53). This, too, adds to the sinister setting and evil undertones of the novel. .
The setting also serves the purpose of reflecting the feelings of the characters in the novel. Whenever Frankenstein is upset or someone is going to jail, it is raining. A Gothic novel would not be complete without a lot of rain. For example, after Victor sees the monster for the first time, he says, "[I] felt impelled to hurry on, although drenched by the rain which poured from a black and comfortless sky" (p. 58). While flipping through the novel, the reader can be certain of catching a glimpse of the words rain, dark, horror, and tears. .
The second characteristic of the Gothic theme is the fascination with the unconscious and abnormal psychology. This includes things such as secrets and crime, both of which share the spotlight in Frankenstein. The main secret in the novel is the existence of the monster, which ultimately leads to the demise of all of Victor's loved ones. For example, if he had told Elizabeth about the threat made by the monster for their wedding night, she might not have been killed. When Victor finally tells his secret to Walton, it is as if some of the burden has been lifted and he dies soon after. Even Walton is "searching for the secrets of the pole" (Parkin-Gounelas, 216).
One of the ways the theme of the unconscious is depicted is the insanity that Victor finds himself stuck in. After the death of Clerval, he is locked up for some time. He doesn't remember much of the time that he was in his cell, but he says, "I lay for two months on the point of death: my ravings, as I afterwards heard were frightful; I called myself the murderer of William, of Justine, and of Clerval" (p.171). He goes on in great description about the insanity and terror that he felt. The crime aspect of this characteristic can also be seen through the above quotation. The creature kills four people to get back at Victor, and, in the end, kills himself and his creator.