Chapter 4

This chapter
Characters 23
Places 43
The narrator devotes himself almost entirely to natural philosophy and chemistry at Ingolstadt, deepening friendships with M. Waldman while earning admiration through his rapid progress. After two years, he turns his studies toward physiology, pursuing the causes of life by examining anatomy and decomposition until he believes he has discovered how to bestow animation. He then begins creating a gigantic human being in secret, working with mounting obsession through months of study as his health and social life deteriorate.

On stage

Victor Continues intensive study of natural philosophy and chemistry at Ingolstadt, shifts toward physiology, claims to discover the cause of life, and begins constructing a gigantic created being in secret.

Mentioned

Beaufort Referenced indirectly in background from earlier material but not present in this chapter.
Caroline Beaufort Not directly present in the chapter’s events.
Alphonse Frankenstein Referenced via letters asking about the narrator’s occupations and addressing his prolonged silence.
Elizabeth Lavenza Not present; referenced only through earlier context.
the peasant woman Not present in this chapter’s events.
the peasant man Not present in this chapter’s events.
the village priest Not present in this chapter.
Victor Mentioned only indirectly through earlier known context; not active here.
Cornelius Agrippa Referenced by name in connection with the narrator’s professor’s sly question about how Agrippa is going.
Paracelsus Not named in the provided text for this chapter.
Albertus Magnus Not named in the provided text for this chapter.
Sir Isaac Newton Not mentioned in the provided text for this chapter.
the man of great research in natural philosophy Not present in the provided text for this chapter.
the guardian angel of my life Not referenced in the provided chapter text.
Destiny Not referenced in this chapter text.
Henry Clerval Not physically present; invoked indirectly as ‘friends’ in Geneva whom the narrator has not visited or written to.
Cornelius Agrippa’s list of books (implied) Not applicable to this chapter’s events.
M. Krempe Asked the narrator how Cornelius Agrippa was going and contrasts with the narrator’s increasing proficiency.
M. Waldman Expresses heartfelt exultation in the narrator’s progress and provides encouragement that smooths the narrator’s path to knowledge.
Clerval’s father Not present or directly referenced in the provided chapter text.

Settings

Ingolstadt University town where the narrator attends lectures, cultivates the acquaintance of scientists, and runs laboratory work with chemical instruments.
University of Ingolstadt Institutional setting within Ingolstadt where lectures occur and where the narrator gains recognition for proficiency.
the laboratory and its machines The narrator’s laboratory workspace at Ingolstadt containing instruments and machines used for chemical work and experimentation.
Geneva Native town associated with the narrator’s friends, family, and his father’s expectations and letters.
Belrive Region associated with earlier time near which a scientific visitor explained electricity and galvanism.
a churchyard A site of burial and decay, described as merely the receptacle of bodies deprived of life.
vaults and charnel-houses Dark underground or storage spaces associated with death and decay used for anatomical observation.
the dissecting room A room used for anatomical study by dissection.
the slaughter-house Place where animals are killed and processed, used as a source of materials.
a solitary chamber / cell at the top of the house A secluded workshop space separated from other apartments by a gallery and staircase; where the narrator keeps his creation workshop.
the fields Countryside scenery described as beautiful during the narrator’s summer of work.
cemetery-like spaces / grave (implied) A general reference to places associated with graves and the grave’s dampness.
Main 4

Victor

Also known as: Frankenstein, M. Frankenstein

Man consumed by moral guilt and dread from his experiments and abandonment of his created being. Still believes the created being threatens him directly. Attached to Elizabeth as cousin and intended spouse; tormented by memory and an impending cycle of murders.

Beaufort friend-of-family via fatherCaroline Beaufort motherhis father fatherElizabeth Lavenza more than sister / cousin-like bondAlphonse Frankenstein child/son +6 more
Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4

Alphonse Frankenstein

Also known as: the narrator’s father, the father, his father

Genevese public figure known for integrity, indefatigable attention to public business, and being guided by justice in love. Emphasizes patience and regular correspondence; expects affection to persist during the narrator’s studies.

Beaufort intimate friendCaroline Beaufort husbandElizabeth Lavenza guardian/household headVictor father/parentHenry Clerval father of a friend; conflicts with Clerval’s desire to study
Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4

Elizabeth Lavenza

Also known as: the narrator’s cousin, Elizabeth, the narrator’s Elizabeth

Gentle, compassionate, morally steady orphan connected to Victor as cousin and intended spouse; capable of noticing Victor’s changes and responding with concern. Provides a moral anchor and embodies the best hope for Victor’s happiness and domestic stability.

the peasant woman foster child (charge)the peasant man foster child (charge)the village priest consulted authority regarding her careCaroline Beaufort rescued/placed under careAlphonse Frankenstein adopted into household / cared for +2 more
Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4

Henry Clerval

Also known as: Clerval

Young man from Geneva, son of a merchant; talented and fanciful, drawn to enterprise, hardship, and danger, with morally oriented ambition influenced by Elizabeth Lavenza.

Victor closest childhood friendElizabeth Lavenza friend/companion; Elizabeth influences his moral directionClerval’s father son/parent relationship; father restricts his educationCaroline Beaufort family acquaintance during farewell eveningAlphonse Frankenstein relative of his friend; his father’s approval/disapproval concerns education +3 more
Chapters 2, 3, 4
Secondary 4

Caroline Beaufort

Daughter of the merchant Beaufort; courageous and capable of sustaining herself through plain work. Becomes the narrator’s mother after Beaufort’s death.

