Savannah Sanchez 1

Frankenstein: Light & Fire

Symbolism is something we are all no stranger to in literature. It is one of the main things

used to impact others and attach additional meaning to objects or actions. In Mary Shelley’s

book, “Frankenstein”, light /fire are countlessly used to symbolize knowledge, discovery, and

enlightenment.

In the first letter of Frankenstein, page 6 it says, “What may not be expected in a

country of eternal light? “. In this letter Robert Walton writes to his sister, talking about his

expedition to the North Pole which he describes as an “eternal light”. But what he’s really

referring to is the “light” is the faith in science’s ability to uncover nature’s darkest secrets and

mysterious. These two things are a form of enlightenment and is why he refers it as “eternal

light”.

But in chapter 10, page 3 things take a turn for the symbolism of light/fire, “Abhorred

monster! Fiend that thou art! The tortures of hell are too mild a vengeance for thy crimes.

Wretched devil! You reproach me with your creation; come on, then, that I may extinguish the

spark which I negligently bestowed.” In this section of the book, the word “spark” is used to

convey fire. Fire is the dangerous and harmful “cousin” of light. Dr. Frankenstein threatens to

kill his own creation/monster by extinguishing his “spark”. He is symbolizing that the Monster’s

life represents fire, and he threatens him because of all the damage he is causing. Which is in a

way similar to the way Prometheus (a god) gifted mankind fire in secrecy, only for him to later

be punished for it.

Lastly, in chapter 11, page 1 we read about the more positive side of light/fire, “Before,

dark and opaque bodies had surrounded me, impervious to my touch or sight; but I now found

that I could wander on at liberty, with no obstacles which I could not either surmount or avoid.
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The light became more and more oppressive to me; and, the heat wearying me as I walked, I

sought a place where I could receive shade.” The monster recounts to Dr. Frankenstein a story

of when he first awoke in the forest alone. How his first ever encounter with the sunlight was

uncomfortable and overwhelming. We read constantly how light is used as a symbol for both

nature and god, along with the powers of the rational mind. But here in this quote we read about

the Monsters first experience of coming out of the shadows and into the light, which not only

symbolizes light as nature but also like a birth into the human experience.

Throughout Mary Shelley’s book, “Frankenstein”, we see the use of light/fire as

symbolize. It not only conveys danger that is presented but as well as the enlightenment that light

gives off. The use of symbolize allowed for us to see new meaning behind actions and objects

the characters encountered.