Ashton Post #2

In the beginning of Frankenstein, Shelley uses cold language and incorporates an icy tone into her descriptions of Dr. Frankenstein's character. Although somewhat brash, Shelley's tone is far from sinister, as it has underlying glimmers of hope, optimism, and exhilaration as Victor is on track to discovering his new identity as his sheltered upbringing hinders him. When Victor first creates his monster, he is liberated that he has someone to share his life with, and is frankly in awe of his own creation. But soon after his initial delight, Dr. Frankenstein is met with an awful battle. Torn between dream and reality, he refuses to succumb to regard the monster as wicked...even though he knows that his monster is just that. "I was partly urged by curiosity, and compassion confirmed my resolution. I had hither supposed him to be the murderer of my brother, and I eagerly sought a conformation or denial of this opinion. For the first time, also, I felt what the duties of a creator towards his creature were, ad that I ought to render him happy before I complained of his wickedness. These motives urged me to comply with his demand" (70). Dr. Frankenstein is now fully aware of what he has created. He needs no further soul searching. He knows now that he has entangled himself in a dangerous game. In these chapters of Frankenstein, Shelley's tone becomes much more ominous, perfectly following Dr. Frankenstein's own emotions. He went from loving and nurturing, to refusing to admit his own fear and his "creature's" unpredictability. Shelley conveys this internal journey in her desperate tone, making the reader feel like they are subjecting themselves to the same torture as Victor is. "I continued for the remainder of the day in my hovel in a state of utter and stupid despair. My protectors had departed, and had broken the only link that held me to the world. For the first time the feelings of revenge and hatred filled my bosom, and I did not strive to control them; but allowing myself to be borne away by the stream, I bent my mind towards injury and death" (99). Dr. Frankenstein went from being the rebel, to creating a rebel. His monster embodies everything bad inside him. Everything that scares Victor is wrapped up and contained forever in that monster. The monster can never be destroyed, yet Victor has created a monster inside himself that is far more deadly.