Examine use of time and setting in Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein'

In her novel 'Frankenstein', Shelly uses time and setting to foreshadow danger and doom for Victor, especially in relation to Robert Walton.
Shelley's opening setting of Walton's ship sets a tone of grandeur and scientific achievement, illuminating the underlying influence of the Enlightenment thinking to Shelley's inspiration. Unlike his moral counterpart Robert Walton who begins his expedition in the peaceful, energetic time of Spring, Victor begins his experiment on a "dreary night of November", immediately situating his endeavours in a fruitless, barren time. Shelley uses this setting to show Victor is doomed from the start and highlight his ultimate character flaw - his inability to act rationally in the emotional excitement of knowledge. Should he have been rational, he would have waited for a more favourable time to begin his experiments. Moreover, this "dreary night" links with the cold, lonely island that Victor goes on to create his female monster, again situating that setting in an equally useless and devastating manner. Shelley's use of time and setting in relation to Robert Walton further alienates Victor from the scientific canon of the time, isolating his immoral thought from other scientists. This may be a comment of warning to future scientists who wish to enact the role of God in their experiments.

JM
Answered by Jennifer M. English Literature tutor

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