1. Frankenstein Mary Shelley Ally Anderson Megan Groess Garrett Krstich Period 2 Ally Anderson Megan Groess Garrett Krstich Period 2 CHARACTERS: Victor Frankenstein Robert Walton Elizabeth Lavenza Margaret Saville CHARACTERS: Victor Frankenstein Robert Walton Elizabeth Lavenza Margaret Saville

2. Character: VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN Background Victor Frankenstein is the main protagonist of this story. Frankenstein is the scientist who creates the monster, which ends up causing great guilt and havoc in Frankenstein’s life. He creates this monster because he is so fascinated by life and obsessed with discovering the secret of life. However, once he finally succeeds he is so horrified by his creation that he abandons it and keeps it s secret from those around him which only causes more harm to those he cares about. Background Victor Frankenstein is the main protagonist of this story. Frankenstein is the scientist who creates the monster, which ends up causing great guilt and havoc in Frankenstein’s life. He creates this monster because he is so fascinated by life and obsessed with discovering the secret of life. However, once he finally succeeds he is so horrified by his creation that he abandons it and keeps it s secret from those around him which only causes more harm to those he cares about.

3. Victor Frankenstein transforms from an innocent young man engrossed by the fascinations of science and life to a guilt-stricken and deceitful man who’s sole purpose becomes to destroy the creation that has caused his utter downfall. Frankenstein is a character of many interpretations; some blame him for everything that his creation does since he is the creator of the monster and thus its primary care-taker; others pity Frankenstein for they feel as though it wasn’t his fault for the damage his creation caused because how was he supposed to know that his creation would turn into a vengeful killer. Frankenstein represents a lot that is flawed in human nature. He becomes a dishonest, spiteful, and selfish person and thus causes great harm to all those around him. Victor Frankenstein transforms from an innocent young man engrossed by the fascinations of science and life to a guilt-stricken and deceitful man who’s sole purpose becomes to destroy the creation that has caused his utter downfall. Frankenstein is a character of many interpretations; some blame him for everything that his creation does since he is the creator of the monster and thus its primary care-taker; others pity Frankenstein for they feel as though it wasn’t his fault for the damage his creation caused because how was he supposed to know that his creation would turn into a vengeful killer. Frankenstein represents a lot that is flawed in human nature. He becomes a dishonest, spiteful, and selfish person and thus causes great harm to all those around him.

4. “From this day natural philosophy, and particularly chemistry, in the most comprehensive sense of the term, became nearly my sole occupation” (p. 48, Ch 4). “One of the phenomena which had peculiarly attracted my attention was the structure of the human frame, and, indeed, any animal endued with life. Whence, I often asked myself, did the principle of life proceed?” (p. 49, Ch 4). “From this day natural philosophy, and particularly chemistry, in the most comprehensive sense of the term, became nearly my sole occupation” (p. 48, Ch 4). “One of the phenomena which had peculiarly attracted my attention was the structure of the human frame, and, indeed, any animal endued with life. Whence, I often asked myself, did the principle of life proceed?” (p. 49, Ch 4).

5. “Nothing is more painful to the human mind, than, after the feelings have been worked up by a quick succession of events, the dead calmness of inaction and certainty which follows, and deprives the soul of both hope and fear… I had begun life with benevolent intentions, and thirsted for the moment when I should put them in practice, and make myself useful to my fellow beings. Now all that was blasted: instead of the serenity of conscience, which allowed me to look back upon the past with self-satisfaction, and from thence to gather promise of new hopes, I was seized by remorse and the sense of guilt, which hurried me away to a hell of intense tortures, such as no language can describe” (p 88, Ch 9).

6. “ I never saw a more interesting creature: his eyes have generally an expression of wildness, and even madness; but there are moments when, if any one performs an act of kindness toward him, or does him any the most trifling service, his whole countenance is lighted up, as it were, with a beam of benevolence and sweetness that I never saw equalled. But he is generally melancholy and despairing; and sometimes he gashes his teeth, as if impatient of the weight of woes that oppress him” (p.20).

7. Robert Walton Robert Walton is the first narrator of the story. He narrates the events in Victor Frankenstein’s life. The novel opens with him writing letters to his sister Margaret. He has many of the same characteristic traits as Victor Frankenstein, which includes their fascination with science and discovery and boundless ambition. Robert Walton is the first narrator of the story. He narrates the events in Victor Frankenstein’s life. The novel opens with him writing letters to his sister Margaret. He has many of the same characteristic traits as Victor Frankenstein, which includes their fascination with science and discovery and boundless ambition.

