Key Quotations

Key Quotations: Monstrosity

Shelley is careful to present aspects of monstrosity in more characters than simply the Monster. She encourages the reader to question what it is that makes someone monstrous.

Victor's monstrosity

The manner in which Victor is so quick to dismiss and abandon the Monster, after Shelley has presented his substantial toil in creating it and bringing it to life perhaps suggests that Victor himself is monstrous.
His treatment of his creation is especially shocking in light of his own, idyllic upbringing.

Victor's monstrosity cont.

“I had worked hard for nearly two years, for the sole purpose of infusing life into an inanimate body. For this I had deprived myself of rest and health. I had desired it with an ardour that far exceeded moderation; but now that I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart."
"Unable to endure the aspect of the being I had created, I rushed out of the room...” (Chapter 5)

Victor vs the Monster

The language with which Victor addresses the Monster could also be read as more monstrous than that of the creation.
Shelley purposely contrasts Victor's brutal and violent insults with the Monster's eloquence in order to bring into question which character is more 'monstrous'.

Victor vs the Monster cont.

"Abhorred monster! fiend that thou art! the tortures of hell are too mild a vengeance for thy crimes. Wretched devil! you reproach me with your creation; come on, then, that I may extinguish the spark which I so negligently bestowed." (Volume Two: Chapter 2)

Key Quotations: Monstrosity

Shelley is careful to present aspects of monstrosity in more characters than simply the Monster. She encourages the reader to question what it is that makes someone monstrous.

The Monster

The moment in which the Monster sees his own reflection perhaps allows him to understand why people in society have reacted to him how they have.
He seems to feel that his unpleasant appearance makes him the Monster that others think he is.
Perhaps Shelley is criticising the superficial judgements of society, by demonstrating the emotional impact they can have on people.

The Monster's self reflection

“I had admired the perfect forms of my cottagers -- their grace, beauty, and delicate complexions: but how was I terrified when I viewed myself in a transparent pool!"
"I was filled with the bitterest sensations of despondence and mortification.” (Volume Two: Chapter 4)

Victor's monstrosity

The violence with which the destruction of the second creature is enacted again suggests the brutality of Victor.
This is furthered by the fact that Victor does this in front of the Monster, making him seem sadistic and unnecessarily cruel.

Victor's monstrosity cont.

“I thought with a sensation of madness on my promise to create another like him, and trembling with passion, tore to pieces the thing on which I was engaged."
"The wretch saw me destroy the creature on whose future existence he depended for happiness, and, with a howl of devilish despair and revenge, withdrew.” (Volume Three: Chapter 3)

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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