Frankenstein Chapter 5

The first 200 words of this essay...

Frankenstein; Chapter 5

In the few moments after the creature has been brought to life, Frankenstein realises that he has been deluding himself; he did recognise that the creation was not as beautiful as he wished it to be whilst he was putting the body parts together. However, once life was instilled in his creation he realised that it was truly ugly. "How can I describe my emotions at this catastrophe, or how delineate the wretch whom with such infinite pains and care I had endeavoured to form?"

His most immediate response is running away from the creature. He escapes to his bedroom where he has a dream. Here his subconscious mind responds to the horrors of the sight he has just witnessed. The body of Elizabeth turning into his mother's rotting corpse is interpreted in various ways. It may show guilt, pre-eminently at neglecting his family for so long; it may also represent guilt at going into charnel houses and graveyards. The images of the grave worms in the dream show that the experience had a profound effect on his imagination. His imagination could be expressing itself in the nightmare because of its lack of use