The Theme Of Sublime Nature In Frankenstein By Mary Shelley

In the novella Frankenstein, Mary Shelley uses geography to further the plot, reveal the true intentions of characters and convey the novella’s theme of sublime nature. The theme of sublime nature is the idea that nature is comprised of a mixture of terror and beauty. One example of sublime nature supported by geography is the monster, which is truly a terror in appearance and spirit being born in Ingolstadt. Shelly contrasts this â€Å"terror† of Ingolstadt to the beauty of Geneva, Frankenstein’s birthplace. Once the fruit of Frankenstein’s labor comes to fruition and the horrific monster is born, even Frankenstein himself is â€Å"unable to endure the aspect of the being† and attempts to cast it away and forget it (Shelley 101). The apparent†¦show more content†¦These events are meant to show that terror in the form of the monster has survived in the beauty of nature, setting out on a journey to achieve spiritual peace. However, the monst er, who has traveled Europe in search of Geneva, in fact seeks and is surrounded by the peace it can never have, as the terror which resides inside of the monster’s soul will not allow it. One such case occurs when spring begins and the monster is â€Å"felt [the] emotions of gentleness and pleasure† in the â€Å"sunshine and the balminess of the air† but then realized that he was still lonely and quickly became bitter (Shelley 246). The vengeance which the monster wishes upon Frankenstein is a manifestation of an eternal fury that the monster has as a result of the loneliness that Frankenstein has imposed upon him. The theme of sublime nature is perpetuated by Shelley’s incorporation of violence in locations with beautiful lake and mountain views. As Frankenstein takes a tour of a mountain and glacier he sees sublime nature in the form of â€Å"the pallid lightning that played above Mont Blanc,† showing that terrors such as lightning already exist within the domain of the beautiful mountainside (Shelley 167). Shelley uses this ominous mood to foreshadow Frankenstein’s future encounter with another herald of terror, the monster. Not long after Frankenstein sees an object in the distance and suddenly, â€Å"A flash of lightning illuminated the object,† theShow MoreRelatedSublime In Frankenstein Essay1497 Words   |  6 PagesMost Gothic novels aim to show the sinister side of human nature. They depict the dark terrors which lie beneath the reader s mentality. The term Gothic suggests a genre which deals with frightening and mysterious settings by giving connotations o f ghostly castles and supernatural events. The Sublime experience as stated by the critic Longinus is, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦a matter of treatment. 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