In the scene that pages 89-92 cover, Frankenstein is traversing the mountain scape on his way back home. As he returns, a rather disproportionate amount of time is spent describing the sheer grandness and majesty of the mountains. This is a direct reference to Shelley’s poem Mont Blanc, where the sentimental detail of the mountain makes up the majority of the poem. Frankenstein essentially gives us the novel version of the poem, rewriting the same themes that appear in the poem, such as the audio/ visual contrast and the man versus nature motif. Frankenstein also incorporates the poem “Mutability” into the passage, where he uses its main theme of the insignificance of man to add to his image of the sublime and awe-inspiring mountains.
In describing the mountain in all its magnificence to the reader, Frankenstein basically expands on Shelley’s work. A parallel theme that runs through the poem and that Frankenstein incorporates is the audio/ visual component of the scene. In Mont Blanc, a line that captures this audio component is “A loud, lone sound no other sound can tame”. This is then recast by Frankenstein as a array of formidable noises such as the “thunder sound of the avalanche” or “the fall of some vast fragment”. Additionally, the man versus nature motif ties in with the poem “Mutability” to add to the growing sense of the insignificance of man in the natural world. Frankenstein not only quotes the last two sections of the poem but adds to his sense of helplessness. “Why does man boast of sensibilities those apparent in brute, it only renders them more necessary beings.” The poem “Mutability” focuses on the ever changing world and how nothing can last forever. Change is always bound to destroy any attempt to remain stagnant and permanent. This is something the Frankenstein recognises, as he laments the petty ways of man in the grand scheme of the world. The poem is inserted right after this monologue, a direct support to the statement and the tone of inconsequentiality Frankenstein is aiming for.
These powerful images of huge mountains and booming sounds serves to evoke a sense of insignificance in the audience. The use of Shelley’s poems and the revised paraphrasing of these texts serve to set the sublime scene that Frankenstein is inhabiting. His focus on detail (mirroring that of the poems) really drives home the impressive and terrifying nature of the landscape.
I think this is a post that could have benefited a bit from (what did we call it in class? “The Riley Method”?) deleting or at least cutting down the expository introduction paragraph, mostly because the post only really starts making serious claims in the second paragraph!
I had a bit of a hard time nailing the core argument of this post. I definitely got a strong sense that “Frankenstein” expanded upon themes in “Mont Blanc” and “Mutability,” but two disconnected claims appeared: one about the contrast of the audio and visual (through “Mont Blanc”) and one about the insignificance of mankind (through “Mutability”). Between these two observations, the audio-visual one resonated less with me. I definitely saw parallels of loud noises both in “Frankenstein” and “Mont Blanc,” but where does the visual come in? And what’s the significance of this relationship?
I think it would have helped to focus in on just one of these aspects of the scene, particularly the interesting claim made that Victor “laments the petty ways of man in the grand scheme of the world.” I’d love to see this argued more because Victor seems to me a man very much interested in making a name for himself, trying to enlighten the world through his bold scientific studies and all. Does he really believe man is that insignificant compared to nature?
A general note is that adding line numbers when citing the poems and page numbers when citing the novel is helpful. I might want to find these quotes in their original contexts for myself!