Frankenstein
By Mary Shelley
Wikipedia doesn't do Shelley justice with her personal drama in life, but before going into this, I must regard my discovery of the 1st gothic novel, The Castle of Otranto, now added to my list. Anyways, Mary's mama, a proto-feminist author, died from difficulties giving birth to Mary, her pop publishing her mama's memoir which included her suicidal nature and sex life with her pop, and Mary having read this multiple times before writing Frankenstein! At 16, Mary runs off and marries Shelley, and her pop temporarily disowns her, even though her sis tags along and nothing's mentioned of her being shunned, ha. Shelley's first wife drowns herself with her unborn child, due to his leaving her, and the 2 marry within days after!
Mary births 5 kids, of which the 3rd is the only survivor, and Shelley also drowns years later in his boat, a month after Mary's nearly life-taking last miscarriage! Dang, is all. Shelley wrote Frankie at 18, and provides an intro regarding how she'd been inspired, and whilst she'd always wrote stories, she enjoyed the imagining of them more than understanding one's own emotional growth. Mary was urged by hubby to write something, so he could see if it honored her genetics, so she waits, and the 2 live in Switzerland next to Lord Byron, who was writing, as well.
The 3 were rained in quite a bit, so told ghost stories. 4 of them competing and Mary's taking a few days to even get a lightbulb. 1 evening, the chat turns to corpse reanimation, and by bedtime, Mary began forming the thoughts of a man putting a creature together, and being terrified for succeeding. By morning, she'd realized she'd found her subj., so began work on a description of her conscious dream.
Her hubby urges she flesh the story out, and gives him credit for its creation. The preface, which I could tell had a different tone to Mary's intro, was written by her hubby in her writing style, which suggests the idea he'd been planning to publish it under his own name, and after skimming, it contains letters, and journal entries from Richard Walton, this providing an example of Prometheus, flying too close to the sun.
The Narrator begins by noting being Genovese, and telling of a time the Narrator's pop'd seen his buddy fall on hard times, and wanted to fund him, taking nearly a year to locate him, unemployed and feeling bad for himself, whilst his daughter, Caroline, made pennies sewing. Unfortunately, Beaufort doesn't make it, so the Narrator's pop sets her up with staying with a relative of his, but she soon marrying the Narrator's pop after a couple years. Whilst the 2 had a large age gap, it seemed to make them closer. 2 years after they'd been married, they move to Italy, so Caroline could recover from her grief, they having the Narrator during their travels, and would accompany them, as well.
The Narrator's early years were thought upon with how much his parents loved him, and how his lessons were strung with positivity when he hearkened back on it. It's revealed what gender the Narrator is when he mentions his ma's wanting a girl, but he remaining an only child for at least 5 years. Whilst in Italy, his ma tended to visit and help the poor to remind her of where she'd been, and discovers a poor fam with scrappy kids, and a blond girl, looking starved and sickly. The ma shares the girl's story and how she'd begun staying with them after her ma died in childbirth, and her pop possibly dead after joining the fight for his country.
So, Elizabeth Cavenza joins his fam and Victor's reaction to his ma presenting Elizabeth as his gift, was taken with a child's face-value, Victor cherishing his "more than sister" til she dies. The 2 were less than a year apart and whilst she satisfied herself with the natural beauty of things, Victor was always a curious scientist, wanting to discover the mechanics of things. When Victor's bro is born, he's 7, and their traveling ends, having them settle back in Geneva, where Victor preferred his single buddy to the loads of schoolmates he had, Henry being a lively, dangerously adventurous actor, sort. Victor only wishes to learnt he mystic secrets of the earth and skies, whilst Henry was interested in reenacting King Arthur.
Victor at one point, when he's 13, finds a book by Cornelius Agrippa, and his pop attempts to dissuade his interest, but failing, Victor fascinated to stirring up a thirst for similar reading materious, and studying it without adult backup, since his pop wasn't a scientific man. The fam moves to their other home when Victor is 15, they experiencing a terrible storm which'd stripped an oak to a stump. At 17, Victor's parents decide he should go to Uni in a different country, to offset his knowledge of their own, but before he'd reached the day he was to leave, his sis gets scarlet fever, and his ma catches it from her after she couldn't keep herself away from her sickbed. On their ma's deathbed, she confesses to the 2 of having hoped they'd sometime get together, their father keeping the hope alive, she dying not long after, expressing her love of them all.
The usual steps of grief commence, the 1st of shock, until the idea of her truly being gone sinks in. Victor feels his pop was having him begin school a bit too early, since he'd wanted to be able to comfort Elizabeth, who'd focused her attentions on the cousins and uncle Henry, his cuz wishing to join him in school, but his pop, Clerval not interested in putting him through edu when he wished for him to join the business of commerce. Victor's last night was spent staying up late with his fam, he surprised they'd all come down next morning for the final farewell, Victor's thoughts 1st dark, and antisocial, but turning back to his more freeing ability to learn anything. Upon getting to his apt, he spends his night at his own leisure, and next morning intros himself to his profs, 1 for natural philosophy, surprised by the authors he'd studied being useless.
