From a very young age, Victor Frankenstein shows a clear interest in science and in Chapter two of the novel Shelley focuses on Victors desire to be a discoverer, when he declares, “It was the search of heaven and earth that I desired to learn.” In this chapter it is clear that Victor’s ambitions are entirely noble as all he wants is to help mankind, which is also what Robert Walton wanted when discovering unknown lands.
When we see two men like this who are clearly obsessed with discovery it shows us how important the pursuit for knowledge was in the 19th Century. Around the time that the novel was written scientists were discussing the possibility of bringing the dead back to life. While this was happening the general public were too very interested in all of these developments and breakthroughs. In the first paragraph of Chapter five Shelley has written, “infuse a spark of being into the lifeless thing.” When saying this she is probably referring to Galvanism. The idea behind this was that lightning produced electricity, which could make muscles in an animal move. Therefore we can tell that Shelley must have heard of such experiments before writing her novel and then used these ideas in ‘Frankenstein’.
In Chapter five, however, Victor wakes up and “the beauty of the dream vanished and breathless horror and disgust filled (his) heart.” Now his character has completely changed as when his creation comes to life he flees the monstrosity, “I rushed out of the room, and continued a long time traversing my bedchamber.” This is ironic as he is being terrified by something of his own creation. It is this part in the novel where the reader may start to dislike Frankenstein as it is not the act of creation we condemn but rather his lack of willingness to accept the responsibility for his deeds.
The way Victor treats his creation in chapter five is cruel and hard-hearted. He abandons the now, “monster,” and leaves it not knowing how to take care of itself, where to go, or how to survive. The reader is manipulated to feel compassion for the dejected monster and only sympathy for the agonizing Victor Frankenstein when we see how distressed he is. This part of the novel relates strongly to a part in Shelley’s life where she too was neglected from her father. It shows us that Shelley herself would disapprove with what Frankenstein has done as it can be compared to such a depressing part of her own life.
Chapter five begins, “It was on a dreary night of November that I beheld the accomplishment of my toils.” This classic line sets the scene immediately and even though we probably know it already, hints towards the disastrous events that might follow in the novel. It is through words such as, “miserable”, “black”, “comfortless” and the horrific description of the monster that we notice Shelley’s skill of trying to make her novel fit within the horror and gothic genres as much as possible.
Most of the words Shelley uses to portray a dismal scene are related to the weather. This can be seen in Chapter five when she has written, “already one in the morning; the rain pattered dismally against the panes.” Shelley uses weather as a way to illustrate a dreary mood, as it was on a stormy night that she had the idea for ‘Frankenstein’. In the novel Victor himself witnessed, “a most violent and terrible thunderstorm.” This again makes it apparent just how much of this novel has been influenced by Mary Shelley’s life.
However, when Henry Clerval enters Chapter five it conjures up happy memories for Frankenstein, “his presence brought back to my thoughts my father, Elizabeth, and all those scenes of home so dear to my recollection.” This line stands out amongst the rest as Victor’s cruel treatment of the creature stands in stark contrast to both his parents’ devotion and Clerval’s care for him.
If we conclude to look at Chapter five compared to the rest of the novel we can see it is a central part to the story as it is where the horror really begins. The later chapters in the novel all show the disastrous consequences of Frankenstein’s actions. The purpose of this novel is to teach all a lesson as it shows us what might happen if we continue to play with nature and ‘play God.’ It also tells us the importance of not judging on appearance, as the creature although kind and benevolent was punished because of the way it looked. It is through the language that we are able to understand the significance of Chapter five as it tells us more about life in the 19th Century, more about the life of Mary Shelley and the way the novel came about.
