“I remembered too well the treatment I had suffered the night before from the barbarous villagers, and resolved, whatever course of conduct I might hereafter think it right to pursue, that for the present I would remain quietly in my hovel, watching and endeavouring to discover the motives which influenced their actions.” 

The gentle manners and beauty of the cottagers greatly endeared them to me; when they were unhappy, I felt depressed; when they rejoiced, I sympathized in their joys. “ àempathy leads him to desire their human connectionàgets his hopes up

“I had first become master of their language, which knowledge might enable me to make them overlook the deformity of my figure, for with this also the contrast perpetually presented to my eyes had made me acquainted.”  Has high hopes because he is naïve and optimistic but is let down and turns cynical later.

 List the consequences of the creature's isolation?

“perpetual attention and time explained to me many appearances which were at first enigmatic.”

 “…but how was I terrified when I viewed myself in a transparent pool! At first I started back, unable to believe that it was indeed I who was rejected in the mirror; and when I became fully convinced that I was in reality the monster that I am, I was called with the bitterest sensations of despondence and mortification.”  Outward appearanceàdetermines his worthàresult of society’s superficiality

The creatures source of isolation comes from his lack of a name, and this is significant because it likens him to an animal and in society it deprives him from privilege and social standing.

Walton and companionship - Quotes he has no friends. Wants someone to live through his happiness and lows with him. Thinks fondly of his master but doesn’t become friends with them. He’s particular with who he is friends with. Immediate attraction to Frankenstein. Isolated by circumstance but also self-imposed, but he chooses not to be friends with them. Picks Frankenstein. Likes Frankenstein talking about succeed. Drawn to his appreciation of nature and his eloquence. Page 31: Walton’s description of Frankenstein vs Page 59: Frankenstein’s description of the Creature.

Walton vs Creature - Walton embodies many emotions like the Creature. Really empathetic. Walton is isolated because he travels to the North Pole, but the Creature is isolated on an individual level. The Creature is more directly isolated because he is the only one in the world like him.

Walton vs Ancient Mariner - Both travelling to the North Pole. Ancient Mariner ruined the crew’s chances of survival by killing the albatross that was leading them. Supernatural took control of the trip. 

Similar because they’re both on the same journey but the difference is that Walton turns around and keeps his crew alive.

Creature’s pleas for companionship - Frankenstein is at first moved by the Creature’s plea for a mate. He empathises with the position of the Creature before reasoning with himself why he shouldn’t and so refuses. This angers the Creature even more, as his hopes were raised only to be shattered. This is preceded by the passage of the Creature murdering William and seeing Justine’s beauty.

Cause of Creature’s isolation - “shunned and hated by mankind.” Page 147. Prejudice based on his appearance and differences. Society’s prejudices. Inexperience in society, no chance to be accepted in the first place. His life is vacant.

Consequences of Creature’s isolation - “I am malicious because I am miserable” Page 147. His growing evil and contempt. His increase in knowledge proved to him the prejudice of society and the reasons of his isolation. Also gained his intelligence through isolation

Similarities between Walton, Creature and Frankenstein - They all go through periods of isolation and loneliness. They all educated themselves through books. They all crave companionship. All rely on companionship for sanity and for functioning.

Why does Frankenstein isolate himself - His ambition leads him to go to university and work hard on his ambitions. His mother had just died so he becomes very reserved and very focused on his goal to bring inanimate objects to life.

Consequences of Frankenstein’s isolation - Gets very sick when Henry comes to visit. Isolation leads to the Creature, thinks irrationally because of his isolation from those who can give him direction. Becomes overly insane and involved. His family become very worried about his lack of communication with them and sends him letters.

Identify the connection that exists between Frankenstein and Walton in relation to isolation - Both isolate themselves for the purpose of achieving their ambitions. Both very Romantically driven, with the belief that nature is beautiful and their goal is to overcome nature.

 the creature as an innocent child, finding 'delight at the warmth' experienced from fire. 

The De Lacey family are described as villagers who possess “gentle manners” and live rather modestly in a German village. Their treatment of each other is seen to be benevolent and generous, as at times the children are seen to go hungry so that their (blind) father may eat. They also generously accept Safie into their cottage; provide for her a home and family; despite the possibility that they could’ve been spiteful towards her due to her and her family’s role in the expelment of the Delacy’s from Paris. However, they are shown to have some morosity in their ways as the creature does see them crying at times; later the reader infers that this is due to their fall from nobility to banished villagers. Nonetheless, they remain placid and kind towards each other, their “gentle manners” and “benevolent smiles” being of great contrast to the “barbourous villagers” mentioned by the creature earlier in his narrative. 

Humanity’s ability to be kind and generous, as despite their financial difficulties the family still practically adopts Safie into their family, patiently teaches her their language and provides her with food. Old Delacy represents the possibility of humanity to not judge on the basis of aesthetic, as he does not prejudge the creature on his visage since he is unable to see. The children also exemplify benevolence and sacrifice by going hungry so that their father may eat. Thus, they ultimately symbolise the hope in humanity, as they are the first and only people in the creature’s narrative to even express kindness and sympathy (even if it is not towards him). However, they do to some extent symbolises how far embedded certain materialistic values are in society; as they still can’t look past the monster’s visage. It is only the blind who senses the creature’s true nature and is thus able to look past appearances. Furthermore, The Delacy’s (unknowingly) assist the creature in acquiring knowledge through their books and lessons given to Safie, as well as their treatment of each other and discussions. This improving the creature’s academic mind, but also assists him in distinguishing between good and bad; teaches him ethics and society values. 

