Quotations

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Quotations about Victor

Here are some quotations highlighting key aspects of Victor's character.

Idealistic childhood

'My mother's tender caresses and my father's smile of benevolent pleasure...'
- Victor's childhood is full of love and affection, in contrast to his own treatment of the Monster.
'I was their plaything and their idol'
- The word 'idol' warns about Victor's hubristic (boastful) nature and again juxtaposes with (contrasts with) his own views of the Monster.

Sees himself as god-like

'Life and death appeared to me ideal bounds, which I should first break through, and pour a torrent of light into our dark world.'
- Victor sees himself surpassing the natural limitations of the world and improving it.
- His pursuit of science is presented as a type of enlightenment using Biblical imagery. There is a suggestion that without this, the world is lacking.

Obsessive

'The summer months passed while I was thus engaged, heart and soul, in one pursuit.'
- Victor is single-minded. Even though he has very supportive friends and family, his scientific endeavours lead him to neglect them.

Quotations II

Here are some quotations highlighting key aspects of Victor's character.

Self-centred and cowardly

'But I, the true murderer, felt the never-dying worm alive in my bosom, which allowed of no hope or consolation.'
- Victor seems to acknowledge his role in his brother William's death but does nothing to clear Justine's name.
- Victor focuses on his own suffering, further highlighting how self-centred he has become.

Values fame and glory

'Do not return to your families with the stigma of disgrace marked on your brows. Return as heroes who have fought and conquered...'.
- Despite warning Walton of the dangers of ambition, Victor gives this rousing speech to the crew, encouraging them to proceed with the journey despite its dangers.
- This speech suggests that Victor has not learnt anything from his experiences and still values fame and glory above all else.

1Plot Summaries

1.1Volume I

1.1.1Letters I-IV

1.1.2Chapters 1-3

1.1.3Chapters 4-6

1.1.4Chapters 7-8

1.1.5End of Topic Test - Volume I

1.2Volume II

1.2.1Chapters 1-3

1.2.2Chapters 4-6

1.2.3Chapters 7-9

1.2.4End of Topic Test - Volume II

1.3Volume III

1.3.1Chapters 1-3

1.3.2Chapters 4-6

1.3.3Chapter 7 & Walton in Continuation

1.3.4End of Topic Test - Volume III

2Characters

2.1Victor Frankenstein

2.1.1Role

2.1.2Quotations

2.1.3End of Topic Test - Victor Frankenstein

2.2The Monster

2.2.1Role

2.2.2Quotations

2.2.3End of Topic Test - The Monster

2.2.4Grade 9 - The Monster Question & Extract

2.3Other Characters

2.3.1Robert Walton

2.3.2Elizabeth Lavenza

2.3.3Alphonse Frankenstein

2.3.4Henry Clerval

2.3.5Justine Moritz

2.3.6The De Laceys

2.3.7End of Topic Test - Walton, Elizabeth & Alphonse

2.3.8End of Topic Test - Henry, Justine & the De Laceys

3Key Themes

3.1Ambition & Pursuit of Knowledge

3.1.1Presentation

3.1.2Key Quotations

3.2Prejudice

3.2.1Presentation & Key Quotations

3.3Justice

3.3.1Presentation & Key Quotations

3.3.2End of Topic Test - Ambition, Prejudice & Justice

3.4Companionship & Family

3.4.1Presentation & Key Quotations

3.5Revenge

3.5.1Presentation & Key Quotations

3.6Monstrosity

3.6.1Presentation

3.6.2Key Quotations

3.7Gender

3.7.1Presentation

3.7.2Key Quotations

3.7.3Key Themes - Companionship, Revenge & More

4Authorial Method

4.1Genre & Intertextuality

4.1.1Genre

4.1.2Intertextuality

4.1.3End of Topic Test - Genre & Intertextuality

4.2Form & Structure

4.2.1Form

4.2.2Structure

4.3Settings & Symbolism

4.3.1Settings

4.3.2Symbolism

4.4Imagery & Doubling

4.4.1Imagery

4.4.2Doubling

4.4.3End of Topic Test - Structure, Settings & More

5Context

5.1Context

5.1.1Mary Shelley

5.1.2Time of Writing

5.1.3End of Topic Test - Context

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