Victor immerses himself in the given reading material whilst also turning his nose up on modern natural philosophy. He'd also met only 1 non-gruff prof, of chemistry, Victor having had 1 piece of Monsieur Waldman's lecture stick with him, and has Frankenstein motivate himself to discovering the deepest kept secrets of creation. These thoughts keep him up through the night, so when he wakes next day, he visits Waldman, who was even kinder and calmer 1 on 1. Waldman's reaction to Frankenstein's choice of previous authors was also less judgemental, so asks for any recommendations he might have, Waldman advising if his goal was to become a true scientist, he should study all areas of natural philosophy, this meeting being remembered as Victor's foray into his chosen path.
Frankenstein studies extensively and thoroughly during his couple years there, and was readying to go home when an accident has him stay longer. He'd become particularly interested in physiology, which led his study into when life enters and exits the body, as well as breakdown of cadavers. So, whilst he saw this, he was surprised to detect a new discovery only he'd been lucky enough to spot. This happens to be how to give life, and Victor's shock gives way to pleasure, and somehow, the work showing how he'd gotten to his conclusion was lost, only the proof as proof.
Victor then regards why he can't share the secret, one having to go through the whole book to understand. Victor also warns of those going beyond their nature to become great, those who remain within their status being smarter, it seems. So, the initial idea'd been ez enough, but he debates whether to attempt it upon a smaller animal 1st, deciding to go all out and choose man, 8 foot in height. He considers how much devotion from the creature's he'd created would give him, whilst he acquired the necessary materials, and during his solitary studies, becoming thinner and paler.
He was both turned off by the need of certain biology requirements, and driven to completing his work successfully. He was so entwined with his project, he'd stopped writing the fam, his pop having stated before he left, this'd be considered an indication he'd also be neglecting his studies, but Victor understood his pop's worries, he able to see it in the following letter sent, also remaining unanswered, the curiosity into his work. Victor maintains vigilance through the next 3 seasons of his year, he hoping his value for environmental nature returned with the finishing of his project. His creation period also happening to mirror pregnancy in time length, and temperament of anxiety to feeling better for outdoor activities.
November was the month of when Victor succeeds with the "agony" to do so, the creature breathing hard and skin barely covering his muscles, eyes yellow, long, black hair, and thin, black lips. Victor'd been spurred on by the doing of his project, but now he was done, he looked upon it with distaste. He tries to sleep and has vivid dreams, 1 of Elizabeth and after he kisses her, she decomposes into his ma. Victor's reaction to his monster is similar to ma's with postpartum.
When he starts from sleep to see his creature peeking at him through his bed curtain, he biffs to the courtyard to deliberate his situation for the remainder of the evening, dreading being interrupted by his baby. Frankenstein couldn't quite get comfy with the creature's features being so repulsive, which were bad enough before gaining movement. He was so plagued with discomfort when before he'd been ecstatic with anticipation. At 6am, he walks near the church, and spooks himself with the idea of his monster being around every corner.
Frankenstein avoids going back to his apt in preference to blindly wandering the streets. He pauses at a stagecoach drop-off/pick-up, and is happy to be greeted by his cuz, Henry, this reminding him of his fam. Henry chats about how much convincing his pop'd required, but finally getting what he craved: the journey to knowledge. Henry next mentions how he was told to give Frankenstein a bit of hell for not writing often enough, but instead remarks on his tired state.
Victor remarks how he hoped his sleeping habits would change to normal soon, and when they reach the uni, and Victor is reminded of what was in his room, he has Henry wait downstairs for him, surprised to see his monster'd gone, so inviting Henry up, and he soon wondering what was wrong with Victor, he manically laughing. Victor gets himself into such a distressed state, he loses his sense, Henry staying to care for him through his stress-induced, few months long fever, and not telling his pop or sis, due to worrying them needlessly. During Frankenstein's recovery, he'd raved about parts of his experience, worrying Henry, but once Spring hit, the beauty helps revive Victor. When he's made his 2st reentry into unhazy wakefulness, Henry requests he write his cuz (Elizabeth) and pop, Victor all for it, since he'd thought he was going to ask about his cause of illness.
Henry then confesses of a letter having come just under a week ago for him from Elizabeth. She opens with worry of Victor's health, wishing she could tend to him, whilst keeping his pop from coming in case it affects his health negatively, she glad Henry was there and hoped Victor'd be able to write soon, easing her tension. She updates on his 16 yr old bro wanting to enlist like their elder bro,, and another girl, Justine, who was taken in by their aunt, who died, having to temporarily return to her own mother, who blamed her for killing her bros and sister, who all got ill and died, the ill woman following suit, and now Justine having returned back to Elizabeth, she loving her presence dearly. She finished with more updates of people they knew and urged him to write them when he was better.
