Doctor Faustus reading journal - Prologue, Act 1 - 5

Prologue

• The play starts with a chorus. Similar structure to the Greek plays, suggesting that perhaps this play will be a tragedy or a comedy???
• Faustus' family were 'base of stock' - a low social class- and yet we learn that his is  very clever; he has studied at 'Wittenberg'- the famous German university, and he is 'graced with a doctors name' meaning he has been awarded a doctorate. This creates a good, admirable image for Faustus which makes his downfall into evil, even more effective.
• Link to the Icarus myth 'his waxen wings did mount above his reach' suggesting that a similar fate awaits Faustus - that his intrigue and lust for knowledge and power will get the better of him and result in his downfall.
• We learn basically the whole story, that because of Faustus' dealings in 'necromancy' which he regards higher than his 'chilliest bliss'- heaven- Faustus falls.

ACT 1
Scene 1

• We learn that Faustus has explored  lots of areas of study and wants to make up his mind as to what to study next 'settle thy studies'. This reflects on the full extent of his knowledge, as he has done learnt everything natural. Also reiterated by his use of Latin. Marlowe exploits his cleverness, but also his lack of purpose because he is so unsure as to what to do with his power. This is exploited later in the play as his eagerness to study is manipulates by the devil.
• He mocks the statement 'the reward of sin is death' and yet that is what later is doomed to befall upon him.
• 'a sound magician is a mighty god' suggests that Faustus motif for turning to magic is similar to that of Lucifer - because he wants to posses the same power as god.
• Describes magic as a 'miracle' therefore an act of god - supporting the previous idea that Faustus wants gods powers.
• 'good' and 'evil' angels - representing the two sides of his conscience in a physical form. Hinting at the fact that perhaps there is a better side to him.
• 'pleasant fruits' links to the bible and how it was fruit that tempted eve to the fall.
•  'Tis magic, magic that has ravished me' Faustus seems to understand the dangers of what he is dabbling in.
• 'this night I'll conjure, though I'll die therefore' reinforces the idea that he understands what he is doing, and that he is willingly to sacrifice his life for knowledge and pleasure.
• He is greedy not only for knowledge but for wealth 'ransack the ocean for orient pearl'
• Constant references to the classical 'delphian oracle' , 'Jove'.

Scene 2

• Scholars scene. This scene introduces a common theme which keeps recurring in the plays structure, where Faustus' actions are dramatically paralleled in the actions of his servants or those who are less intelligent or socially advanced as him.
• 'That damned art' thought the two scholars are meant to be less accomplished than Faustus, they realise the danger he has surrounded himself in - proof that Faustus no matter' brains have been blinded by his lust for knowledge and wealth.
• 'Nothing can reclaim him' They are awarer of Faustus' fate, even when he is not. Indicate that no matter what Faustus does, he is doomed.

Scene 3

• 'gloomy shadow... drizzling' - sets the scene for what is later to appear in the scene.
• The latin which he uses to summon Mephistopheles itself evidences how close the evil of the devil is to that of god, as latin is considered a 'holy' language and it summons evil as well as good.
• twists godly images into ones with satanical links, like 'the sign of the cross' and 'holy water'
• 'though art too ugly to attend on me' Faustus has a lot of nerve, shows that he i doesn't take his actions very seriously.
• '...Franciscan Friar/ that holy shape becomes a devil best'- first of many many anti-catholic jibes which occur in the play, perhaps to please the protestant queen Elizabeth.
• 'I see there is virtue in my heavenly words' - Faustus gets slightly arrogant at the thought he can control 'hell itself'
• 'I charge thee, wait upon me whilst I live' - reiterates this as he is 'bossing' M around, treating his actions as a joke.
• Yet it is not only this which raises Mephistopheles but his 'mission' to capture the 'glorious souls' of those who 'rack the name of God' - emphasises the seriousness of what Faustus is doing.
• Faustus rejects God - 'there is no chief but Beelzebub/ to whom Faustus doth dedicate himself'
• 'why, this is hell' - suggests that just living on earth is hell, can be viewed lightly as Faustus does, seeing it as a 'positive' side to selling his soul.

Scene 4

• Robin - a comic interlude in the play which keeps reoccurring- providing an glimpse at reality in Faustus' strange ways. Proves that life still goes on, no matter what he does, makes his life seem less significant. Also provide a mirror to Faustus' actions.
• Throughout this scene, where Wagner threatens robin with torments unless he agrees to serve him for 7 years, we can see how Faustus' servitude to lucifer could be.This highlights faustus's foolishness in his actions as no-one would willingly give up their life.
• the two devils 'balioll and belcher' can be linked to the seven deadly sins. if you take 'balioll' and being pronounces like belly-o therefore representing gluttony.
• Latin is referred to by Robin as 'dutch fustian' - reduces the prestige that is awarded to Wagner for this 'skill'

