Frankenstein Ap Language Essay

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley uses strong literary devices and word choice to develop her theme and tone, while also creating vivid and clear imagery throughout the book. I think this is especially present in the passage where Victor first brings the monster to life, at the beginning of chapter five. She uses these elements to transition this passage into the rest of the book, while also relating the ideas to those in the remainder of the novel.

The imagery in this passage gives a clear picture of the scene, and also reflects the overall style of the book. “It was already one in the morning; the rain pattered dismally against the panes, and my candle was nearly burnt out, when, by the glimmer of the half-extinguished light, I saw the dull yellow

Mary Shelley’s attitude towards Victor is one of objection, almost one of disgust. She doesn’t believe that what Victor is doing is acceptable or moral. “The different accidents of life are not so changeable as the feelings of human nature. I had worked hard for nearly two years, for the sole purpose of infusing life into an inanimate body. For this I had deprived myself of rest and health. I had desired it with an ardour that far exceeded moderation; but now that I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart.” (Shelley 43) The shift in Victor’s feelings towards the monster reflect the shift in the author’s feelings towards Victor. In the beginning of the novel, Victor is just a boy enamored with science and discovery, but as he grows he descends into greed and selfishness. By the time the monster is alive, Shelley has already lost her respect and love for Victor, just like he has the

Shelley transitions Victor’s life from one of happyness to one where everything is lost to the monster he created. “I thought I saw Elizabeth, in the bloom of health, walking the the streets of Ingolstadt. Delighted and surprised, I embraced her, but as I imprinted the first kiss on her lips, they became livid with the hue of death; her features appeared to change, and I thought that I held the corpse of my dead mother in my arms; a shroud enveloped her form, and I saw the grave-worms crawling in the folds of the flannel.” (Shelley 44) The stark contrast between the satisfaction he feels and the loss directly after shows how Shelley is developing the theme of this book to be one of heartbreak and sadness. I believe her overall message in writing Frankenstein is that selfishness, such as Victor’s when he is creating the monster, only leads to alienation and loss down the road. Victor experienced this loss, and eventually became just like the monster at the end of the