8. He is self educated who set out to reach and explore the North Pole and find an Arctic passage to connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. His ship becomes stuck, surrounded by solid ice, and his crew sees Frankenstein’s monster pass by on a dog sled and then Victor Frankenstein not to far behind a little later, who ends up getting taken aboard by the crew of Walton’s ship. Victor’s influence on him is paradoxical. At one moment, Victor cautions Walton’s men to stay the path courageously, regardless of danger; the next, he serves as a worthless example of the dangers of carless scientific ambition. In his final decision to stop such a dangerous journey, Walton serves as a contrast to Victor, either not obsessive enough to risk a high probable death or not courageous enough to allow his passion to drive him towards it. He is self educated who set out to reach and explore the North Pole and find an Arctic passage to connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. His ship becomes stuck, surrounded by solid ice, and his crew sees Frankenstein’s monster pass by on a dog sled and then Victor Frankenstein not to far behind a little later, who ends up getting taken aboard by the crew of Walton’s ship. Victor’s influence on him is paradoxical. At one moment, Victor cautions Walton’s men to stay the path courageously, regardless of danger; the next, he serves as a worthless example of the dangers of carless scientific ambition. In his final decision to stop such a dangerous journey, Walton serves as a contrast to Victor, either not obsessive enough to risk a high probable death or not courageous enough to allow his passion to drive him towards it.

9. "I have no friend, Margaret: when I am glowing with the enthusiasm of success, there will be none to participate my joy; if I am assailed by disappointment, no one will endeavour to sustain me in dejection" (Letter 2, pg. 4 ) “There is something at work in my soul which I do not understand. I am practically industrious — painstaking, a workman to execute with perseverance and labour — but besides this there is a love for the marvellous, a belief in the marvellous, intertwined in all my projects, which hurries me out of the common pathways of men, even to the wild sea and unvisited regions I am about to explore.” (Letter 2) "I have no friend, Margaret: when I am glowing with the enthusiasm of success, there will be none to participate my joy; if I am assailed by disappointment, no one will endeavour to sustain me in dejection" (Letter 2, pg. 4 ) “There is something at work in my soul which I do not understand. I am practically industrious — painstaking, a workman to execute with perseverance and labour — but besides this there is a love for the marvellous, a belief in the marvellous, intertwined in all my projects, which hurries me out of the common pathways of men, even to the wild sea and unvisited regions I am about to explore.” (Letter 2)

10. “His voice seemed suffocated, and my first impulses, which had suggested to me the duty of obeying the dying request of my friend in destroying his enemy, were now suspended by a mixture of curiosity and compassion. I approached this tremendous being; I dared not again raise my eyes to his face, there was something so scaring and unearthly in his ugliness. I attempted to speak, but the words died away on my lips. The monster continued to utter wild and incoherent self-reproaches.” (Ch. 24)

11. Elizabeth Lavenza In Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein, character Elizabeth Lavenza is an orphan a couple years younger than Victor and is adopted by the Frankenstein’s. In the earlier edition of the novel (1818) Elizabeth is Victor’s cousin, the child of Alphonse Frankenstein’s sister. In the Later edition of the novel (1831), Victor’s mother saves Elizabeth from a peasant cottage in Italy. Throughout the Novel Elizabeth represents the motif of passive women by waiting for Victor’s attention rather than taking it from him herself. Victor eventually marries Elizabeth. However, he is quite frightened for their wedding because the Monster told Victor that because Victor didn’t create a woman monster to be his lifelong companion, that he would gain revenge on Victor, and claims that he will be “with him” on his wedding night. He fears the monster’s warning and suspects that he will be murdered on his wedding night. To be cautious, he sends Elizabeth away to wait for him. Meanwhile, as he awaits the monsters coming, he hears a loud scream and realizes that the monster had been hinting at killing his new bride, rather than himself. In Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein, character Elizabeth Lavenza is an orphan a couple years younger than Victor and is adopted by the Frankenstein’s. In the earlier edition of the novel (1818) Elizabeth is Victor’s cousin, the child of Alphonse Frankenstein’s sister. In the Later edition of the novel (1831), Victor’s mother saves Elizabeth from a peasant cottage in Italy. Throughout the Novel Elizabeth represents the motif of passive women by waiting for Victor’s attention rather than taking it from him herself. Victor eventually marries Elizabeth. However, he is quite frightened for their wedding because the Monster told Victor that because Victor didn’t create a woman monster to be his lifelong companion, that he would gain revenge on Victor, and claims that he will be “with him” on his wedding night. He fears the monster’s warning and suspects that he will be murdered on his wedding night. To be cautious, he sends Elizabeth away to wait for him. Meanwhile, as he awaits the monsters coming, he hears a loud scream and realizes that the monster had been hinting at killing his new bride, rather than himself.

12. In the beginning, “she is docile and good tempered, yet gay and playful as a summer insect.” She is yet a child, she does not realize the complexity of life, and does not know what suffering is. When Frankenstein returns to Geneva after the death of Henry Clerval, he sees a new change in Elizabeth. "She is thinner, and has lost much of that heavenly “vivacity” that she had before, which now charmed him. Her gentleness, and soft looks of compassion, makes her a more fit companion for one blasted and miserable as he is." Every change in her is a change in the state of Frankenstein's soul. She in contrast to Victor Frankenstein dedicates herself to people that she loves. Her death which is a turning point in the novel shows that she is an independent player. It makes Frankenstein to begin the fight against the fiend. In the beginning, “she is docile and good tempered, yet gay and playful as a summer insect.” She is yet a child, she does not realize the complexity of life, and does not know what suffering is. When Frankenstein returns to Geneva after the death of Henry Clerval, he sees a new change in Elizabeth. "She is thinner, and has lost much of that heavenly “vivacity” that she had before, which now charmed him. Her gentleness, and soft looks of compassion, makes her a more fit companion for one blasted and miserable as he is." Every change in her is a change in the state of Frankenstein's soul. She in contrast to Victor Frankenstein dedicates herself to people that she loves. Her death which is a turning point in the novel shows that she is an independent player. It makes Frankenstein to begin the fight against the fiend. Elizabeth’s progression throughout the novel