 ACT 2

Scene 1

• 'must thou needs be damned' - already, so close to the start of the play, Faustus has already accepted his fate, and given in to the idea that God has rejected him.
• Faustus claims to 'despair in God and trust in Beelzebub', but why does he use the name Beelzebub instead of Lucifer, as both would fit into the iambic pentameter. I  think the reason is that, in truth, Faustus can't face the idea that he has turned to the devil and by saying 'Beelzebub' instead, reduces the impact of what he is professing.
• 'to God? He loves thee not' - Faustus' odd beliefs are highlighted as he is going against the normal omni-benevolent view of God.
• 'offer lukewarm blood of new born babes' - this statement is over the top and overly grizzly - perhaps reflecting how Faustus is making a mockery of the whole thing, and taking none of it seriously.
• 'fruits of lunacy' - this is what the evil angel says to Faustus - perhaps linking to the  fruit which leads to the fall in the bible.
• 'When Mephistopheles shall stand by me, what god can hurt thee?' Faustus views the devil as a more powerful source than god - perhaps that is why he chose to dabble in those arts rather than with god - because he wants the utmost source of power???
• 'for that security craves great Lucifer' why does the devil need a security????? evidencing that perhaps he is not as powerful as Faustus thinks.
• Mephistopheles, for love of thee' evidence perhaps of love between Faustus and Mephistopheles,which is further continued throughout the play.
• 'My blood congeals' -faustus' body is even against his action of siding with the devil.
• 'Consummatum est.... Homo fuge' - inversion of biblical references, a theme which is present throughout the play.
• the conditions Faustus signs up to could be seen to parallel the ten commandments - evidence of yet another biblical inversion.
• 'I think hell's a fable' - evidence that even thought Faustus is supposedly extremely clever, he fails to believe in hell even though he has loads of evidence. He is attempting to be a cynic, yet with this much evidence, he just looks stupid!

Scene 2

• Robin and Rafe interlude - they make fun of Faustus' work, with innuendo's and the like. This humour adds comic relief- but also comic parallels, because most of Faustus' scenes are a comic mockery anyway, so this is just a different type of comedy, so the play pleases everyones tastes.
• 'brimstone devil' they are mocking the arts which faustus is taking so seriously, making Faustus seem not as clever as first believed.

Scene 3

• 'It was made for man, therefore man is more excellent' Mephistopheles woo's Faustus with sayings such as this. The work because Faustus wants to be better than God. 
• 'I will renounce this magic and repent' - Faustus is swung by the idea that his natural place is in heaven, suggesting that he is not really as stupid as he first implies, also proves that he has doubts about his dealings with the devil, as he is slowly realising how serious it actually is.
• 'God will pity me if I repent' - Faustus original opinion, this changes to the opposite at the end of the play, reflecting the negative effect that the devil has on him as he losses all hope ; 'My heart is so hardened I cannot repent'
• Faustus considers suicide - worse sin ever! reflecting his loss of hope - 
• The thoughts of the evil angel 'Faustus shall never repent' are echoed in Faustus own thoughts 'Faustus shall ne'er repent' - reinforcing the idea that the angels are part of Faustus' conscience, and the faustus is siding with the evil, turning against logic, which he has seemingly followed his whole life.
• Faustus seems to realise that he could have sided with the weaker power
• 'Christ cannot save your soul for he is just' - the idea of predestination and the fact that faustus is doomed whatever he does is brought up here.
• Seven deadly sins display - both a display of what he can do (and will do!) and a warning of what faustus will become if he does follow these 'morals' - something he despises 'away to hell, to hell!' this is the fate that awaits him if he does act upon these seven sins.

ACT 3

Chorus

• Used to present Faustus actions over the years without acting them out, as that would reduce their awesomeness.
• The extremities of Faustus actions are highlighted 'scale olympus's top' etc... all the deeds he has done seem for pleasure rather that knowledge as they don't seem to be benefiting faustus in any other way that pleasure.

Scene 1

• Faustus further lists his exertions. This reinforces the idea that they are all for pleasure, ass they all seem fun but pointless.
• 'Has thou... conducted me within the walls of rome' The fact is that Faustus has no real power, all he has is the control over Mephistopheles, so he has not achieved much.
• Anti-catholic jibes continue- 'troupe of bald-pate friars whose summum bonum is in belly cheer' - idea of corrupt friars is continued.
• A comic scene follows - very anti-catholic! - context link to Protestant england, so would be both physically humorous and funny because of the subject matter.
• 'it may be some ghost, newly crept out of purgatory, come to beg pardon of your Holiness' - actually true in a way as Faustus is despite the farce, doomed to hell, and is latter to seek pardon.
• Faustus can be seen to represent the devil, and the pope god - therefore faustus' actions symbolises the battle directly between god and the devil.represent

Scene 2

• Another Robin and Rafe scene - this time could be seen as a parallel to Faustus' actions through Robin. The fact that robin is a clown, reflects how that is what Faustus has become through his exploits.
• 'ecce signum' more catholic language, the fact that Faunus does this too shows how he has stooped down to the level of Robin and rafe.
• Uses gibberish instead of latin, again reflecting the mockery of the 'scholarly' language.
• Even robin and rafe can summon Mephistopheles - evidence that Faustus shows no particular skill in siding with him. Also suggests that Mephistopheles was lying to him when he said that he could not be summoned by man - perhaps to give himself the upper hand?????

ACT 4
Chorus

• We learnt that all faustus has achieved is fame - which is nothing supernatural - eternal hell seems a high price to pay for that!

Scene 1

• 'Knowledge in the black art' - Strange description, sounds like what Faustus wants to hear because in truth he has no real knowledge at all, perhaps that is the tale faustus has been spreading about himself.
• 'let me see some proof of your skill' - links to the bible, where Jesus is tempted in the desert by the devil - idea that faustus is an inverted christ - he gives in to the temptation.
• 'I am content to do whatsoever your majesty shall command me' - he has almost taken the place of Mephistopheles as he is serving others with his actions.
• classical references 'actaeon' etc...
• evidence of wrath, on of the deadly sins, later to be completed by Faustus, through his treatment of  the knight. Because he has been annoying him Faustus gives him 'a pair of horns on his head'.
• 'What art thou faustus but a man condemned to die?' Calvinist theories reiterated, Faustus believes that he is predestined to doom - therefore has no hope.
• 'distrust' in who?????? God or the devil???? he has already expressed distrust in God - major sin of despair - so perhaps it is Faustus distrusting the devil, or both because why would he need to trust in God if he trusted in the devil???
• Faustus pretends to lose his leg in front of the horse coursers, a bizarre and grotesque episode. Simkin suggests that the comic dismemberment could link to Faustus' eventual fate.

