Frankenstein (Chapters 9-10)

Chapter Eight:

• We learn that Victor's father is close to his sons, and is deeply traumatised by the death of William. 'No one could love child more than I loved your brother... (tears came to his eyes as he spoke)'. Importance of family or companionship?
• Victor yearns to use his kindness to help others, maybe to help with his own guilt about creating the 'monster'? 'thirsted for the moment when I should put them into practice, and make myself useful to my fellow beings'.
• Nature as a refuge is an idea associated with Romanticism. When Victor goes out on the lake to escape the life in the house. 'passed many hours upon the water...gave way to my own miserable reflections'. Idea of peace and tranquility again. Maybe this reflects how Mary Shelley dealt with grief- as her own life was touched by deaths.
• Victor's state of mind isn't healthy- even thinks briefly of suicide. 'I was tempted to plunge nito the silent lake, that the waters might close over me and my calamities for ever... I wept bitterly'.

Chapter Nine:

• Romantic, emblematic language used when describing nature- 'imperial', 'glorious', 'sublime'.
• 'elevated me from all littleness of feeling'. The romantic idea that nature acts as a remedy for unhealthy emotions is brought up here.
• The conflict between science and nature is a theme throughout the novel, but it is particularly prominent in the language used here. 'perpendicularity of the mountain... uniform clouds'.
• Sympathy felt for the creature?- shunned by everyone. Only experience of human beings have been negative- he was like a child.
• Use of hellish language when Victor refers to the creature 'Devil!' 'daemon'.
• Creature more intelligent then Victor? Taught himself the language, and points out the wrong doings in Victor.