Why doesn't he keep Victor from creating a murderous monster? Because Victor never tells him. Clerval is perceptive—he's " always quick in discerning the sensations of others " 6. Big mistake. What we can't decide is this: is Victor subtly blaming Clerval? Would this whole tragedy somehow been averted if Clerval had been a good enough friend to make Victor confess? If you're thinking that Clerval sounds a little too good to be true, we think you're right.
He's less of a character in his own right than a foil to show us just how messed up Victor is. Not only is he basically the most perfect man ever to live—" a being formed in the 'very poetry of nature '" If the monster is the epitome of ugliness, that Henry is his polar opposite, at least in the looks department which, if you've spent any time with Victor Frankenstein, you know is the most important aspect of any person.
He's "gentle and lovely"; he has a "form […] divinely wrought, and beaming with beauty" And, yes: we're with you in thinking that these adjectives and adverbs sound a lot more like female beauty than male beauty. What's the deal with that? Confident the monster will follow, Victor leaves Geneva knowing what task awaits him and summoning the courage to repeat his terrible experiment yet a second time.
He is so distraught that the scenery does not cheer him. Mary Shelley presents a travelogue of her own tour up the Rhine. She mentions the places along the way that are important to her: the vineyards, the sheer cliffs, the islands in the river, and the ordinary people who carry on their lives in such a beautiful land.
Shelley even quotes Wordsworth's "Tintern Abbey," a major Romantic poem and an influence on the writers of the period. The parallels between Shelley's Germany and Wordsworth's English Lake District are noteworthy for their descriptions of pastoral scenes and soul-refreshing spirit, which are the essence of Romantic writing and thought.
Previous Chapter Once Victor is back to normal, or at least healthy, he and Henry set out to leave for their hometown, Geneva. Victor and Henry eventually part ways on their journey. Chapter twenty-one is the last readers hear of Henry where Frankenstein's monster murders him. In chapter two readers learn that Victor liked to be alone with the exception of his family and one friend, Henry. Victor then goes on to describe that Henry is a talented person when it comes to writing, business work, and has an adventurous spirit.
Even though it is not directly stated at this point in the novel that Henry Clerval demonstrates compassion, readers can safely assume that he is. Considering the fact that Victor selectively chooses with whom he spends his time, Henry must display the characteristic of kindness. If Henry lacked this it would be very unlikely that Victor would want to be so close to him.
Chapter five is the first instance that readers actually get to meet Henry Clerval. At first Henry thought that Victor was acting this way because he was excited that Henry was visiting him since they had not seen one another in such a long time. However, because Henry cared enough about his friend and took the time to really examine the situation he realized that Victor was actually sick. Had Victor had his encounter with a casual acquaintance, chances are they would have thought his behavior was perhaps a little odd.
And due to not knowing him very well, they would not have done anything about it. Luckily for Victor, Henry genuinely cares for him and is able to realize that he is ill. Had Henry not have discovered that Henry is sick it is likely that Victor would have died shortly after this event. The most obvious way that Henry exemplifies the theme of compassion is the actual act of taking care of Victor while he is unable to care for himself. It is important to keep in mind that Henry is supposed to be focusing on his studies at this time in his life; however, he is spending his time nursing his dear friend back to health.
0コメント