Old man treats him with kindness and respect for a stranger, initially has the assumption that the creature is benevolent and is willing to accept his explanation that he is “a traveller in want of a little rest”. However, the children react with fear, shock and anger; they see something of a grotesque nature at the feet of their father and make a similar assumption that many others have: that the creature has foul intent. This causes the creature’s benevolent actions to be immeadiately perceived as having a malicious intention. The children end up being so terrified by the creature’s appearance in their home, that they flee their cottage and village. This is a pivitol point in the novel, as since the creature has built up this idea of the family being the epitomy of human kindness, their rejection is even more impactful and significant. If even the most benevolent forces of humanity who have also experienced rejection in their lives, reject the creature: who won't reject him?

REJECTION:

pg140 = revenge first time; conscious decision to be malicious 

Fire = destruction, a weapon, representation of rage/ rather than spark of inspiration (natural force), fire is originally able to warm and nurure the creature. 

That humanity can be kind, but only when they are willing or able to be blind to what appearances may suggest. 

Differences:

Victor has a horrifying dream the foreshadows the death of Elizabeth. The ominous dream serves as a presage of the monster’s savage homicide of Elizabeth. Eventually, this portentous dream becomes reality as a consequence of Victor’s reluctance to accept the proposal of the creature. "saw Elizabeth, in the bloom of health, walking... I embraced her, but as I imprinted the first kiss on her lips, they begin livid with the hue of death" (35) 

humiliation of rejection - sadness of rejection

committed 🤬 to escape the pain 

parallels between the young boy named Werther and the creature- they both yearn love and companionship, however are isolated by society and their desires are left unrequited. the characters act purely by potent emotions of misery, anger and loneliness - the creature mercilessly killing in to order to pursuit vengeance on his creator who failed his parental duties,   and Werther committing 🤬 to escape his unsurmountable misery

this story exposed the creature to the world around him, and the pains associated with rejection by people whom he loves.

Exhibits the insurmountable pain and misery preluded by isolation and abandonment

Context:

Plutarch's lives also known as parallel lives is a series of biographies written by the Ancient Greek poet Plutarch. In contains 23 pairs of biographies, one Roman and one Greek. Plutarch contrasted the lives of a Roman and a Greek statesman. From Plutarch's lives, the creature derived a “high thought” on the human society. The creature was able to understand human nature and the structure of civilisation between individuals.

Reference: Chapter 15, P131-132 

Significance in Frankenstein:

Plutarch's 'Lives' is one of the three books the monster picks up in the forest that 🤬 the beginning of his education and acquirement of knowledge.

 

Plutarch's 'Lives' was a series of biographies of famous men arranged according to their moral virtues to their failings. From this book, the Creature learns about the values that makes a man significant and the honourable qualities that are appreciated and respected by society.

 

"Plutarch taught me high thoughts; elevated me above the wretched sphere of my own reflections, to admire and love the heroes of past ages.

-The Creature learns about the behaviours of men concerned in "public affairs " and "felt the greatest ardour for virtue rise within me and abhorrence for vice"  - the monster understands about these virtues and of humanity and this is reflected in the later chapters when the Creature tries to uphold these values.

 

The men mentioned in the book; Numa, Solon, Lycurgus were lawgivers of Sparta and Athens and "peaceable lawgivers"-inspires the Creature to approach the Delacey family to gain acceptance

 

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner 

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is a poem about the experiences of a sailor who has returned from a long sea voyage. Despite the initial good fortune, the ship is driven south by a storm and reaches the Antarctic waters where an Albatross appears and leads them out of the ice. The mariner however shoots the bird and therefore faces the consequences.  The Mariner does not truly for guilty for the act that he has committed. The ship that had initially been led out of icy regions is not sent into uncharted water. The crew blames the mariner for this becoming and forces the albatross to be hung around his neck as a burden and a symbol of remembrance. The mariner is approached by Death and an Angel of Life who loved the Albatross.  A die was rolled between them which Death had wins the lives of the crew members. All of the crew die but the mariner survives alone in repentance for his crime. He devotes the rest of his life to warn people about the dangers of sinning, using his own life as a cautionary tale. The themes of sin and repentance are reflected in Shelley's "Frankenstein"

Context: 
Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" is referenced in letter 2 by  Walton as he compares himself to the sailor, reassuring his sister that he will use caution and prudence, simultaneously exclaiming his ambitions and passions.

 

"the land of mist and snow'; but I shall 🤬 no albatross, therefore do not be alarmed for my safety, or if I should come back to you as warn and woeful as the 'Ancient Mariner'?

Significance: 
Walton's blind ambition and failure to consider the possible consequences of his actions resulted in poor decisions. Similar to the ancient mariner, Walton disregards nature as he insists the ship remains stuck in the polar ice due to his obsession of reaching the north pole and becomes powerless to restore them to safety . He imperils his crew who trusted and relied on him, leading them to danger and as a consequence he suffers from serious consequences, he suffers from mutiny.

  

Frankenstein acts as a shadow of the ancient mariner. In the story of the ancient mariner, the mariner eventually realises the consequences of his crime as does Frankenstein regretting the creation of the monster. 

Frankenstein acknowledges his mistakes and as he encounters Robert Walton and recognizes the same ambition in him, he recounts his own experiences in hopes that Walton will repeat the same mistakes as he did, alluding to the mariner's attempts for redemption.