Scene 2

• Faustus produces ripe grapes - quite an odd thing to do. Also very ordinary, not as extravagant as you would expect from someone who has sold his soul to the devil. Perhaps reiterating the fact that it wasn't worth it and the Faustus has made a mistake.
• 'they be the best grapes that e'er i tasted in my life' - link the Jesus'  miracle at the wedding in Canna - the wine he produced was the 'best wine ever tasted' - reiterated the idea that Faustus is an inverted christ, and that his tricks could be perceived as the miracles.
• 'learned man' Faustus has achieved the status he always wanted, yet it is the same status he had before selling his soul - nothing has been accomplished.

ACT 5

Scene 1

• Inverted Christ idea again - 'amongst the students... who are at supper' - representing the last supper, the students being Faustus' disciples.
• Idea of scholar as disciples is exaggerated by them calling Faustus 'master' - what the disciples called Jesus.
• Old man - figure from the morality plays, trying to help Faustus repent.
• Mephistopheles hands Faustus a dagger - prompting him to kill himself, therefore committing the ultimate sin of despair.
• 'hopeless soul' - even the old man, who keeps urging Faustus to call upon god for mercy, recognises that Faustus' souls is hopeless, beyond saviour - predestination?????
• 'i do repent, and yet i do despair' - Faustus has lost his mind, doesn't know what he wants to do.
• 'with my blood i will confirm my former vow i made with lucifer' - Faustus rejects the offer of repentance and chooses to side with the devil yet again - this time his body does not attempt to stop him - so he is truly lost to the devil - a truly lost soul.
• 'sweet Mephistopheles' - the idea of a relationship between these two characters is deepened.
• Helen of troy 'sucks forth his soul' - so does Faustus have a soul?????
• Helen of troy represents the deadly sin of lust - all seven have been acted out by Faustus in the play:
• Pride - Faustus' actions, and unwillingness to repent
• covetousness - Faustus is jealous of God and the power he possesses
• Wrath - Faustus actions towards the old man and the knight
• Envy - Faustus is envious of god and the devil and their powers
• Gluttony - the popes feast and greed in his lust for power and wealth
• Sloth - the fact that he has achieved nothing
• Lechery - his meeting with helen of troy
• 'I will be Paris'  - Faustus gives himself the role of the fool Paris, who puts his own lust for Helen against his city - representing Faustus putting his lust for knowledge ahead of his own life.

Scene 2

• We find out that Faustus is given a similar fate to lucifer - thrown from the face of God.
• There is the idea that God has rejected Faustus 'if thou wilt not have mercy upon me' - throughout this whole act. However it could be argued that another view on this would be that Faustus has rejected God, because he is given the opportunity to repent and he chooses to confirm his offer with the devil instead.
• 'a deadly sin that has damned both body and soul' Faustus recognises what the impact of his life style has been on his soul - finally taking hell seriously!
• 'Remember gods mercy's are infinite' - this doesn't prove true for faustus - perhaps because he rejects them ; 'but Faustus' offence can ne'er be pardoned' - he thinks that there is no hope for him. 
• Faustus talks about himself in third person, as if his soul has already left his as he is an empty body.
• 'Oh would i never seen Wittenberg, never read a book' - Faustus blames his turn to the devil on his education and knowledge
• 'I will stay faustus' 'and pray for me' - reiterating the idea that the scholars are disciples - their actions resemble those of the disciples at the garden of gethsemane. 
• The final soliloquy of Faustus is the final inversion of christianity , symbolising Christ's passion- presenting Faustus as an inverted christ going through the passion, starting at the Garden of gethsemane and ending on the cross. 
• This idea is backed up with the language 'my god, my god' - mirroring that of Jesus' last words on the cross.
• It seems that in Faustus' last words he repents ' i'll burn my books' - symbolising how he losses his pride, but is it enough???
• his last word 'Mephistopheles' emphasised his feelings for him.
• The fact that he ends going to hell, fulfils the genre of 'morality play' as Faustus gets what he deserves, therefore warning others not to turn to the devil.

Epilogue

• ends with the chorus - same as the beginning - symbolising that nothing was really accomplished.
• Also links it back to the greek tragedy and its origins - greeko tragic canon.
• 'to practise more than heavenly power permits'  - the moral of the play. Evidences that heavenly power not devilish power is the one in control as it is because heaven did not permit it that Faustus fell.

Don,

I have done all my chapter notes, you just have to scroll down because 16-20 are before 21-23 :)

Frankenstein reading journal - chapters 16-20

Chapter 16

• 'cursed, cursed creator' - said Frankenstein, an exact parallel to what Victor is later to say - chapter 23 - emphasises the similarities between creator and creation and perhaps the links between 'father and son'. brings the suggestion that perhaps the creation could be a figment of Victors mind, his doppleganger?????? 
• The creature finds 'pleasure' in destroying people and hearing their shrieks and misery - shows how much he has changes from the naive creature he first become, and he ha been made this from society.
• Describes himself with 'hell' within him, as the 'arch fiend' - this is a complete contrast to pervious chapter where this thought was one that he could not bear to think of. It now appears he has accepted the idea that he is a monster as truth, and succumbed to fulfilling the title - like in Richard III where he strives to 'prove a villain' because he was called one. 
• 'myriads of men' - the huge expanse of man, compared to the single creature, emphasises how lonely he is.
• 'I awoke, exhausted' he super human skill seems perhaps to fail him, as the source of his energy, is not working.
• 'Nature decayed around me, and the sun became heatless' even nature seems to have abandoned him.
• He is shot for attempting to save the drowning girl - 'the reward for his benevolence' - it is as if society is teaching him that he should be bad, because he gets punished for being good.
• Describes William as a 'little creature', similar to the girl before - so he likens himself, during his naive stage, to a child. 
• 'and all within me was turned to gall' Macbeth similarities to lady Macbeth, returns in later chapters. Suggests that Macbeth was a strong influence on Mary Shelley.
• Elizabeths beauty in the locket 'softens' the creature so he has got human feelings which are not monstrous. 

