Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Frankenstein in the Work of Mary Shelley FRANKENSTEIN BY MARY SHELLEY The focus of this study is to summarize chapters 16 through 20 in Mary Shelley's and to choose two to three particularly meaningful quotes or quotes that are provocative or significant. work entitled 'Frankenstein'.

Chapter 16 opens with the exclamation of "cursed, cursed creator! Why did I live?" (Shelley) This exclamation importantly sweets the scene for the dilemma in this story as Frankenstein is wailing against the unfairness of his expectance and his loneliness and lack of a companion and goes on to relate how he has been chased as a beast and forced to hide from those who intend to harm him.

Frankenstein goes on to tell how he was shot in the woods and suffered there for several weeks and relates being approached by a child that was beautiful and relates killing the child and noticing portrait of a woman in a locket on the child and being enraged that he in his monstrous form would never know the love of such a woman. Frankenstein reports going into a barn and finding a young woman sleeping and waking her and telling her that she will assist in creating his companion.

However he was denied by the woman to receive assistance and she stated that she could not create another evil as himself even if she was tortured. The woman relates shuddering on thinking about it but Frankenstein tries to reason with her.

The woman's future husband travels across the country with promises to marry her when he returns and she is left with the task of creating the female companion for Frankenstein and is filled with dread and feels sickened and wonders if she is casting an endless curse on the earth,. She questions whether Frankenstein will love or reject the female version of himself and whether the female will be more vicious than the male version of this creature. Stated specifically is: "I was moved.

I shuddered when I thought of the possible consequences of my consent, but I felt that there was some justice in his argument.

His tale and the feelings he now expressed proved him to be a creature of fine sensations, and did I not as his maker owe him all the portion of happiness that it was in my power to bestow?" (Shelley) This marks the change in the course of events in these chapters and the writer notes that Frankenstein noted the change in feelings and stated as follows: "If you consent, neither you nor any other human being shall ever see us again; I will go to the vast wilds of South America.

My food is not that of man; I do not destroy the lamb and the kid to glut my appetite; acorns and berries afford me sufficient nourishment. My companion will be of the same nature as myself and will be content with the same fare. We shall make our bed of dried leaves; the sun will shine on us as on man and will ripen our food.

The picture I present to you is peaceful and human, and you must feel that you could deny it only in the wantonness of power and cruelty. Pitiless as you have been towards me, I now see compassion in your eyes; let me.