| Victor Frankenstein | -Protagonist/Narrator-Study in Ingolstadt, discovers the secret of life -Creates an intelligent yet grotesque monster-Recoils in horror from his creation -Keeps the monster a secret; feels guilty of his creation -Feels responsible for all actions and crimes of the monster -Suspect for murdering best friend-Becomes very ill & inprisoned-Innocent youth fascinated by science into a disillusioned guilt-ridden man |
| The Creature | -Created by Victor Frankenstein-Tries to integrate himself into human social patterns -Feels abandoned and seeks revenge against his creator -Murders William, Justine, Henry Clerval, and Elizabeth |
| Robert Walton | -Arctic seafarer; letters open and close the book-Picks Victor Frankenstein up off the ice & nurses him back to health -Listens to Victor’s story-Records the tale in a series of letters to his sister, Margaret Saville, in England |
| Alphonse Frankenstein | -Victor’s father -Sympathetic towards his son-Allows Victor to pursue his interest in science-Consoles Victor in moments of pain-Stays with Victor during his inprisonment and takes care of him and takes him back to Geneva with him |
| Elizabeth Lavenza | -Adopted by Victor’s family -“Cousin” of Victor-Embodies the novel’s motif of passive women -Waits to get Victor’s attention-Marries Victor Frankenstein-Murdered by the monster on the night of their wedding |
| Henry Clerval | -Victor’s best friend -Nurses Victor back to health in Ingolstadt -Follows in Victor’s footsteps to become a scientist-Cheerful vs. moroseness -Murdered by monster |
| William Frankenstein | -Victor’s youngest brother-Strangled by the monster in the woods-His death burdens Victor with tremendous guilt about creating the monster |
| Justine Moritz | -Adopted into the Frankenstein household -Blamed and executed for William’s murder-Confessed that she killed William; took blame from the monster/Victor |
| Caroline Beaufort | -Daughter of Beaufort -Taken in and marries Alphonse Frankenstein -Dies of scarlet fever (contracted from Elizabeth) |
| Beaufort | -A merchant and friend of Alphonse Frankenstein-Father of Caroline Beaufort |
| Cottage people: The DeLacey’sDeLaceyFelixSafieAgatha | -Family that the monster watches and begins to learn to speak from-De Lacey (blind old man) begins to take in the monster because he could not see appearance. -Felix and Agatha (chidren) tell the blind man to push the monster away because he was different from everyone-Safie (foreign woman)-Beat and chased the monster away when he revealed himself to them |
| M. Waldman | -Chemistry professor who sparks Victor’s interest in science-Dismissed alchemists’ conclusions |
| M. Krempe | -Professor of natural philosophy at Ingolstadt-Dismisses Victo’r study of the alchemists as a wasted time -Encouages Victor to begin his studies anew |
| Mr. Kirwin | -Magistrate who accused Victor of Henry’s murder -Takes Victor to see the body of Henry |
| Romantic Ideas | -Intuition is more trustworthy than reason-Feelings over logic-The individual is at the center of life and God is at the center of the individual-Nature is made up of symbols: people can learn about the supernatural through nature-Aspire to the ideal: change what is to what it ought to be (make everything the best that it can be) |
| Elements of the Romantic | -mythical story-democracy-freedom-supernatural-revolution |
| Gothic Literature/Horror | -combines elements of horror and romanticism-subgenre of romantic literature-came before modern horror- inspired it-gives nature the power of destruction-most common thing is the indication of mood through weather/atmosphere |
| Romanticism (def) | Artistic and intellectual movement originating in Europe in the 18th century |
| Frame Story | An outer story that frames/continues the main story |
| Elements of Gothic Horror | -mystery and suspense-terror-dreams-supernatural element of ghosts, vampires, etc-architecture: haunted houses, castles, wild/remote settings!!-loneliness |
| Archetypal characters (types) | -Gothic (byronic) hero: sensitive, intelligent, confident, moody, self centered-Protagonist: usually isolated (voluntarily or involuntarily)-Villain: the epitome of evil, due to either own fall from grace or something that happened to them-Wanderer: isolation, wandering the earth as some form of punishment (either self inflicted or not)-Virginal female: pure, perfect, innocent female, who may become corrupted by the villain |
| Setting | -atmosphere of horror and death-deteriorating decaying scenery |
Frankenstein Characters
February 18, 2020