This motivates him to do so, tuckering himself out, and recovering a couple weeks later. Victor did develop a stress trigger when seeing his science equipment, so Henry puts them out of view, as well as steering chats elsewhere when Victor brings Henry to meet Waldman, Victor feeling badly for not sharing his torture with his cuz, but finding the confession unimaginable. Henry has the notion to study Eastern current and ancient languages, Victor latching onto this new subj. for having scared himself from natural philosophy. Victor's plans for visiting home continued to get pushed from Fall to Spring, and as he waits to confirm his vacay dates after May, he and Henry enjoy the nature and town in high spirits.
Victor then receives a letter from his pop, who breaks the news of the youngest, WIlliam having been killed, he about 5, and being discovered with his neck crushed and a pic of his ma taken from the locket around his neck. His pop urges he return and comfort Elizabeth who felt guilt for his death for giving the boy the locket. Victor shares the letter with Henry and they go to hire a horse for Victor's return. He gets a 1 seated carriage, slowing down the nearer he gets home.
His attitude fluctuates when making it back, happy with his familiarly pretty surroundings, and down when he goes to the site of WIlliam's murder, then a rain getting worse. As he walks along the empty lakeside area, he sees movement near some trees behind him, and Frankenstein immediately recognizes his horrifying creation. It wasn't long before he considers this was his brother's murderer. The creature walks off and out of sight over a cliff, Victor unable to follow even if he wanted.
He spends the rest of his night out there, thinking of how he'd released this beast on Earth. At 1st, Victor plans to confess the killer of his bro to his fam, but after further thought, knew they wouldn't believe, esp. without proof. Finally, Victor enters his fam home at 5 a.m., the servants letting him in, and he waiting in the library for them to awaken, it being 6 years, since he'd returned. Ernest, Victor's other bro is 1st to come and greet him, he revealing their bro's murderer was Justine, evidence pointing at her, and her behavior being off.
A servant'd found the missing picture in her pocket, but Victor was adamant it couldn't be her, their pop coming in and Ernest relating Victor's assurance, his pop hoping Justine didn't go down for the crime she was being tried for today, then. Victor considers how he'd be able to share his evidence in public with how insane it sounded. When Elizabeth comes in and declares her hope of Victor being able to save Justine, she'd be revived through his strength. Victor's pop, refers to Elizabeth as his niece, and attempts to soothe her in knowing the legal system would meet the current subj. with Justine's freedom, if it was shown applicable.
Victor accompanies his fam, who were also witnesses, he feeling guilty af, and rightly, for getting 2 innocent souls snuffed due to this creature's life, and wishing to be the punished, but couldn't prove he'd been present at the time. When they hear the circumstantial evidence, everyone wonders aloud why the pic'd been on Justine, she not knowing due to her lack of sleep on the night the body was found, and her concern in helping to locate the boy. She requests examination of her innocent character, otherwise knew she'd be lost for a crime she didn't commit. No one would speak on her behalf without some doubt, though, so Elizabeth steps forward, bravely.
It only ends up with the spectators and judges turning on Justine all the more for her perceived involvement, Victor leaving early for his feeling of tortuous guilt, next morning going back to the court to learn she'd been found guilty and had confessed. They learn later Justine asks to see Elizabeth, who wishes Victor to come with, he doing so, but not wanting to, for his own wretched part. When they are left with her in her cell, she breaks down and admits having lied by confessing. Elizabeth vows she'd change the judgement, but Justine wasn't holding her breath, and upon hearing Victor's escaping moan in the corner for knowing her fate, she's grateful to know he'd rally'd on her side even after her confession, Elizabeth loathe to leave her after staying many hours.
Next day, Justine is executed, Elizabeth's appeal not working, and Victor's confession dying away with the judges cold resolve. He knew and dealt with his being responsible for 2 deaths and his fam's loss. Victor plagues himself with his guilt, not sleeping, and wishing to be secluded, only finding upset among humanity. This being his way of punishing himself, and his pop attempting to coax him out of this, since his health seemed to still be weak after his 1st breakdown.
When the fam moves to their home within the walls with the lake, Victor takes advantage and spends his time on the water, flirting with the idea of drowning himself. What keeps him from acting is Justine's useless death, and putting his bro and pop through losing him, as well as no one else knowing about the true culprit. Victor also feels worse was coming with the creature's penchant for killing. His new feeling was to avenge his lost fam by destroying his beast. His pop was worse for wear, and Elizabeth was in permanent sadness, but is reassured by Victor's conviction of poor Justine's innocence. 2 months after her death, Victor travels to a valley, Chamounix, and rides his mule to a town where he spends the night, sleep finally coming for him. Victor wanders about the natural beauty of the valley, he able to sleep, and by next morning readies to continue on by trusty mule to Montanvert's summit.
