Frankenstein Chapters 1-6

Frankenstein begins with letters 1-4, where Captain Robert Walton is writing to hi sister Margaret Saville while he begins his travels north. Robert laments how lonely his is and how he desires an intellectual equal, then meets Victor Frankenstein while he was chasing after his creature. Victor agrees to tell his story, which Robert then copies down for Margaret. In chapter 1, Victor discusses how he had a perfect, idyllic childhood, and describes how his family adopted Elizabeth, to whom Victor felt an extreme attachment. In chapter 2, Victor discusses his interest in "natural philosophy" (science), and his fascination with alchemy, the secret to life, and the philosopher's stone. In chapter 3, Victor is preparing to go to university when Elizabeth catches scarlet fever, so Victor's mother nurses her back to life, but becomes ill and dies. When Victor arrives at university, he meets M. Krempe, who he does not particularly like, and M. Waldman, who becomes a kind of mentor to him and introduces him to more modern sciences. In chapter 4, Victor becomes obsessed with science and discovering the secret of life, throwing himself into his work, neglecting his health and neglecting to write to his family as he works to give life to a creature. In chapter 5, Victor animates his creature, but runs out of his apartment due to fear, running into Henry Clerval, a friend from back home. Victor falls ill due to months of obsession over his work, choosing to deny the fact that he brought this creature into existence. In chapter 6, Victor finally recovers and receives a letter from Elizabeth, informing him of Justine's (a servant) return to the Frankenstein household. Victor also decides to join Henry in taking language and literature classes at university.

As Victor's character develops, he seems to not take responsibility for his actions. Victor likes to blame fate for many of his actions in his life, he blames his father for not properly dissuading from pursing the old ways of science early in his life, and when Victor animates his creature, he runs away from it and refuses to acknowledge its existence. Henry Clerval is a kind of a foil for Victor because he is a happy, normal, kind, well-rounded man who is interested in languages and literature, while Victor is obsessive and loves science and "natural philosophy." Elizabeth and Justine are kind of similar characters because they are both pretty females who are seen are good and wholesome, who were taken in and cared for by the Frankensteins. A theme beginning to appear in the book is the similarity between Victor and Prometheus, both of whom tried to play God, but will likely face consequences for doing such. Frankenstein is also similar to the Paradise Lost because the monster was cast out by his creator, Victor, like how Lucifer and Adam were cast out by their creator, God.