Presentation & Key Quotations

Theme: Companionship and Family

Shelley suggests that companionship and love are crucial for existence. She presents different types of family scenarios in order to highlight the impact that companionship and care, or a lack of these things, can have on a person.

Walton

In his letters to his sister, Walton’s desire for a friend similar to himself is evident.

Victor

Victor’s upbringing is presented as idealised.
- The Frankenstein family love their son deeply.
- They also provide a home and affection for less fortunate children, such as Elizabeth and Justine.

The Monster and family

Victor's family setting provides a stark contrast to the Monster’s start in life.
- The Monster is immediately deserted by the only ‘father-figure’ he has.
- He then continues to experience rejection at the hands of everyone he meets.
The Monster idolises the lifestyle of the De Lacey family, and imagines that they are his “friends”.

The Monster and love

After reading about Adam and Eve in ‘Paradise Lost’, the Monster comes to view companionship as the natural state of being.
It is for this reason that he requests that Victor create him a mate.

Key Quotations: Companionship and Family

Shelley suggests that companionship and love is crucial for existence. She presents different types of family scenarios in order to highlight the impact that companionship and care can have.

Victor

Shelley focuses on Victor's idyllic upbringing in order to highlight his privileged background.
The fact that he experienced love and support as a child encourages the reader to be more critical of his own treatment of his creation.
- “No human being could have passed a happier childhood than myself. My parents were possessed by the very spirit of kindness and indulgence.” (Chapter 2)

The Monster and companionship

From his reading, the Monster becomes aware of the positive effects of companionship and sees it as a natural state of being.
Shelley attributes the Monster's fiendish behaviour to his lack of companionship and love, thereby suggesting that humans need relationships in order to remain "good".

The Monster and companionship cont.

“Remember that I am thy creature; I ought to be thy Adam; but I am rather the fallen angel, whom thou drivest from joy for no misdeed. Everywhere I see bliss, from which I alone am irrevocably excluded. I was benevolent and good -- misery made me a fiend. Make me happy, and I shall again be virtuous." (Volume Two: Chapter 2)

The Monster and family

The Monster recognises the positive effects of the close relationships of the De Lacey family.
Their happiness seems to come entirely from each other, rather than any of their circumstances.
The Monster deeply desires to experience this affection, seeing this simple thing as a great ambition.
- This encourages the reader to sympathise with the Monster, as his aims only extend as far as companionship and love.

The Monster and family cont.

“They loved, and sympathised with one another; and their joys, depending on each other, were not interrupted by the casualties that took place around them."
"...my heart yearned to be known and loved by these amiable creatures: to see their sweet looks directed towards me with affection was the utmost limit of my ambition.” (Volume Two: Chapter 7)

The Monster and love

After being rejected by society, the Monster realises that the only way he will be able to achieve companionship is with a creature similar to himself.
He sees this type of relationship as a necessity, indicating the huge importance it holds in his life.
- "You must create a female for me, with whom I can live in the interchange of those sympathies necessary for my being.” (Volume Two: Chapter 9)

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

Jump to other topics