Hal Emas
Academic Decathlon
Period 5a
May 3, 2012
Frankenstein Analysis
There are many themes throughout the novel Frankenstein, including life, consciousness, and existence, science, appearances, revenge, and lies and deceit. Each main character has a certain theme that relates to them specifically. Some have only a few themes while others have three or four. In the case of the novel Frankenstein, the main characters, Victor and the monster, have many similar themes but one major difference between them. There are quite a few different symbols in this book that apply to a number of characters including exploration, Adam and Eve, and light and fire.
This novel begins with Captain Walton sailing his ship to the North Pole. But misfortune occurs and his boat gets stuck in impassable ice hundreds of miles from and land. Having nothing to do, he begins writing letters to his sister in England. In his letters he tells his sister that he wants a male friend to come out to keep him company.
The captain is soon interrupted by the sight of a man on the ice riding a dog-sled. The man then boards the ship. This comes at the perfect time because it seems that the captain’s wish for a friend to come has come true. But who is the man? He seems a bit strange to the captain.
This new man, Victor, tells his entire life story the captain as he begins to rest on the ship. Victor’s life started out just like any normal kid from. When he was young, his parents adopted a girl named Elizabeth for Victor to marry once he was of age. Just like most people, Victor got older and went off to college where he studied natural philosophy and chemistry. At this time, his interest in alchemy returns. In roughly two years, Victor figures out how to make a body made from corpses come to life. Horrified by his creation, Victor becomes sick. Much to his advantage, his friend Henry nurses him back to health.
At this time in Geneva, Victor’s younger brother, William, is killed. The family...