Chapter 5 is a crucial part in the novel as it was the chapter in which Frankenstein speaks about the birth of his creation. The chapter begins as Dr Frankenstein is collecting his tools on a ‘dreary night of November’. As ‘the rain pattered dismally’ the climax of his two year obsession of life and death had finally paid off, when he ‘infused life into an inanimate body’. This is the most important chapter as this event is what the rest of the novel is based around. In the 19th Century there were many debates around the progression of science and the impact it had on religion. As science was developing, so was technology, therefore this was a very dangerous time for ‘Frankenstein’ to be written. Mary Shelley was willing to take that risk despite other people’s views and arguments. It was not seen as correct for a woman to write a novel at this time and for 13 years it was published anonymous.
This chapter shows us more about Dr Frankenstein’s feelings and behaviours towards his experiment. Before his monster came to life Frankenstein seemed excited, but nervous at the same time, this soon goes horribly wrong as he starts showing hatred towards his ‘miserable monster’. He begins to describe the situation as a ‘catastrophe’ and a ‘breathless horror’ which leads to him running away and leaving his project abandoned. This is related to the novel as a whole because later on, the being feels unloved and unwanted. This also contributes to the theme of loneliness and isolation that the creation feels through out the novel. This builds up a rocky relationship between the Mother and Child – Victor abandons his responsibilities towards his creation. Dr Frankenstein had become very ill through the process of creating his un-named being, by suffering ‘extreme weakness’ and he had deprived himself ‘of rest and health’, this had an impact on his mental state which impaired his ability to make rational decisions and take on his responsibilities, resulting in ‘the beauty of the dream vanishing’.
Mary Shelley’s use of descriptive language creates a depressing atmosphere for the reader, by starting the chapter with ‘a dreary night’ and ‘half-extinguished light’. This use of language gives the reader a dark, chilling image in their mind and a feeling that something bad and horrifying is about to happen. Towards the end of the chapter, there is a contrasting change in atmosphere. As Frankenstein was recovering from illness he realised ‘the fallen leaves had disappeared’ and ‘young buds were shooting from the trees’. The description of the atmosphere is linked to the state of Frankenstein’s health. When he was ‘deprived of rest and health’, the atmosphere was bleak and chilling, but as he gradually recovers, towards the end of the chapter the setting becomes a ‘divine spring’.
Chapter 5 links in with several key themes in the novel. The main theme being the dangers of science and technology, this was especially true in the 19th century, as new technology was being introduced. Mary Shelley was fascinated with the development of science and technology, but it also terrified her. The characters and events for the novel were inspired by a nightmare that Mary Shelley had about the implications of playing the role of God and creating life. This is also associated with her horrific experiences of child birth. Shelley’s mother died 10 days after giving birth to her, and Mary Shelley also lost her own child. This is connected to the event in which Frankenstein’s mother died whilst giving birth to his brother.
In conclusion, the significance of chapter 5 is highly important as it is the chapter where the main event occurs, and what the rest of the chilling novel is written around. The writer’s language and description is used to create the dense atmosphere for the main event, along with vivid description of character. The social and historical context of the chapter is mainly based around the writer’s own experiences and horrors, however these horrors were turned into one of the most popular novels of all time.
