Frankinstein- Chapter 20

Frankenstein Ch.20

Summary

-Victor starts on his creation that the monster has requested. Victor gets a thought in his head that they might have kids and create a whole new species or "a race of devils...on the earth". While creating his monster, victor anxiously looks up and finds the monster grinning at him through the window. Overcome by the monster’s hideousness and the possibility of a second creature like him, he destroys his work in progress. The monster becomes angry and he curses and vows revenge and swearing that he will be with Victor on his wedding night. Later on, he receives a letter from Henry, saying that they should continue their travels; so then Victor cleans up his area and rows out on an ocean throwing out the body of the unfinished monster. He then falls asleep; when he wakes up he finds himself reaching a shore near a town. After he has landed, a group of people approach him and tell him that he is under suspicion for a murder that occurred last night.

By: Ain, Shubagini Roshni,

Sahil & Prem

Questions Characters might ask

1. Why Had I not followed him and closed with him in mortal strife?

2. What will the monster do on my wedding night?

3. When will this all end..?

Discussion Questions

1. Why do I have to live in desolation?

2. Why did Victor destroy my mate?

3. How should I inflict countless miseries on Victor?

1. Do you think that Victor did the right thing by destroying the female?

2. What do you think Victor means when he say " Friend, your task has already been fulfilled." Pg. 150

3. Is there anyway to resolve the dispute between vitor and the creature?

Victor

Monster

New Concepts

•Betrayal and Karma are the two new main concepts introduced in this chapter. Page 146 “I do break my promise, never will I create another like yourself, equal in deformity and wickedness”. Victor betrayed the monster because he promised that he will create a female mate for him but he decided it was not beneficial if he created a female mate for him. He thought if he created a female mate the monster the amount of monsters in the future will increase drastically and endanger the human population. This was a very hard decision and he even regarded at times but he all ways knew that it was in favour of the human population. Page 151 “you are to give an account of the death of a gentlemen, who was found murdered here last night.” Karma is present because Victor destroyed the monsters hopes of happiness and in return he is accountable for a murder which will infringe his hopes to happiness with Elizabeth. Victor has destroyed the female mate in construction which was the only thing that could have brought happiness to the monster. Overall, Betrayal and Karma are the two new main concepts introduced in this chapter.

Characterization

The Monster

The Creature/Monster- He is frustrated as Victor has destroyed his only hope. He has become more vengeant.

Quote: Pg. 146

“You can blast my other passions, but revenge remains—revenge, henceforth dearer than light or food! I may die, but first you, my tyrant and tormentor, shall curse the sun that gazes your misery. Beware, for I am fearless and therefore powerful. I will watch with the wiliness of a snake that I may sting with its venom. Man, you shall repent of the injuries you inflict.”

Victor - He has become conscious of his past follies. He is determined not to repeat his previous misdeeds. He is not afraid to face the creature anymore.

Quote: Pg. 144

“Three years before, I was engaged in the same manner and had desolated my heart and filled it forever with the bitterest remorse….being deserted by one of his species.”

Quote: Pg. 146

“Begone! I do break my promise: never will I create another like yourself, equal in deformity and wickedness.”

Quote: Pg. 147

“Devil, cease; and do not poison the air with these sounds of malice. I have declared my resolution to you, and I am no coward to bend beneath words. Leave me; I am inexorable.”

Victor

Anger/ Isolation /Revenge:

Quote : Pg. 153

“Shall each man,” cried he, find a wife for his bosom, each beast have his mate, and I be alone?... 'You can blast my other passions, but revenge remains -- revenge, henceforth dearer than light of food! I may die, but first you, my tyrant and tormentor, shall curse the sun that gazes on your misery.”

The Creature was furious when he realized that Victor had destroyed the female creature. Victor had destroyed his only hope.

He felt dejected due to the reoccurrence of the isolation, caused to him by Victor.

Sacrifice

Quote : Pg.144

“Had I right, for my own benefit, to inflict this curse upon everlasting generations? I had before been moved by the sophisms of the being I had created; I had been struck senseless by his fiendish threats; but now, for the first time, the wickedness of my promise burst upon me; I shuddered to think that future ages might curse me as their pest, whose selfishness had not hesitated to buy its own peace at the price, perhaps, of the existence of the whole human race.”

When Victor contemplated on his creation, he realized that he must go back on his promise in order to protect humanity from the monster, he inadvertently created. He is convinced he must give up his own safety and desires in order to protect humanity from the dangers of his intellectual exploration.

Theme

Quote: Pg. 146

“You have destroyed the work which you began; what is it that you intend? Do you dare to break your promise... do you dare destroy my hopes?’’

