'Pardon this intrusion,' said I; 'I am a traveller in want of a little rest; you would greatly oblige me if you would allow me to remain a few minutes before the fire. Even broken in spirit as he is, no one can feel more deeply than he does the beauties of nature. But these philosophers, whose hands seem only made to dabble in dirt, and their eyes to pore over the microscope or crucible, have indeed performed miracles. The Monster's first utterance sums up his story as he sees it, but it also demonstrates his skill with language. I read it, as I had read the other volumes which had fallen into my hands, as a true history. But where was mine? (one code per order). ', "'Do not despair. In this way, one might say that Victor's father turned him 'into a monster', just as Victor created a monster all his own. His soul overflowed with ardent affections, and his friendship was of that devoted and wondrous nature that the worldly-minded teach us to look for only in the imagination. Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow. ', "'May I know the names and residence of those friends? This. Victor speaks this quote as he reflects on the origins of his obsessive fascination with artificially creating life. Unit 2 - Prose. Do not return to your families with the stigma of disgrace marked on your brows. From 1818 First Edition. Who can describe their horror and consternation on beholding me? am satisfied: miserable wretch! Why do you not hate Felix who drove his friend from his door with contumely? Chapter 14, "Accursed creator! Frankenstein Quotes and Analysis. ', "The old man paused and then continued, 'If you will unreservedly confide to me the particulars of your tale, I perhaps may be of use in undeceiving them. My parents were possessed by the very spirit of kindness and indulgence. For the next 7 days, you'll have access to awesome PLUS stuff like AP English test prep, No Fear Shakespeare translations and audio, a note-taking tool, personalized dashboard, & much more! I took refuge in the courtyard belonging to the house which I inhabited, where I remained during the rest of the night, walking up and down in the greatest agitation, listening attentively, catching and fearing each sound as if it were to announce the approach of the demoniacal corpse to which I had so miserably given life." I, the miserable and the abandoned, am an abortion, to be spurned at, and kicked, and trampled on. Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge, and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow. I leave a sad and bitter world; and if you remember me, and think of me as of one unjustly condemned, I am resigned to the fate awaiting me. "As yet I looked upon crime as a distant evil, benevolence and generosity were ever present before me, inciting within me a desire to become an actor in the busy scene where so many admirable qualities were called forth and displayed. But I thought Werter himself a more divine being than I had ever beheld or imagined; his character contained no pretension, but it sank deep. In this way, he has been enslaved by his own creation because his one goal in life has become to destroy it. I have good dispositions; my life has been hitherto harmless and in some degree beneficial; but a fatal prejudice clouds their eyes, and where they ought to see a feeling and kind friend, they behold only a detestable monster. ', "I paused. They produced in me an infinity of new images and feelings that sometimes raised me to ecstasy, but more frequently sunk me into the lowest dejection.". But I forget that I am moralising in the most interesting part of my tale; and your looks remind me to proceed. Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan! Thus not the tenderness of friendship, nor the beauty of earth, nor of heaven, could redeem my soul from woe: the very accents of love were ineffectual. Make me happy, and I shall again be virtuous. ', "'Excellent man! He held up the curtain of the bed; and his eyes, if eyes they may be called, were fixed on me. I also am unfortunate; I and my family have been condemned, although innocent; judge, therefore, if I do not feel for your misfortunes. Knowledge is more important than life-established critique of transgression. If, instead of this remark, my father had taken the pains to explain to me that the principles of Agrippa had been entirely exploded, and that a modern system of science had been introduced, which possessed much greater powers than the ancient, because the powers of the latter were chimerical, while those of the former were real and practical; under such circumstances, I should certainly have thrown Agrippa aside, and have contented my imagination, warmed as it was, by returning with greater ardour to my former studies. Life and death appeared to me ideal bounds, which I should first break through, and pour a torrent of light into our dark world. You and your family are the friends whom I seek. solitude was my only consolationdeep, dark, deathlike solitude. Important Quotes Explained. A+ Student Essay: The Impact of the Monster's Eloquence. No father could claim the gratitude of his child so completely as I should deserve theirs. (one code per order). They point out Victor's great desire and goal: to reach and possess divine knowledge. The scenery of external nature, which others regard only with admiration, he loved with ardour[]. Subscribe now. "I can hardly describe to you the effect of these books. 