Frankenstein: Chapters 1-3

in Frankenstein

Frankenstein starts his tale, gives his history and introduces us to Elizabeth. His is an idyllic start in life and introduces us to the first of the book’s passive women – note absence of mothers in the text and abundance of orphans. However, even the happy parts are laced with strong foreshadowing of what’s to come, the teenage victor is fascinated by the natural world and obsessed with the work of now outdated alchemists. The tutorial considers parental relationships and questions of education. We see how his obsession is crushed by a visiting scientist, who demonstrates electricity to Victor and is convinced to abandon his interest to pursue science.