Chapter 7 & Walton in Continuation
English Lit: AQA GCSE Frankenstein, topic 1.3.3
Chapter 7, Volume III
Victor devotes himself to pursuing the Monster far north onto the frozen ocean.
The pursuit
- Victor leaves Geneva and visits his family's graves, before beginning his pursuit of the Monster.
- Victor tracks the Monster for months, guided by clues and taunts left by the Monster.
- The hunt continues across Europe and into Russia, heading north across the ice.
- Victor finally sees the Monster in the distance, but the ice cracks, separating the two of them.
The rescue
- Victor is rescued by Walton's ship.
- The last we hear of Victor's narrative is him begging Walton to satisfy Victor's vengeance by finally killing the Monster.
Walton, in Continuation
Walton describes the decline in Victor's health and explains to Margaret that he believes Victor's tale.
Walton's letters
- In a letter to Margaret, Walton laments that he did not know Victor when he was in better health, as it becomes clear that Victor will die.
- In subsequent letters, Walton writes that the ship is surrounded by ice.
- Although Victor initially persuades the crew to continue their journey to the North Pole, they later demand that if they escape the ice, they should return home to England.
- Walton agrees to return.
Walton's final letter
- Walton tells Margaret that they are returning to England and that Victor has died.
- Walton explains how, just before his death, Victor asked him to avoid ambition.
The Monster's final appearance
- After Victor's death, Walton enters the cabin and finds the Monster standing over the body, grieving his creator's death.
- The Monster explains that he sees Victor as another one of his victims, admits the horrible things he has done and tells Walton he is ready to die.
- The Monster says he plans to create a funeral pyre and commit his body 'to ashes'.
- The Monster springs from the cabin window and disappears into the darkness.
Test yourself on Chapter 7 & Walton in Continuation
Who is Victor rescued by in Chapter 7, Volume III?
The Pursuit in Chapter 7, Volume III
What did Victor ask Walton to avoid just before his death?
Events of Chapter 7