Frankenstein was published anonymously in 1818; it was reprinted in 1823, and

subtstantially revised third edition was produced in 1831, acknowledging Mary Shelleys
authorship and accompanied by an Introduction written by Mary Shelley herself. The 1831
edition has remained the most frequently used version of Frankenstein, mainly because
Shelley revised it herself, producing the version with which she was most satisfied.
The form of the novel is kinda enclosing narratives within narratives. As the story
begins with Walton, moves to Frankenstein, then to the Creature, then back to Frankenstein
and finally to Walton again. This narrative pattern can also be described as triangular: each of
the three main characters has important conversations with the two others, and this triangular
pattern also marks the exclusion of all other charaters from the story.
Frankenstein has a significant relationship to revolutionary political ideas of the time,
particularly the Revolution in France and subsequent conflict in Britain and Europe. The
French Revolution produced considerable anxiety in England about the possibility of parallel
uprisings, which translated into a paranoia about the masses that characterised them as
fearful and monstrous. However, although Frankenstein engages with a range of radical
ideas and philosophies, it has an ambiguous attitude towards the idea of revolution.
Although many arguments affirm that Frankenstein is rooted in radical politics as
mush as it is rooted in radical science, the novel remains as ambiguous about revolution as it
is about scientific progress, whilst engaging with the issues, it offers no specific judgement
and resists any single reading as it resists categorisation. Readings of the novel differ widely
and each adds to discussion and interpretation. What can be asserted, however, is that Mary
Shelleys hideous progeny will continue to go forth and prosper, and has succeeded in
transcending its position as the minor work of a famous poets wife to become an important
literary, historical, cultural and social document in its own right.
In this novel of Frankenstein, there are elements which are deemed as the
quintessence of the novel. Those elements are: characterization, theme, plot. It is paramount
to comprehend how those elements exist and interact in the original text.
The most important character in Frankenstein, not only because the title of the novel
refers to, or the novel was titled after, but also because this character becomes the primary
figure in the story. The central character in Frankenstein is Victor Frankenstein, and the
Creature he created. Both of two characters are like two sides of a coin. The presence of both
characters bring a catchy complexity to the story.
Another figure that is no less important is Elizabeth; the closest person to Victor.
Elizabeth becomes important because in the end, although her contribution less actuate the
story, Elizabeth is a sort of gambling amongst both central figureVictor and his creation.

Heres the list of the characters from the novel.

Victor Frankenstein

The Creature/Monster

Robert Walton
Alphonse Frankenstein
Elizabeth Lavenza
Henry Clerval
William Frankenstein
Justine Moritz
Caroline Beaufort
Beaufort
Peasants (De Lacey; Felix; Agatha; Safie)
M. Waldman
M. Krempe

A protagonist and the narrator of the most

story. A college student in Ingolstadt, a
science enthusiast. Has a knowledge in the
secret of life and finally created a monster.
Victors creation. Intelligent and sensitive.
Has pretensions to be accepted and
acknowledged in society.
An explorer who assists Victor in the North
Pole.
Victors father.
The closest person to Victor since Victors
childhood. Later on became his wife.
Victors companion.
Victors brother.
An adopted girl in Frankenstein family. She
is accused for murdering William.
Wife of Alphonse Frankenstein.
Father of Caroline. Alphonses colleague.
An observed family by the Creature/Monster.
An alchemist who encourages Victors
interest in science.
A professor of Nature Philosophy in
Ingolstadt.

Theme does matter in this Mary Shelleys opus. In this novel, it is told how a person
with a high level of intelligence can be controlled by his obsession to unravel the secret of
life. In other words, Shelley was trying to tell about a person who wanted something
omniscient. Certainly, this obsession eventually ended up with agony to the person as its cost.
It can be asserted as the message Shelley implies through this novel.
In addition, the Creature/Monster brings a separate dimension to the whole story. This
figure is a symbol for the minorityunacknowledged people, the exile. The Creatures effort
and resistance to not feeling lonely turn on the story with balancing Frankensteins
obsession to become omniscience. Apparently, this monster has humanity side that supposed
to bring sympathy to the monster. In certain perspective, the Creature/Monster is the victim
instead. The real monster is Victor Frankenstein, a creator who eventually abandoned his
creation. Moreover, as it explained before, it can be said that both interdependent Victor
Frankenstein and the Creature/Monster desire two contrary things. Victor wanted something
very complex, such as the secret of life, while the Creature just wanted something simple,
namely a friend.

