Frankenstein quotes

“He might have spoken, but I did not hear; one hand was stretched out, seemingly to detain me, but I escaped and rushed downstairs.” - Chapter 5

Symbol of rejection, failure to accept responsibility, catalyst for chaos

“with supernatural force tore me from his father, to whose knees I clung” - Chapter 15

Metaphor for rejection, physical imagery

“a more divine being than I had ever beheld” - Chapter 15

Hyperbolic role model of Werter (from “Sorrows of Werter”)

"evil thenceforth became my good" - Chapter 24 (continuation)

“Evil be thou my good" Paradise Lost

Oxymoron, taking on the role of the devil

"Nature decayed around me, the sun became heatless; rain and snow poured around me; mighty rivers were frozen; the surface of the earth was hard and chill, and bare and I found no shelter” - Chapter 16

Metaphor for the loss of his Romantic persona, personification of nature

“I had admired the perfect forms of my cottagers—their grace, beauty, and delicate complexions; but how was I terrified when I viewed myself in a transparent pool!” - Chapter 12

Hyperbole, archaic language, direct comparison to NLMG mirror, exclamation, juxtaposition

"I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror filled my heart." - Chapter 5

Juxtaposition, hyperbole, motif of dreams

“I saw Elizabeth… but as I imprinted the first kiss on her lips… her features appeared to change, and I thought that I held the corpse of my dead mother in my arms” - Chapter 5

Foreshadowing, gothic horror, juxtaposition

“Demoniacal corpse” - Chapter 5

Emotive language, satanic imagery

"life and death appeared to me ideal bounds" - Chapter 4

Symbolic of ambition, juxtaposition, foreshadowing, hubris

“A new species would bless me as its creator and source; many happy and excellent natures would owe their being to me.” - Chapter 4

God imagery, hubris, directly juxtaposes next quote

“I shuddered to think that future ages might curse me as their pest,” - Chapter 20

Emotive language, hyperbole, directly juxtaposes last quote

“[Adam’s] state was far different from mine… I was wretched, helpless, and alone. Many times I considered Satan as the fitter emblem of my condition… when I viewed the bliss of my protectors, the bitter gall of envy rose within me. - Chapter 15

Juxtaposition, binary oppositions good and evil, religious imagery

“I looked upon them as superior beings who would be the arbiters of my future destiny…I imagined that they would be disgusted, until, by my gentle demeanour and conciliating words, I should first win their favour and afterwards their love.” - Chapter 12

Pathos, ironic elevated diction (he is already superior linguistically), the power he gives to them highlight his vulnerability