In Chapter Five of Mary Shelley's
Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein has exceeded the bounds of natural man, by
endeavoring to create life scientifically. Faced with the preternatural appearance of
the yellow-skinned giant that he has fashioned, Victor flees his laboratory in horror.
Seeking refuge in his apartment, Victor collapses on his bed in exhaustion, but is
awakened by his monstrous experiment that recognizes him as his creator. Again, Victor
flees and goes to the courtyard outside where he paces throughout the night in the
rain. Then, he walks to the inn, where Henry Clerval, his boyhood friend finds him in a
fever.
After he recovers from his illness, Victor
apologizes to his friend for having prevented Henry from pursuing his intentions for
coming to Ingolsted. When Henry suggests that Victor write to his loved ones who are
concerned about him since they have not heard from him for so long, Victor affirms his
intentions to write, saying,
"How could you not suppose that my first thoughts
would not fly towards those dear, dear friends whom I love and who are so deserving of
my love?"
It is extremely
ironic that Victor utters these words because he has long neglected his family as he
labored on his great experiment. In addition, he has not considered the
responsibilities that he would have to his creation once produced as well as the affect
upon his family. In a case of situational irony now, Victor's words contain an ominous
import of which he is unaware when Henry tells him that there is a letter for him from
his cousin. For, with the creature, who has been rejected, walking about on his own,
there is the possibility of danger to Victor's family.
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