Mary Shelley Case
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Mary Shelley creates an atmosphere of gothic horror by using a variety of techniques such as strong imagery, pathetic fallacy, allusion and symbolism in the description of Victors creation, his immediate reaction to the latter, and the dream of his dead mother. This chapter is important as it brings up key themes in the novel.
The chapter of the creation of the monster is very vital to the story. It is where all the actions begin, the start of the long troublesome journey which Victor is about to undertake.
“The Creation” can be compared to a woman giving birth, but in the wrong circumstances, as it is Victor creating a living thing from a dead one.
It can be compared to child birth in the sense that there is a human, Victor, creating another living human, and this creation brings about duties for Victor; duties which he does not take in consideration, which is perhaps the reason why he is being punished, for playing a role he was not meant to take: for playing God.
“The dull and yellow light of the moon” is a pathetic fallacy, and also this symbol of the moon (appearing in Victors dream) is a cyclically recurring feminine biology, and the Greek moon goddess Artemis who was the patroness of childbirth, reinforcing the idea of childbirth having an association with the creation of the monster.
The chapter begins on a “dreary night of November”; using this pathetic fallacy Mary Shelley successfully starts off by setting the scene as dull and sombre.
Victor is faced with his creation, and filled with repulsion as he realises this thing he has spent “nearly two years” creating is nothing which he expected.
His immediate feelings are reflected in Shelleys use of language, in phrases such as “the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart unable to compose my mind”.
He is shaken by the results, and cannot believe that after putting “pains … care” into it, he has created a “miserable monster”.
The fact that the creator himself is terrified to the core makes the readers realise how dreadful and horrific the situation is, and this is quite a strategic setting of atmospheric horror.
His terror can clearly be seen through the lines “walking up and down in the greatest agitation, listening attentively, catching and fearing each sound”.
He is very unwilling to accept the creature as his own, and unlike any new proud parent (referencing back to the previous point of childbirth), despises the creature which he has created. This can also be seen through his referral of the monster as a “wretch (repetitive use) … accident … catastrophe … it … inanimate body … daemoniacal corpse”.