Frankenstein 1

Metaphor - “I feel exquisite pleasure in dwelling on the recollections of childhood, before misfortune had tainted my mind, and changed its bright visions of extensive usefulness into gloomy and narrow reflections upon self . . . I find it arise, like a mountain river, from ignoble and almost forgotten sources; but swelling as it proceeded, it became the torrent which, in its course, has swept away all my hopes and joys.” (Shelley, 21) Victor’s feelings are compared to a mountain river which continues as a theme throughout Frankenstein. The association of nature and human feelings in this chapter demonstrates Shelley’s love for nature-based metaphors instead of comparing items to other non natural objects. Instead of describing Victor’s feelings using dialogue with other characters Shelley uses a more natural and ”romantic” setting. In this way one is given a look into one of Shelley’s styles used often in Frankenstein. This glimpse at the way the rest of the novel will flow might even offer insights as to natures bond to man.