Chapter Notes 6-10

Chapter 6
Victor receives a letter from Elizabeth, who is desperate for him to return home.
She says that his father is well, and Ernest is now 16.
William, the youngest, is described as being a happy child.
Justine Moritz’s story begins with this chapter. She becomes a part of the Frankenstein family, and though called a servant is much more than that to them.

Justine’s young life is troubled at times, and foreshadowing appears in quotes such as: “Poor Justine was very ill, but other trials were reserved for her.”
V recovers from his illness and despair in about a fortnight (14 days). He cannot feel joy in his progress, because he is worried about what the fruit of his labors may be doing.

Victor introduces Henry Clerval to his professors.
As Waldman praises V, it makes him feel even less joy than before. In trying to please Victor with praise, Waldman actually torments V.
Krempe is not nice about V and his emotional stuggles.
Clerval does not like the sciences like V. He is a fan of literature and languages.
V plans to go home in the fall; he has been away for 6 years.

Chapter 6 - conclusion
V and Henry take a long walking tour, and V feels happy again, somewhat…but embedded in his musings is the fact that he knows it this happiness is only temporary.

Chapter 7: Bad news from Victor’s dad
William is dead, murdered while he left the family to play hide and seek.
Possible motive for the murder is the theft of a very valuable miniature that once belonged to Caroline (V’s mom).
Victor makes plans to go to Geneva immediately. The journey home is melancholy. Stops for two days at Lausanne to try to calm his nerves.

C. 7 - continued
V stops at the place where William was murdered since he arrives at Geneva when the city gates are closed.
A thunderstorm with lightening ensues, and Victor sees the glimpse of a figure that looks like it might be his creation.
He wonders if the monster may be the actual murderer, and then concludes that the creature is the one! Thinks of pursuing the creature, but sees that the monster is hanging on some mountain rocks, out of range.
V goes to his dad’s home
V desperately wishes to tell what he knows about who the murderer might be, but cannot.
Arrives at his father’s home, and Ernest tells him that the murderer has been found – Justine!
Circumstantial evidence against Justine:
She was ill and taken to her bed for a few days. While ill, a servant discovered the miniature in her clothing. She was also out all night the evening of the murder, and acted strangely when told of William’s death.

Chapter 8: The Trial
Justine is calm; evidence is presented. Says she is innocent, but says that her protests will probably not acquit her.
Mentions seeing a man late that evening (who might that be?)
Says she spent the night in a barn since the city gates were locked.
Conjectures that the murderer might have placed the jewel on her, but then takes her statement back.

Chapter. 8
Elizabeth testifies as to Justine’s character, and even though it is powerful, it is not helpful.
V starts acting like a stereotypical mad scientist.
Justine then confesses to the murder, and then calls it a lie. Says she confessed, so she can obtain absolution. “I leave a sad and bitter world.” She dies and V feels devastation at how many lives have been lost because of him.

Victor
Victor is in turmoil; he has caused William’s death, and now Justine’s, and despairs over “…the first hapless victims [of]my unhallowed arts.”
Chapter 9 and 10 Notes
Frankenstein

Chapter 9 – Victor’s story continues
Victor feels a great pain because he cannot act on what he knows about his creature who has destroyed two lives: William and Justine.
V: unable to sleep, wanders in despair and remorse, once again his mental and physical health suffers because his conscience is not clear.

Chapter 9 – Victor’s dad
Victor’s father notices the change in his son, and tries to reason with him.
The family goes to a vacation home for rest and relaxation. V spends many hours on the lake in a boat. He is tempted to plunge into the lake, but knows he cannot do anything to hurt himself because it would cause more sadness for his family and Elizabeth.

Chapter 9 – Victor lives in daily fear of seeing the monster again.
Victor is filled with remorse and guilt; his family is in mourning. His father’s heath suffers.

Elizabeth is also sad and despondent.
The injustice against Justine hurts all of the Frankensteins.
Victor’s grief/guilt intensifies and he tries to escape: wandering the Alpine valleys, wishes to travel back to Chamounix, which he does and then falls into a deep sleep.

Chapter 10: Victor meets his creation
Victor wanders, enjoying the sublime beauty of the mountains. Rested well at night, one more time. Dreams of a group of very large shaped beings surrounding him (foreshadowing).
Wakes and rides to the summit of a mountain; he embraces the idea that aloneness is best for a human, and reaches the top of the mountain around noon.
V begins to feel some joy in his journey, and then sees a man, traveling at a very quick pace, coming toward him. He realizes it is his creation.

Chapter 10 – Victor and the Creature Meet
V calls the creature “Devil” and chastises it for approaching him and all of the bad things the creature has done to people he loved.
The monster, who speaks eloquently, admits that he expected V to feel this way, but implores V to hear his story.
The monster calls himself “Adam,” but realizes he is really a “fallen angel.”

Monster continues to talk to V
The monster talks about how awful it is to be alone, and he asks V why he created him if he hates him.
Monster asks V to listen to his story, and then destroy him if that is what he wishes. Asks V to hear his tale, which is lengthy and strange, and says that V must do this so the creature can live a harmless life (if not he will be the “scourge of your fellow creatures”).
V agrees to listen, and seated by the fire, the creature begins his tale (which actually starts in Chapter 11).