Right from the beginning of chapter 5, Frankenstein describes his work as his toils, which gives the reader the indication of how extensive and exhausting his ‘work’ has been. The creature has become his obsession for the past 2 years. He is haunted by apprehension and anxiety because he is unsure about what his result will be like. “With an anxiety that almost mounted to agony” The anxiety is so intense it almost acts as a physical pain to Frankenstein. Mary Shelly uses very negative language throughout to refer to the events and the creature, such as a “catastrophe” and “wretch”. This indicates just how awful the situation is for Frankenstein and that he regret his actions immediately after they have taken place. His hopes and dreams have been shot to pieces as his work has turned out to be a nightmare. Frankenstein has done his best to make the monster as realistic to a human a possible: “his limbs were in proportion and I selected his features as beautiful”. The quote continues as “Beautiful! Great God!” It is clear that Mary Shelly is being ironic here , as the creature is anything but beautiful. The description is quickly followed by how ugly he is. Such as “his shriveled complexion and straight black lips.” The full realization of his folly is captured in the quote “but now that I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart.” This also captures his anxiety. The quote also shows that Frankenstein feels no sympathy for the creature and that he doesn’t feel responsible for it.
Frankenstein’s horror is captured in the quote “but now that I have finished the beauty of the dream has vanished and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart.” This also captures his anxiety. When he brings the monster to life he feels no empathy for him and totally rejects him; he does not help him to cope and become accustomed to the ways of human being.
In chapter 11 Frankenstein’s creation is portrayed as new born baby rather than a monster. He is experiencing the world for the first time through his senses. For example he describes his first sunrise a sensation of pleasure. “I started up and beheld a radiant form rise from among the trees.” Similarly his first experience of birds singing, he describes as pleasant, “A pleasant sound, which often saluted my ears, preceded from the throats of the little winged animals.” However when he first comes into contact with fire he is delighted by the warmth it emits but so overcome with joy he proceeds to put his into it, burning himself. It is clear in this chapter that Frankenstein has not taken any responsibility for teaching his creation about the world and how to live, he has abandoned him. The “monster” was not burn evil but because of the things but because of the things he was subjected to it caused the creation to seek revenge on Frankenstein.
When Frankenstein realizes what he has created he actually rushes out of the room to his bed chamber, where he tries to sleep but is unable to. This demonstrates that from the very moment his creation came to life he immediately abandons it. When Frankenstein finally falls asleep, he is haunted by vivid dreams, which then turn into nightmares. He sees Elizabeth, but she very quickly turns into a corpse. He then sees his dead mother being attacked by “grave worms.” Even in his sleep, it is clear that he is in a state of high anxiety and almost at the point of breakdown. In the morning he walks around the town, but is filled with fear and dread at the thought of seeing his creation. At this point Shelly chooses to insert a section from a famous poem, Coleridge’s ancient mariner. This is from Coleridge’s longest major poem and is famous because it was a signal shift to modern poetry and the beginning of British romantic literature. The poem relates to the supernatural experiences experienced by a man at sea on a long voyage. Supernatural spirits pursue his ship and one by one the ship’s passengers die a horrible death, but the mariner lives to see it all .This is similar to Frankenstein’s experience in that a single act, for example the creation of the monster, can lead to a lifetime of regret and it is impossible to revoke.
Next, he meets Henry Clerval who is a good friend. It is clear that they have not seen each other for some time and that they have a great fondness for each other. His friend notices how ill he looks. This event allows him to forget some of his pain. He says “I suddenly, and for the first time during many months calm and serene joy.” Frankenstein is ill; he is clearly suffering from a breakdown. His friend nurses him and he starts to feel better. “Doubtless my words surprised Henry; he at first believed them to be the wanderings of my disturbed imagination.”
Frankenstein’s recovery is in part due to the fact that he has not seen his creation for a long time. “By very slow degrees, and with frequent relapses that alarmed and grieved my friend, I recovered. By the end of chapter 5 Frankenstein is beginning to enjoy life again. “I perceived that…the young buds were shooting from the trees… it was a divine spring, and the season contributed greatly to my convalescence.” He feels his spirits being lifted by the signs of spring.
However the reader is aware that Frankenstein’s sense of well being is fragile. This is shown by his immediate panic when his friend Clerval suggests, “I may speak to you on one subject, may I not?” He quickly assumes it is about his creation and begins to tremble at the thought of it. We are aware that the monster is on the loose and the inclusion of Coleridge’s verse suggests that terrible times are to follow. The reader is left with a sense of unease.
Chapter 5 is significant to the novel for a number of reasons. Firstly, we see the creation being brought to life against a dark and brooding background, very characteristic of a gothic novel. Secondly, Frankenstein is shown to be in a state of high anxiety. It is almost as if he has a premonition of the terrible events he is about to unleash. As soon as his creation is infused with life he realises he has made a monumental mistake. He has tried to play God and has failed dramatically. With the act of creation comes great responsibility and Frankenstein is unwilling to accept this responsibility. He neglects and completely abandons his creation and almost loses his mind in the process. He makes no attempt to teach the creation the rules of society, for example what is right and what is wrong. Without the aid of his friend, Clerval, Frankenstein would possibly have ended up in an asylum. At the end of the chapter Shelley leaves the reader feeling a sense of impending doom. By quoting a verse from Coleridge’s Ancient Mariner there is a sense of the foreshadowing events yet to unfold.
