This chapter
Characters 36
Places 0
Victor Frankenstein reflects on the dangers of creating a female companion for his creature and destroys the half-formed being in front of the watching monster. The enraged creature confronts Victor, vows revenge, and declares he will be with him on his wedding night before escaping. Victor then suffers a storm at sea, is driven to the Irish coast, and is arrested by suspicious locals as a murder suspect.

On stage

Victor Frankenstein Sits reflecting in his laboratory, destroys the female creature, argues with and defies the monster, sails out to dispose of the remains, drifts at sea, and is arrested upon landing in Ireland.
The creature Follows Victor, watches him work, howls in despair when the female is destroyed, confronts and threatens Victor in his room, then departs in a boat after issuing the wedding-night threat.
Elizabeth Lavenza Mentioned as the person Victor fears will suffer if the creature kills him.
Henry Clerval Sends Victor a letter urging him to leave the island and join him in Perth.
Mr. Kirwin Not present but named as the authority to whom Victor must give an account of himself.
Unnamed man Answers Victor rudely, accuses him of being a villain, and leads him to the magistrate.
Main 12

Victor Frankenstein

Also known as: I, Victor, the narrator, my companion, myself, Frankenstein +25 más

Young scientist from Geneva tormented by remorse over creating a monster; intelligent, morally conflicted, and increasingly despairing. Sits reflecting in his laboratory, destroys the female creature, argues with and defies the monster, sails out to dispose of the remains, drifts at sea, and is arrested upon landing in Ireland.

Caroline Frankenstein motherAlphonse Frankenstein fatherElizabeth Lavenza cousin and more than sisterBeaufort family friendElizabeth Lavenza adopted sister and companion +46 more

Elizabeth Lavenza

Also known as: Elizabeth, cousin, my more than sister, the beautiful and adored companion, the sweet orphan, Lizaveta +21 más

Victor's fiancée, a kind and loving woman from Geneva. Mentioned as the person Victor fears will suffer if the creature kills him.

Victor Frankenstein cousin and more than brotherCaroline Frankenstein adoptive motherAlphonse Frankenstein adoptive fatherVictor Frankenstein adoptive brother and companionHenry Clerval friend +17 more

Henry Clerval

Also known as: Clerval, Henry, his son, my fellow student, my dear Clerval, my friend +7 más

Victor's close friend from Geneva, adventurous and sociable. Sends Victor a letter urging him to leave the island and join him in Perth.

Victor Frankenstein closest friendElizabeth Lavenza friend and influenceVictor Frankenstein close friendVictor Frankenstein friendVictor Frankenstein dear friend +5 more

Alphonse Frankenstein

Also known as: my father, my parents, the narrator's father, your father, Your affectionate and afflicted father, papa +3 más

Victor's father back in Geneva who writes letters to him. Only mentioned through his letters which Victor fears to read.

Victor Frankenstein sonVictor Frankenstein sonElizabeth Lavenza niece or adopted daughterWilliam Frankenstein sonVictor Frankenstein son +18 more

Robert Walton

Also known as: he, my enemy, the being I had created, the demoniacal corpse, the dreaded spectre, the miserable monster +47 más

A hideous, intelligent creature made by Victor, filled with rage and a thirst for companionship and revenge. Follows Victor, watches him work, howls in despair when the female is destroyed, confronts and threatens Victor in his room, then departs in a boat after issuing the wedding-night threat.

Victor Frankenstein creatorVictor Frankenstein creatorWilliam Frankenstein murderer of himVictor Frankenstein creatorVictor Frankenstein creator +23 more

Justine Moritz

Also known as: Justine, poor Justine, poor girl, good Justine, poor, poor sufferer +7 más

deceased family friend wrongly executed for William's murder. Referenced in Victor's memories of guilt and anguish.

Elizabeth Lavenza protectress and admirerVictor Frankenstein former favorite of hisWilliam Frankenstein accused of murdering himElizabeth Lavenza loved by herAlphonse Frankenstein valued highly but now suspected by others +8 more

William Frankenstein

Also known as: little William, little darling William, William, dear lovely child, my little William, my sweet boy +11 más

Victor's deceased younger brother who was murdered by the creature. Referenced in Victor's memories of guilt and anguish.

Victor Frankenstein elder brotherElizabeth Lavenza sisterly figureAlphonse Frankenstein fatherVictor Frankenstein brotherErnest Frankenstein brother +12 more

The monster

Also known as: destroyer, fiend, he, him, my creation, wretch +5 más

Victor's creation who demanded a female companion and threatened vengeance. He is vengeful yet bound by a promise to follow Victor. Mentioned as the source of Victor's fear and the reason for his journey to create a mate before the monster might attack the family.