'the first misfortune of my life occurred - an omen, as it were, of my future misery'. Contact us This is part of the monster's final monologue to Walton, after Frankenstein has died on the ship. Rather, Victor Frankenstein's drive anthropomorphizes or makes human the motivation of science to explore the boundaries of our world. The starry sky, the sea, and every sight afforded by these wonderful regions, seems still to have the power of elevating his soul from earth. The cottage of my protectors had been the only school in which I had studied human nature, but this book developed new and mightier scenes of action. Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. Dont have an account? for nothing contributes so much to tranquillize the mind as a steady purpose--a point on which the soul may fix its intellectual eye. Again I rose, and exerting all the firmness of which I was master, removed the planks which I had placed before my hovel to conceal my retreat. We rise; one wandring thought pollutes the day. Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein is considered a Gothic novel with the scary aspects characteristic of it. In this quote, the creature compares himself to Adam and Frankenstein to God. At first I had neglected them, but now that I was able to decipher the characters in which they were written, I began to study them with diligence. it is certainly more creditable to cultivate the earth for the sustenance of man, than to be the confidant, and sometimes the accomplice, of his vices; which is the profession of a lawyer. Removing #book# He might have spoken, but I did not hear; one hand was stretched out, seemingly to detain me, but I escaped, and rushed down stairs. for a customized plan. God, in pity, made man beautiful and alluring, after his own image; but my form is a filthy type of yours, more horrid even from the very resemlance. You can blast my other passions, but revenge remains revenge, henceforth dearer than light of food! I opened it with apathy; the theory which he attempts to demonstrate, and the wonderful facts which he relates, soon changed this feeling into enthusiasm. I learned from Werter's imaginations despondency and gloom, but Plutarch taught me high thoughts; he elevated me above the wretched sphere of my own reflections, to admire and love the heroes of past ages. These will help you gain a deeper understanding of this classic work, which delves into many complex themes related to man's relationship to technology, the use of knowledge for good and for evil, and the treatment of the poor or uneducated. Cease; you know not what it is you say." Victor can tell that Walton also has tendencies toward reckless ambition and encourages him to abandon this behavior. Free trial is available to new customers only. Your group members can use the joining link below to redeem their group membership. The monster says this in describing the three books with which he learned how to read -- Paradise Lost, Plutarch's Lives, and Sorrows of Werter. Alas! "Beware; for I am fearless, and therefore powerful.". Whence did I come? I am blind and cannot judge of your countenance, but there is something in your words which persuades me that you are sincere. Your subscription will continue automatically once the free trial period is over. I have no friend, Margaret: when I am glowing with the enthusiasm of success, there will be none to participate my joy; if I am assailed by disappointment, no one will endeavour to sustain me in dejection. said the old man. I knew that I was preparing for myself a deadly torture; but I was the slave, not the master, of an impulse which I detested, yet could not disobey. Frankenstein. ~Mary Shelley, Frankenstein, (Character: Victor . But my chief delights were the sight of the flowers, the birds, and all the gay apparel of summer; when those deserted me, I turned with more attention towards the cottagers. I am alone and miserable. 9. I expressed these feelings in my answer. Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (1797 - 1851) was a British author whose work crossed several genres (essays, biographies, novels, short stories, and dramas), though the book she's best remembered for is Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus, one of the most remarkable works in English literature.Read a detailed synopsis of this unforgettable story, and keep reading for a selection of . you have determined to live, and I am satisfied. "One night during my accustomed visit to the neighbouring wood where I collected my own food and brought home firing for my protectors, I found on the ground a leathern portmanteau containing several articles of dress and some books. This brief comment after Frankenstein digresses on the context within which he created his monster is rather telling of the narrative as an overall piece: part of the game in Frankenstein is for the reader to absorb the events and decide on the moral implications for herself. And Justine, a young girl adapted by the Frankenstein household, is framed by the monster and condemned to death for the murder. You can view our. Whence, I often asked myself, did the principle of life proceed? 