Chapter+6

Ouch. Your font and background colors make my eyes hurt - it is distracting to the content.

Chapter VI

Chronic Decay

"We are dying from over thinking. We are slowly killing ourselves by thinking about everything.  Think.  Think.  Think.  You can never trust the human mind anyway.  It's a death trap." --Anthony Hopkins Interesting quote Contributors:Alex Stevens, Katie Light, and Chase Flint- 7th Period

**Synopsis:**

Frankenstein receives a letter of concern from Elizabeth. She is worried about his precarious health situation. She tells him that a family friend, Justine has come to stay with them. Victor is extremely excited about receiving the letter. Victor then introduces Henry Clerval to his professors. The introductions are hard on Victor because the sight of laboratory equipment causes him to be ill. Victor decides that he will return to his family in Geneva, and waits in Ingolstadt for a letter from his father telling him when he can return. While waiting, Victor and Henry walk through the country and their spirits are lifted by the beauty of nature.

**Allusions:**

Page 58: “Justine, you may remember was a great favourite of yours; and I recollect you once remarked, that if you were in an ill-humour, one glance from Justine could dissipate it, for all the same reason that Ariosto gives concerning the beauty of Angelica- she looked so frank-hearted and happy.”- This is an allusion to Orlando Furioso by Ludovico Ariosto. Shelley is making a reference Orlando’s facination with the married Angelica, which drives him to madness. Why might this be appropriate? **Motifs/Symbols:** Letters: The written letters in Victor's story allow both Elizabeth and Victor's father to partake directly in the narrative, speaking straight to Walton and the reader. However, while the letters increase the realism of Victor's story, allowing the reader to hear the characters’ unique voices without censoring by Victor, they also make the overall narrative less credible. It is improbable that Victor would remember the letters verbatim and even more unlikely that Walton would record them as such in his own letters to his sister. The letters would have been skewed in some way from Victor's reception to Walton's sister's reception of them. Furthermore, there is the question of filtering: the memories of either Victor and Walton would be biased, either subconsciously or consciously. The presence of these letters spearheads the issue of the narratives reliability.

**Themes:** Isolation: The theme of isolation and loneliness is evident in Chapter 6 through Frankenstein's isolation of himself. He isolates himself from his professors and friends because of his shame and guilt over the creation of his monster. When he meets with his professors, they speak only of science. When they find that the initial conversations of Victor's success causes him discomfort, they begin discussing science in general in an effort to draw him out of shell of isolation. However, this subject has the exact opposite effect and causes him even more pain, even though they mean well by it.

Sublime Nature: Near the end of term, as Victor and Clerval wait to travel back to Geneva, they take a tour around Germany which rekindles Victor’s love of nature and raises his spirits. Victor views nature as a Romantic poet would: sublime, impenetrable, free from the burdens of fallible human life. It provides him with relief throughout the novel, and especially in this chapter.

**Quotations:** "Ever since the fatal night, the end of my labours, and the beginning of my misfortunes, I had conceived a violent antipathy even to the name of natural philosophy" (Shelley). Page 60: This quote shows how Frankenstein's creation has caused him to feel a deep feeling of isolation, guilt and shame.

"A selfish pursuit had cramped and narrowed me, until your gentleness and affection warmed and opened my senses; I became the same happy creature who, a few years ago, loved and beloved by all, had no sorrow or care" (Shelley). Page 63: This quote shows the emotions displayed by Frankenstein and his realization of these actions and also the ability to change.

Art Gallery:
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