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Weather Symbolism In Frankenstein

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Often writers, such as Shakesphere use weather symbolism to hint at the overall theme, as well as tie in the emotional state of the main character. Frankenstein, written by Mary Shelley similarly divulges into the relationship between the climate and developing plot as conflicts concerning the monster and Victor’s mental conscience continuously arise throughout the book. In the chapter, “The Storm '', Victor encounters both a figurative and literal storm as he ascertains his own creation is affiliated with his brother's murder, fabricating the struggle of overwhelming guilt. When driving on the long journey home, assenting to his fathers pleading request, the weather increasingly grows darker and grim as Victor gets closer and closer. Reveling …show more content…

Revealing William’s murderer did not bring the peace Victor thought it would, instead it only left him feeling heavier as he was weighed down with remorse. These emotions are conveyed as Shelley says, “The thunder ceased, but the rain still continued and the scene was enveloped in an impenetrable darkness.” (pg.80) While the reality of the situation brought some type of closure, as the building plot finally reaches its climax, the anticipation and pain victor is still enduring continues, almost enclosing him in a hopeless cloud of darkness. During the night, Victor did not sleep, he did not let himself rest; he felt he didn't deserve it after what he had done. Reflecting back on what could have gone wrong, the young Frankenstein reveals, “Two years had now nearly elapsed since the night on which he had first received life; and was this his first crime?”(pg.80) Unknowing to the full capabilities of the creature, Victor lives in suspense of what the monster's previous actions were and what he might do next. The two years since constructing the monster had passed quickly and while Victor was able to somewhat move on with his life, the creature had spent that time plotting his revenge on the one who abandoned him. Victor’s remiss ways not only caused an immense drift in the monster and his relationship, but also the nature of the creature as he expressed no clemency. While the weather holds great meaning to the situation Victor portrays, “But I did not feel the inconvenience of the weather; my imagination was busy in scenes of evil and despair.” (pg.80) Victor was not focused on anything but the tragedy he had just encountered, not even noticing the mirroring of the weather on his life and thoughts. As Victor's life progressively exacerbates, so does the condition of the raging storm both outside and

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Victor was afraid of having his friends and family knowing about what he has done with making the monster. So, instead of telling them he was the one who made the monster who killed William, he let the town and family believe a poor innocent girl did it. In the book Frankenstein, Mary Shelley shows Victor have an internal conflict. “... except I, the creator, who would believe, unless his sense convinced him, in the existence of the living monument of presumption and rash ignorance which I had let loose upon this world?” (Shelley 63).

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Weather has many different effects on a person for example, rain can have a scene depicted as gloomy or sad. Many stories include this logic into their books to further the tone of the story. In the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley the weather is associated with the mood of Victor Frankenstein and his creation. By including these comparisons between moods and weather shows each character's mood when it is not shown or made clear to the reader. When Victor Frankenstein is happy and at a calm mindset the weather is depicted as similar such as when he is in his childhood home and thinks he is worry free.

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Victor’s feelings of both “anguish and despair” reflect the severity of the emotional and mental turmoil that Victor is enduring due to the monster. “Despair” means the loss of hope. “Hell” is where there is an absence of God. Both “Hell” and “despair” reflect Victor’s stray away from religion, hope, and humanity because of his own creation. The consequences of Victor’s actions are not only the death of the people he loves, but also involves Victor’s guilt, and the feelings that result out of his guilt.

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The case against Victor Frankenstein did not reach court further noting the lack of severity for his case. The next quote presents the reader with insight into Victor’s thoughts concerning what his creation has done: “When I reflected on his crimes and malice, my hatred and revenge burst all bounds of moderation” (Shelley 112). This quotation portrays Victor’s guilt and is a turning point in the novel where he realizes the monster is his responsibility and he must put an end to its madness. Victor received little to no repercussions concerning his illegal behavior. He should have received a penalty as the death of William is indirectly his fault.

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His family and home is everything to him, especially his love for Elizabeth. However, as the story progresses and Victor begins to realize the magnitude of his mistake in creating the monster, his outlook on life changes drastically and shifts to a darker tone. During his trek through the wilderness in search of himself, Victor finds peace and comfort in the bleak and powerful mountains. Specifically “...while rain poured from the dark sky and added to the melancholy impression I received from the objects around me… My heart, which was before sorrowful, now soared with something like joy” (Shelley 67).

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In the following passage from Frankenstein, Mary Shelley uses an abundance of stylistic elements, simple tone, and major themes to portray Victor Frankenstein’s emotional state. Throughout the novel, Shelley uses detailed metaphors to assist the reader into connecting with the characters and their troubling situations. One specific example of these detailed metaphors are, “trees lie broken and strewed on the ground; some entirely destroyed, others bent, leaning upon the jutting rocks of the mountain or transversely upon other trees”. This metaphor illustrates and compares Victor’s family tree to broken trees. Victor watched as his family tree became damaged, just like the ones on the mountain.

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Mary Shelley took this element and incorporated it to give it a new meaning, this gave the story more deep thought and emotions to arise. The dark thunders and bright lightning flashes foreshadowed the future character development of Victor, giving him that spark of his love of science. The weather provoked thought, and revolutionized future stories to invoke on providing a new way to give a story more meaning. Future books demonstrate the way a seemingly unconventional element can play into a story, a story that emits this is the Great Gatsby. In the book Gatsby and Daisy’s reconciliations begins with pouring rain, proving awkward and sorrow; their love rekindles just as the sun begins to come out.

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Some may argue that the inclusion of the seasons into Frankenstein only serves to contrast with the unnatural acts that Victor commits and has no relation to his psychological state as the thesis indicates. However, the novel specifically addresses that the protagonist interprets nature as a sentient, maternal-like entity when he comments that “I pursued nature to her hiding places” as he works to create the monster and, in doing so, acknowledges the relationship he has with the natural world (Shelley 38). Thus, the rebirth of nature in the spring season allows Victor to better recover from his mental and physical

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(Shelley 50) hence he unknowingly and quickly he is taken from life into darkness. The darkness of the night due to the weather conditions was a way for the author to convey Victor’s sadness and William’s death. The imagery in the quote is ended with the description of a “preceding flash” (Shelley 50) and this is the way the author foreshadows the next outcome of emotion for Victor. Off in the distance Victor sees something large and realizes it was the creature which he brought to life who probably killed his

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Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is a gothic novel that tells the story of scientist, Victor Frankenstein, and his obsession with creating human life. This leads him to creating a gruesome monster made of body-parts stolen from grave yards, whom upon discovering his hideousness, the monster seeks revenge against his creator, causing Victor to regret the creation of his monster for the rest of his life. Shelley uses the literary elements of personification, imagery, and similes to give a vivid sense and visualization of Victor Frankenstein’s thoughts and feelings as well as to allow us to delve deeper into the monster’s actions and emotions. Throughout the novel, Shelley uses personification of various forces and objects to reflect the effect in Victor’s actions.

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