Chapter 17

• "if you consent... so ardently desire" - Paradise lost links - language, a replica of the language used in Milton's paradise lost ' we shall make our bed of dried leaves'. Evidence of how both the creatures language and ideals have been shaped by his 'first books'.
• the form in which it was written also parallels aspects of paradise lost.
• The creature compares himself to the perfect state, before the fall ' I did not destroy the lamb and the kid'. Biblically this is the ideal state, and for Frankenstein to compare himself with it suggests that, rather that trying to present himself as perfect, he is pure, and free from the prejudice and moulds of society.
• Links to previous chapters  - AO4
• Victor is presented and irresponsible 'pitiless you have been towards me I now see compassion' shows how is was not prepared for his creation as he has lost control of it. He also does not know what to think about it and keeps changing his mind about its motives, cruelly giving the creature false hope.
• The creature is presented as selfish because he wants a mate the 'same nature as [himself]' even though the reason he wants her to be like him is so they would match, if he really loved her he would not want her to suffer as he has.
• Strong romantic language throughout, Victor  uses romantic themes because he is being selfless and forgiving.

Chapter 18

• Romantic language, which is linked to dark imagery, creating a merge between the two genres - romantic and gothic 'majestic and strange' - oxymoron. This clash also represents the nature of the creature.
• Victor is seemingly jealous of clerval because of his associations with nature. Looking in to this deeper, the real reason for his jealousy is because Clerval is so free, which is what Victor strives to be.
• Wordsworthian language 'singularly variegated landscape' 
• Links to 'toils' and 'slavery' - Victor is a slave of his creation, as he was previously to his work.
• Victor love and dedication to Elizabeth because it has always been obvious to the reader throughout the novel, however, it seems that victor himself has only just realised his love for her, because his has blinded by his ambition to create life.

Chapter 19

• links to romanticism, with the sublime, and to wordsworthian poems.
• Similarities to paradise lost because of the 'wretchedness'
• Victor goes from loving the scenery and nature around him to 'despising' it ,this again reflects his temperamental nature, full of mood swings, like a parent???
• Links to indian trade routes - the issue of slavery and human trade is brought up again, suggesting that Mary Shelley could have been purposefully including this or just evidences how strongly she was influenced by the movement her mother was a key part of.
• Victor regrets asking for Clerval companionship - contradicts the rest of the novel, where with out companionship, victor cannot function properly, either ending up very sick, or out of his mind. By not wanting companionship, Mary Shelly shows how Victor has been driven mad by the monster, because even his morals seem to have changed. Also companionship is the one thing that the monster craves, linking Victor and his creation together. Perhaps Victor is trying to break away from the similarities, and therefore tries to desire different things from his creation.
• Another link between Victor and his monster as they both endure moral turmoil.

Chapter 20

• Context: sums up the whole pervious chapters; Victor made the creature and it followed him, soon to be reversed as at the beginning of the novel, it is Victor who is following the monster.
• Gothic, with he creatures face appearing in the light of the moon. Brings back gothic ideals, like nightmares and illusions, because perhaps that is what it is and Victor is losing his mind - another gothic trait.
• 'The sun is set and the moon is just rising from the sea' - pondering the rules of nature, Shows Victor is thinking of nature as nature, rather than science, which has been preoccupying his mind continuously. Science created the monster, and yet it is only through nature that Victor can find some freedom from it.
• Before, Victor was driven by passion to create the creature and wasn't aware of the consequences. Shows that he has learned from his actions as he is thinking twice about creating another monster, because he doesn't want to make the same mistake twice. 
• Slow pace to the creation, contrast to the previous one. emphasised how it was the life rather than the creation of Frankenstein creature that was important then. Perhaps because his last creation was built with anticipation, and this one is built with fear?
• Face of moral dilemma - like in macbeth with his doubts about killing Duncan.

Frankenstein Reading Journal- Chapters 21 -23

Chapter 21

• When victor thinks of his dead friend he is 'parched with horror'. The realisation, that he is responsible for his friends death causes, an absence of life in victor (as water is the key to life) so it is as if through creating a life in the creature, victor has destroyed his own.
• 'Murderous machinations' He describes, what he had originally called a life creation, as a machination, or crafty plot with a sinister end. These are purposeful acts, so there is the suggestion that perhaps victor was aware of what he was doing all along, because surely some one with his knowledge could not make the mistakes victor did, unless they were purposeful. gothic suggestion of a doppelganger?
• describes his body as 'the human frame' so he likens himself to the creature because his body is a 'frame' rather than a human body. Perhaps because he believes his actions a symmetrical to that of the creature so he does not feel he deserves to be called human.
• 'I was doomed to live' - though all his friends have suffered death, he suffers the most because the loss of companionship is worse than death. Also suggests that life is a doomed subject on a whole, so his project to crete life was one of doom from the beginning.
• the fact that his work to create life had rid victor of life is emphasised 'I was a mere skeleton'.
• His life is sustained threw the taking of 'laudanum' - making victor the weak figure that he had sought to defeat, proving that knowledge is not everything.

