Friday, May 02, 2008

Lunchtime read: Frankenstein

Having outlined his history and accepting he committed the murders of Frankenstein’s brother the monster then waits for a reply to his demand for a female companion.

He promises Frankenstein that he will take his companion and live in the deserts and never trouble people again but Victor does not believe him. But he does feel some responsibility and so consents to creating a mate. The monster (can’t think of a better way of describing him) explains that unless Victor creates a mate he will inflict misery on him and mankind.

Victor promises to go ahead with a female version and heads off to England to get the latest bits of research and start to create the mate. But when he gets away to the Orkney islands and starts he is disturbed by the monster and doubts creep in and he wonders if he should create what potentially could be a deadly duo. He breaks his promise and after a warning from the monster waits to see what the consequences will be.

He doesn’t have to wait long before the revenge bites and he is confronted in a police cell with the corpse of his best friend Clerval, who had been travelling with him across England. Victor is effectively framed but slumps into a fever that keeps him bed bound for two months.

More tomorrow…