Thursday, March 14, 2013

In Mary Shelley's novel, Frankenstein, what does Elizabeth write in her letter to Victor in Chapter Six?

In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, after
Victor creates the monster and becomes ill, Elizabeth (his adopted cousin and
sweetheart) writes to him.


In Elizabeth's letter she first
asks after his health, telling him that he should not even attempt to write because of
her concern for his fragile health. Elizabeth also comments on how much his brother
Ernest has grown, that Victor's father's health is strong, and that even the youngest of
them, William, is growing tall, laughing and handsome. (There is a great deal of
foreshadowing in this letter, a good bit is this
section.)


Elizabeth then draws Victor's attention to
Justine Moritz, who had been brought into the Frankenstein home through a gesture of
charity on the part of Victor's mother. Justine had been less a servant and more a
companion to the children. Elizabeth shares how Justine had, with sadness at her
necessary departure, returned home to care for her invalid mother who had been very
unkind to her as a child. It was a difficult time for all: for Justine in caring for her
difficult mother, and the Frankenstein household for missing Justine, as one would miss
a member of the family. When Justine's mother passes, Justine returns again to Geneva,
and there Elizabeth has welcomed and cared for her. (There is a great deal of
foreshadowing here, as well.)


Elizabeth describes Geneva,
and even shares some town "gossip." In closing, she now begs one penned line from Victor
to know that he is well, sending along her deep appreciation to Clerval for his care of
Victor during his serious illness.


Victor does indeed write
back to her, and this moment seems to signal a significant improvement in his
recuperation.

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