So
Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, uses various symbols throughout the
novel to help highlight the deeper mean of the words within the tale; references
to dangerous knowledge, feminist views, and monstrosity are a few symbols that
occur throughout this intricate story, however, one symbol within the text that
simply cannot be ignored is nature. Nature is something that seems to connect
everything together in
Frankenstein; it shows the intention of a
characters next move, their true spirit, and the various emotions that are
stirred up when situations arise. Mary Shelley broadcasts the effects nature
has on one's internal spirit when she references the poem "Lines Written A
Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey, On Revisiting the Banks of the Wye During A
Tour", by William Wordsworth, while Victor Frankenstein is reflecting back
on the different state of minds he and his dear friend, Henry Clerval, seem to
have. The poem goes like this:
“The sounding cataract
Haunted him like a passion: the tall rock,
The mountain and the deep and gloomy
wood,
Their colours and their forms, were
then to him
An appetite; a feeling, and a love,
That had no need of a remoter charm,
By thought supplied, or any interest
Unborrowed from the eye”
The powerful message this poem gives off helps to shed light on the internal
being/outlook on life that Henry Clerval possesses. Henry Clerval is a character
who is full of life, optimism, and amicable qualities; the constant words of
encouragement this man has for Victor show the passion and overall appreciation
he has for life. “His soul overflowed with ardent
affections, and his friendship was of that
devoted and wondrous nature that let the worldly-minded teach us to look
for only in the imagination” (Shelley 112);
Victor’s words for his friend are almost spoken in a form of admiration. Clerval
is a man who lives in the moment, and the appetite he has for natures “colours
and forms” broadcast the way he uses his imagination as a form of guidance to help
show him exactly what it is life has to offer. Nature haunts Clerval. Nature
creates feelings of love and charm within Clerval. Clerval appreciates the beauty
of nature for what it really is while Victor abuses its laws as a way to get
ahead in life. Victor doesn’t cherish nature the way his peer does; he uses its
beauty as a tool for societal gain while Clerval sees it as something to help
him internally connect with himself to be the person he truly wishes to be.
Victor lacks not only confidence within himself but also passion needed to help
strive to accomplish something that HE can be proud of when he reflects back on
his life; Victor’s main focus when it comes to showing the rest of society what
he’s made of is exactly why this poem symbolizes his relationship with nature
in a negative way. This poem, by William Wordsworth, fits into Shelley’s novel
perfectly, seeing how a lot of the main points she get across deal with
internal shifts these characters have. Wordsworth’s poem is full of
internal/external shifts that help one see how a certain moment in one’s life
can help them grow into mature beings with a worthy purpose. Henry Clerval’s
connection with nature not only relates him to William Wordsworth in ways that
Victor Frankenstein never could but also helps to make clear on the idea of the
need for moments of internal reflection; by stopping and reflecting on what he
has accomplished in life and realizing the blessing he has for being able to
attach himself to nature in ways that help him grow, Henry Clerval represents
another aspect of Victor Frankenstein that he wishes he was strong enough to
take control of. Ya feel me?
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