Chapters 4-6

Q: Chapter 4, Volume I

Victor's studies become his __'sole occupation'__ and he begins to neglect his social life and his family in Geneva. He makes rapid progress, becoming more and more ambitious in his work.

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Chapter 4, Volume I

Victor's studies become his 'sole occupation' and he begins to neglect his social life and his family in Geneva. He makes rapid progress, becoming more and more ambitious in his work.

Creating life

Victor becomes fascinated in anatomy and how life comes to be.
- He discovers how to bestow life on lifeless matter and sets out to bestow life on a creature as complex as man.
Victor believes this creature will adore him as his creator and he hopes that, in undertaking this work, he will one day be able to bring the dead back to life.

Working compulsively

Victor collects his 'material' from charnel houses and graveyards, which fills him with 'loathing'.
Victor isolates himself and his work has a detrimental impact on both his physical health and all other aspects of his life.

Chapter 5, Volume I

Victor finally finishes his creation, but his horrified by the Monster's vile appearance and quickly abandons it in his apartment.

Victor's dream

When Victor finally falls asleep, having left his creation in his workshop, he has a vivid nightmare.
- In the dream, Victor goes to kiss Elizabeth, only for her to transform into the rotting corpse of his mother.
Victor wakes up to find the creature standing over his bed, so he rushes out of the house and spends the night pacing restlessly.

Henry Clerval

Victor comes across Henry Clerval, who has just arrived from Geneva to begin his studies and whom Victor is very pleased to see.
Victor brings Clerval back to his now-empty apartment.

Victor's illness

Victor, weakened by both hard work and shock, falls ill with a nervous fever that lasts several months.
- Clerval nurses him back to health and gives him a letter from Elizabeth.

Tragedy is self-inflicted

Shelley demonstrates the impact Victor's creation has had on both his physical and mental health, as an effect of his own pursuits.
- There is the suggestion that Victor's problems are self-inflicted, foreshadowing that tragedy occurs due to a person's own failings.

Chapter 6, Volume I

Victor reads the letter from Elizabeth and longs to return to Geneva, although this is made impossible by the winter weather, among other occurrences.

Elizabeth's letter

Elizabeth expresses concern for Victor's health and urges him to write home as soon as possible.
Elizabeth relays how Justine Moritz, a girl who had previously lived with the family, has returned following her mother's death.
- Justine is 'clever and gentle' and Elizabeth loves her dearly.

Victor's recovery

Victor introduces Clerval to his professors at university, but now hates anything associated with natural philosophy.
Clerval takes Victor on a walking tour of the area and its beautiful scenery, which lifts Victor's spirits.

Nature's healing power

The idea that nature has the ability to heal and not merely destroy is key to Romanticism and encourages the reader to see the value in respecting nature, rather than interfering with it as Victor has.