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Ambition - Pursuit of Knowledge ‘I seemed to have lost all soul or sensation but for this one pursuit.’ (p55) Victor Frankenstein ‘Success shall crown my endeavours’ (p23) Robert Walton ‘What can stop the determined heart and resolved will of man’ (p24) Robert Walton ‘One man’s life or death were but a small price to pay for the acquirement of the knowledge which I sought’ (p29) Robert Walton

Nature Whilst exploring the varying consequences of alienation and biased rejection, Shelley also provides hope by suggesting that the sublime aspects of nature counteract the negative effects of loneliness. Frankenstein notes the therapeutic properties of nature when depicting the “sublime and magnificent scenes” which provided him with “the greatest consolation that I was capable of receiving.” Through isolation the creature is also enabled to encounter the wonders of the sublime, and discovers “emotions of gentleness and pleasure, that had long appeared dead” were revived by “the enchanting appearance of nature”. The isolation experienced by both Frankenstein and his creation empowers them to recognise the healing properties of the environment which surrounds them, thereby expressing an awe of nature and the sublime common throughout the Romantic era in which the text was written. This optimistic language is also used by Shelley to juxtapose the dark and Gothic aspects of the novel with the uplifting and inspiring appreciation of natural surroundings, thus symbolising the balance between light and darkness. Shelley’s representation of nature as a balanced scale also includes the importance women as nurturers, with “maternal nature” aiding the creature and Victor in times of adversity and remoteness. Though the text lacks a prominent female voice, Shelley deliberately maintains this passivity to compensate for the hasty pursuits of men and explicates the significance of “Mother nature” in maintaining such balance.

Isolation “I am malicious because I am miserable” – creature “ardently desired” a “companion” Revenge “gentle nature” gave way to “hellish rage and gnashing of teeth”

De lacey - ‘ “ Tob ef r i e n d l e s si si n d e e dt obeu n f or t u n a t e ;b utt heh e a r t sofme n , whe n u n p r e j u d i c e db ya n yo b v i o uss e l f i n t e r e s t , a r ef u l lo fb r o t h e r l yl o v ea n dc h a r i t y . ”

Henry Clerval

 If Victor is the epitome of the Enlightenment, Clerval is the embodiment of Romanticism  “Clerval called forth the better feelings of my heart; he again taught me to love the aspect of nature” pg 71  Clerval brings out Victor’s “gentle nature”  Shelley uses the imagery of Clerval’s death to show how obsessive rational thought and enlightenment ideals has led to destructive consequences, and warns of the consequences of neglecting compassion and kindness. Elizabeth  Victor describes Elizabeth as being “till death… mine only”. This possessive  “Men appear to me as monsters thirsting for each other’s blood” pg 95- revenge  Acts as the “comforter to all” – pg 45, says something about the importance of women in a society of toxic masculinity.  “How shall I ever again believe in human goodness?” – pg 87 The De Lacey Family  “What chiefly struck me was the gentle manners of these people” – page 113  “I admired virtue and good feelings and loved the gentle manners and amiable qualities of my cottagers” – pg 123 Victor  “guided by a silken cord” throughout his childhood – Page 39  Isolation leads to a loss of “all soul or sensation but for this one pursuit” and contact with “those friends who were so many miles absent”. Due to this lost contact and sole motivation Victor is driven to a point of illness and is brought back to health through the assistance of Henry Clerval, thereby demonstrating Shelley’s belief in the importance of human connectivity to combat the hazardous path of individual discovery.  “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.” Pg 58  “I am chained in an eternal hell… how I am sunk… so miserable a wretch” Page 214 Creature  The creature knows right from wrong, and yet is driven to do acts of “rage and gnashing of teeth” pg 143  “Make me happy and I shall again be virtuous” – page 103  “I am malicious because I am miserable”  “Admired virtue and good feelings”  “tell me why I should pity man more than he pities me?” Walton

 Heeds the warning of Victor at the end of the novel and elicits this notion of balance. Victor discovers that the obsessive pursuit of knowledge leads to “misery”, and as such Walton decides to turn the ship around.  “there will be none to participate my joy” Elizabeth  Victor describes Elizabeth as being “till death… mine only”. This possessive  “Men appear to me as monsters thirsting for each other’s blood” pg 95- revenge  Acts as the “comforter to all” – pg 45, says something about the importance of women in a society of toxic masculinity.  “How shall I ever again believe in human goodness?” – pg 87

“Was man, indeed, at once so powerful, so virtuous, and magnificent, yet vicious and base”...