Victor decides to journey forward minus a guide so as to maintain the awe-inspiring affect of his surroundings. He was entering an avalanche-ready area, so silence was golden. When Victor reaches the top and crosses the glacier, he finishes speaking an ultimatum to the ghosts, then sees a man walking impossibly quick toward him from some length away, with agility where he'd been cautious, his size more than the norm. Victor was at first repulsed upon recognition, then readies to throw down, his pure anger and hate taking over which made him speak of either the creature leaving or allowing him to end him for his murderous rampage.
His monster in turn answers him with eloquence his feelings of how Victor's attitude toward him should change accordingly or he'll continue his havoc killings. Victor is incensed to the point of lunging to snuff the monster, who dodges smoothly then attempts to have Victor be reasonable, the creature cherishing life, and wishing for Victor to play his part, he staying loyal to his savior. This next bit refers to the creature saying he should be Victor's "Adam", but was currently more like the "fallen" other, Lucifer. Adam starts friendly as a lamb, then evil for feeling horrible, and hoped to one day return good and pure.
Victor isn't taking it and still wishes for 1 of them to die at the other's hand. This time his monster begs he change his feelings for him, knowing humanity'd treat him the same, so'd have to live in isolation, but why not also take it out on peeps, since they'd persecute him, regardless? Adam then asks only to be heard out, and after Victor hears his explanation, could then decide his fate, he stating how Victor only assumed he'd killed his fam. Victor still only wanting Adam to leave, and he responding by inviting Victor to a mtn hut, to tell his tale which'd either allow him to live hermit-like or torture Victor.
Begrudgingly, Victor follows, warming himself by the fire Adam lights before starting his story. Adam doesn't remember clearly his origin story, but when Victor'd awakened him, and after he'd left, everything was still being viewed in a half-sleep state, then surfacing later near Ingolstadt in the woods. At night, he'd located a cloak, and could only determine the moon, everything too dark, and Adam being comforted by the light. After a few nights he began to see more of his surrounding more clearly, as well as hear better.
He discovers a fire 1 day, and learns to keep it burning, using it to heat food, which upon becoming scarce, moves to a better placed camp to remedy his wants without difficulty. Adam travels a few nights, getting to a snowy flat land. Upon entering an occupied hut by a Shepherd, he hightails it upon seeing Adam, and so he finishes the man's breakies, and goes to sleep. When Adam wakes, he travels onward where he receives similar reception in a village, so takes refuge in a small wooden structure, which he makes more comfy for himself to settle in for awhile.
The cottage next to his shed, housed a pretty girl, and a man, he seeing the 2 working, also locating a hole in the wall he shared with the cottage, and seeing the girl, whilst listening to an old man play an instrument beautifully. The young couple continue to work a bit longer after the young man shows the food they had for later, the old man perking up when the young people return inside. Adam hadn't the concept of speech, yet so didn't understand their chat and watched them until they prepared for sleep. Adam plans on continuing his surveillance of the trio and learn why the couple could be unhappy when they had clothes, food, warmth, and each other.
Adam does learn the old was blind, but other than this, could not sense why they'd be pained. 1st to come to Adam's knowledge was how poor they were, so stopped swiping from their provisions. He also decides to help supply them with enough firewood to last them longer than a couple nights. Adam soon was also to begin deciphering certain words and discovered the trio was a fam: Father, sis, and bro.
Adam also comes to terms with his hideous features, waiting to greet his benefactors once able to speak properly, so he could avoid what'd happened with the villagers. When they'd reached warmer months, the fam's supplies became of better quality, since they could grow more, and Adam had higher spirits and optimism. During springtime, the fam'd take a break midday and pop's would play his guitar, Felix looking sombre, but his attitude changing when a female visitor arrives. Felix's manner was happy joy, the young black-haired lady not speaking the same language, but greeted warmly by the 2's pop, as well.
Once Adam realizes the young Arabic lady was also learning their language, he takes advantage of the opportunity. In a couple months, Adam understood most of the words he overheard. Soon, he surpassed the Arab girl's progress, and when being taught written letters and words, found the learning a joy. The book Felix used, also gave insight into the world's history up to the way of America was founded, Adam feeling empathy for the 1st Nation's plight.
Adam begins to understand how loathsome humans could be, and how he had been made different, and if he'd ever been doted on as a child in his previous life, he certainly couldn't relate to the experience of it now; fam and the dynamics within, also explained to Safie, apparently. Adam regards how he plans to follow up on his feelings about what he truly was later, and continue focus on his beloved cottage-dwellers. It was awhile before Adam learns the family's background, but eventually discovers the old man was called De Lacey, and had been well off in Paris until Safie's pop became a nuisance to the gov, and sentenced to death for his beliefs more than the crime, which people of Paris were indignant by, but he getting jailed the day Safie arrives to reunite with him. Felix happens to view this injustice in person, and discovers an unguarded way of communicating his solidarity through a grate, soon seeing Safie when she visits her pop.