Victor Frankenstein creatorWilliam Frankenstein victimJustine Moritz framed for his crimeVictor Frankenstein creator

Agatha

Also known as: children, gentle Agatha, girl, her, sister, the ever-gentle Agatha +7 más

Daughter of De Lacey; gentle sister in the cottage family. Is remembered fondly by the creature but also recalled as fleeing in horror from him.

Father fatherFelix brotherThe creature unknown benefactorFelix sister toDe Lacey daughter to +8 more

Felix

Also known as: brother, children, excellent Felix, his, son, young man +8 más

Son of De Lacey; previously taught Safie and reacted with violence upon seeing the creature. Returns to the cottage with the landlord, announces the family is abandoning the property due to the horror caused by the creature, and is never seen again by the creature.

Father fatherAgatha sisterThe creature unknown benefactorSafie beloved (sweet Arabian)Agatha brother to +13 more

Safie

Also known as: his sweet Arabian, the Arabian, the charming Arabian, the lady, the lovely stranger, the stranger +13 más

Beautiful Arabian woman who was learning from Felix and lived with the De Lacey family. Is remembered by the creature for her exquisite beauty; is mentioned as part of the family that fled.

Felix beloved (his sweet Arabian)De Lacey affectionate guest toAgatha fellow womanFelix lover and intended husbandThe Turk father +6 more

De Lacey

Also known as: father, his father, the old man, blind and aged father, blind old man, excellent man +4 más

Blind old man and head of the cottage family who had befriended the creature through conversation without seeing him. Is discussed by the creature as the one he should have approached first; is mentioned by Felix as being in mortal danger after the incident.

Felix father toAgatha father toSafie embraces affectionatelyFelix sonAgatha daughter +6 more
Secondary 24

Caroline Frankenstein

Also known as: Caroline Beaufort, my mother, the narrator's mother, her preserver, she, this best of women +1 más

Victor's deceased mother, whose miniature portrait is missing from William and later found on Justine. Appears only in a painting over the mantelpiece depicting her in despair by her father's coffin; her portrait is the item that tempted the murderer and led to Justine's accusation.

Alphonse Frankenstein husbandVictor Frankenstein sonBeaufort fatherElizabeth Lavenza adopted daughterVictor Frankenstein son +5 more

Beaufort

Also known as: his friend, the merchant

Proud former merchant and close friend of Alphonse Frankenstein who falls into poverty and hides in Lucerne with his daughter; he dies after months of illness. Falls into poverty, conceals himself in Lucerne, dies in his daughter's arms leaving her orphaned.

Alphonse Frankenstein intimate friendCaroline Frankenstein daughter

Cornelius Agrippa

Also known as: Agrippa

An author of occult and alchemical works whose volume Victor discovers by chance. His book sparks Victor's enthusiasm for alchemy and natural secrets; later dismissed by Victor's father and eventually overshadowed by modern science.

Victor Frankenstein inspiration and early influence

Paracelsus

An alchemical author studied by Victor alongside Agrippa. Mentioned as one of the "wild fancies" writers whose works Victor devours in secret.

Victor Frankenstein studied author

Albertus Magnus

An alchemical and philosophical author whose works Victor studies with delight. Mentioned as one of Victor's early inspirations in the search for the philosopher's stone and elixir of life.

Victor Frankenstein studied author

Man of great research

Also known as: man of great research in natural philosophy

An unnamed learned guest present during the thunderstorm at Belrive. Explains the theory of electricity and galvanism after the oak tree is destroyed, causing Victor to abandon his alchemical studies.

Victor Frankenstein temporary teacher and influencer

M. Krempe

Also known as: professor of natural philosophy, that little conceited fellow, Professor Krempe, professor, the fellow

Blunt and harsh professor at the university known for his direct manner and self-praise. Gives loud, enthusiastic praise of Victor's achievements which causes Victor pain, then turns the conversation to his own youthful modesty.

Victor Frankenstein studentVictor Frankenstein studentVictor Frankenstein former student he admiresHenry Clerval person he addresses

M. Waldman

Also known as: a fellow professor, the professor, this professor, Professor Waldman, professor

Kind and warm professor at the University of Ingolstadt who previously encouraged Victor's scientific studies. Praises Victor's past progress in the sciences during their meeting, then shifts topics upon noticing Victor's discomfort.

