Charlotte Polk                                                                                                                                     Friday Oct.30

Chapt.18-end

The last block of text that was assigned for homework in Shelley’s “Frankenstein”, was from page 107 until the end of the book.  This section starts out with a heavy moral decision for Victor.  To mask his plan, he sets out on a traveling tour.  Wanting to create a new monster leads him with the difficult choice, he knows the implications that will follow if he fails.  During this time, he begins to weigh out the options taking into account the devastation if his new creation leads to the same destruction.  While traveling, Victor decides to go visit a few philosophers that contain the newest scientific information.  Through his despair, while in Scotland Victor has decided to finish his creation using gathered raw materials.  He wonders about the whereabouts of his monster that he left behind, and hopes his family is safe.  At this point, Victor states that he is miserable, and is in utter confusion about what to do with his creation. During this time for him was especially lonesome.  I think that Shelley really enforces the trouble he has had to endure since creating this being.   Relentlessly, Victor decides to start the creation of another monster, this time a female.  He begins the work and when it is nearly half way complete, he battles yet again with the decision to keep creating or destroy his efforts thus far.  After disposing the remaining body parts, the original monster comes to the lab, and with furry starts to argue with Victor to see why the second monster was destroyed.

Victor is emotionally wrecked; he feels as though his work has turned into a tragedy.  Upon returning home he tries to tell his father of the deaths, claiming sole responsibility.  Victor validates the creations actions by saying that since he created the monster with his hands, by default he basically committed the murders.  Throughout the deration of this novel, Victor Frankenstein struggles with the internal.  Stuck in his own mind, he is emotionally torn, with what seems to be a loving relationship with the monster.  How can he destroy something he worked so hard for, yet how can something that he made cause so much lethal damage to himself, and others?  However, that emotion doesn’t last long when Victor curses the monster for all the hardships he had to endure since the creation.

“….But through the whole period during which I was the slave of my creature I allowed myself to be governed by the impulses of the moment; and my exempt my family from the danger of his machinations” Pg.111

I chose this quote because I really think it exemplifies his self emotional dispute.  Originally, before making a personal relationship with the creation, his motives were clear; to do something that matters in the scientific field, make a difference, and make a name for himself. Once he finally thinks he has accomplished this dream, the devastation that follows out weigh his work.  He was no longer in control of this being which he put hours into creating, the monster had turned and has been controlling his life.  Victor lived a very privileged, happy childhood.  He first came in contact with sorrow soon after the the creation of the monster.  Everyone that was important to Victor was killed by creation, stripping him of continuing to feel superior to his own creation.