Frankenstein Quotes

Mary Shelley vision that inspired Frankenstein characters In Vision

I saw – with shut eyes, but acute mental vision – I saw the pale student of unhallowed arts kneeling beside the thing he had put together. I saw the hideous phantasm of a man stretched out, and then, on the working of some powerful engine, show signs of life and stir with an uneasy, half-vital motion. Frightful must it be, for supremely frightful would be the effect of any human endeavour to mock the stupendous mechanism of the Creator of the world.

– Mary Shelley

Frankenstein, author Mary Shelley’s Introduction to 1831 edition. She writes of the vision that inspired the novel and characters of Victor Frankenstein and his creation the monster.

You will rejoice to hear that no disaster has accompanied the commencement of an enterprise which you have regarded with such evil forebodings. I arrived here yesterday, and my first task is to assure my dear sister of my welfare and increasing confidence in the success of my undertaking.

– Mary Shelley

Frankenstein, Robert Walton in “Letter 1”. Robert’s journey was not approved by his sister as she thought poorly of the enterprise. This foreshadows the coming of danger to the captain of the ship.

I never saw a more interesting creature: his eyes have generally an expression of wildness, and even madness; but there are moments when, if one performs an act of kindness towards him, or does him any the most trifling service, his whole countenance is lighted up, as it were, with a beam of benevolence and sweetness that I never saw equalled.

– Mary Shelley

Frankenstein, Robert Walton in “Letter 4”. Walton longs for a friend in Victor. He also describes him as a creature, as if Victor had become equal to the creature he had created.

“I agree with you,” replied the stranger, “in believing that friendship is not only a desirable, but a possible acquisition. I once had a friend, the most noble of human creatures, and am entitled, therefore, to judge respecting friendship. You have hope, and the world before you, and have no cause for despair. But I – I have lost every thing, and cannot begin life anew.”

– Mary Shelley

Frankenstein, Robert Walton in “Letter 4”. This is Victor Frankenstein’s reply to Walton, who has laid open his desire for a friend. Victor lets Walton know that he would reciprocate if he could, but he cannot because his life is coming to a close. From 1818 First Edition.

It may appear very strange, that a disciple of Albertus Magnus should arise in the eighteenth century; but our family was not scientifical, and I had not attended any of the lectures given at the schools of Geneva. My dreams were therefore undisturbed by reality; and I entered with the greatest diligence into the search of the philosopher’s stone and the elixir of life.

– Mary Shelley

Frankenstein, Chapter 1. Victor Frankenstein offers a hint here of his desire to act as God and explore outside the norms of science and knowledge. From 1818 First Edition.

My mother’s tender caresses and my father’s smile of benevolent pleasure while regarding me are my first recollections. I was their plaything and their idol and something better – their child, the innocent and helpless monster bestowed on them by heaven, whom to bring up to good, and whose future lot it was in their hands to direct to happiness or misery, according as they fulfilled their duties towards me.

– Mary Shelley

Frankenstein, Chapter 1. Victor Frankenstein speaks of his happy childhood and how he was deeply loved by his parents. His use of the word “monster” foreshadows his later behavior and the terrible deeds to come.

It was the secrets of heaven and earth that I desired to learn; and whether it was the outward substance of things or the inner spirit of nature and the mysterious soul of man that occupied me, still my inquiries were directed at the metaphysical, or in its highest sense, the physical secrets of the world.

– Mary Shelley

Frankenstein, Chapter 2. From early in the novel, Victor Frankenstein shows that he is not like others. He is driven to discover the secrets of heaven and earth, which ultimately leads to his downfall.

If, instead of this remark, my father had taken the pains to explain to me that the principles of Agrippa had been entirely exploded and that a modern system of science had been introduced which possessed much greater powers than the ancient, because the powers of the latter were chimerical, while those of the former were real and practical, under such circumstances I should certainly have thrown Agrippa aside and have contented my imagination, warmed as it was, by returning with greater ardour to my former studies.

– Mary Shelley

Frankenstein, Chapter 2. Victor was not inspired by his father to follow science, which was not a big field at the time but almost frowned upon. Rather he was self-inspired.
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