Was Frankenstein's Behaviour in Chapter 5 Understandable?.
In this essay I am going to be discussing a chapter of the novel Frankenstein' by Mary Shelley. This is a gothic horror novel about a scientist named Dr. Frankenstein, who's ambition to further himself in the field of Science becomes an obsession. This leads him to try the impossible; creating life using an inanimate body. Frankenstein spends two years creating this being, and when he finally prevails, he becomes disgusted and horrified with the monster' he has made. Frankenstein deserts the monster, who develops a hatred for mankind and the cruelty they harbour - he hunts down Frankenstein, threatening to take his life in revenge.
In this essay, I aim to examine Frankenstein's behaviour in Chapter 5; the chapter that the monster was created and deserted in. I will be explaining different techniques Mary Shelley (the author) uses to make us feel things for the two main characters, Frankenstein and his monster. Lastly, I will analyse the question and say whether the actions Frankenstein carry out in Chapter 5 are understandable or not.
From the overall summary of the book's plot, it is clear that Frankenstein is an intelligent man, highly respected about the town and has developed a good reputation. He is described as someone who is benevolent' - this means that he has no hatred or fury towards anyone; he is just a pure, kind-hearted man. Mary Shelley uses this subliminal' technique a lot; by getting the characters to talk about how likeable he is and how he is a wonderful person, it will subconsciously make you start to think and feel the same way. You hear nothing but praise for Frankenstein, and you think, why would such a horrible monster want to harm this man? What must he have done?' Frankenstein is rescued from the Monster by Captain Walton, who he tells his story to. We know, then, that Frankenstein is going to die - Shelley could have written this so that the reader feels pity for him.