Chapter 22

• 'The voyage came to an end' the beginning of the chapter, could reflect the end of victors happiness, which is respectively the end of his life, which is rapidly approaching.
• 'I abhorred the face of man' - reflects how Victor has lost his mind, and all that is dear to him. Throughout the book, it has been made clear that victor, and man as a whole, only function correctly with companionship, and now that, the essence of life, is the one thing that victor loathes. So surely he must be doomed?
• 'A thousand times would I have shed my own blood, drop by drop, to have saved their lives'. Proof that Victor wants to repent for his crime and willing would. But his knowledge has limits, and it seems that he is overwhelmed by the disaster he has created as he cannot think of a way to right the wrongs he has done.
• '[if we get married] nothing on earth will have the power to interrupt my tranquillity', Elizabeth's words in her letter to victor. Ironic because both the reader and victor know that if they do get married the creature has promised to be there one their wedding night, and he will interrupt the tranquility!
• decided to go ahead with the wedding, shows courage on victors part. arms himself with 'pistols and a dagger' almost as if his madness had driven him to believe that will be enough to kill the creature. It is as if his love for elizabeth has either given him a new sense  of hope, albeit slightly false. Or his lust to be with Elizabeth forever has ruined his sense of knowledge and perspective.
• 'how happy and serene nature appears' a juxtaposition to what lies ahead.

Chapter 23

• 'the wind... rose with great violence in the west... suddenly a heavy storm of rain descended' Pathetic fallacy, the weather is already against them. It foretells an extreme yet sudden situation, which cannot be good - the murder of elizabeth perhaps?
• When he realises Elizabeth has been murdered he focuses heavily on his anatomical make-up; 'the motion of every muscle and fibre was suspended... i could feel the blood trickling in my veins, and tingling in the extremities of my limbs' - It is as if he has turned himself in to the life less 'material' he used to create his monster. because he has become a monster through his creation, and because with out Elizabeth, he might as well be dead.
• Describes Elizabeth as 'inanimate' he always describes his creation of life as 'animate' so this harsh contrast reflect his strength of grief.
• Victor describes his later actions as a form of 'instinct'. This is arguably, what the creature has been doing through out the novel, so victors similarities with the creature are growing.
• Victor describes his life as a 'tale of horrors', brought upon by his lust for knowledge and ambition, similar to that of macbeth.
• Victor curses his creation: ' cursed, cursed be the fiend' - a replicate of what the creature did in chapter 15 - parallels between the figures deepening further.
• 'Man, ... how ignorant art thou in thy pride of wisdom!' - victor has learnt his lesson, and realises the full power of man and the destruction it can cause, all because of wisdom, knowledge and ambition. 

Frankenstien reading journal continued 9-15

Chapter 9

• 'nothing is more painful to the human mind... than the dead calmness of inaction'  Victor is faced with the guilt of both Justine and Williams death, and yet he cannot tell anyone or do anything to stop his creature from causing more havoc. It is in this chapter that Victor reaches a turning point in his conscience, as he realises that he has made a huge mistake in creating the creature, and knows that he cannot do some thing to stop it alone, so he understands he must seclude himself to try and associate with the monster.
• Elizabeth becomes Victors comfort, almost becoming the male figure in their relationship. 'I drew near to her, as if in terror'. This reflects just how badly the guilt is affecting Victor and how his strong persona that we saw near the beginning transformed to the figure we see at the very beginning in the ice.
• Victor journeys in to Nature which provides him with a 'long lost sense of pleasure' This is  the start of a more romantic approach to the novel. Rather than the traditional Gothic approach, the closeness and recluse that victor Can create with nature and the wordsworthian language which Shelley uses to reflect almost a turn in the novel.

Chapter 10

• Romantic theme of the 'sublime' reoccurs - this time is gives Victor the 'greatest consolation' he was capable of receiving. Reflects upon the power of nature, in a similar way to how the power of science has been presented. Both have restored animation, science to the creature, and nature to victor. However science, he was in control of, and nature is in control of Victor, 'the glacier overhung me'.nature
• When Victor awakes 'a dark melancholy clouded every thought'. This is realistically true, because a mist has covered the beauty of nature. However, it is symbolic of how victors lie, which was beautiful, has been made dark through his creation of the creature.
• Moves from describing nature in a romantic way to a scientific way 'perpendicularity of the mountain' - his old self cannot help but assess everything scientifically. evidence of taxonomy.
• Describes the creature as possessing 'superhuman speed' which suggests that it exceeds man physically. Creates the feeling of doom because if the creature does really exceed man, then how will victor destroy it??? Hints that maybe to destroy it is not the answer.
• 'I out to be thy Adam; but I am rather the fallen angel' The creature compares himself to the biblical image, first of Adam then of the fallen angle - the devil. By his calling himself this, it is almost as if he realises the cruelty of his actions, even though he does not appear to at the time. This shows he is accepting the title 'devil'. It also means he is referring to Frankenstein as God, giving him infinite power and respect, is this something Frankenstein likes?????

Chapter 11

• 'the original era of my being' - the creature speaking - parallels to Adam from the bible, like previous chapter, yet in this reference he can be compared to Adam in his innocent, before the fall. This is because of his naivety. Then when the creature eats some berries in the novel they turn him from a 'dormant state' to a state to one of enlightenment.
• 'retreat as their pandemonium appears to the dreams of hell' - reinforces the links between paradise lost. 
• Describes the girl as 'the fair creature' - This suggests that the girl could remind him of himself, or his childish state that he was in when he was first created and referred to as 'the creature'. Proves that the creature was originally an innocent, but was formed and changed by the society that he was brought up in; which secluded and alienated him.