13. Elizabeth represents a few different things in the novel. For one, she represents the motif of passive women. Throughout the entire novel, or at least the entire time she is alive in the novel, she is too passive. She desperately wants more attention from Victor, however is too passive about getting his attention and never does anything about it. In my eyes, I think she is too nice. Yes, Victor should be giving her more attention, but also Elizabeth does nothing to help herself because she just stands by the whole time not saying anything to Victor about how she feels or taking any action to improve things. This shows how in history’s society woman did not have much say, and were in fact timid and scared to play “men-roles” in society. However, times have changed and women in today’s world have much more power and are not nearly as passive as in the early 1800’s when Frankenstein was set. Elizabeth represents a few different things in the novel. For one, she represents the motif of passive women. Throughout the entire novel, or at least the entire time she is alive in the novel, she is too passive. She desperately wants more attention from Victor, however is too passive about getting his attention and never does anything about it. In my eyes, I think she is too nice. Yes, Victor should be giving her more attention, but also Elizabeth does nothing to help herself because she just stands by the whole time not saying anything to Victor about how she feels or taking any action to improve things. This shows how in history’s society woman did not have much say, and were in fact timid and scared to play “men-roles” in society. However, times have changed and women in today’s world have much more power and are not nearly as passive as in the early 1800’s when Frankenstein was set. What Elizabeth represents in the novel, themes, motifs

14. Another important theme Elizabeth is involved with in the novel is that of secrecy. I think this also goes along with the fact that Elizabeth is too passive in the sense of waiting for Victor’s attention, because there is just too much secrecy in the novel which in turn causes Elizabeth to be so out of the way and passive. Victor’s secrecy about his creation and all of the chaos occurring with the monster ends up resulting in Elizabeth’s death. I say this because I think if Victor wasn’t as secretive about why he so scared on his wedding night and why he sent Elizabeth away on their wedding night, Elizabeth would most likely have remained alive. Had Victor warned her of the monster, she could have either gotten to a safer place or been more aware of her surroundings and what was happening. I think Elizabeth’s death was more Victor’s fault than the monsters. Yes the monster did the deed, but due to Victor’s lack of attention given to her and his privacy and secretive nature, Elizabeth’s life ended tragically. Another important theme Elizabeth is involved with in the novel is that of secrecy. I think this also goes along with the fact that Elizabeth is too passive in the sense of waiting for Victor’s attention, because there is just too much secrecy in the novel which in turn causes Elizabeth to be so out of the way and passive. Victor’s secrecy about his creation and all of the chaos occurring with the monster ends up resulting in Elizabeth’s death. I say this because I think if Victor wasn’t as secretive about why he so scared on his wedding night and why he sent Elizabeth away on their wedding night, Elizabeth would most likely have remained alive. Had Victor warned her of the monster, she could have either gotten to a safer place or been more aware of her surroundings and what was happening. I think Elizabeth’s death was more Victor’s fault than the monsters. Yes the monster did the deed, but due to Victor’s lack of attention given to her and his privacy and secretive nature, Elizabeth’s life ended tragically.

15. “Everyone loved Elizabeth. The passionate and almost reverential attachment with which all regarded her became, while I shared it, my pride and delight. On the evening previous to her being brought home, my mother had said playfully- ‘I have a pretty present for my Victor- to-morrow he shall have it.’ And, when on the morrow, she presented Elizabeth to me as her promised gift, I, with childish seriousness, interpreted her words literally, and looked upon Elizabeth as mine- mine to protect, love, and cherish… No word, no expression could body forth the kind of relation in which she stood to me- my more than sister, since til death she was to be mine only” (p.32, Ch 1).

16. Background: Margaret is Robert Walton’s sister. Mary Shelly doesn’t ever give us any information about the education of Margaret Saville, or her job, but we may presume that she, like her brother, is self educated. She is the audience of Robert Walton telling the story. Saville’s importance in the novel is that she is her brother’s connection to the world he left behind to explore the unknown and is the outlet for Walton to let out all his feelings and tell of all his many experiences being on his adventures and explorations. Background: Margaret is Robert Walton’s sister. Mary Shelly doesn’t ever give us any information about the education of Margaret Saville, or her job, but we may presume that she, like her brother, is self educated. She is the audience of Robert Walton telling the story. Saville’s importance in the novel is that she is her brother’s connection to the world he left behind to explore the unknown and is the outlet for Walton to let out all his feelings and tell of all his many experiences being on his adventures and explorations. Margaret Saville