'Bitterly'- mirrors cold landscape, shows how the environment is reflective of emotional state. And now it is ended; there is my last victim! I saw the hideous phantasm of a man stretched out, and then, on the working of some powerful engine, show signs of life and stir with an uneasy . "The ancient teachers of this science," said he, "promised impossibilities, and performed nothing. A human being in perfection ought always to preserve a calm and peaceful mind, and never to allow passion or a transitory desire to disturb his tranquillity. He is driven by a desire to discover secrets, but that is not the only way in which he is a secretive character. I found myself similar yet at the same time strangely unlike to the beings concerning whom I read and to whose conversation I was a listener. Frankenstein Quotes. Maldito sea el da en que recib la vida! Here are examples of some of the most famous quotes from Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley's Frankenstein; or, the Modern Prometheus (1818).These will help you gain a deeper understanding of this classic work, which delves into many complex themes related to man's relationship to technology, the use of knowledge for good and for evil, and the treatment of the poor or uneducated. "I thank you," he replied, "for your sympathy, but it is useless; my fate is nearly fulfilled. All was silent in and around the cottage; it was an excellent opportunity; yet, when I proceeded to execute my plan, my limbs failed me and I sank to the ground. "I cannot describe to you the agony that these reflections inflicted upon me; I tried to dispel them, but sorrow only increased with knowledge.". "Such was the history of my beloved cottagers. If I am not satisfied int he one, I will indulge the other., When falsehood can look so like the truth, who can assure themselves of certain happiness?, How mutable are our feelings, and how strange is that clinging love we have of life even in the excess of misery!, The whole series of my life appeared to me as a dream; I sometimes doubted if indeed it were all true, for it never presented itself to my mind with the force of reality., It maybe judged indecent in me to come forward on this occasion; but when I see a fellow-creature about to perish through the cowardice of her pretended friends, I wish to be allowed to speak, that I may say what I know of her character., With how many things are we on the brink of becoming acquainted, if cowardice or carelessness did not restrain our inquiries., If our impulses were confined to hunger, thirst, and desire, we might be nearly free; but now we are moved by every wind that blows and a chance word or scene that that word may convey to us., Man, I cried, how ignorant art thou in thy pride of wisdom!, Listen to me, Frankenstein. A human being in perfection ought always to preserve a calm and peaceful mind, and never to allow passion or a transitory desire to disturb his tranquillity. I, the miserable and the abandoned, am an abortion, to be spurned at, and kicked, and trampled on. Why does Frankenstein create the Monster? According to the creature, Adam is "beautiful" and "alluring" in the image of the almighty, but Frankenstein's creation is "filthy" and "horrid.". I see by your eagerness, and the wonder and hope which your eyes express, my friend, that you expect to be informed of the secret with which I am acquainted; that cannot be: listen patiently until the end of my story, and you will easily perceive why I am reserved upon that subject. Satan had his companions, fellow devils, to admire and encourage him, but I am solitary and abhorred." Chapter 4, "I beheld the wretch the miserable monster whom I had created. Throughout the novel the Monster skillfully deflects blame for the murders . Nothing is so painful to the human mind as a great and sudden change., Beware; for I am fearless, and therefore powerful., Life, although it may only be an accumulation of anguish, is dear to me, and I will defend it., If I cannot inspire love, I will cause fear!, I do know that for the sympathy of one living being, I would make peace with all. You accuse me of, murder; and yet you would, with a satisfied conscience, destroy your own creature. on 2-49 accounts, Save 30% Take, for instance, the moment after Justine was wrongly sentenced to death for the death of William, when Frankenstein is overcome by guilt for his own crime of creating the monster: "The blood flowed freely in my veins, but a weight of despair and remorse . I read of men concerned in public affairs, governing or massacring their species. Why does Frankenstein run away from his Monster? Some of these quotes have contextual links. No one has time to read them all, but its important to go over them at least briefly. For while I destroyed his hopes, I did not satisfy my own desires. This aim becomes his obsession and purpose in life. I was encompassed by a cloud which no beneficial influence could penetrate. How mutable are our feelings, and how strange is that clinging love we have of life even in the excess of misery! However, his motivation for exploration is still the fame and respect he thinks he will receive, not the possible benefits to anyone else. Renews March 11, 2023 Victor speaks these lines to Walton toward the end of the novel. I had a very confused knowledge of kingdoms, wide extents of country, mighty rivers, and boundless seas. Frankenstein. I remembered Adam's supplication to his Creator. Farewell, Frankenstein! You can view our. Sometimes it can end up there. I have devoted my creator, the select specimen of all that is worthy of love and admiration among men, to misery; I have pursued him even to that irremediable ruin. But even human sympathies were not sufficient to satisfy his eager mind. His jaws opened, and he muttered some inarticulate sounds, while a grin wrinkled his cheeks. Frankenstein. Qu'il vive donc en harmonie avec moi. I saw him on the point of repeating his blow, when, overcome by pain and anguish, I quitted the cottage, and in the general tumult escaped unperceived to my hovel. You'll be billed after your free trial ends. Satan had his companions, fellow devils, to admire and encourage him, but I am solitary and abhorred.'