Nature Symbolism In Frankenstein

“It was a dark and stormy night…” A classic. A cliche. This short phrase is a gothic precursor to many famous books as well as a got-to for starting a campfire ghost story. But why is this hook so effective? Well, the author 's job in an introduction is to establish the setting, introduce main characters, and, most importantly, set the tone of the story. Using words like ‘dark’ and ‘stormy’ adds a tone of horror that would be seen in a gothic novel. These adjectives give a greatly different feel than words such as ‘mild’, ‘sunny’, and ‘glorious’. The latter words would more commonly be utilized in the introduction of a Romantic novel. As a mostly Gothic writer, Shelley takes Victor’s connection to nature to its extreme. The author uses both …show more content…
A storybook picture of spring conjures up images of birds chirping, flowers budding, and green grass growing. Spring means animals giving birth to their young and a cycle of new life beginning. Between spring cleaning and new plants growing, spring is a classic symbol of a fresh start. In Frankenstein, Victor shows his Romantic side through his strong connection with nature and its beauty. After Walton meets Victor and learns of his suffering, it is obvious to Walton that “Even broken in spirit as he is, no one can feel more deeply than [Victor] does the beauties of nature. The starry sky, the sea, and every sight afforded by these wonderful regions, seems still to have the power of elevating his soul from earth. (30)” Victor recognizes how sublime nature is and it’s ability to be greater than anything he is dealing with. It gives him strength and happiness to know their is something greater at work. He finds solace in nature after he hears about the death of William. He states, …show more content…
This is a repetitive theme throughout the book. Because of Victor’s perpetual connection with nature, with a change in setting the reader can expect a change in Victor’s mood or a change in the trajectory of the plot. Like the changing of seasons, weather is also a prevalent foreshadower of evil to come. At one point in Frankenstein, on page 197 the book describes the weather saying “...how happy and serene all nature appears!(197)” and in the blink of an eye one page later on 198 the weather changes and “Suddenly a heavy storm of rain descended.(198)” This change in scenery creates a somber mood and shortly after this, Elizabeth, Victor’s bride-to-be, is violently murdered at the hands of the creature. This classic gloomy setting is the appropriate backdrop for the horrible event that takes place. Shelley is demonstrating the gothic side of her novel by pairing a horror plot twist with a dreary setting. Along with complementing the dismal plot line at that point in the book, the storm also represents what Victor feels internally. The monster has taken everything from him and he wonders aloud, “Great God! Why did I not then expire! Why am I here to relate the destruction of the best hope and the purest creature on earth?(199)” Like the weather, he feels dark and