Chapter 12

• 'I ob severed with pleasure' The creature helps the family by collecting wood for them, and this is his reaction to their reaction. He is pleased that by using his 'superhuman strength' for good he has caused happiness and this affords him the feeling of pleasure, the same to what he said he felt at killing William. This proves that there is a kinder and lighter side to the creature which, Frankenstein has failed to recognise. Glimmer of hope!
• Describes language as 'a godlike science' - likening humans to god, in a similar way to how he likens victor to gods. Also likening his own power to the power of god because he does attain this skill. Also proves that he is not aware of how he is viewed by others, because he seems to think humans are more advanced than him, yet victor believes he has the capability to be better than a human.
• describes the family first as 'amiable', this is a contrast to the way he will describe them in later chapters when they have wronged him. In this way his actions and feelings resemble that of a child as he dislikes people if they are mean to him.
• Described himself as a 'foolish wretch' when he is looking back in hindsight as his actions. This makes it seem as if he has given in to the fact that he is 'ugly' and different so the thought that he would have a chance of being accepted, is a foolish one, according to himself. This makes the reader realise the impact that society has on the monster, and how different he could have been if he was treated differently.

Chapter 13

• The monster creates romantic descriptions of the family 'dying away, like a nightingale of the woods'. This proves that he has a softer, empathetic side, which has been highlighted in his narrative chapters, because we are his viewing life form his view which is a much more traumatic yet naive version of it, when compared with Victors idea of the monster. This creates sympathy between the monster and the reader, and perhaps Victor has sympathy for his creation too????
• 'I may boast that I improved more rapidly than the arabian' The creature is talking about how he learnt to 'master the skills of speach' quicker than the Arabian. This language of 'boasting' really reinforces the idea that his actions reflect those of a child because he takes pride in that fact that he has almost 'won a race' in learning to speak the fastest. This also can be a reference to his superhuman skills at work, and proves that it is not only his physical attributes that are better than a humans, but his mental ones too.
• The creature starts to describe himself as 'a monster, a blot on the earth' and these descriptions inflict 'agony' upon him. This exploits both his sensitive nature, and his cleverness, as he has discovered the reason for his alienation.
• The creature begins to long for a family and wonder at why he has none and why he has no Friends - reflects his loneliness, and brings up the suggestion that perhaps that is the reason for his murderous behaviour later on.

Chapter 14

• We learn of the De Lacy family, and how Felix's family were exiled because he tried to free them from slavery. This highlights the political and social flaws that Mary Shelley had to deal with at the time of writing, because Felix's 'crime' is morally not a crime at all.
• Also, as Safie returns to the  'safey...in the cottage of her lover', which produces almost a fairytale type love story of the creature. This could play a part in his longing for a lover, and a Friend. But this will defiantly lead him to being more lonely, as he realises what he is missing.
• The influences of woman roles in the novel is accentuated here.

Chapter 15

• Links to Paradise lost - victor as god, he makes life, yet he could be perceived as Satan because of his thirst for knowledge, and because he gets punished at the end of the novel. There is also links between the creature and creation as they were both created.
• Creature learns to read using highly complex books; 'Paradise lost, a volume of Plutarch's Lives, and the sorrows of Werter' - very romantic novels, reflected in the language used by the creature. Also could be argued that the Romanticism is reflected in the creatures ideals as he has very idealistic views on family and love, which are not always a reality for most people, and yet he views it as only not a reality for him because he is different.
• 'He had abandoned me... I cursed him' The creature hates his creator, even though he has not met him, just because he left him. shows the impact of loneliness ad abandonment in the novel. Victors abandonment symbolises the alienation that the creature receives from society.
• ' i did not head the bleakness of the weather' A contrast to most of the rest of the book, where the weather seems to manipulates the goings on, pathetic fallacy. 
• calls the cottage family his 'friends' even though there are not fully aware of his existence. Proves how dear the creature holds companionship. 
• 'the hearts of men... are full of brotherly love and charity' this is not how the hearts of men act towards the creature so it brings up the question of why??????

Frankenstien reading journal 1-8

Chapter One

• We learn Victor is from a respected family as they are 'the most distinguished' of the Geneva republic. This suggests a stable up bring which would result in good mannerisms and morals from Victor. This is reflected later in the novel when he has realised his mistake in making the monster and he regrets it.
• We understand that Victors family are very well off, this is evidence by their constant country hopping. This would mean that Victor could really have what ever material goods he wanted, and mean that he could go on to do what ever he wants. This makes the fact that he focus' on science very significant, and highlights his passion for it.
• We are introduced to Elizabeth. she is describes as a 'blessing' to Victors family. This suggests that she can be to his family, what victor is not, as she won't go to study, rather she will be there to support his household.
• Victor's mum describes Elizabeth as 'a pretty prsent' for Victor. This shows again how Victor can get every thing that he materially wants. Victor, it says takes this very seriously and he truly believes she is his property. This relationship accentuates the affect of Victor's loss when Elizabeth is murdered.

Chapter 2

• Victors lust for knowledge is accentuated 'I was more smitten with the thirst for knowlegde' - a key them of the novel and arguably victors hamartia and reason for his downfall.
• 'It was the secrets of heaven that I desired to learn... the inner spirit of nature and the mysterious soul of man that occupies me' - Gothic, victors lust for a supernatural power.
• Victors friend - Clerval - highlights how happy victor is with him, the theme of companionship is mentioned, and the benefits of it are highlighted.
• Victor studies 'aggrippa' and more, his father describes it as 'sad trash' - hinted at the worthlessness of the studies which he is doing and hints at what is to come from the university.

Chapter 3

• Victor goes to university because his 'parents resolved' that he would, proving that he isn't rebellious towards them and extenuating his respect for them. 
• Victors mother dies - because of Elizabeth?????? Victor links her death with 'irreparable evil' - the start of his downfall. Perhaps his lust to create life is to recreate his mother and to stop his feelings of despair.
• Victors father was right, as his studies are described as 'rubbish'.
• Victor is entranced by the scene - the chapter marks a turning point in his life as it 'decided his future'.

