Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/4-4-2-doubling [Revision notes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes.md) › [GCSE](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse.md) › [English Lit](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature.md) › [AQA](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa.md) › [English Lit: AQA GCSE Frankenstein](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein.md) › Doubling # Doubling English Lit: AQA GCSE Frankenstein, topic 4.4.2 ## Doubling: Walton and Victor Doubling is a characteristic of Gothic literature, whereby a writer uses a character who seems to be good (often the protagonist) and links them to another character, who is evil. ### Duality ![Duality](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-07/3a28fe91-7b61-4b9e-a6e9-07ac52527315/Good-Evil-Tattoo-Hand-Fingers.jpg) - Doubling often creates echoes of characters or previous scenarios in order to draw parallels which may be unexpected. - By linking characters in this surprising way, the writer is able to suggest the duality of human beings: - No person is simply ‘good’ or ‘evil’, but rather, have aspects of both of these. ### _Letter 1_ ![_Letter 1_](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/courseImages/biology/OCR%2021%20Century/6%20-%20Life%20on%20earth/environment.jpg) - __“You cannot contest the inestimable benefit which I shall confer on all mankind.”__ ### Walton ![Walton](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-07/bab07f13-826c-4689-a37e-2ccdb53ede5d/SailBoat-Sailing-Boat-Columbus.jpg) - Walton believes that his endeavours will benefit not just a few people, but all of mankind. - Furthermore, he seems confident in his ability to achieve these ambitious aims. - This is supported by his use of the adjective "inestimable", which suggests that even he does not know the value of what he is undertaking. ### Victor ![Victor](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/courseImages/physics/OCR%20Gateway/Earths_atmosphere.jpg) - Like Walton, Victor too believes that his work will benefit the whole world. - Shelley uses imagery to suggest that Victor sees the natural limits of the world as obstacles to his endeavours, which he will be able to surpass. ### _Chapter 4_ ![_Chapter 4_](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/courseImages/physics/1.5.1%20Energy%20Changes/light-bulbs-min.jpg) - __“Life and death appeared to me ideal bounds, which I should first break through, and pour a torrent of light into our dark world.”__ ### Parallels ![Parallels](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/e3c8609f-7236-42a4-a382-a937041982bf/stop-sign-.jpg) - Walton and Victor are similar in their pursuit of knowledge; - Victor in science. - Walton in exploration. - They both believe their discoveries will benefit all of mankind. - However they differ as Walton stops before inflicting devastation on his crew, unlike Victor who causes multiple deaths. ## Doubling: Elizabeth and the Female Creature Doubling is a characteristic of Gothic literature, whereby a writer uses a character who seems to be good (often the protagonist) and links them to another character, who is evil. ### _Volume Three: Chapter 3_ ![_Volume Three: Chapter 3_](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-10/78d5b691-32c8-4c14-9f04-5c3054e1e68c/bride-frankenstein-.jpg) - __"The remains of the half-finished creature, whom I had destroyed, lay scattered on the floor, and I almost felt as if I had mangled the living flesh of a human being."__ ### Murder ![Murder](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/dba21160-f61c-4b6a-8481-cd589b9f1cfe/crime-scene-clue-murder-.png) - Victor's reflection on what he has done presents the destruction of the second creature as a murder. - The remains of the creature are scattered, suggesting the power and force with which Victor undertook this act of destruction. ### _Volume Three: Chapter 6_ ![_Volume Three: Chapter 6_](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-10/fca22c55-8910-4272-bd0e-f569ab8cf39a/bride-dead-.jpg) - __“She was there, lifeless and inanimate, thrown across the bed, her head hanging down, and her pale and distorted features half covered by her hair. Everywhere I turn I see the same figure -- her bloodless arms and relaxed form flung by the murderer on its bridal bier.”__ ### Doubling ![Doubling](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-10/f9ddfa09-7f3d-4ae6-bbf1-302ed42c2be5/skull-dead-.jpg) - After the Monster has murdered Elizabeth, her corpse is presented in a very similar way to the remains of the second creature. - Shelley uses passive verbs to describe how Elizabeth lies in order to demonstrate the physical force of the Monster over Elizabeth. - In highlighting the violence of this attack, Shelley echoes the moment in which Victor destroyed the second creature. ## Doubling: Victor and the Monster Doubling is a characteristic of Gothic literature, whereby a writer uses a character who seems to be good (often the protagonist) and links them to another character, who is evil. ### Duality ![Duality](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/d1fb9432-1d6b-45e7-9a3f-4e9556264fb8/schizophrenic-personality-psychosis-.jpg) - Doubling often creates echoes of characters or previous scenarios in order to draw parallels which may be unexpected. - By linking characters in this surprising way, the writer is able to suggest the duality of human beings: - No person is simply ‘good’ or ‘evil’, but rather, have aspects of both of these. ### _Volume Two: Chapter 8_ ![_Volume Two: Chapter 8_](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-07/525dba3f-06e9-4b83-8906-fcfd6744aee6/gulf-war-oil-burning.jpg) - __"From that moment I declared ever-lasting war against the species, and, more than all, against him who had formed me, and sent me forth to this insupportable misery."