Significance Of Chapter 5 To The Novel As A Whole-Frankenstein
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Look at the significance of Chapter 5 to the novel as a whole.
In the novel Frankenstein, chapter 5 is seen as crucial; as it is here that the real story of revenge and consequence starts.
Chapter 5 is seen as an imperative chapter, this is because it is in this part of the novel that the creation is brought to life, first described as “his yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath;” his creator then flees from his laboratory and apartment onto the streets in fear. Victor later whence walking the lonely streets of Ingolstadt meets with his old friend Henry Clerval from Geneva. Henry sees that Victor is ill and nurses him for the next few months.
Chapter 5 introduces the first components that we, (the audience) use to identify the book as having a gothic genre. The opening of chapter 5 is “It was on a dreary night of November” and then follows with “the rain pattered dismally against the panes.” Both quotations suggest a dark, gloomy, gothic atmosphere.
As well as introducing the first components of the gothic genre to “Frankenstein”, chapter 5 also introduces he two main themes of Science Vs Nature and Bad parenting.
Bad parenting as mentioned above is one of two main themes. Chapter 5 is when the monster is given the gift of life; just like a baby. Then Victor leaves the creational alonethis can be seen as a parent leaving their baby=Bad parenting.
I believe that the theme of bad parenting is linked to Mary Shelley and what had happened in her life. Mary Shelley lost two of her children within two years, it was said that she didnt cope very well and in her diary entrys, she blamed herself for their deaths. So I believe that she somehow by writing this book let out some personal feelings and she thought it would have helped her if she wrote the book, relieve some stress. I believe that there is some kind of link between Mary and Victor, with them both being “bad parents,” but in both cases they are two sides. As Victor isnt necessarily the malevolent character, just as Shelley would not have seemed bad.
Also as mentioned before the Science Vs Nature theme is a big part to play in the novel again. It is called unnatural for a man to create life, this is for women, and women only. Yet, Victor opposes nature and goes on with his experiment to create life with dead peoples