5.2.9

Chapter 24 & Walton’s Last Letters

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Chapter 24

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

The chase

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

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

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'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

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

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

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

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".
Jump to other topics
1

Narrative Structure

1.1

Narrative Structure

1.1.1Narrative Structure1.1.2Narrative Distancing1.1.3End of Topic Test - Narrative Structure
2

Character Summaries

2.1

Walton & Frankenstein

2.1.1Walton2.1.2Victor Frankenstein2.1.3End of Topic Test - Walton & Frankenstein
2.2

The Monster

2.2.1The Monster2.2.2The Monster 22.2.3End of Topic Test - The Monster
2.3

Elizabeth, Justine & Henry

2.3.1Elizabeth Lavenza2.3.2Justine Moritz2.3.3Henry Clerval2.3.4End of Topic Test - Elizabeth, Justine & Henry
2.4

Families & Other Characters

2.4.1The Frankenstein Family2.4.2The De Lacey Family2.4.3Other Characters2.4.4End of Topic Test - Families & Other Characters
3

Intertextuality & Allusions

3.1

Intertextual References

3.1.1The Modern Prometheus3.1.2The Rime of the Ancient Mariner3.1.3The Bible3.1.4Mutability & Tintern Abbey3.1.5End of Topic Test - Intertextual References
3.2

Philosophical & Scientific Theories

3.2.1Edmund Burke3.2.2Thomas Paine3.2.3John Locke3.2.4Jean-Jacques Rousseau3.2.5Historical Figures3.2.6End of Topic Test - Philosophy & Science Theories
4

Biographic Context

4.1

Biographic Context

4.1.1Shelley's Parents4.1.2Loss & Maternal Anxiety4.1.3Literary Legend4.1.4End of Topic Test - Biographical Context
5

Chapter Summaries

5.1

Letters

5.1.1Letters 1 & 25.1.2Letters 3 & 45.1.3End of Topic Test - Letters
5.2

Chapters

5.2.1Chapters 1-25.2.2Chapters 3-45.2.3Chapters 5-65.2.4Chapters 7-95.2.5Chapters 10-115.2.6Chapters 12-155.2.7Chapters 16-195.2.8Chapters 20-235.2.9Chapter 24 & Walton’s Last Letters5.2.10End of Topic Test - Chapters 1-65.2.11End of Topic Test - Chapters 7-155.2.12End of Topic Test - Chapters 16-235.2.13End of Topic Test - Chapter 24 & Walton's Letters
6

Key Themes

6.1

Key Themes

6.1.1Curiosity & Knowledge6.1.2Science & Society6.1.3Loss & Companionship6.1.4Connection to Nature6.1.5Injustice
6.2

Key Locations

6.2.1Extreme Landscapes6.2.2Industrialised University Cities6.2.3End of Topic Test - Key Themes & Locations
7

Recap: Main Quotes

7.1

Characters Quotes

7.1.1Walton - Quotations7.1.2Victor Frankenstein - Quotations7.1.3The Monster - Quotations7.1.4The Educational Texts - Quotations7.1.5Elizabeth Lavenza - Quotations7.1.6Justine Moritz - Quotations7.1.7Henry Clerval - Quotations7.1.8Alphonse Frankenstein - Quotations7.1.9The De Lacey Family - Quotations
7.2

Quotes by Chapters

7.2.1Letters 1 & 2 - Quotations7.2.2Letters 3 & 4 - Quotations7.2.3Chapters 1-6 - Quotations7.2.4Chapters 7-13 - Quotations7.2.5Chapters 14-20 - Quotations7.2.6Chapters 21-24 & Waton's Last Letters - Quotations

Practice questions on Chapter 24 & Walton’s Last Letters

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  1. 1
    Where does the Monster say he will go to commit suicide?Multiple choice
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Chapters 20-23

End of Topic Test - Chapters 1-6