Chapter 4

• we learn of how secluded he makes himself. he describes chemistry as his 'sole occupation' and does not visit home for two years. This links back to the them of companionship that we had at the beginning and shows what happens through the deprivation of it.
• Victor, as he is retelling his life regrets his actions, even goes as far as saying 'how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge and how much happier the man is who believes his native town to be world' - reflects how his opinion has changed drastically over the time, makes the reader wonder why??????
• Because of victors lack of human contact, and obsession with creating life he becomes a 'wreck' who 'shunned' his Friends and fellow humans. He also obtains a slow fever. This is the first physical illness we are informed that victor has had. this is significant because it was caused by his creation, so could be seen to reflect the disaster that his monster will later create.

Chapter 5

• the monster is finished and , before he is beheld he is described by victor as his 'accomplishment'. However, after victor has viewed him is described as an 'accident' and 'horrid'. These feelings are so strong, and completely opposite to what victor was expecting, that they explain his actions and his fear of the creature. They also explain why victor has an almost extreme fear of his monster, which you wouldn't expect from a character  with his strength. 
• Victors dream of kissing Elizabeth, who them turns into his mother reflects how victor has almost turned nature on its head by creating the monster. As the dead had come to life, and he is kissing his mother in and incestuous way. It could also be a proleptic passage into the death of Elizabeth.
• The idea of the blessing of companionship is re kindled as when Frankenstein meets clerval he says that 'in a moment i had forgotten my horror and misfortune. this emphasises the power that companionship has in the book, and proves how the creature is going to be doomed if he doesn't have any.

Chapter 6

• Through Elizabeth's letter we learn of Justine, who is later falsely accused of killing William. This introduction to her character emphasises how sad her life has been, not only because of its misfortune, but because she was present in victors home when he was there and yet he didn't notice her. This show How she has been almost ignored throughout the novel, and proves that she would be an easy victim to pin a crime on.
• Describes William as 'rosy with health' - this, along with the rest of his description in the letter make him seem pure and angelic, like an angel. This highlights his innocence, and perhaps explains the innocence recognised by the monster, that we learn about in later chapters. This description also adds to the despair which is felt when we learn of Williams death in the next chapter as he is so beautiful and healthy now.
• The relationship between Elizabeth and Victor is explored slightly in this letter because we are in part witnessing a conversation between the two. When Elizabeth describes Manon as 'ugly' it gives the reader a sense of the informality of Elizabeth and Victors relationship, and how friendly they are to each other, as they can open up to each other freely.

Chapter 7

• In victors fathers letter he is described as 'long-absent son'. This description proves that he is disturbed and perhaps annoyed by Victors absence and that he wants to convey this to his son in a gentle yet firm way. This emphasises the love between the two, even though the father could seem rejected by victor.
• 'William is dead!' The fact that this fact is thrust so forcefully in to the letter reflects the suddenness of Williams death to the family. It is as if Victors father is trying to convey some of their surprise and shock at the news to victor in the form of a letter.
• 'I will not attempt to console you' Proves that the Frankensteins have accepted the horror of the event and can't find any hope in the situation.
• 'you alone can console elizabeth' - their closeness is highlighted again.
• 'with feelings of peace and gentleness' These are the feelings that Victors father tries to encourage victor to posses. This suggests that victors normal reaction would be to seek revenge rather than forgive, which is attitude that he reflects later in the novel.
• Describes his creature as 'the filthy deamon' rather than 'creautre' because he learns that he killed his brother. It is because he has taken on the actions of a monster so Victor sees it fitting to change his name. However, there is a question as to weather Victor should be refered to as the monster????

Chapter 8

• Justin is described as 'calm... exquisitley beautiful...confident yet innocent' These conflicting factors to her appearence reflect her conflictinf emotions of shock and despair at the loss of william, and confusion and perhaps anger at her false accusation. The fact that is is through victors eyes could be interprtedtied as a reflection of his feelings becuase it is his fault that she is being trialed, and later killed, becuase he created the monster.
• 'I cannot pretend to describe what i felt then' This is victors immedient reaction to Justines Condement. Where he is normally very lietrate and clever, it seems that this blow has tunned him. This moment combines all the lovong descriptions that have been felt from victor towards justine, and uses them to empahsise the loss and guilt that victor must fell knowing his actions, and lack of actions, have sentanced her to her death.
• The fact that that Justine confesses her guilt could be seen as a reflection of the corruptness of soceity. Becuase the court has forced the innocent to confes to a crime she did not commit. Shelly could be using this as a means of conveying th courpness of those in power and how they manipulat it to suite thier own means.
• 'I wish... that I were to die with you; I cannot live in this world of misery' This is elizabeths responce to Justines condement. She wishes to die becuase of all the death that she has witness. The creature is later to grant this wish, and elizabeths feeling are then reflected in Victor.

Frankenstein reading journal: Preface - Letter IV

Preface

• Says its written by P.B. Shelley - instead of Mary Shelly - is there a reason for this???
• Says what will happen 'is not of impossible occurrence' which will make the novel, and its subject more real, and therefore more scary and Gothic.
• Describes the content as 'supernatural terrors' - Gothic nature
• Set in a 'cold and rainy' season - pathetic fallacy creating a Gothic mood immediately
• Similarly, claims it is based on 'German stories of ghosts' creating the Gothic atmosphere setting the story up to be one that is scary and haunting.