Felix declines any compensation, but when the man offers his daughter's hand if he succeeds in helping him gain freedom, Felix doesn't decline, but backburns it. Safie writes to Felix to help warm him, she having gotten a servant of her pop to translate. Her ma had taught her Muslim belief, but was Christian, and she wished to gain more freedom than being part of a harem could provide. On the night of her pop's execution, De Lacey flees with Agatha, going into hiding, whilst giving Safie's pop his I.D. to get him back to Turkish territory.
Safie's pop encourages the 2's closeness, but secretly hopes to get his daughter out of the deal, Felix hearing of his pop and sis getting arrested and thrown in jail, so he returns to take their place, but what ends up happening, is they all stay jailed for 5 months and lose their fortune, then are exiled to Germany. The thanks he gets from Safie's pop being a small cash reward, and leaves Italy with Safie. This was the reason for Felix's sombre state when Adam first sees him. Safie, meanwhile stays with her pop until he flees for having heard the gov was onto him, so allows she stay until his belongings arrive, expecting she'd follow later.
She instead takes cash and biffs it to Felix, the only waylay being her translator and companion dying from illness, but fortunately the lady they were staying with helping her get to Felix's family's home. Knowing the cottagers background had Adam sympathizing with them, and cursing humanity. In August, there was an event he wished to acct regarding how he'd discovered a bag of belongings, including books (which Shelley'd read which influenced Frankenstein), 1 being The Sorrows of Werter, which fortunately was in the language he'd been studying, he quite happy spending his time studying his new vols. Werter gave him depressing existential thoughts, Plutarch uplifted him, and Paradise Lost high-lit his small relation with Adam and closer representation to Satan, due to his jealousy of the cottagers.
Adam then returns Frankenstein's papers, which contains the leading up of Adam's life, they having been in his clothes when he'd left. This has Adam q why Frankenstein'd created him at all if he had such aversion to him and being truly alone in the world. Whilst his terribly single existence proceeded, he stays optimistic regarding how his cottagers would handling him, he fluctuating resolve with his intro to them. He so yearns for them to accept him due to how kind they were to each other, decides he'd try in a couple mos, the 1st yr of his awaking to life.
Adam plans to speak with De Lacey 1st, since he couldn't see him, De Lacey would be the perfect go-between for the younger trio to follow (after any initial surprise, ofc). Luckily, the trio 1 day decide to go for a stroll about, and the old man was left to his own devices, gladly playing guitar. Adam notices the original melancholic style the old man'd mastered, but when De Lacey stops, Adam knew it was time, he at 1st not able to move for nerves, but forces himself, and upon breathing fresh air, gains courage and knocks. De Lacey invites him in, and Adam sits, gathering his thoughts, when De Lacey asks if he's French.
Adam replies he wasn't, but learned from a French fam, and how he was going to some buddies he adored, and wished to obtain a favor. Adam continues to describe his issue of convincing these splendid fold to not take his looks as sign of his character being foul. De Lacey tries to help by giving support to Adam's cause, soon offering to be a 3rd party in support of Adam confronting these friends. As De Lacey waits to hear who these buddies were, Adam gets cold feet, but upon hearing the return of the trio, quickly confesses, before Agatha faints, Safie biffs off, and Felix attempts to beat hell out of Adam, who'd been clinging to De Lacey's legs.
Adam goes back to his shed, since he didn't wish to harm Felix. Adam was now furious with vengeful thoughts on setting the cottage on fire and hearing their screams. He resolves not to forgive Felix for doing this to him, and vows battle against humanity. He leaves for the woods and vents his isolation with screams of his own, straying too far to return, since he'd walked through the night.
After further speculation, Adam realizes meeting the trio might've been rushed, he needing to have given De Lacey time to warm them, which he believed should still work, deciding to speak to De Lacey, again. When he returns in the evening, he waits to see the fam rise in the morning, which doesn't happen, but he then sees Felix walk inside with the owner for a mo, the 2 chatting outside about how his hubby and sis would never return and wished the man'd agree being square so he could flee. Adam now feels overcome with rage, so by night, went through with destroying the cottage, he then deciding to track Frankenstein down, his letters containing the name of his hometown, so Adam traveling with wide deviation for only having a map for direction. He avoids people until 1 day a little girl is playfully running by a river and falls in, Adam saves her, and the 1 she was running from, snatches her from Adam's arms, retreating into the woods.
Adam not knowing why, follows, but the man next shoots at him. Adam again was thrown into hate-filled anger at humanity's stupidity before passing out. It takes a few weeks for him to heal, and after he continues on to Geneva, where he meets a small boy, thinking to train a friend young, this boy not interested, but Adam attempting to have the boy agree to stay with him. This is when Adam admits to killing Frankenstein's bro, since the boy refuses, so chokes him out.
