9/15/2013

   In chapter eighteen of Frankenstein, Mary Shelley quotes a passage from "Tintern Abbey."  I believe Shelley uses this section of the poem to show Victor Frankenstein's connection to nature and the difference between Henry and Victor.  In this part of the book, Victor is talking about his journey with Clerval.  He talks about how the nature and scenery calm him and help him feel better. Victor states, "I seemed to drink in a tranquility to which I had long been a stranger," (Shelley 138).  In "Tintern Abbey," Wordsworth talks about how he has been absent for five years.  He has come back to a place that he now views differently.  It is almost like he is looking at scenery from a different point of view similar to the point of view of stranger. 
   The part of the poem that Shelley selected comes from the third section of the poem that we discussed in class.  In the third section of the poem, Wordsworth travels deeper into his memory and talks about what he has gained and what he has lost when coming back to the Abbey.  Similar to Wordsworth, Victor is dealing with inner thoughts of what he has to lose and what he has to gain.  In chapter eighteen, Victor must decide if he should finish creating the female creature or to ignore the creature's request and hope that he does not come after him.  During this stressful time, Victor finds solace in nature and in his friend Henry Clerval.
   Shelley uses this part of the poem to describe Clerval directly.  Victor is delighted that Henry is eager to see the world and to travel.   This part of the poem illustrates how Henry feels about nature.  He is in awe by the scenery and consumed by nature.  Henry seems to represent a younger version or healthier/happy version of Victor.  Victor used to find solace in nature when he was younger, and still finds solace in it when he is not feeling well.  However, Henry is more excited to see the world and all it has to offer.  In my mind, I connect this to Wordsworth and his sister.  Wordsworth's sister represents a younger version of Wordsworth that can still be awed by nature.  Wordsworth has grown and is less amazed by nature.  The feeling he gets when he sees nature is calm and more subdued than when he was younger.  I believe that Victor feels the same way about Henry.  Victor is dealing with the creature and the threats the creature made against him.  Victor can be relaxed by nature, but he is not excited or amazed by nature.  On the other hand, Henry is happy and energetic and excited to see what the world has to offer.  Shelley states Wordsworth, "Their colours and their forms, were then to him An appetite; a feeling, and a love," (Shelley 140).  Henry has an appetite for nature and to see the world.  He is hungry for it. Henry and Wordsworth's sister are similar because they are young and adventurous.  Victor and Wordsworth are similar because they have gone through hardships and have grown up and now view things differently than they did when they were younger.  Shelley uses this poem to describe Henry's connection to nature compared to Victor's connection.  I believe she also uses it to parallel Wordsworth and Victor, and Henry and Wordsworth's sister.