Victor Frankenstein’s Tragic Journey: Plot Summary and Critique
Summary of *Frankenstein*
Victor Frankenstein’s Early Life and Creation
During his childhood, Victor was a happy child living with his tolerant parents, his cousin Elizabeth (to whom he was engaged), and his two brothers. His best friend was Henry Clerval. His great passion was natural science.
After his mother’s death, Frankenstein studied these sciences at the University of Ingolstadt. That’s where he creates a living being out of nothing. When he sees the monster he created, Victor falls ill but recovers thanks to Clerval’s care.
Tragedy and the Monster’s Demand
When his father explains that his younger brother has been murdered, Victor returns to his native Geneva. Near the murder site, Victor glimpses the figure of his creation. Justine, a maid in the house, is accused and convicted of the boy’s death, although Victor suspects the monster is the true murderer.
Later, on a family outing to the Chamonix valley, the monster reveals himself to Victor. The monster also tells the story of his life:
- From the very beginning, humanity rejected him.
- He learned to speak thanks to the De Lacey family, people to whom he became deeply attached.
- When they discover his appearance, they also reject him.
After this rejection, he decides to go to Geneva, where he vents his anger on Victor’s brother. The monster asks Dr. Frankenstein to create a female companion, similar to himself. Initially, under the threats of the creature (whom Victor calls the “demon”), Victor agrees to the request.
The Pursuit and Final Vengeance
Clerval and Victor embark on a journey to England. After living together for a while, Frankenstein moves to a remote Scottish island to carry out the project. Before finishing it, Victor changes his mind and destroys the female creature, provoking the monster’s wrath. The monster swears revenge and promises to be with Victor on his wedding night.
Before leaving, Victor had expressed his intention to marry Elizabeth upon his return. Accidentally, the Doctor reaches the Irish coast, where he is found near the body of Clerval and is suspected of murder. He is tried and found innocent. Victor is horrified because he knows the monster killed Henry, but Elizabeth mistakenly believes Victor’s distress is due to him being in love with another woman. Victor denies this accusation.
When he returns to Geneva, he marries Elizabeth, and that very night, the monster kills her. Shortly after, his father dies from the agony caused by these deaths.
Victor, bent on revenge, tells his story to a magistrate, who believes him but is unwilling to hunt down the creature. Victor pursues the creature wherever it goes, eventually reaching the North Pole, where he boards Captain Walton’s ship. On the day of Victor’s death, the monster appears before Captain Walton.
Critical Analysis and Personal Opinion
The beginning of the novel is the part that I liked most. The reasons are that the events are told plainly, and the language is lighter than the rest of the book.
From the creation of the monster until Justine’s death, understanding the events is complicated. I sometimes had to reread whole chapters to grasp the characters’ motivations and assimilate the gist. Also, all the characters change their demeanor suddenly, often in a very exaggerated manner and for insufficient reasons, in my opinion.
While the plot seemed loose, I disliked the style because it is full of jargon and topographic descriptions, reading more like a geography book than a novel. The final section was somewhat entertaining and created a bit of suspense during the persecution of the monster.