Chapter+18

Chapter 18 "Bound" "I must absent myself from all I loved while thus employed. Once commenced, it would quickly be achieved, and I might be restored to my family in peace and happiness. My promise fulfilled, the monster would depart forever." (Shelley 136)

__**Contributors:**__

Robin Reynolds, Anna Cottle, Mary Mayfield-2nd period

Victor Frankenstein is gathering the courage to fulfill his promise to his creation. He feels as if he is bound by his word to create another being like the creature, before he can be bound in marriage to Elizabeth.

Word'sworth's "Tintern Abbey" show me...
 * Allusions:**

The affect of the setting on Frankenstein: nature -The beauty of nature has the unique ability to improve Frankenstein's mood in a way that is paralleled only by the presence of Elizabeth.
 * Motifs/Symbols:**

Wind -Wind appears many times throughout the novel and in this chapter. The significance of wind is it's presence in Frankenstein's life even though he cannot see it, just like the monster's presence.

Water -Water is literally a life giving substance, but it figuratively brings life to Frankenstein throughout the novel. It carries him through life and his struggles when he does not have the energy to move forward himself and inspires him in its relation to nature.

Boats -Throughout the novel, Frankenstein travels in many different boats. These boats symbolize Frankenstein's journey towards knowledge and/or realization.

Frankenstein longs for Elizabeth -Frankenstein awaits his union with Elizabeth and wants to hurry the process of creating another monster because of this.
 * Themes:**

Frankenstein feels trapped by his promise to the creature -Frankenstein has agreed to create another monster as a companion for the first but he cannot rid himself of the feeling that he is doing something horrible.

Frankenstein becomes more grounded in reality. He becomes increasingly depressed as he faces his commitment to the monster. At the same time, he feels a longing to the complete the task so that he doesn't have to face the monster anymore. He is sick with the task he has lying before him and regrets the day he ever created the monster. However, Frankenstein is at least taking some responsibility for his actions and the task he faces by preparing to leave his family in order to keep them safe. His goal is to get rid of the monster and his influence and be free to wed Elizabeth.
 * Character Development:**

"I love my cousin tenderly and sincerely. I never saw any woman who excited as much as Elizabeth does, my warmest admiration and affection. My future hopes and prospets are entirely bound up in the expectation of our union." (Shelley 135) -Frankenstein's more than cousinly love for Elizabeth is made clear by this statement. He clearly shows that Elizabeth has a unique effect on him and only through Elizabeth can he see a bright future.
 * Significant Quotes and explanations:**

"I must absent myself from all I loved while thus employed. Once commenced, it would quickly be achieved, and I might be restored to my family in peace and happiness. My promise fulfilled, the monster would depart forever." (Shelley 136) - This quote summarizes Victor's feelings concerning his current situation. In his mind, he fees he must seperate himself from is family in order to fulfill his promise to the monster. He believes this separation will prevent him from causing his family pain by sparing them from seeing his suffering caused by the process. He feels that after completing his task he can return to his family and begin a new life married to Elizabeth. He is naive in his notion that if he completes the task he promised, he will be freed from the horror he created.

Shelley, Mary. //Frankenstein//. Rev. ed. New York, NY : Barnes & Noble Books, 2003. 134-140. Print.
 * Art Gallery:**
 * Works Cited:**