| What do you think of Victor Frankenstein as a student? A scientist? Is he admirable? | Victor is a man driven by ambition and scientific curiosity. He was a keen student who absorbed everything his professors taught him. Victor, however, was not satisfied with standard science: he wanted to delve into the metaphysical. His quest for absolute knowledge and power will eventually end in his own ruin |
| Who is Elizabeth and how does Frankenstein feel about her? What does their relationship tell you about Frankenstein’s values and personality? | She’s Frankenstein’s adopted sister (not taught to view eachother as family more as family friends) He describes her on p.21 as “My more than sister-the beautiful adored companion of all my occupations and my pleasures.” He’s extremely protective, obsessive and possessive ” I looked upon Elizabeth as mine- mine to protect, love, and cherish.” |
| What is Frankenstein’s purpose in pursuing science? What does he study? | P.33 ” I will pioneer a new way, explore unknown powers, and unfold the deepest mysteries of creation.” On p.23 ” it was the secrets of heaven and earth that I desired to learn… my inquiries were directed to the metaphysical… the physical secrets of the world.” He studies the works of Agrippa, Magnus, and Paracelsus. After his first success on p.39 his imagination ran and he wanted to create a giant being. |
| Frankenstein says, “I shunned my fellow creatures as if I had been guilty of a crime.” From your reading, give specific examples of Frankenstein’s isolation from others. What does this tell you about his personality? | Frankenstein is changing into a different person. His work is taking over his health, even though he knows, “a human being in perfection ought always to preserve a calm and peaceful mind and never to allow passion or a transitory desire to disturb his tranquility. I do not think that the pursuit of knowledge is an exception to this rule.” But his work is taking over his life, and he knows it. He says, “every night I was oppressed by a slow fever, and I became nervous to a most painful degree; the fall of a leaf startled me, and I shunned my fellow creatures as if I had been guilty of a crime.” The last line in particular, “guilty of a crime,” seems important. Victor knows his work on the monster is morally repugnant and that if any person knew of his work, the outside world would be repulsed by the nature of his experiments.At the completion of his task Victor is excited about creating life, yet he is worried about what will become of the monster. He feels like he should be overjoyed about his accomplishment. Instead Victor avoids other people because he believes that they will look down upon him. On page 40-41 it states, “But my enthusiasm was checked by my anxiety, and I appeared rather like one doomed by slavery to toil in the mines, or any other wholesome trade than an artist occupied by his favorite employment. Every night I was oppressed by a slow fever, and I became nervous to a most painful degree; the fall of a leaf startled me, and I shunned my fellow creatures as if I had been guilty of a crime.” |
| How is Frankenstein affected by the knowledge that the creature may be responsible for the death of William? Which statement shows that he views the creature as part of himself? | He gets physically affected on p. 63 he has to lean on a tree. Plays the victim and uses it as an excuse to stay out all night. He says on p. 64 “I considered the being whom I had cast among mankind and endowed with the power to effect purposes of horror… nearly in the light of my vampire…” He manifested his darkness into a physical being. |
| At their meeting, how does the creature explain his evil behavior? Why does the creature compare himself to the biblical character Adam? | He said he was “benevolent and good” until “misery” made him a fiend. He says he was like Adam because he was the first of his kind. He should be the beloved son of his creator, but instead he is shunned. Better compared to Satan since he was cast away from his creator and he has committed sins. |
| What can you infer about Frankenstein’s character from his close personal relationships?his scientific project? In your opinion, is he an appealing person? | He seems to like science more than people. He doesn’t seem very sociable. He’s a bookworm. In my opinion, he doesn’t seem very appealing for my tastes. He lives in isolation all the time and is obsessed with it. |
| Do you think that Frankenstein went too far in his quest for knowledge? Did he have a good motive for his project? Did he have adequate knowledge to begin his project? Did he consider possible consequences of his actions? | I think he went too far and he didn’t consider possible consequences for his project because he had no plan. The monster killed everyone. Victor had no idea how to stop him. I don’t think he had much knowledge to begin the project. didn’t seem to know what he was doing; made the monster have too much power and ugly |
frankenstein ch. 1-10 study guide
February 19, 2020