In the novel Frankenstein, Mary Shelley reveals attitudes of curiosity, wonder, and determination throughout the second passage found on page 30 continuing onto page 31. Shelley gives life to these emotions through descriptive characterization of Victor Frankenstein and his thoughts, effectively bringing her own attitudes to fruition through language, symbols, and sentence structure.
Shelley portrays Victor in contemplation of his curiosity towards the wonders of life through descriptive diction and revelation of Victor’s inner thoughts. The first sentence of the passage, “One of the phenomena which had peculiarly attracted my attention was the structure of the human frame, and, indeed, any animal endued with life,” sets the mood for the entire passage. The words, “One of the phenomena,” alone emphasize Victor’s extensive curiosity towards the secrets of life, and for that matter, death as well.
Victor is determined to discover the secret of life, and will continue until his goal is finally reached. Shelley wrote the scene of his discovery in a single sentence that takes up the space of …show more content…
The symbol of light is critical to the passage, as it represents Victor’s discovery and the enlightenment he believes he gained from his arduous work, “... until from the midst of this darkness a sudden light broke in upon me- a light so brilliant and wondrous…” Shelley builds the anticipation for his future discovery by using verbal phrases such as “peculiarly attracted,” “animated by an almost supernatural enthusiasm,” “my attention was fixed upon,” “beheld the corruption,” and “examining and analyzing” to emphasize the immensity of his discovery, and the life changing effects it will soon have. Shelley personifies his attention, “My attention was fixed upon…” which further emphasizes how determined he is to finish his attempt at achieving the secrets to
Shelley portrays Victor in contemplation of his curiosity towards the wonders of life through descriptive diction and revelation of Victor’s inner thoughts. The first sentence of the passage, “One of the phenomena which had peculiarly attracted my attention was the structure of the human frame, and, indeed, any animal endued with life,” sets the mood for the entire passage. The words, “One of the phenomena,” alone emphasize Victor’s extensive curiosity towards the secrets of life, and for that matter, death as well.
Victor is determined to discover the secret of life, and will continue until his goal is finally reached. Shelley wrote the scene of his discovery in a single sentence that takes up the space of …show more content…
The symbol of light is critical to the passage, as it represents Victor’s discovery and the enlightenment he believes he gained from his arduous work, “... until from the midst of this darkness a sudden light broke in upon me- a light so brilliant and wondrous…” Shelley builds the anticipation for his future discovery by using verbal phrases such as “peculiarly attracted,” “animated by an almost supernatural enthusiasm,” “my attention was fixed upon,” “beheld the corruption,” and “examining and analyzing” to emphasize the immensity of his discovery, and the life changing effects it will soon have. Shelley personifies his attention, “My attention was fixed upon…” which further emphasizes how determined he is to finish his attempt at achieving the secrets to