Symbolism In Frankenstein's Fever, By Mary Shelley

Understanding the motif of sickness within Frankenstein is imperative to understanding

Frankenstein 's Fever a Journey of Restoration the very nature of Dr. Frankenstein himself, as well as the broader symbolism of nature in restoring the natural order of the world. Although one may argue that sickness as motif is very utilitarian in its placement within the novel either serving to signal the oncoming death of a character, or act as a defense mechanism for Victor Frankenstein 's cognitive dissonance towards the creation of his monster. However the very deliberate placement of illness after events that go against the natural order such as Victor 's creation of the monster, or in foreshadowing the death of his family members. This proves that

So it is only fitting that his first relief from this spell of paralyzing fear is an encounter with the beauty of nature. Directly after Victor 's creation of the monster Shelley perfectly encapsulates the acute horror, and painful realization that brings about his illness in the following quote. Shelley writes, "I passed the night wretchedly. Sometimes my pulse beat so quickly and hardly that I felt the palpitation of every artery; at others, I nearly sink to the ground through languor and extreme weakness. Mingled with this horror I felt the bitterness of disappointment; dreams that have been my food and pleasant rest for so long a space were now become a hell to me; and the change was so rapid, the overthrow so complete!" (Shelley, 16). Shelley illustrates just how heavily the consequences of what Victor did weigh down on his conscience. She does this by combining the description of Victors physical symptoms of panic like his racing pulse, and faintness, with a description of his mental anguish to express a deeper message from a ever more true to life Frankenstein that the reader can empathize with as he realizes the gravity of what he has done to unbalance the natural

After he gets out of jail where he was imprisoned on the false charges of murdering Henry Clerval. After being released he explains his unique supernatural circumstances to the magistrate who refuses to help Shelley uses this moment to establish what enables Victor to conquer his nervous fever for good and go after the monster. When Victor exclaim 's "My revenge is of no moment to you; yet, while I allow it to be a vice, I confess it is the devouring and only passion of my soul," (Shelley, 148). This quote proves Victor 's new drive to live, is based upon an internal commitment to destroying the evil he is responsible for unleashing upon the world, thereby restoring the natural order. Shelly demonstrates this newfound drive when Frankenstein claim 's that his determination to kill the monster is "the devouring and only passion of my soul" (Shelley, 148). Much how nature restored Victor earlier in the novel, his newfound passion to destroy his unnatural creation now restores him to health, in his quest to rectify his destruction if