Foreshadowing In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
The narrative of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is set at various locations around Europe. In the first of his letters sent to his sister, the reader sees that the explorer, Robert Walton, is on a voyage to the North Pole in his ship. The narrative of Frankenstein is relayed from Victor Frankenstein, the man whom Walton discovered, abandoned in a ship. Victor begins by telling of his adolescent life and the formulation of a hideous creature that he ultimately rejects due to his wretched appearance. This leads the creature to commit a series of vengeful crimes on those whom his creator holds dear. The reader learns by the end of the narrative that subsequent to Victor’s death, the creature realizes that he has been deprived of ever finding happiness.
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Walton” reassuring his sister, Margaret, of his well-being and informing her of his desire to navigate to the North Pole. His desire – as the reader will soon discover that is paralleled with Victor’s – is based on scientific curiosity and to achieve some “great purpose” (Shelley 53). In the second letter, Walton is seen complaining about his lack of companionship. Upon discovering Victor, whom he initially refers to as a stranger, however, Walton regards the stranger as the potential companion he never truly had; this is an example of foreshadowing, in the sense that the creature also longs for a friend or a mate. As told in chapter two, Victor’s adolescence was described to be rather eccentric due to his scientific curiosity eventually becoming fatal for his loved ones. Similarly, Walton’s scientific curiosity has led to dangerous situations, as manifested in the third of his letters, which states: “Last Monday (July 31st), we were nearly surrounded by ice, which closed the ship in on all sides, scarcely leaving her the sea room in which she floated” (Shelley 58). The entirety of Victor’s narrative spoken to Walton is set in the frozen waters of the arctic, where Walton is faced with a stranger relaying his personal past, and finds himself identifying with this stranger’s perilous scientific
Walton” reassuring his sister, Margaret, of his well-being and informing her of his desire to navigate to the North Pole. His desire – as the reader will soon discover that is paralleled with Victor’s – is based on scientific curiosity and to achieve some “great purpose” (Shelley 53). In the second letter, Walton is seen complaining about his lack of companionship. Upon discovering Victor, whom he initially refers to as a stranger, however, Walton regards the stranger as the potential companion he never truly had; this is an example of foreshadowing, in the sense that the creature also longs for a friend or a mate. As told in chapter two, Victor’s adolescence was described to be rather eccentric due to his scientific curiosity eventually becoming fatal for his loved ones. Similarly, Walton’s scientific curiosity has led to dangerous situations, as manifested in the third of his letters, which states: “Last Monday (July 31st), we were nearly surrounded by ice, which closed the ship in on all sides, scarcely leaving her the sea room in which she floated” (Shelley 58). The entirety of Victor’s narrative spoken to Walton is set in the frozen waters of the arctic, where Walton is faced with a stranger relaying his personal past, and finds himself identifying with this stranger’s perilous scientific