Frankenstein

Book club study guide

 The plot...

Book club: Frankenstein

 Robert Walton, the captain of a ship bound for the North Pole, writes a letter to his sister, Margaret Saville, in which he says that his crew members
recently discovered a man adrift at sea. The man, Victor Frankenstein, offered to tell Walton his story.
Frankenstein has a perfect childhood in Switzerland, with a loving family that adopted orphans in need, including the beautiful Elizabeth, who soon
becomes Victor's closest friend, confidante, and love. Victor also has a caring and wonderful best friend, Henry Clerval. Just before Victor turns
seventeen and goes to study at the University at Ingolstadt, his mother dies of scarlet fever. At Ingolstadt, Victor dives into "natural philosophy" with a
passion, studying the secrets of life with such enthusiasm that he even loses touch with his family. He soon rises to the top of his field, and suddenly, one
night, discovers the secret of life. With visions of creating a new and noble race, Victor puts his knowledge to work. But when he animates his first
creature, its appearance is so horrifying he abandons it. Victor hopes the monster has disappeared for ever, but some months later he receives word
that his youngest brother, William, has been murdered. Though Victor sees the monster lingering at the site of the murder and is sure it did the deed, he
fears no one will believe him and keeps silent. Justine Moritz, another adoptee in his family, has been falsely accused based of the crime. She is
convicted and executed. Victor is consumed by guilt.
To escape its tragedy, the Frankenstein's go on vacation. Victor often hikes in the mountains, hoping to alleviate his suffering with the beauty of nature.
One day the monster appears, and despite Victor's curses begs him incredibly eloquently to listen to its story. The monster describes his wretched life,
full of suffering and rejection solely because of his horrifying appearance. (The monster also explains how he learned to read and speak so well.) The
monster blames his rage on humanity's inability to perceive his inner goodness and his resulting total isolation. It demands that Victor, its creator who
brought it into this wretched life, create a female monster to give it the love that no human ever will. Victor refuses at first, but then agrees.
Back in Geneva, Victor's father expresses his wish that Victor marry Elizabeth. Victor says he first must travel to England. On the way to England, Victor
meets up with Clerval. Soon, though, Victor leaves Clerval at the house of a friend in Scotland and moves to a remote island to make his second, female,
monster. But one night Victor begins to worry that the female monster might turn out more destructive than the first. At the same moment, Victor sees
the first monster watching him work through a window. The horrifying sight pushes Victor to destroy the female monster. The monster vows revenge,
warning Victor that it will "be with him on [his] wedding night." Victor takes the remains of the female monster and dumps them in the ocean. But when
he returns to shore, he is accused of a murder that was committed that same night. When Victor discovers that the victim is Clerval, he collapses and
remains delusional for two months. When he wakes his father has arrived, and he is cleared of the criminal charges against him.
Victor returns with his father to Geneva, and marries Elizabeth. But on his wedding night, the monster kills Elizabeth. Victor's father dies of grief soon
after. Now, all alone in the world, Victor dedicates himself solely to seeking revenge against the monster. He tracks the monster to the Arctic, but
becomes trapped on breaking ice and is rescued by Walton's crew.
Walton writes another series of letters to his sister. He tells her about his failure to reach the North Pole and to restore Victor, who died soon after his
rescue. Walton's final letter describes his discovery of the monster grieving over Victor's corpse. He accuses the monster of having no remorse, but the
monster says it has suffered more than anyone. With Victor dead, the monster has its revenge and plans to end its own life.

Frankenstein, Mary Shelley

Plot summary
 Author biography
Mary Shelley was born in 1797. Her mother was radical author Mary Wollstonecraft, a
trailblazing feminist who advocated for women’s education. Her father, William Godwin,
was also a radical writer and an anarchist philosopher committed to Enlightenment
ideals of rationality. Born to these parents and introduced to the circle of writers in which
they moved—which included, at various times, Thomas Paine, William Blake, and William
Wordsworth—Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin was uniquely positioned to make her own
way in the literary scene.
Mary Shelley started writing Frankenstein in 1816 (age 19) when her friends held a
competition to write a scary story. Her friends included the famous poets Percy Shelley
and Lord Byron. Shelley’s story was inspired by some gruesome scientific experiments
that were happening during her lifetime. Some scientists were experimenting with using
electricity to reanimate dead animals, such as frogs. In 1803, they even tried to
reanimate a human body. These experiments were not successful, but Shelley used them
as inspiration for Victor’s creation. She explored society’s fears about what might
happen if these experiments succeeded.
The novel was originally published anonymously as it was not common for women to
write at this time. However, Frankenstein quickly exploded in popularity and Mary
Shelley – who became a widow at 24 - went on to have a successful career. Supporting
herself through writing until her death in 1851.
Just in 2016, nearly 50,000 copies of Frankenstein were sold—a testament to the novel’s
enduring popularity, considering that this figure is 100 times the number of copies
produced in the novel’s first printing. One of the original 500 copies of Frankenstein sold
at auction in 2021 for $1.17 million, breaking the record for a printed work by a woman.
 Frankenstein, written by Mary Shelley and first published in 1818, remains a seminal work of literature
that continues to captivate readers and stimulate thought-provoking discussions about science, morality,
and the human condition. Its enduring legacy is a testament to Mary Shelley’s genius and the timeless
relevance of her masterpiece.
Frankenstein has three separate narrators. The novel starts with framing narrative or epistolary form
(meaning that the story is told through letters – in this case Walton´s), then moves onto Victor´s story and
contained within this is the monster´s story. By telling the story from the perspective of three different
characters, Shelley helps the reader to understand each different viewpoint. Meaning there is no clear hero
or villain and the reader has to decide for themselves who they sympathise with.
Frankenstein explores themes such as ambition, revenge and what it means to be a monster.
“Frankenstein” continues to provoke discussion and debate about the ethical implications of scientific
experimentation and the responsibilities of creators toward their creations.
The themes explored in “Frankenstein” remain relevant in contemporary society, where scientific
advancements continue to raise questions about the limits of human knowledge and the ethical
boundaries of scientific inquiry.
Scholars have offered various interpretations of “Frankenstein,” ranging from feminist readings that focus
on Shelley’s portrayal of female characters to Marxist analyses that explore the novel’s critique of capitalism
and social inequality.
Over 200 years later, Frankenstein is still a phenomenon, which shows no sign of slowing down.
Frankenstein, Mary Shelley Overview
VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN THE MONSTER