__ ### Revenge and the Monster ![Revenge and the Monster](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-08/2dc36b3a-f1ff-4ec3-bea7-3ab0c532ccea/revolution-rebellion-fist-.jpg) - The Monster commits to an unceasing pursuit of revenge, figuring it as a war not simply against Victor, but against the species as a whole. - He seems resigned to the fact that that is all his life can consist of. ### _Volume Three: Chapter 7_ ![_Volume Three: Chapter 7_](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-10/36761beb-0c02-4aa4-8efc-f0b4fe79aaa8/dead-trees-war-destroy-empty-.jpg) - __“Revenge kept me alive; I dared not die and leave my adversary in being.”__ ### Revenge and Victor ![Revenge and Victor](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-07/7c47b774-114b-4281-a4d0-8dd6732a82eb/catholic-war-crusade.jpg) - By the end of the novel, we see how Victor develops a similar obsession with revenge. - He also sees it as the thing which keeps him alive. - Shelley demonstrates the overwhelming nature of revenge on both Victor and the Monster in order to criticise its capacity to overpower anybody. ## Test yourself on Doubling - Who claims the following in _Letter 1_?_“You cannot contest the inestimable benefit which I shall confer on all mankind.”_ - What do Walton and Victor both believe? - How does Shelley draw parallels between Elizabeth's murder and when Victor destroyed the second creature? - How does Victor describe _'the remains of the half-finished creature'_ that he destroys? - By the end of the novel what do both Victor and the Monster have in common? [Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/8cdf14b1-4ce2-4099-98dc-f9c7835917f9/section/678f57f6-4901-46db-b9da-dc58329e5d15/session) - Previous topic: [4.4.1 Imagery](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/4-4-1-imagery.md) - Next topic: [4.4.3 End of Topic Test - Structure, Settings & More](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/4-4-3-end-of-topic-test-structure-settings-and-more.md) ## English Lit: AQA GCSE Frankenstein contents ### 1 Plot Summaries - 1.1 Volume I - [1.1.1 Letters I-IV](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/1-1-1-letters-i-iv.md) - [1.1.2 Chapters 1-3](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/1-1-2-chapters-1-3.md) - [1.1.3 Chapters 4-6](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/1-1-3-chapters-4-6.md) - [1.1.4 Chapters 7-8](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/1-1-4-chapters-7-8.md) - [1.1.5 End of Topic Test - Volume I](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/1-1-5-end-of-topic-test-volume-i.md) - 1.2 Volume II - [1.2.1 Chapters 1-3](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/1-2-1-chapters-1-3.md) - [1.2.2 Chapters 4-6](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/1-2-2-chapters-4-6.md) - [1.2.3 Chapters 7-9](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/1-2-3-chapters-7-9.md) - [1.2.4 End of Topic Test - Volume II](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/1-2-4-end-of-topic-test-volume-ii.md) - 1.3 Volume III - [1.3.1 Chapters 1-3](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/1-3-1-chapters-1-3.md) - [1.3.2 Chapters 4-6](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/1-3-2-chapters-4-6.md) - [1.3.3 Chapter 7 & Walton in Continuation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/1-3-3-chapter-7-and-walton-in-continuation.md) - [1.3.4 End of Topic Test - Volume III](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/1-3-4-end-of-topic-test-volume-iii.md) ### 2 Characters - 2.1 Victor Frankenstein - [2.1.1 Role](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/2-1-1-role.md) - [2.1.2 Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/2-1-2-quotations.md) - [2.1.3 End of Topic Test - Victor Frankenstein](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/2-1-3-end-of-topic-test-victor-frankenstein.md) - 2.2 The Monster - [2.2.1 Role](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/2-2-1-role.md) - [2.2.2 Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/2-2-2-quotations.md) - [2.2.3 End of Topic Test - The Monster](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/2-2-3-end-of-topic-test-the-monster.md) - [2.2.4 Grade 9 - The Monster Question & Extract](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/2-2-4-grade-9-the-monster-question-and-extract.md) - 2.3 Other Characters - [2.3.1 Robert Walton](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/2-3-1-robert-walton.md) - [2.3.2 Elizabeth Lavenza](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/2-3-2-elizabeth-lavenza.md) - [2.3.3 Alphonse Frankenstein](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/2-3-3-alphonse-frankenstein.md) - [2.3.4 Henry