Victor Frankenstein studentVictor Frankenstein student and friendVictor Frankenstein former star pupil

Victor's mother

Also known as: dead mother, my dead mother

Victor's deceased mother. Appears only as a corpse in Victor's nightmare, with grave-worms in her shroud.

Victor Frankenstein son

The porter

Unnamed gatekeeper at the courtyard where Victor takes refuge. Opens the gates in the morning, allowing Victor to leave the courtyard and enter the streets.

Ernest Frankenstein

Also known as: Ernest, his elder brother, our Ernest, my brother

Victor's younger brother who was with William before the murder. Enters the library to welcome Victor home, weeps over the family's losses, and explains the circumstances of Justine's accusation.

Victor Frankenstein elder brotherElizabeth Lavenza family memberVictor Frankenstein brotherWilliam Frankenstein brotherAlphonse Frankenstein father +1 more

Madame Moritz

Also known as: her mother, the poor woman, the woman

Widow and mother of Justine; initially harsh toward her daughter but later repentant before dying. Her troubled life, treatment of Justine, and death are recounted in the letter.

Justine Moritz neglected then repentant toward daughter

Louis Manoir

Also known as: your favourite schoolfellow

Victor's former schoolfellow in Geneva who has faced misfortunes but is now recovering. Mentioned in Elizabeth's letter as about to marry an older French widow.

Elizabeth Lavenza news provider to Victor

Madame Tavernier

Also known as: a lively pretty Frenchwoman

Widow and admired socialite in Geneva who is older than Louis Manoir. Reported in the letter as soon to marry Louis Manoir.

Louis Manoir prospective husband

The Confessor

Also known as: my confessor

Religious figure who pressures Justine in prison. Threatens Justine with excommunication and hellfire until she makes a false confession.

Justine person he pressures to confess

Old Man

Also known as: aged cottager, silver-haired man, blind father, father, venerable blind father, venerable companion

Blind elderly patriarch of the cottage family; kind, contemplative, and encouraging toward his children. Plays his instrument, receives care from his children, walks with his son, encourages his children to overcome melancholy, and is unknowingly aided by the creature.

The young girl daughterThe young man sonAgatha daughterFelix sonThe creature unknown benefactor

The young girl

Also known as: amiable companion, daughter, fair creature, girl, young creature, young woman

A gentle, patient, and sad young woman with fair plaited hair who performs household chores and cares for her father and brother. She is kind, graceful, and emotionally expressive. Carries a pail of milk, works in the cottage and garden, weeps while listening to music, kneels at her father's feet, and prepares meals with her brother.

Old Man fatherThe young man brother

The young man

Also known as: companion, son, youth

A slight, graceful, and deeply despondent young man who performs manual labor and helps his family. His features show symmetry but his eyes and attitude convey sadness. Takes the milk pail from his sister, carries wood, works in the garden, reads aloud in the evening, and assists his father while walking.

Old Man fatherThe young girl sister

The Turk

Also known as: Muhammadan, Turkish merchant, father of Safie, her father, his deliverer, the captive +2 más

Treacherous Turkish merchant who lived in Paris; imprisoned and sentenced to death on dubious charges. Cunning and ungrateful; uses Felix's love for his daughter to secure escape but later betrays the family. Is rescued from prison by Felix; promises Safie to Felix but secretly plans to take her away; flees Italy with her upon learning of Felix's ruin; sends insulting money to Felix.

Safie daughterFelix his deliverer

Her mother

Also known as: Christian Arab, this lady

Mother of Safie; a Christian Arab who was enslaved by Turks but married Safie's father due to her beauty. She instilled values of freedom, intellect, and independence in her daughter before dying. Only mentioned through Safie's recounted memories; taught Safie Christian tenets and to aspire to higher ideals.

Safie daughterThe Turk husband

The girl

Also known as: young girl

A young girl running playfully along the river. Is saved from drowning by the creature but is then snatched away by a rustic who shoots the creature.

The creature rescuer

The rustic

Also known as: a rustic, my injurer, the man, the person from whom she had playfully fled

Man in the woods, likely the girl's companion or guardian. Seizes the rescued girl from the creature's arms, flees, then shoots the creature when pursued.

The girl presumed companion

Mr. Kirwin

Also known as: Kirwin, magistrate

Magistrate in the Irish town where Victor lands. Not present but named as the authority to whom Victor must give an account of himself.

Unnamed man

Also known as: ill-looking man, man with a hoarse voice

Gruff local inhabitant of the Irish town who speaks to Victor. Answers Victor rudely, accuses him of being a villain, and leads him to the magistrate.