Intention

“I busied myself to think of a story . . . One which would speak to the mysterious fears of our nature, and awaken thrilling horror—one to make the reader dread to look round, to curdle the blood, and quicken the beatings of the heart.”

Immediately, Shelley’s intention with the novel prepares the reader for the gothic, horror themes that are within it. It foreshadows the devastation to come within the novel and how it is not for the faint of heart.

Character List

• Agatha De Lacey

  The daughter of Old Man De Lacey and sister of Felix. She faints at the sight of The Monster.

• Alphonse Frankenstein

  The father of Victor and William. He marries Caroline, the daughter of his best friend, Beaufort.

• Beaufort

  The friend of Alphonse who becomes poor and dies alone, leaving his only daughter, Caroline Beaufort, an orphan.

• Caroline Frankenstein nee Beaufort

  The daughter of Beaufort who goes on to marry Alphonse, have two children (Victor and William) and adopt Elizabeth. She died of scarlet fever that she had caught from Elizabeth (who survived) when Victor was seventeen years old.

• De Lacey

  A blind old man who lives with his daughter, Agatha, and son, Felix. The Monster observes this family, and that is how he learns to speak. The Monster approaches De Lacey, hoping his blindness would make him not be prejudiced against him, however he is caught by Agatha and Felix, who attack him and chase him away.

• Elizabeth Lavenza

  The adopted sister of Frankenstein who passively waits to marry Frankenstein. She is killed by The Monster in an act of revenge

• Felix De Lacey

  The son of Old Man De Lacey and the brother of Agatha. He is in love with the foreigner Safie, and teaches her English. The Monster observes these lessons and is able to learn how to speak that way.

• Henry Clerval

  The best friend of Victor Frankenstein who is killed by The Monster. Victor is accused of murdering Henry, but is later acquitted.

• Justine Moritz

  An unmarried, working class girl who works for the Frankenstein household. She is later wrongly blamed for the murder of William, who is actually killed by The Monster. She is then executed.

• Margaret Saville

  The sister of Robert Walton.

• M. Krempe

  An Ingolstadt professor who teaches natural philosophy who is harsh towards Victor and believes that he wasted his time studying alchemists. He suggests that Victor should renew his studies.

• Mr. Kirwin

  The magistrate who accuses Victor of Henry’s murder.

• M. Waldman

  An Ingolstadt professor who teaches chemistry who made Victor more interested in science.

• Robert Walton

  A captain who is sailing to the north pole with the intention of making a scientific discovery and exploring. He is considered to be Victor’s doppelganger.

• Safie

  The foreigner who lives with the De Lacey family.

• The Monster

  Victor Frankensteins created being who first wishes to be accepted by society, but after being rejected by his own creator (Victor) and by the De Lacey family, he seeks revenge instead, killing William, Henry and Elizabeth, and causing the death of Justine.

• Victor Frankenstein

  The hubristic protagonist and main narrator who searches for a greater purpose. He discovered the secret of life through Galvanism while studying in Ingolstadt. He creates The Monster, but is so horrified by his appearance that he immediately rejects The Monster. The Monster then ruins his life while seeking revenge.

• William Frankenstein

  The youngest child of the Frankenstein family that is murdered by The Monster. Victor feels guilty by his death, and how Justine is wrongly accused of his murder.