Letter I

• Says his enterprise has been regarded with 'evil forebodings' First mention of evil. When used with the fact he says 'no disaster' has happen reader gets the idea that he is on a dangerous expedition were disaster and evil is expected so his supposedly reassuring words have the opposite effect.
• 'Cold northerly breeze' suggests danger, as the cold is dangerous. Also could reflect the mood of these first few letters.
• Writer has 'daydreams' which have become 'more fervent and vivid'. Hint of madness in his personality??? Gothic trait of dreams and madness hinted at.
• Reference to 'heavenly bodies' could be paralleled to Frankenstein's dream to create the perfect human with the perfect body.
• R. Walton, the writer could be paralleled to Victor Frankenstein because of his 'ardent curiosity' - hamartia and downfall???
• 'Fear of danger or death' - the fact that his mission could prove to be fatal is repeated again to stress the point, and to create a dangerous and nervous atmosphere for the reader.
• Compares his joy to that which 'a child feels' - gives the writer a scene of naivety which could be paralleled to the monster in future chapters.
• We learn that the writer is a 'failure' or at least in his own eyes has failed at some point in his life. This gives him and his expedition a new scene of ambition, also creates sympathy towards the writer, and deepen the relationship between him and the reader because of the knowledge they share.
• We learn he 'voluntarily endured cold, famine, thirst and want of sleep' because of his dream that he is pursuing. emphasises how strong his ambition is, again bringing back his curiosity and how bad it could be. also could be paralleled to Victor who also suffers from things like lack of sleep to create his monster, which was his dream - hints that similarly, Walton's exhibition could also fail.
• Walton 'preferred glory to every enticement that wealth placed in (his) path' like Victor. Hinting again that perhaps his exhibition won't go to well just like Victors.
• 'If I fail, you will see me again soon, or never' - sadness is created as a bother willingly acknowledges the fact he could did and never see his family again - will it be reflected in the rest of the novel????
• The question 'who is 'R. Walton' is created and what impact will he have on the novel??????

Letter II

• Describes men that are 'possessed with dauntless courage' - possessed is a very strong word to use, perhaps highlighting the strength in the men, and to get the reader prepared for the Gothic themes later on.
• Describes having no friend as 'the most sever evil', the Gothic is brought out again. Also can be compared to the creature which is created later in the novel because of his loneliness. all the creature wanted was a friend, just like Walton.
• 'My day dreams are more extended and magnificent' the theme of day dreams is brought up again highlighting its importance??? or maybe just the Gothic theme of madness is being slowly introduced?
• Claims his lieutenant is 'madly desirous of glory', links back to his and Victor's lust for glory, suggesting that it could be a common theme. Also reiterating the theme of ambition=Gothic! 
• Repeats the idea that he is on a perilous exhibition 'should you never here from me again'

Letter III

• Ambition, the fatal Gothic trend, is brought up again in this letter 'what can stop the determined heart and resolved will of man?' Its common appearance in these first letters hints that it will play a major part of the novel.
• Again the sense of hopelessness of his voyage is reiterated , but there seems to be a more hopeful tone to his writing as he says 'I, who may not see my native land, for many years' instead of saying he will never see it again - suggests that he has a new found hope? 

Letter IV

• The 'ice' and 'very thick fog' has made his exhibition very 'dangerous'. The extremes of weather reflect the Gothic atmosphere. Maybe could reflect the extremes of morals and actions which are taken later in the novel?????
• Includes the first sighting of the creature, described as 'a being which had the shape of a man, but apparently of gigantic structure'. Hints at the supernatural (Gothic theme) because this creature is clearly not human. Foreshadows the failure that Frankenstein's creature will turn out to be.
• Describe Victor as a 'savage' a hint of his true personality??? Also an be used to reflect Walton's prejudice of strangers, which is repeated in the novel.
• Victor is perceived as 'on the brink of destruction', his body in  a 'wretched condition', foreshadowing the failings which we are yet to learn of but tell the reader that his life does not end up well. It reflects what the monster has done to him.
•  This is reinforced by the idea that he asked where the ship 'was bound' before staying on it' This suggests that his ambition to get to where ever he wants to go is so strong it is mad as it could most likely result in death - The bad, Gothic side to ambition is reflected again.
• 'His eyes have generally an expression of wildness, and even madness' The description of Victor brings back the subtle hints of madness which have been hinted at in previous letters, but in a much stronger light. Also a form of prolepsis as it hints at how much the monster will destroy the great person which were are to learn Victor was. His broken status could be compared to that of the creature.
• Victor call the inhuman figure a 'daemon'. hints at deepest evil in this figure. makes the reader wonder what exactly this thing has done to be labeled this Gothic images of evil and hell???
• Victors 'curiosity' is mentioned again.
• Victor claims he has been 'restored to life' - bringing up the theme of restoring life to that which had none, like what victor does to the creature.
• Who is the stranger????? An element of mystery is in the air.
• Walton begins to 'love him as a brother' Ironic when it is the monster who has brought this love, and yet the monster who has destroyed all the other people Victor had ever loved.
• Walton's affection for Victor is explained through his description of him 'gentle...wise; his mind is so cultivated'. The first description we receive of his personality, which makes the mad being which we have seen in him so much more sad.
• Comparison between Victor an Walton - Victor 'excited (Walton's) curiosity' - Victor's flaw! Victor also compares him to himself  'do you share my madness'. these themes of curiosity and madness can both be linked to the Gothic theme of ambition which seemingly overrides the novel, curiosity feeding the ambition and madness being the outcome.
• Victor describes him and Walton as 'unfashioned creatures'. perhaps a link to his creature and what he has learned of life throughout the process of his?
• We learn Victor has 'lost everything', but why????? Curiosity is installed in the reader too!!! The reader is very keen to read on and find out what has made the stranger the way he is. A clever writing device from Shelley
• Question of morality is brought up 'you may deduce an apt moral from my tale' hinting at the lack of it in the tale.
• 'wild and mysterious regions' Victor is setting the Gothic scene for his tale, which is very suitable!
• Walton is turned in to the reader, he has the same want to hear the tale as us 'I felt the greatest eagerness to hear the promised narrative, partly from curiosity, and partly from a strong desire to ameliorate his fate'.
• 'strange and harrowing must be his story, frightful the storm which embraces the gallant vessel on its course and wrecked it thus' - warning the reader of what they are about to read, building the suspense!