Chapter 24 & Walton’s Last Letters

Chapter 24

Victor spends months chasing the Monster, spending nights in cemeteries, visiting Germany, the Mediterranean Sea, the Black Sea and Russia.

The chase

Victor spends months chasing the Monster, spending nights in cemeteries, visiting Germany, the Mediterranean Sea, the Black Sea and Russia.
The Monster, always one step ahead, leaves messages and food for Victor in order to torment him and to keep him going.

Russia

He ends up in Russia and finds out that the Monster has stolen a dog sled and fled across the ice so he decides to follow in the same fashion.
They get to the Arctic circle and Victor still can’t catch the Monster.

Walton

Exhausted by the chase and the conditions, Victor is found by Walton and brought aboard when he finds out they are heading north, so he can continue his chase.
He asks Walton to promise that if he dies, Walton will kill the Monster.

Walton in Continuation

Shelley’s novel comes full circle (Arctic circle!) as the story ends with Walton’s framing, extra-diegetic narration.

Walton's letter

Walton writes to his sister, telling her that he believes Victor’s story.
He says he saw the Monster before he picked Victor off the ice and saw the letters the Monster gave Victor, from Felix and Safie, to verify his own story.

Fear of mutiny

The next letters to his sister outline the problems with ice that Walton and his crew have faced.
He fears they will commit mutiny if they do not retreat from their dangerous voyage.

End of mission

Victor tries to stop the rebellion by telling the crew they will "return as heroes" if they continue their journey, possibly because he is determined to find the Monster.
However, after even worse weather, Walton agrees to turn the boat around to get his crew back on side.

Victor's death

When they return south, Victor claims responsibility for the creation of the Monster and tells Walton not to pursue the promise of killing the Monster. He then dies.
After writing of his grief, he then writes "I am interrupted" and then continues the letter, explaining how he came to meet the Monster face to face.

Suicide

The Monster mourns the death of Victor and tells Walton about his story of suffering.
He feels there is nothing left to live for now Victor, his creator, is gone. So Victor tells Walton that he is going to travel to the most Northern part of the globe and commit suicide.
With this declaration, he jumps over the side of the boat and was "borne away by the waves and lost in the darkness and distance".

1Narrative Structure

1.1Narrative Structure

1.1.1Narrative Structure

1.1.2Narrative Distancing

1.1.3End of Topic Test - Narrative Structure

2Character Summaries

2.1Walton & Frankenstein

2.1.1Walton

2.1.2Victor Frankenstein

2.1.3End of Topic Test - Walton & Frankenstein

2.2The Monster

2.2.1The Monster

2.2.2The Monster 2

2.2.3End of Topic Test - The Monster

2.3Elizabeth, Justine & Henry

2.3.1Elizabeth Lavenza

2.3.2Justine Moritz

2.3.3Henry Clerval

2.3.4End of Topic Test - Elizabeth, Justine & Henry

2.4Families & Other Characters

2.4.1The Frankenstein Family

2.4.2The De Lacey Family

2.4.3Other Characters

2.4.4End of Topic Test - Families & Other Characters

3Intertextuality & Allusions

3.1Intertextual References

3.1.1The Modern Prometheus

3.1.2The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

3.1.3The Bible

3.1.4Mutability & Tintern Abbey

3.1.5End of Topic Test - Intertextual References

3.2Philosophical & Scientific Theories

3.2.1Edmund Burke

3.2.2Thomas Paine

3.2.3John Locke

3.2.4Jean-Jacques Rousseau

3.2.5Historical Figures

3.2.6End of Topic Test - Philosophy & Science Theories

4Biographic Context

4.1Biographic Context

4.1.1Shelley's Parents

4.1.2Loss & Maternal Anxiety

4.1.3Literary Legend

4.1.4End of Topic Test - Biographical Context

5Chapter Summaries

5.1Letters

5.1.1Letters 1 & 2

5.1.2Letters 3 & 4

5.1.3End of Topic Test - Letters

5.2Chapters

5.2.1Chapters 1-2

5.2.2Chapters 3-4

5.2.3Chapters 5-6

5.2.4Chapters 7-9

5.2.5Chapters 10-11

5.2.6Chapters 12-15

5.2.7Chapters 16-19

5.2.8Chapters 20-23

5.2.9Chapter 24 & Walton’s Last Letters

5.2.10End of Topic Test - Chapters 1-6

5.2.11End of Topic Test - Chapters 7-15

5.2.12End of Topic Test - Chapters 16-23

5.2.13End of Topic Test - Chapter 24 & Walton's Letters

6Key Themes

6.1Key Themes

6.1.1Curiosity & Knowledge

6.1.2Science & Society

6.1.3Loss & Companionship

6.1.4Connection to Nature

6.1.5Injustice

6.2Key Locations

6.2.1Extreme Landscapes

6.2.2Industrialised University Cities

6.2.3End of Topic Test - Key Themes & Locations

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