy mountains, "the palaces of nature," were not changed. By degrees the calm and heavenly scene restored me, and I continued my journey towards Geneva. (p.66)

Nature Analysis

As Victor is traveling to Geneva to be with his family as he learns of his brother's death, he feels as if he should be with his family to support them. Victor feels the pain and guilt in them, but rather than rush to be with them for support, Victor slows his progress towards Geneva. He stops to see the sights of his youth and becomes reenergized by the consistency of nature. He notices that the sights he remembers are the same, relatively unchanged. This in fact eases his pains because he sees the natural element of the world around him. This erases the fake and synthetic feel of the world he comes to know due to the creation of his monster.

Romantic ImageryRomantic Imagery as a

motif relates mostly to the love displayed after the fact. By this, I mean that those in the story, specifically Victor and the monster, come to realize what they love after the fact that they can have it no more. This fact occurs frequently in people, but Shelley uses romantic imagery, especially in the deep remorse that people demonstrate, to illustrate the love within characters.

Romantic Imagery Continued

"Over him hung a form which I cannot find words to describe; gigantic in stature, yet uncouth and distorted in its proportions… Never did I behold a vision so horrible as his face, of such loathsome yet appalling hideousness." p.193

Romantic Imagery Analysis

The monster comes to see his creator, Victor dead. Often tormenting Victor with murders, fear, and sabotage, the monster finally realizes his love for his creator. The "loathsome" look on the monster's face illustrates his disappointment and sense of failure. The monster in a sick and twisted way, yearned for his creator's acceptance and Seeing Victor dead, the monster realizes that this can no longer be possible. The monster's confusion is finally solved, but solved too late. The monster finally realizes his love for his master; something he will never be able to get in return.

DreamsAfter nearly two years of

effort, Victor completes his task: he reanimates the dead tissue, and creates a living being. He does not exult at his success, but instead confesses, “Now that I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart" (57). He flees his laboratory, only to pace restlessly in his bed chamber, until at last he is able to sleep. That sleep is not peaceful, for he experiences the following dream.

Dreams Continued I thought I saw Elizabeth, in the

bloom of health, walking in the streets of Ingolstadt. Delighted and surprised, I embraced her, but as I imprinted the first kiss on her lips, they became livid with the hue of death; her features appeared to change, and I thought that I held the corpse of my dead mother in my arms; a shroud enveloped her form, and I saw the grave-worms crawling in the folds of the flannel. I started from my sleep with horror; a cold dew covered my forehead, my teeth chattered, and every limb became convulsed; when, by the dim and yellow light of the moon ... I beheld the wretch—the miserable monster whom I had created.

Dreams Analysis

This startlingly vivid dream vision has fascinated modern readers, who often consider it of central importance to the novel. [3] It is worth observing, however, that Mary Shelley's contemporaries did not seem to consider it noteworthy. Early reviewers do not mention it, and Richard Brinsley Peake's stage adaptation of the novel as Presumption; or, The Fate of Frankenstein (1823) replaces this striking scene with a much more conventional one. [4] One particular component of the dream—the transformation of Victor's fianceé, Elizabeth Lavenza, into the corpse of his mother, Caroline—has understandably attracted a host of psychoanalytic readings. The incongruities between the contents of the dream and the dreamer's prior waking activities encourage these contradictory readings. Several critics justify their psychoanalytic approach because, they note, the text itself sprang from a dream; Mary Shelley claims in her Introduction that the idea for the story came to her in a dream which she says "arose before my mind with a vividness far beyond the usual bounds of reverie"

The Supernatural Mary Shelly portrays Frankenstein

as a man obsessed with the pursuit of knowledge.  However his particular pursuit is characterized as both dangerous and “unlawful” as it “has the tendency to weaken your affections, and to destroy your taste for those simple pleasures (33).”  Accordingly, Shelly presents the dichotomies of science and nature, the creature and the creator, and the natural and supernatural.    The creature is a product of science and is supernatural, whereas the creator, Frankenstein, stands in contrast as formed by the “natural” world.

The Supernatural Continued “The different accidents of life

are not so changeable as the feelings of human nature. I had worked hard for nearly two years, for the sole purpose of infusing life into an inanimate body. For this I had deprived myself of rest and health. I had desired it with an ardor that far exceeded moderation; but now that I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart. Unable to endure the aspect of the being I had created, I rushed out of the room.”

The Supernatural Analysis

The entire novel is based upon a supernatural occurrence. Thus, it is natural to assume that this would be a major piece of the novel. There are so many things that would have to come together perfectly for the monster to function correctly even if we could reanimate dead tissue. Shelly created the perfect monster, of supernatural form, that can feel emotion and learn because it in many ways mirrors the actions of Dr. Frankenstein . Dr. Frankenstein could not even handle the fact that he created something considered to be impossible or supernatural and ends up running out of the room.

Gothic Imagery

Gothic Imagery as a motif relates to the novel through the themes of mystery, horror, and the supernatural. The ominous setting of the Frankenstein inspires fear in the reader. Also, gothic imagery is shown through the violent and mysterious plot that the story boasts.

Gothic Imagery Continued “How can I describe my emotions

at this catastrophe, or how delineate the wretch whom with such infinite pains and care I had endeavoured to form? His limbs were in proportion, and I had selected his features as beautiful. Beautiful! Great god! His yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscle and arteries beneath; his hair was of a lustrous black, and flowing; his teeth of a pearly whiteness; but these luxuriances only formed a more horrid contrast with his watery eyes, that seemed almost of the same colour as the dun white sockets in which they were set, his shriveled complexion, and straight black lips.” (42)

Gothic Imagery Analysis

After Dr. Frankenstein brought the monster to life, he becomes terrified of what he created. Just the look of the creature brings terror upon Dr. Frankenstein and everyone else who sees the monster throughout the story. He believes that he chose all of the most “beautiful” body parts for the monster, but once it has come to life, he realizes how hideous of a beast he has created.

The End!