Victor comes from a wealthy family in Geneva, The Monster is made by Victor from
Switzerland. He is interested in science and becomes dead body parts. As soon as he Central
comes to life, Victor abandons him.
obsessed
HI with trying to cure death.
characters
Victor
HIis ambitious and selfish. He isolates himself from Even though the Monster is
his friends and family and refuses to take responsibility intelligent and sensitive, people are
for what he has done. disgusted and terrified by him. He is
treated badly so has to learn survive
ROBERT WALTON on his own, becoming angry and
jealous.
Walton is an Arctic explorer. Like Victor, he is also
ambitious and lonely. When Victor dies at the end of the
novel, the Monster grieves for him
Victor tells Robert his story and Walton writes it down in and goes away to die as well.
letters to his sister back in England.

HENRY CLERVAL ELIZABETH

Henry Clerval is Victor’s best friend. Henry cares Elizabeth is adopted by the Frankenstein
for Victor when he becomes unwell after family and grows up with Victor. She is caring
creating the Monster, and goes with Victor when and innocent.
he travels to a remote laboratory to create the
female companion. Henry is killed by the Elizabeth and Victor get married, but the
Monster. Monster kills her in revenge.
REVENGE LONELINESS AND
NATURE vs NURTURE
For both Victor and the monster, REJECTION
The Creature’s experiences
revenge becomes an obsession
which ultimately leads to their raise questions about the Both Victor and the Central
Creature experience
deaths. It becomes clear that influence of nature versus
nurture on human profound feelings of themes
seeking revenge is a negative and
behaviour and morality. isolation and alienation,
unproductive act.
emphasizing the
importance of human
FEMINISM connection and empathy.

Frankenstein has no significant female protagonist,

however through male narration Frankenstein brings DISCUSSION IDEAS
to light the various problems that were, and still are,
prominent in the world of women by deliberately
portraying them as something weak, disposable, and MONSTROSITY
subservient to men.
Many readers assume that
the ‘monster’ in Frankenstein
PURSUIT OF KNOWLEDGE / AMBITION is Victor’s creation. But it’s
clear that Shelley wanted the
The pursuit of knowledge is at the heart of Frankenstein. Victor
reader to feel sympathy for
attempts to surge beyond accepted human limits and access
him. Shelley suggests that
the secret of life, Walton attempts to surpass previous human
other things, such as Victor
explorations. This ruthless pursuit of knowledge, proves
and society are actually
dangerous, as Victor’s act of creation eventually results in the
monstrous.
destruction of everyone dear to him.
 • What was your feeling when you finished the book? Did you like it?
• Frankenstein has become synonymous with an ugly, rather dim-witted monster. Were you surprised that the monster was
as intelligent as he was depicted in the novel?
• Is the monster portrayed sympathetically in the novel? Do you feel inclined to like the monster because of his portrayal in
the novel?
• In what different ways are monstrosity presented in the novel?
• There are similarities between Frankenstein and the monster in the book. Can you name some of them? Why do you think
that Shelley draws parallels between Victor Frankenstein and the monster?
• Is the monster justified in acting badly towards humans? Why or why not?
• Why does Frankenstein abandon the monster as soon as he created him? Do you think he is justified in abandoning the
monster?
• Some people think that parts of the book remind them of childbirth and child rearing. Do you agree? Why? Why not?
• Shelley begins and ends the novel with a series of letters from Walton to his sister. Have you read others books which have
used this framing narrative? Was it an effective way to tell the story?

• Frankenstein refuses to complete a partner for the monster because he fears she will have the autonomy to reject the
monster as he has. Or that they will be able to create life themselves without him. What do you think this says about
Frankenstein´s view of himself and of women?
• What are your thoughts about the author Mary Shelley? And her ability to write such profound work in her debut novel, as
a teenager?

Frankenstein, Mary Shelley

Discussion questions
 Please use this guide to help you
think about some of the topics found
in the book.

However, other ideas and discussion points

are VERY welcome!

What do you think?