Frankenstein Volume 1 Chapter 1
The stranger, Victor Frankenstein says he was born in Naples and grew up in Geneva, Switzerland. His father, Alphonse,
and his mother, Caroline, first became close when Alphonse's friend and Caroline's father, Beaufort, died. Alphonse
became Caroline's protector, and eventually married her. When he was five, his mother discovered a beautiful blond
orphan girl named Elizabeth Lavenza in an Italian village and adopted her. Victor, his parents, and all the Frankenstein’s
adored Elizabeth. She became to him a "more than sister." The two children referred to each other as cousins, rather
than brother and sister
Themes and Quotes Links to HT
Social status/class- ‘My ancestors had been for many years
counsellors and syndics; and my father had filled several Social hierarchy is important in both societies; in Gilead it
public situations with honour and reputation.’ Immediately can determine whether you are a wealthy wife, a poor
Victor’s social class is established in the novel, he knows of econowife or a reproductive tool to be controlled by
his family’s importance and high social importance. others. In Shelley’s 17th century setting, there is also a clear
divide in the lives of those who are wealthy and socially
Playing god- The idea of creation and bringing life into the established, and those who are not with many living in the
world is established, Victor talks about himself in the minds extremes of poverty with a ‘ number of half-clothed
of his parents ‘their child, the innocent and helpless children gathered about’
creature bestowed on them by heaven’ and indeed the use
of the pre-modifying adjectives ‘innocent’ and ‘helpless’ Despite the difference in the eras that both female writers
emphasise the natural way in which children are born into constructed their novels, both chose to highlight the
the world. However, there is also a questioning of the patronising traditional treatment of women within society,
nature-nurture debate ‘it was in their hands to direct depicting them as dependant on the protection of men. In
happiness or misery’, with the notion of ‘hands’ suggesting the case of this chapter, Shelley even compares Caroline to
that his parents had ultimate control of his life- as opposed a flower, much like Atwood’s consistent use of flower
to fate. There is an element of foreshadowing here, as imagery
ironically, Victor ignores the important effect that the
attitude a person’s creator can have on their actions and The maintenance of appearances is also very important
attitudes. within both of the society’s, however in Frankenstein it is
looks and beauty; a person’s aesthetic, that determine
Relationships and family- ‘There was a considerable show they are treated. This could be paralleled with the
difference between the ages of my parents, but the use of colour in Gilead, which represents the wearer’s role
circumstance seemed to unite them only closer in bonds of in society, and therefore how they should be treated by
devoted affection’ For the first time in the novel, we are others. However, Atwood also focuses quite a lot on the
introduced the concept of love, in terms of marriage or idea of keeping up appearances; Offred has to act strong in
romance. The phrase ‘devoted affection’ all the more order to not show her weakness.
emphasises this, however this could be contrasted to the
circumstances of his parent’s marriage; his father
‘recompensing her for the sorrows she had endured’. There
is a sadness that surrounds marriage and love.
Treatment of women- Initially, Caroline could be seen as a
strong female character ‘a mind of uncommon mould, and
her courage rose to support her in adversity’. However,
after marrying Victor’s father she is portrayed as more of a
traditionally dependant woman, as depicted by the use of
simile ‘He strove to shelter her, as a fair exotic is sheltered
by a gardener’. Her comparison to a flower makes her
sound like an object, simply a traditional representation of
fertility.
The stranger, Victor Frankenstein says he was born in Naples and grew up in Geneva, Switzerland. His father, Alphonse,
and his mother, Caroline, first became close when Alphonse's friend and Caroline's father, Beaufort, died. Alphonse
became Caroline's protector, and eventually married her. When he was five, his mother discovered a beautiful blond
orphan girl named Elizabeth Lavenza in an Italian village and adopted her. Victor, his parents, and all the Frankenstein’s
adored Elizabeth. She became to him a "more than sister." The two children referred to each other as cousins, rather
than brother and sister
Themes and Quotes Links to HT
Social status/class- ‘My ancestors had been for many years
counsellors and syndics; and my father had filled several Social hierarchy is important in both societies; in Gilead it
public situations with honour and reputation.’ Immediately can determine whether you are a wealthy wife, a poor
Victor’s social class is established in the novel, he knows of econowife or a reproductive tool to be controlled by
his family’s importance and high social importance. others. In Shelley’s 17th century setting, there is also a clear
divide in the lives of those who are wealthy and socially
Playing god- The idea of creation and bringing life into the established, and those who are not with many living in the
world is established, Victor talks about himself in the minds extremes of poverty with a ‘ number of half-clothed
of his parents ‘their child, the innocent and helpless children gathered about’
creature bestowed on them by heaven’ and indeed the use
of the pre-modifying adjectives ‘innocent’ and ‘helpless’ Despite the difference in the eras that both female writers
emphasise the natural way in which children are born into constructed their novels, both chose to highlight the
the world. However, there is also a questioning of the patronising traditional treatment of women within society,
nature-nurture debate ‘it was in their hands to direct depicting them as dependant on the protection of men. In
happiness or misery’, with the notion of ‘hands’ suggesting the case of this chapter, Shelley even compares Caroline to
that his parents had ultimate control of his life- as opposed a flower, much like Atwood’s consistent use of flower
to fate. There is an element of foreshadowing here, as imagery
ironically, Victor ignores the important effect that the
attitude a person’s creator can have on their actions and The maintenance of appearances is also very important
attitudes. within both of the society’s, however in Frankenstein it is
looks and beauty; a person’s aesthetic, that determine
Relationships and family- ‘There was a considerable show they are treated. This could be paralleled with the
difference between the ages of my parents, but the use of colour in Gilead, which represents the wearer’s role
circumstance seemed to unite them only closer in bonds of in society, and therefore how they should be treated by
devoted affection’ For the first time in the novel, we are others. However, Atwood also focuses quite a lot on the
introduced the concept of love, in terms of marriage or idea of keeping up appearances; Offred has to act strong in
romance. The phrase ‘devoted affection’ all the more order to not show her weakness.
emphasises this, however this could be contrasted to the
circumstances of his parent’s marriage; his father
‘recompensing her for the sorrows she had endured’. There
is a sadness that surrounds marriage and love.
Treatment of women- Initially, Caroline could be seen as a
strong female character ‘a mind of uncommon mould, and
her courage rose to support her in adversity’. However,
after marrying Victor’s father she is portrayed as more of a
traditionally dependant woman, as depicted by the use of
simile ‘He strove to shelter her, as a fair exotic is sheltered
by a gardener’. Her comparison to a flower makes her
sound like an object, simply a traditional representation of
fertility.