He then takes his locket which at 1st calms him for the lady's beauty, but then angry frustration comes through, for knowing the reaction he'd be met with by anyone. Adam then hypothesizes on what would have happened if he hadn't allowed his anger out through verbal means, but by attempting to take as many people down with him before he died. He goes to a nearby barn to hide, and discovers a sleeping young lady, he nearly waking her and puts himself through the obvious reaction she'd get upon seeing him, so instead plants the locket on her and leaves. After Adam confides his story, he relates to Frankenstein he expects him to create a counterpart for him.
Frankenstein couldn't quite wrap his head around Adam's request, and was conflicted-ly annoyed. Adam brings home his request by simplifying his need and how Frankenstein must comply. Adam's conclusion to his telling of the cottagers renewed Frankenstein's fury and had him decline plainly, and wouldn't change his mind regardless of threats. Adam still attempts to sway him with how alone and without love he was ("contemns"?), and if he couldn't get what he wants, he'd torture Frankenstein til he regretted being born.
Adam calms himself and explains his peaceful existence with the 2nd being, in seclusion, but more happy for being accepted by a similar creation. This time Frankenstein is a bit more receptive, even though Adam is relying heavily on this female creature to mirror his contentedness with a secluded and simple lifestyle. Frankenstein flips his coming around, and reminds how it could turn for the worst, but Adam replies with there being no need for either monster to come after humanity again. With each reasonable response Adam gave, and with calculated decision, he consents, and Adam hastily biffs off before Frankenstein changed heart, but not before mentioning he'd be close when Frankenstein wished to call on him.
As Victor leaves, now late in the day, he's struggling with his choice. He emotionally pleading to the heavens to erase his memory or leave him in shadows. He gets to his fam's home by morning, shocking them with his silent rough exterior, he feeling like reality was a dream and his thoughts were real. Victor procrastinated for weeks, but couldn't find the motivation to begin, esp. due to new info he required to get from a philosopher in order to complete his work correctly, he feeling and looking so much healthier though, with his lounging on the lake, so continued to put it off.
His pop notices his change, despite his off and on sadness, believing he had mixed feelings of marrying Elizabeth because of another, but Victor shoots this misfire down hastily, his pop glad this wasn't the case, and asking what the hold up was then, hoping the 2 would marry before he died. Victor takes his time replying, since he wishes to get his task over with and Adam out of his hair before he got married. Also he needs to conduct research, and doesn't want to mix his family home with the terrible project. So, Victor simplifies his reason to having to visit England 1st, his pop all for it, if it'd return Victor to himself fully.
His pop agreed to the idea of Victor vacaying at most, a year, and Clerval'd meet him up in Switzerland, which wasn't mentioned to Victor beforehand. Which he was fine with, since he thought he'd now have a buffer from Adam bothering him. He became paranoid of Adam possibly staying close to his fam, but reasoned Adam stating he'd stalk him to wherever, so maintains the hope of this truth as he booked his trip. Elizabeth accepts his vacay, but empathizes with his depression, and silently bids him adieu, he unable to enjoy the beauty of his passing environment.
He waits a couple days for Clerval to catch him up, the young man intoxicated by their new scenery, Victor noting Clerval's journal would be more fun with its optimism over his. They travel by boat through the Rhine and view beautiful towns and nature, with old castles, Victor finding more needed peace, and Clerval absolutely overcome by his experience. They continue through Cologne and Holland, to Rotterdam, then England, where they travel along the Thames where they see the famous tower. The 2 decide to hole up in London for a number of months, Clerval looking forward to chatting with talented intellects, and Victor readying to intro himself to the natural philosophers he wished to learn from.
He also made certain to not allow his downer demeanor affect Clerval's excitement, so usually declined invites, as well as to focus on his disgusting work. They are invited by an acquaintance of Victor's to come to his home in Scotland, Victor actually agreeing for yearning nature, so takes his work with him, and plans to finish there. They take a few months to reach Scotland and sight-see around, upon arriving though, Victor announces he wished to be alone for a couple months and would return, hopefully in close spirit as Clerval. Henry at first didn't wish to separate, but acquiesces and expects letters, Victor ending up on an island 5 miles offshore to Scotland.
He had the hut he rented fixed, since the door was broken, and the roof caved, but after, works in jumps and spurts for being fully aware of what he had to accomplish. The nearer he got, the more he dreaded Adam's presence, but also hopeful with despairing over his work. As evening settles during 1 of his working days, he considers continuing or whether to wait til morning, when more doubts of this female creature arises, he knowing she could quite possibly decide she didn't want to remain solitary, or maybe not even wish to stay with Adam. Or, perhaps as bad, they'd procreate and eventually overwhelm humanity, this being when he spots Adam looking at him from afar, but disappearing when he sees Victor react by ripping apart his progress, deciding not to finish.