The plot in Frankenstein is provided in the manner of flashback. The way of

delivering the story is using point of view of the first person, with alternate narrator, so that
adding the impression of subjectivity into the story.
The segmentation of the plot will be described below.

Prolog

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3
4
5

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7

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9
10

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12

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The letters from Captain Walton to his sister Mrs. Saville about his voyage to the
North Pole. He feels lonely in his way, yet he is keen on his expedition. Then,
Walton meets Victor Frankenstein and Frankenstein tells his life story to Walton.
Victor recounts his childhood in Geneva, including Elizabeth Lavenza, an adopted
girl in Frankenstein family. Victor and Elizabeth were very close since they are
kids.
Victor tells Walton about his two brothers, along with his pal Henry Clerval. It is
also told his first interest towards science.
Victor tells about his study in the University of Ingolstadt. He attended a lecture by
Professor M. Waldman. The professor encouraged Victors interest in science.
Victor began his experiment unaccompanied in his laboratory, he started planning
to create a living things.
In a stormy night, Victor finally accomplished his experiment. When his creation
was alive, Victor was scared instead because the Creatures appearance was
horrible. Then, Victor fell sick.
Henry took Victor back to Geneva, because Victors health is getting worse. This
travel to Geneva brought a positive influence towards Victor.
When Victor returned to Ingolstadt, his father informed him that Williamhis
brother, has been murdered. Victor rushed back to Geneva. When he investigated
the cause of Williams death, he found his creationthe Creature. He presumed
that the Creature is responsible for his brothers death. Apparently, Justine Moritz, a
girl who lives with Frankenstein family has been accused for killing William.
Justine accepted the allegation, but she kept telling Victor and Elizabeth that she
was innocent. Later on she was sentenced to death.
Victor became depressed. His father persuaded him to take a vacation in Belrive.
Victor still mourned over his brothers death. He decided to climb the mount of
Montanvert. There, he met the Creature again. The Creature began telling his life
story.
The Creature said that he became disoriented when we was created. Then, he told
everybody about his survival experience. When he met people, they will run away.
One day, he fled to a shack with a woman, a man, and an old man lived nearby.
The Creature started to learn those three people by their behavior. Over time, he
realized that the family was poverty-stricken, moreover the Creature frequently
stole foods from them. He finally helped the family secretly by collecting
firewoods at night for the family. The Creature also began to learn how to talk and
speak.
The Creature kept observing the familys demeanor.
After a while, the Creature knew the familys background. The old man is De

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Epilog

Lacey, and the two are his children, Felix and Agatha.
Instead of looking for firewoods, the Creature found some books. He read the
books. He finally showed up in front of De Lacey, which is blind. But when Felix
and Agatha came up, they drove the Creature out of the shack.
Brokenhearted, he vowed to take revenge to all human, especially his creator. He
began his travel to Geneva. There, he murdered William because he knew that
William is Victors brother.
Then, the Creature asked Victor to create a friend, a lady. He explained that all of
his evil deeds are caused by loneliness. Victor agreed his demand.
Victor went to England. He gathered information so he can fulfill the request.
Victor started to perform his new project in Scotland.
Victor called off his project. The Creature was wrathful. He swore that he will be
with Victor in Victors wedding night. Victor threw out his experiment to the sea.
Victor was accused for killing someone. Apparently, the one who has been
murdered was Henry Clerval. Victor fell sick. His father picked his up to Geneva
after Victor is declared not guilty.
Victor returned to Geneva and started arranging his wedding with Elizabeth.
Finally they are got married.
In their first night, Victor and Elizabeth were at a cottage. The Creature killed
Elizabeth in her room while Victor was looking for him. Victor went back and told
his father about the incident. His father died a couple days later. Then, Victor swore
that he will pursue his creation and exterminate him.
Victor left Geneva and started to after the Creature. In his journey, he met Walton in
the North Pole.
Back to Waltons letters for his sister. He said that he believed in Victors story.
Some time before Waltons ship returned to England, Victor died. Then, suddenly
the Creature sneaked in to the ship and mourn over Victors death. Because Victor
is dead, now the Creature is ready to die.

The story began and ended up with Captain Waltons point of view who was writing a
letter to his sister. Meanwhile, mostly the quintessence of the story are being told using
Victors point of view, only a single part where the Creature taking over the story.