Frankenstein

Victor Frankenstein has a relatively normal childhood in Geneva. The only noteworthy thing is that his parents adopt a child named Elizabeth with whom he becomes very close. He has a large appetite for reading all the books he can find and is an excellent student. His first mistake is to read a book by Cornelious Agrippa which talks about the the philosopher’s stone and the elixir of life, and he believes these tales to be real. He decides to persue the discovery of these objects in college, and after six years he does finally manage to bring the spark of life into a dead body. He experiences a horrific shock once he realizes what he has done. This cause him to flee his room and sleep in the courtyard. His long time friend, Henry, shows up the following day. Victor decides to show him his creation. Upon returning to the room and finding the wretch absent, Victor goes into a state of hysterical laughter. He becomes feverish and loses his senses for three months. Henry stays and attends his friend until Victor shows signs of recovery. Victor’s first memory after leaving this catatonic state is that he notices that the buds on the tree branches blooming. The illness that he has suffered is the result of six years of constant fatigue. Soon after his recovery, Victor receives a letter from his father stating that his younger brother, William, has been murdered, and that he should return home immediately. Just before Victor enters Geneva, he glimpses his creation in the forest, and this fills him with terror. He believes that his creation is responsible for the death of William. This knowledge cannot be told to anyone for Victor fears that he will be called a madman. He is therefore helpless and unable to save the person accused of the crime.