. Yet when she died!nay, then I was not miserable. I'm thinking it is when the creature demands that Victor create a female monster for him as a companion. I did not pretend to enter into the merits of the case, yet I inclined towards the opinions of the hero, whose extinction I wept, without precisely understanding it. But it was all a dream; no Eve soothed my sorrows nor shared my thoughts; I was alone. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. What did this mean? But the cursory glance my father had taken of my volume by no means assured me that he was acquainted with its contents; and I continued to read with the greatest avidity. But it is even so; the fallen angel becomes a malignant devil. The more I saw of them, the greater became my desire to claim their protection and kindness; my heart yearned to be known and loved by these amiable creatures; to see their sweet looks directed towards me with affection was the utmost limit of my ambition. Their happiness was not decreased by the absence of summer. I had feelings of affection, and they were requited by detestation and scorn. Everything is related in them which bears reference to my accursed origin; the whole detail of that series of disgusting circumstances which produced it is set in view; the minutest description of my odious and loathsome person is given, in language which painted your own horrors and rendered mine indelible. My father looked carelessly at the title page of my book, and said, "Ah! By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. The lines foreshadow the similar experience of ambition that Victor will also experience. I have love in me the likes of which you can scarcely imagine and rage the likes of which you would not believe. "I feel my heart glow with an enthusiasm which elevates me to heaven, for nothing contributes so much to tranquillize the mind as a steady purpose a point on which the soul may fix its intellectual eye." Frankenstein Quotes With Page Numbers, Volume II, Chapter 1. for a group? Chapter 2. Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more! If you will comply with my conditions, I will leave them and you at peace; but if you refuse, I will glut the maw of death, until it be satiated with the blood of your remaining friends. 'The path of my departure was free,' and there was none to lament my annihilation. "I sat down, and a silence ensued. Frankenstein. Wed love to have you back! Why did you form a monster so hideous that even you turned from me in disgust? Yet I did not heed the bleakness of the weather; I was better fitted by my conformation for the endurance of cold than heat. Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan! Victor is obsessed with discovering the spark of life, while his monster is driven to unlock the mystery of his true nature. 20% Could they turn from their door one, however monstrous, who solicited their compassion and friendship? Quote 2: "we are unfashioned creatures, but half made up, if one wiser, better, dearer than . God raises my weakness, and gives me courage to endure the worst. Prenez garde ! "As yet I looked upon crime as a distant evil, benevolence and generosity were ever present before me, inciting within me a . Frankenstein. freebooksummary.com 2016 2022 All Rights Reserved, We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. 'Who are you? "Autumn passed thus. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. Why did you form a monster so hideous that even you turned from me in disgust? I try in vain to be persuaded that the pole is the seat of frost and desolation; it ever presents itself to my imagination as the region of beauty and delight. ', "'No; but I was educated by a French family and understand that language only. 7. Frankenstein, Chapter 8. Romantic language- sense of delight, curiosity. Fortunately the books were written in the language, the elements of which I had acquired at the cottage; they consisted ofParadise Lost, a volume ofPlutarch's Lives, and theSorrows of Werter. I sawwith shut eyes, but acute mental visionI saw the pale student of unhallowed arts kneeling beside the thing he had put together. Make sure this fits by entering your model number. PEARSON (PEARSON) This document contains key quotes from Volume 2 of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Yet even that enemy of God and man had friends and associates in his desolation; I am alone., I was benevolent and good; misery made me a fiend. Accursed creator! - Mary Shelley. Central Idea Essay: Is the Monster in Frankenstein Good? Chapter 17, "Heavy misfortunes have befallen us, but let us only cling closer to what remains and transfer our love for those whom we have lost to those who yet live. Not affiliated with Harvard College. -exclam con agona-. Rather than pausing to consider how impressive the discoveries of others have been, Victor immediately focuses on outdoing them. CliffsNotes study guides are written by real teachers and professors, so no matter what you're studying, CliffsNotes can ease your homework headaches and help you score high on exams. ', "'Heaven forbid! It moved every feeling of wonder and awe that the picture of an omnipotent God warring with his creatures was capable of exciting. He had come forth from the hands of God a perfect creature, happy and prosperous, guarded by the especial care of his Creator; he was allowed to converse with and acquire knowledge from beings of a superior nature, but I was wretched, helpless, and alone.