He then hears someone docking near his hut, and attempt to silently enter, Victor soon confronted by Adam, who asks his intention for messing up his work, and his own hope. Victor again stays strong and Adam attempts to threaten him, sticking to his promise of not allowing he ever be at ease and happy. When Adam leaves, Victor is upset by the thought of Elizabeth's pain over losing him, and he gains motivation to continue fighting. He sleeps finally after 2 nights of being up, receiving letters from fam, and Clerval, who hopes he visits soon before his Indian expedition, Victor deciding to do so in a couple days.
Victor waits til the last mo to clean his instruments and dispose of the torn creature. Victor goes off in his skiff and dumps the remains in a basket weighted with stones, he then being lulled to sleep by the waves, and next must find his way back to shore by day, but it being cloudy. He believes Adam's wish'd soon be realized, since death seemed likely. When the wind goes down, though he locates shore, but his reception by the seemingly English town was questionably rude, esp. when 1 man answers his inquiry of where he was, with how the Irish didn't look kindly on "villains".
Soon he's confronted by another man, leading him to see a judge and give his statement regarding a man murdered the night before, so Victor must pause before sharing the disturbing acct to follow. Upon meeting with the magistrate, Kirwin, Victor hears 1 man tell how he'd discovered the strangled young man, which affects Victor, and Kirwin notices. They show him to the body, and this is where he loses his shit, for it was Clerval, the viewing of which degrades his health to a delirious near life-taking fever, and his ravings scaring those present. When he returns to himself, he was in a cell, but learns it's the best Kirwin having given him this small comfort, and when he sat with him, tells of having seen the letters on him, and had written to his pop, he quelling Victor's notion of another fam. memb. dying because of him.
Then, Kirwin is momentarily put off when Victor shows repulsion at the thought of a male visitor, up til learning it was his pop. After speaking with his pop though, his health improves, even though he still considered his terrible work may still yet needing to be done. 3 months in his cell, and travel to the nearest court, almost 100 mi's away, and he was acquitted, but none the lighter for it. As he and his pop plan their return home, this incites violent self-infliction on which was prevented by suicide watch, essentially.
Victor is now accustomed to get sleep with laudanum, esp with the journey to Geneva. Victor wishing to return before he regained full health, and when he takes a double dose on their boat trip, his pop wakes him for his dreams turning dark, but Victor's mind able to detect temporary peace with Adam's current absence. When they'd reached Paris, Victor needs a break to recover, his pop trying to get him to socialize, and Victor devolving into his rant of killing the fam, which helps ease his secret, since he can't bring himself to unload the whole truth for feeling like he'd bring unbearable weight to the hearer. When his pop decides not to bring up anything in relation to Victor's hard times, he feels less of a need to outburst with his guilt, and a day before they were to leave for Switzerland, brought a letter from Elizabeth, which lays bare her concern for him and only wishing him well, as well as wondering his true feeling, but not wishing to pressure him into anything which'd ruin their relationship.
Victor is revived by the letter, but also paranoid of Adam's threat, so when writing Elizabeth, he makes clear she's the only gal he had eyes for, and he planned to confess his horrific tale after they wed, but to keep any knowledge of her suspicions to herself until then. A week later, they were back, Victor again gaunt and Elizabeth looking thinner, but kindly, and was the only 1 able to bring Victor back to himself if a fit of emotion went through him. His pop also finalizes their wedding to occur in 10 days, Victor thinking the monster only had him in mind when considering another of them was to die. Elizabeth also receives a part of her inheritance after the announcement, she having property which they'd sojourn to after their engagement.
Instead of a reception, the 2 are immediately seen off by boat, Victor noting Elizabeth's fluctuation of happiness, and she confirming her peaceful mind, but something darkening her thoughts. When they reach shore, Victor's paranoia and fear return, where they'd remain with him. They had a nice little wander before going to their inn, a windy rain gusting up, and once they go in, the darkness agitating Victor's fear, he scaring Elizabeth, so asking she go to bed, but next hearing a scream, which freezes him, but the 2nd scream having im run to their room, Elizabeth already dead! He collapses and when he comes to, the people at the inn had laid her more peacefully, Victor recreating his earlier dream in reality, by embracing her, and feeling no life in her. As he looks up through the open window, Adam's terrible grin meets him, as he points at Elizabeth, jumping into the lake as Victor shoots at him.
A hunt is started once Victor tells of his belief of seeing the killer, and when he remembers how his pop and bro must mourn, realizes he must quickly return to them, hiring some men to row, wince it was too stormy for a boat, but able to get back in time, breaking the news, which ultimately kills his pop a couple days later. Victor ends up in a mental institution for having again lost his senses, but comes back to himself bringing thoughts of violence on Adam making him hope for a chance to impart his frustration upon him. So, upon being released, Victor confesses the true culprit of his fam's murderer to a friendly judge, telling all. The man empathizes, but knew it'd take a lot to capture Adam, Victor driven to complete his mission no matter what, leaving the judge in confusion to his true sanity.
