Frankenstein Quotes Volume 2

Volume 2:

Chapter 1:

“Now all was blasted:”

Reminds us of Volume One, Chapter Two, where lightning hits a tree, leaving a “blasted stump”.

“This state of mind preyed upon my health.”

Is Victor mentally ill? Has he started to go mad by this point?

“ ‘Men appear to me as monsters thirsting for each other’s blood.’”

This quote from Elizabeth has two purposes. First, it develops Elizabeth as a character, showing her to have an intelligent mind. Secondly, humans are called “monsters” whereas, before, only the creature had been labelled a “monster”.

“I, not in deed, but in effect, was the true murderer.”

The theme of self-blame arises again, with Victor blaming himself for the deaths up to this point in the novel. Is Victor the real monster in the novel?

“Ruined castles hanging on the precipices of piny mountains.”

Here, Victor describes a valley he is travelling through. The language used to describe what he sees has typically gothic features. This is also perhaps a metaphor for his life, which resembles a “ruined castle” on the “precipices” of disaster.

Chapter 2:

“The rain was pouring in torrents, and thick mists hid the summits of the mountains.”

Pathetic fallacy foreshadows the meeting between Victor and the creature. Weather acts as a metaphor for emotions in the novel.

“Still I would penetrate their misty veil and seek them in their cloudy retreats.”

At this point in the novel, Victor has still not learnt not to pursue things which may be dangerous.

“I will glut the maw of death, until it be satiated with the blood of your remaining friends.”

The creature is extremely articulate and intelligent, but this quote is a clear proof of his monstrous tendancies.

“Listen to my tale.”

The creature puts faith in the power of language in order to move Victor. He feels it is his only tool, as his looks will only serve to put Victor off.

“For the first time, also, I felt what the duties of a creator towards his creature were.”

Victor claims to feel for the first time: “what the duties of a creator towards his creature were”. He did not display these duties when he deserted the creature after he was created, showing massive neglect on Victor’s part. It is doubtful if Victor has even learnt these duties now as, despite the fact he listens to the creature, his actions after the creature’s narrative and also in Volume 3, are more harmful than good to the creature.

Chapter 3:

“It is with considerable difficulty that I remember the original era of my being.”

Similar to a human birth, as most people do not remember much about the first few years of their life, let alone their birth.

“feeling pain invade me on all sides, I sat down and wept.”

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