Frankenstein reading journal, preface and letters

Knowing some of the background of how the book was created makes the story come to life. The image of this famous gothic novel being written with rain lashing at the windows by the flickering light of a candle gives the entire story a further gothic feel. The mere fact that Frankenstein’s alternative title is The Modern Prometheus, informs the reader of something about the story.  How Frankenstein is attempting to give life where it was not his place to give.

The first letter is a summary of how R. Walton got to be where he is, which is on a quest to the North Pole. He mentions how dangerous his voyage may be, he obviously knows death is a possibility but he is so excited by the prospect of going to the North Pole he doesn’t seem to dwell on that fact for too long.

Loneliness becomes a theme in the second letter his happiness does drop a fraction. Would rather think of the impossible than think of failure. He signs his name as Robert Walton whereas in his first letter he merely writes his first initial followed by his second name. He could have written his full name at the end of this letter because he has opened up more in this letter he has revealed his fears to his distant sister and revealed his vulnerability.

Walton’s epithet changes at the end of this letter. On his previous two letters he signs “Your affectionate brother” whereas his third letter is signed with “most affectionately yours”.  This could show that he misses his Sister or he is beginning to anticipate danger.  His men may not be phased by the sheets of ice but he may be. 

The fourth letter depicts the dire situation that they are in as their ship is now iced in on all sides.  The thick fog turns this scene gothic because there is a wonder of the unknown.  It is interesting that “the monster” appears while this scene is still gothic  –“ a human being appears of gigantic stature” and Frankenstein is found once the fog has lifted.  This may show that even  at this stage of Frankenstein’s story, he may still have some good in him. The unknown Frankenstein is generally melancholy and despairing but shows flashes of benevolence and sweetness which shows he is still kind to those who are kind to him.  The unknown Frankenstein refers to the thing he pursues as a “dæmon”.  This should have been a sign to Walton that this man may be troubled.  This mystery guest seems to have a gothic disposition as when he sits by himself he is overcome by gloom.  The stranger informs the Captain that he thought he would never reveal his story but he has decided to inform the Captain of his past which is documented by Walton and sent to his Sister.  Presumably this is how we are supposed to believe the story got to us today.

The Witches

The witches are almost like a catalyst within Macbeth. The thought of killing Duncan may have never entered Macbeth’s mind if he hadn’t heard the witch’s prophecy. He may have become king through natural circumstances and therefore risen to be a better king and a better man.

This may also be why Lady Macbeth is sometimes considered to be another witch because she also catalyses Macbeth’s killing of Duncan. Even with the witches prophecy Macbeth still could have made the decision not to kill Duncan but Lady Macbeth topples his decision in the witch’s favour.

 The witches lead to Macbeth’s overall change in character throughout the play. However, the witches don’t only affect Macbeth they also affect Banquo and his concern of their prophecy led to his death. Lady Macbeth’s madness and eventual death can also be blamed on the witches, their effect on her husband was crucial in her paranoia. The witches need to be in Macbeth because they are the root of all the large dramatic events in hey play.

The witches lead Macbeth towards his own downfall. They appear to him one last time in act 4, scene 1, and show him four apparitions. The second apparition causes Macbeth to become too cocky with his morality. Once he has heard,

“None of woman born shall harm Macbeth”

Macbeth believes he is invincible which allows him to take risks he perhaps wouldn’t have taken if he had not heard what the witches and apparitions had to say.

The witches do add to the general understanding of the play. They appear periodically and alter the play with their presence, even when they are absent echoes of their language appear in Macbeth’s and Lady Macbeth’s speech. Without the witches as a catalyst for events Macbeth would be a very different play.