Clerval](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/2-3-4-henry-clerval.md) - [2.3.5 Justine Moritz](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/2-3-5-justine-moritz.md) - [2.3.6 The De Laceys](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/2-3-6-the-de-laceys.md) - [2.3.7 End of Topic Test - Walton, Elizabeth & Alphonse](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/2-3-7-end-of-topic-test-walton-elizabeth-and-alphonse.md) - [2.3.8 End of Topic Test - Henry, Justine & the De Laceys](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/2-3-8-end-of-topic-test-henry-justine-and-the-de-laceys.md) ### 3 Key Themes - 3.1 Ambition & Pursuit of Knowledge - [3.1.1 Presentation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/3-1-1-presentation.md) - [3.1.2 Key Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/3-1-2-key-quotations.md) - 3.2 Prejudice - [3.2.1 Presentation & Key Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/3-2-1-presentation-and-key-quotations.md) - 3.3 Justice - [3.3.1 Presentation & Key Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/3-3-1-presentation-and-key-quotations.md) - [3.3.2 End of Topic Test - Ambition, Prejudice & Justice](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/3-3-2-end-of-topic-test-ambition-prejudice-and-justice.md) - 3.4 Companionship & Family - [3.4.1 Presentation & Key Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/3-4-1-presentation-and-key-quotations.md) - 3.5 Revenge - [3.5.1 Presentation & Key Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/3-5-1-presentation-and-key-quotations.md) - 3.6 Monstrosity - [3.6.1 Presentation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/3-6-1-presentation.md) - [3.6.2 Key Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/3-6-2-key-quotations.md) - 3.7 Gender - [3.7.1 Presentation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/3-7-1-presentation.md) - [3.7.2 Key Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/3-7-2-key-quotations.md) - [3.7.3 Key Themes - Companionship, Revenge & More](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/3-7-3-key-themes-companionship-revenge-and-more.md) ### 4 Authorial Method - 4.1 Genre & Intertextuality - [4.1.1 Genre](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/4-1-1-genre.md) - [4.1.2 Intertextuality](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/4-1-2-intertextuality.md) - [4.1.3 End of Topic Test - Genre & Intertextuality](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/4-1-3-end-of-topic-test-genre-and-intertextuality.md) - 4.2 Form & Structure - [4.2.1 Form](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/4-2-1-form.md) - [4.2.2 Structure](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/4-2-2-structure.md) - 4.3 Settings & Symbolism - [4.3.1 Settings](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/4-3-1-settings.md) - [4.3.2 Symbolism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/4-3-2-symbolism.md) - 4.4 Imagery & Doubling - [4.4.1 Imagery](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/4-4-1-imagery.md) - [4.4.2 Doubling](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/4-4-2-doubling.md) - [4.4.3 End of Topic Test - Structure, Settings & More](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/4-4-3-end-of-topic-test-structure-settings-and-more.md) ### 5 Context - 5.1 Context - [5.1.1 Mary Shelley](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/5-1-1-mary-shelley.md) - [5.1.2 Time of Writing](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/5-1-2-time-of-writing.md) - [5.1.3 End of Topic Test - Context](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/5-1-3-end-of-topic-test-context.md) ### 6 Recap: Main Quotes - 6.1 Characters Quotes - [6.1.1 Victor Frankenstein](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/6-1-1-victor-frankenstein.md) - [6.1.2 Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/6-1-2-quotations.md) - [6.1.3 Robert Walton](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/6-1-3-robert-walton.md) - [6.1.4 Elizabeth Lavenza](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/6-1-4-elizabeth-lavenza.md) - [6.1.5 Alphonse Frankenstein](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/6-1-5-alphonse-frankenstein.md) - [6.1.6 Henry Clerval](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/6-1-6-henry-clerval.md) - [6.1.7 Justine Moritz](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/6-1-7-justine-moritz.md) - [6.1.8 The De Laceys](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/6-1-8-the-de-laceys.md) - 6.2 Text Structure - Quotes - [6.2.1 Ambition & Pursuit of Knowledge](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/6-2-1-ambition-and-pursuit-of-knowledge.md) - [6.2.2 Prejudice](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/6-2-2-prejudice.md) - [6.2.3 Justice](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/6-2-3-justice.md) - [6.2.4 Companionship & Family](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/6-2-4-companionship-and-family.md) - [6.2.5 Revenge](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/6-2-5-revenge.md) - [6.2.6 Monstrosity](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/6-2-6-monstrosity.md) - [6.2.7 Gender](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/frankenstein/6-2-7-gender.md)