Frankenstein is driven by his angry passion, deciding he will never return to his now tainted hometown, taking only cash and valuables, and traveling around the world to desolate areas and hope to rediscover his enemy. Before going though, he visits the cemetery where his fam was placed, he again bidding the spirits to help him in his quest, and being answered by laughing, Frankenstein lunging to follow, but Adam much too quick. Victor is on his scent, tracking him to a ship he'd seen him enter, but was still able to evade him. After chasing Adam about for a bit, the monster begins leaving signs for Victor to follow, he soon feeling relief from his dreams, since they were happy thoughts of his fam.
Victor is continually egged on to follow Adam with carved messages being left for him, regarding how his power is yet over, and their final fight to come, planning to lead him to the cold once more. Adam next provides a mocking statement of Victor preparing himself for they were nearing the final spot of their confrontation. Victor catches up, upon buying sled and dogs, receiving info from the locals of where Adam went next, armed with weapons. The townies share how Adam was heading over the ice to no solid earth ahead.
Victor at first feels the chase futile, but turns to anger, and after minimal rest, goes after him with plenty of provisions. Now, he's been traveling over the ice for 3 weeks, according to the amount of food consumed, and his progress is torture, until 1 of his dogs die from exhaustion, and he saw Adam on his sled ahead, he crying loudly for finally catching up a bit, but he seeing this fool still 2 days distance away, and after, loses him utterly. He is then stuck on cracking ice, until he's on an ice raft with some of his dogs, a few more dying, and it was pure luck of he getting picked up by a boat. The goal now, was to have Walton, the captain help him get his own boat to give chase to Adam.
He also pleads Walton make sure to kill the creature should he fail, and to not be wooed by his words. Victor vows to direct Walton's blade from the ether, should he kill Adam. A letter is then sent to Margaret, Walton's sis, Walton telling of his believing Victor's crazy story, also having Felix and Safie's letters. Also, once Victor sees Walton was taking notes on his acct, he helps arrange and clarify the telling, it being now a week since he'd picked him up, and apparently told the tale throughout the course of this time.
Walton then goes into how he sympathized with Victor's losses, and was intrigued with how Victor saw those he lost. Poor Walton saw Victor as a buddy he wished to help, but couldn't, Victor so damaged by his lost group, new buddies who haven't known him forever not giving him relief. So, all Victor knew, was he wishes to end Adam, so he could kick the bucket in peace. The 2nd letter tells of Walton feeling his crew get anxious, but Victor helping them with his morale boosting words, he also wishing to help Walton.
The 3rd letter tells of Victor's health taking a dip, and his men requesting to turn back when the freeze thawed, Victor getting it together enough to goad them into staying steady, and being able to return as heroes after they completed their task, instead of cowering at their wills being tested. The 4th letter contains Walton confessing to bending and accepting his crew's wishes, and his living hell for being seen as a pussy. The 5th letter shares of Walton on his way to England, and parting with Victor. Walton details when the crew was cheering for joy on the ice breaking, and being able to go home, Victor wakes from it, and plans to continue on, but passes out with the effort of getting up.
The doc onboard senses Victor was so far declined, he wouldn't make it much longer, so Walton stays with him. Victor awakes imperceptibly, looking already dead, til he addresses Walton to repeat his now necessary request for Walton to kill Adam, but doesn't expect a straight hunt, but only for Walton to pass it on, as he saw fit, Victor dying a few hours later, in relative peace. Walton mourns him, and soon signs off with his sis 2 investigate noises coming from the room holding Victor's body, and when Walton continues his recollection, he's in shock. He sees Adam mourning over Victor, and nearly loses him, since Adam was quickly out the window, when Walton recalls his name, and stops him.
Walton shows compassion to Adam, despite Victor's warning, and even kind of schools him on his actions, if he having withheld instead, he could've saved Victor's life. Adam's response was basically saying, what did Walton think, he enjoyed killing Clerval? He was built for love and empathy! So, when Victor essentially flaunts in front of Adam what he could never have, revenge took over.
Walton nearly falls to his charming words, but notes how Adam'd still be after Victor if he lived, Adam stating it wasn't quite this idea, but now he was truly alone. He ends by making the promise to burn a pyre for Victor, and he'd soon follow, making his departure. So, he gets away scot free, and with the promise to kill no more, claiming Walton'd be the last human he'd see, going off to the far North. Mmk, quite dramatic, but fairly fluid writing, making it easy to go through if one has some experience with old-ish English, The Scarlet Letter-style. Shelley was dark, alright.
