This is significant because the monster is telling Frankenstein of what is to come. Frankenstein thought that he would die on his wedding night but little did he know that it would be his wife. However Clerval was next and Frankenstein was arrested in Ireland for the strangulation. He didn't murder Henry, but his friendship with Frankenstein made Henry susceptible to the monster's rage because he used Henry to get back at Frankenstein. Although the Irish magistrate acquitted him, Frankenstein knew that he was responsible for Henry's death because he had defied the monster's wishes and the monster repaid him by killing his friend.
In this section of the book, the loneliness of Frankenstein’s monster is emphasised. This is done by showing Frankenstein returning to his family, his father and the determination the marry Elizabeth to bring him out of his illness. All of this is contrasted with the monsters loneliness of having nobody, not a wife or a family- his family (Frankenstein) has abandoned him and his wife has not been made. This loneliness is emphasised further on page 162 when the monster cries
“Shall each man, find a wife for his bosom and each beast have his mate and I be alone?”
This line makes us fell pity for the monster and we start to see that the monster is more human than we thought at first. All the monster wants from Frankenstein is a wife, a female companion just like any other male human- just like Frankenstein wants. It makes us wonder who is truly more monstrous, whether it is the monster that has only turned to evil because he was rejected or whether it is Frankenstein who has done nothing but hurt his creation. It could be argued that the monster has hurt his creator by killing off his friends however this is only a result of Frankenstein’s foolishness.
Throughout the book it was obvious that the monster was one up against Frankenstein. This theory was proven on page 162 when the monster says
“You are my creator but I am your master, obey!”
This reversal of positions is seen in Frankenstein starting work on the wife. It shows that Frankenstein is a weak man being led by a non-humane creature and this weakness is also shown when he drifts into monomania. It also shows that the monster has no respect and that he is not as human as the novel tries to portray.
Building the monster was done with good intentions to eliminate death, but when Frankenstein builds the monsters wife, Frankenstein is aware of the dangers it could cause and nevertheless carries on pursuing his own self interests. He is now creating life knowing destruction could occur. This view is reversed on the wedding night when Frankenstein is ready for the monster.
When travelling on the river Frankenstein encounters dark ruined castles which perhaps symbolises the making of the wife. However when turning a corner he sees beautiful vineyards which symbolise what will come after, i.e. the monster will be happy and Frankenstein can lead a normal life again.
When originally creating the monster Frankenstein drifts into a state of monomania. The second time, when Frankenstein starts to create the monster’s wife he does not drift into monomania and this could be explained in two ways. The second time Frankenstein lacks passion for his creation and therefore there is no danger of monomania. Another explanation could be that the second time Frankenstein had friends with him. This is a constant theme throughout the novel. Friends are comforting and offer reassurance, and sadly the monster does not have these friends. He was judged straight away on his appearance. This is another constant theme, the human tendency to judge a person based on his or her appearance. It is true that the monster appeared horrifying, but he is shown to be more "humane" than the other humans, indeed, he is at first more sensitive and tolerant. Unfortunately, no one tries to understand him or to accept him the way he is.
