The Creature’s condition degrades over time, however. It can be seen in the quote the pleasant sunshine, and the pure air of day, restored to some degree of tranquility (p144) that nature has as somewhat positive impact on him.

In a similar way, the Creature’s development is also revealed by nature through the course of the novel. From this quote the reader can understand that Victor isn’t doing as well because he no longer enjoys the nature that he once did. At one point, Victor says that, Although Clerval observed the scenery with an eye of feeling and delightI, a miserable wretch, haunted by a curse that shut up every avenue of enjoyment (p164). Nature also plays a role in the novel to show how Victor Frankenstein becomes more despondent as he becomes less and less appreciative of the scenery around him. passed whole day on the lake alone in a little boat, watching the clouds, and listening to the rippling waves, silent and listless (p159). At another point in the novel, it says that Victor took refuge in the most perfect solitude. Dear mountains! My own beautiful lake! Your summits are clear the sky and lake are blue and placid (p72), when he was describing the beauty of nature and his appreciation for it. At one point, Victor says, the black sides of Jura, and the bright summit of Mont Blanc. The observations and reactions Frankenstein and the Creature make on the nature around them reveal the state of their character at certain points in the novel. One of aspects of romanticism that is very prevalent in the novel is the focus on nature. The romantic setting used by Shelley helps characterize Victor Frankenstein and the Creature throughout the novel. Shelley uses many of the conventions aligned with romantic and gothic literature in Frankenstein’s setting, subject matter, characterization, and plot to portray her overall tone and mood in the novel. In Frankenstein, Shelley also utilizes many of the elements of gothic literature. She shows this as her work reflects many of the key elements that are associated with romanticism. Mary Shelley lived and wrote her novel Frankenstein during the peak of the romantic era of literature in the early 1800’s.

Gothic literature setting