Quotes (Frankenstein)

This section explores the key quotes in the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. These quotes capture the key themes and tragic elements of Frankenstein. From Victor’s unchecked ambition to the Creature’s rejection by society, these quotations serve as focal points for exploring the novel’s complex ideas about human nature, responsibility, and the consequences of playing God.

"I had worked hard for nearly two years, for the sole purpose of infusing life into an inanimate body. For this I had deprived myself of rest and health."

Theme: Ambition, Obsession

Victor Frankenstein reflects on the sacrifices he made in pursuit of his scientific goals. His obsession with creating life causes him to neglect his health and wellbeing, foreshadowing the personal cost of his ambition.

"It was on a dreary night of November that I beheld the accomplishment of my toils."

Theme: Gothic Atmosphere, Creation

The novel’s gothic tone is evident in the bleak description of the night when Victor brings the Creature to life. This event marks the beginning of Victor’s downfall and the Creature’s suffering.

"I had selected his features as beautiful. Beautiful! Great God!"

Theme: Monstrosity, Appearance vs. Reality

Victor’s horror upon seeing the Creature reveals the novel’s exploration of beauty and monstrosity. Despite Victor’s intentions, the Creature’s outward appearance immediately elicits revulsion, reflecting society's tendency to judge by appearances.

"I, who had ever been surrounded by amiable companions... was now alone."

Theme: Isolation

Victor acknowledges his newfound isolation, which is a consequence of his actions. His hubris and the secretive nature of his experiment alienate him from others, and this isolation becomes a key element in his tragic arc.

"You seek for knowledge and wisdom, as I once did; and I ardently hope that the gratification of your wishes may not be a serpent to sting you, as mine has been."

Theme: Pursuit of Knowledge, Foreshadowing

Victor warns Walton, the Arctic explorer, of the dangers of ambition and the pursuit of knowledge. This advice encapsulates one of the novel’s central messages: the peril of overreaching in the pursuit of scientific or intellectual goals.

"I ought to be thy Adam, but I am rather the fallen angel."

Theme: Creation, Monstrosity, Religion

The Creature compares himself to both Adam and Satan from Paradise Lost, highlighting his complex position as both an innocent creation and a being who has fallen into sin due to his rejection by his creator.

"I was benevolent and good; misery made me a fiend."

Theme: Nature vs. Nurture

The Creature laments how he was born with good intentions but became violent and destructive due to the cruelty and rejection he experienced. This quote raises questions about the impact of environment and treatment on a being’s character.

"Beware; for I am fearless, and therefore powerful."

Theme: Power, Revenge

The Creature’s declaration of fearlessness signals the shift in his character from passive victim to vengeful antagonist. His loss of fear reflects his transformation into a powerful, dangerous figure.

"I will revenge my injuries: if I cannot inspire love, I will cause fear."

Theme: Revenge, Isolation

The Creature’s bitterness at being denied companionship and love leads him to seek revenge on Victor. This quote underscores the novel’s exploration of the consequences of isolation and rejection.

"The world was to me a secret which I desired to divine."

Theme: Curiosity, Ambition

Victor recalls his childhood thirst for knowledge, which parallels Walton’s own ambition. This desire to uncover the world’s secrets drives much of the novel’s tragic action.

"The miserable series of my being is wound to its close!"

Theme: Despair, Tragedy

Victor’s declaration of his impending doom reflects his despair and recognition that his life, once filled with promise, has been consumed by misery as a result of his actions.

"Am I to be thought the only criminal, when all humankind sinned against me?"

Theme: Injustice, Sympathy for the Creature

The Creature defends his actions by blaming humankind for rejecting and mistreating him. This quote challenges readers to question whether the Creature’s monstrous behaviour is justified by the cruelty he endures.

"Nothing is so painful to the human mind as a great and sudden change."

Theme: Change, Suffering

This reflection from Victor expresses the novel’s focus on the emotional and psychological turmoil caused by drastic, unforeseen events, especially in the context of the horrors Victor and the Creature experience.

"I am malicious because I am miserable."

Theme: Suffering, Revenge

The Creature’s acknowledgement of his malice underscores the novel’s exploration of how pain and suffering can drive a person (or creature) to violence and cruelty.

"The fallen angel becomes a malignant devil."

Theme: Transformation, Evil

This biblical allusion to Satan’s fall from grace parallels the Creature’s transformation from an innocent being to one consumed by hatred and revenge.

"The beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart."

Theme: Disillusionment, Creation

Victor’s initial excitement over his experiment quickly turns to horror. This quote highlights the gulf between expectation and reality, a key theme in the novel.

"I shall die, and what I now feel be no longer felt."

Theme: Death, Peace

Victor expresses his desire for death, seeing it as a release from the torment of his actions. This quote encapsulates the existential despair that pervades his narrative.

"I am by no means indifferent to the manner in which whatever moral tendencies exist in the sentiments or characters it contains shall affect the reader."

Theme: Moral Responsibility

Shelley’s preface to the novel reveals her concern with the moral impact of her work, signalling to readers that Frankenstein is not just a gothic horror but a text with serious ethical and philosophical concerns.

"I desired love and fellowship, and I was still spurned."

Theme: Love, Loneliness

The Creature’s desire for companionship and the pain of rejection underline his tragic character and highlight the importance of social bonds in shaping one’s identity and behaviour.

"Blasted as thou wert, my agony was still superior to thine."

Theme: Suffering, Rivalry

Victor reflects on his suffering compared to the Creature’s, suggesting a deep emotional rivalry between creator and creation, where both endure unimaginable torment but constantly compare their respective miseries.

By understanding the context and significance of these quotes, you can gain deeper insight into the novel's themes and Shelley’s critique of both scientific progress and human relationships.