While making the female creature, Victor contemplated on his creation and foreshadowed the consequences. Thus, he decided to destroy the female creature. The creature saw this through window and felt betrayed as Victor broke his promise.

Betrayal

All was again silent, but his words rang in my ears. I burned with rage to pursue the murderer of my peace and precipitate him into the ocean. I walked up and down my room hastily and perturbed, while my imagination conjured up a thousand images to torment and sting me. Why had I not followed him and closed with him in mortal strife? But I had suffered him to depart, and he had directed his course towards the mainland. I shuddered to think who might be the next victim sacrificed to his insatiate revenge. And then I thought again of his words -- "I WILL BE WITH YOU ON YOUR WEDDING-NIGHT." That, then, was the period fixed for the fulfillment of my destiny. In that hour I should die and at once satisfy and extinguish his malice. The prospect did not move me to fear; yet when I thought of my beloved Elizabeth, of her tears and endless sorrow, when she should find her lover so barbarously snatched from her, tears, the first I had shed for many months, streamed from my eyes, and I resolved not to fall before my enemy without a bitter struggle.

Quote : Pg. 147

Anger/ Isolation /Revenge:

Allotted: Give or apportion (something) to someone as a share or task.

Profundity: Deep insight; great depth of knowledge or thought.

Specked: Mark with small spots: "their skin was specked with goose pimples".

Incalculable: Too great to be calculated or estimated: "incalculable value".

Impotence: powerlessness: the quality of lacking strength or power; being weak and feeble

Inexorable: Impossible to stop or prevent: "the inexorable march of technology".

Atrocious: Of a very poor quality; extremely bad or unpleasant: "atrocious weather".

Procure: Obtain (someone) as a prostitute for another person

Remorse: Deep regret or guilt for a wrong committed

Barbarity: Extreme cruelty or brutality.

Abhorrence: A feeling of repulsion; disgusted loathing.

Propagated: Breed specimens of (a plant, animal, etc.) by natural processes from the parent stock.

Precarious: Not securely held or in position; dangerously likely to fall or collapse.

Provocation: Action or speech that provokes someone, esp. deliberately.

sophism : A fallacious argument, esp. one used deliberately to deceive

Victor

The Innocent

Pg 151-152

"Who is Mr.Kirwin? Why am I to give account of myself? Is not this a free country?" "Ay, sir, free enough for honest folks. Mr. Kirwin is a magistrate, and you are to give an account of the death of a gentlemen who was found murdered here last night". This answer startled me, but I presently recovered myself. I was innocent; that could easily be proved..."

-When Victor reached the shore, a group of people approached Victor and accused him of the murder that occurred in that place last night. Victor knew that he was innocent, but he had to prove that because all the others believe that Victor did murder the gentlemen. This archetype really suits Victor during this scene because he really knew nothing about what was going on and thought that everyone will believe his innocence.

Archetypes

The Monster

The Orphan

Even when the monster requested Victor for a monster just like him, Victor tries, but then he really thinks about if he should do that, because they might create a whole new species. But when Victor rejects him, the monster is gnashing in anger because Victor have destroyed his work in progress of creating the monster. If Victor would have made the monster, he would have someone just like him, and wouldn't feel bad anymore because he has someone in his life.

The Monster

The Rebel

Page 147

It is well. I go ; but remember, I shall be with you on your wedding-night. I started forward and exclaimed, "Villain! Before you sign my death-warrant, be sure that you are yourself safe.

The monster threatens Victor that he will do something to him on his wedding night. It also gives us an impression of the monster as a rebel because he wants revenge, and because Victor destroyed his creation- which was 1 step closer for the monster's happiness, the monster will destroy Victor's happiness and his loved ones. Victor calls him a "villain" because he is the one who has created him and his creation wants to get back at him for what everything has happened to him so far, for example- being treated badly, harassed, abused, etc.

Vocabulary

Gothic Elements

•The gothic element “An Atmosphere of Mystery and Suspense” is present in chapter twenty. Page 146 “Beware, for I am fearless and therefore powerful. I will watch with the wiliness of a snake that I may sting with its venom. ……. I will be with you on your wedding night.” The monster is imposing an unknown threat toward Victor on his wedding night. This threat has created fear in Victor which plays a very important role in the development of the plot. Victor recaps the conversation with the monster in his mind which increases the mystery for the reader. Also, near the end of this chapter Victor is accused of a crime he did not commit. This also relates to this gothic element as the unknown killed an individual and Victor seems to get the burden in this case. This also imposes fear in the main character, Victor as to if the monster is to be responsibly of the murder in this individual. These threats play a significant role in development of the “An Atmosphere of Mystery and Suspense” gothic element in this novel.

•Also the gothic element of “High, even Emotion” is present in this chapter.