Beaufort fatherAlphonse Frankenstein later husband/wife relationshipElizabeth Lavenza rescuer/benefactorCaroline Beaufort same person as narrator’s motherVictor mother/parent
Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4

the man of great research in natural philosophy

Knowledgeable scientific visitor/accompanying figure associated with demonstrations of electricity and galvanism during the family’s time near Belrive.

Victor teacher/expounder figure (indirect instruction)
Chapters 2, 4

M. Krempe

Professor of natural philosophy in Ingolstadt; uncouth, deeply imbued in scientific secrets; gruff and repulsive in physiognomy and manners though capable of sound sense and real information.

Victor professor/student relationshipHenry Clerval professor addressing him directly as ‘M. Clerval’M. Waldman colleague faculty member
Chapters 3, 4

M. Waldman

Fellow professor in Ingolstadt, around fifty; dignified in lecture and kind and mild in private. Presents study broadly and frames instruction with frankness and good nature.

Victor professor/mentor relationshipM. Krempe colleagues; alternates lectures with himHenry Clerval professor interacting with student circle
Chapters 3, 4
Mentioned 15
Beaufort Was sought out by the narrator’s father after hiding for ten months; dies after months of sickness left Beaufort with few funds.
the peasant woman Communicates Elizabeth Lavenza’s history to the narrator’s mother during the visit.
the peasant man Distributes a scanty meal to hungry children in his cottage; is present as part of the household during the narrator’s mother’s visit.
the village priest Is consulted by the narrator’s parents’ household regarding taking Elizabeth into their home; their consultation results in Elizabeth becoming an inmate of the parents’ house.
Caroline Beaufort’s relation Receives Caroline under protection after Beaufort’s death.
Cornelius Agrippa Works serve as the catalyst for the narrator’s initial enthusiasm for obscure theories and later contribute to his subsequent discontent and change of direction.
Paracelsus Provides further reading that occupies the narrator’s fascination with exploded systems and the “elixir of life” pursuit.
Albertus Magnus Adds to the narrator’s early study of contradictory, discarded systems that later lose value to him.
Sir Isaac Newton Serves as an illustrative comparison for the narrator’s sense of knowledge limits and dissatisfaction.
the guardian angel of my life Narrator attributes his change of inclination and will to this protective influence, framed as an attempt to avert impending destruction.
Destiny Referenced conceptually as an ‘influence’ and as ‘fate’ connected with the lecture sequence that ‘destroyed’ the narrator’s previous resistance to science.
Clerval’s father Unseen figure who prevents Clerval from accompanying the narrator by refusing permission.
the Angel of Destruction Characterized as the cause-like influence accompanying the narrator from his father’s door and leading to his first encounter with M. Krempe.
M. Krempe’s list of books (implied) Requested and provided as a study prescription by the professor.
Cornelius Agrippa’s list of books (implied) Not applicable to this chapter’s events.
Main 18

Geneva

Native town associated with the narrator’s friends, family, and his father’s expectations and letters.

  • Narrator’s father takes Caroline to Geneva after Beaufort’s interment.
  • Caroline is placed under the protection of a relation in Geneva.
  • Parents own a house in Geneva; narrator describes avoiding crowds and attaching to a few friends there.
  • Geneva school routine is mentioned as part of his education.
  • The narrator’s education in local schools is referenced as completed before age seventeen.
  • The narrator does not visit Geneva for two years while absorbed in discovery.
  • His father’s letters from Geneva enquire about his occupations and address his silence.
  • Elizabeth’s letter dated in Geneva describes household changes and gossip.
  • Victor’s convalescence prompts correspondence to family in Geneva.
  • Victor arrives in the environs of Geneva as night closes around; gates are shut.
  • Victor’s father’s house is where Victor enters at dawn.
  • Justine returns around eight o’clock to the house in Geneva.
  • She cannot search freely when the gates are shut.
  • The trial and visits occur in connection with Geneva’s judicial institutions.
  • Gates closing at ten o’clock shapes Victor’s dissatisfaction with staying in Geneva.
  • Victor feels temporarily freer after retreat to Belrive.
  • Victor returns home at once, enters the house, and is met with alarm.
  • Victor returns to Geneva and struggles to recommence his work.
  • Victor’s father speaks with him there about marriage and the cause of his unhappiness.
  • Victor’s father reassures Victor that Elizabeth and Ernest are safe there.
  • Victor decides that returning to Geneva is his remaining duty after release.
  • Victor and his father return to Geneva.
  • Elizabeth welcomes Victor in Geneva with compassion and tears.
  • A marriage ceremony is performed in Geneva.
  • The couple depart by water for their first days of happiness.
  • Victor arrives
  • his father dies of grief
  • Victor later is imprisoned and then released
  • Victor decides to quit Geneva for ever.
  • Victor wanders the confines of town seeking a clue.
  • Victor enters the cemetery at night and swears vengeance at the tombs of William, Elizabeth, and his father.
Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4

Italy

A country-region of travel described as a restorative for Caroline’s weakened frame after marriage; includes tours through a land of wonders and stops in parts of Italy.

  • Immediately after their union, the parents seek the pleasant climate of Italy.
  • From Italy they visit Germany and France.
Chapter 1

Germany

A country visited by the parents on travel after Italy.

  • The parents visit Germany.
  • De Lacey and Agatha end up confined as exiles and find a miserable asylum in a cottage in Germany
Chapter 1

France

A country visited by the parents on travel after Italy.

  • The parents visit France.
  • Felix conducts the fugitives through France toward Lyons
Chapter 1

Lake of Como

A lake whose shores are visited during an excursion beyond the frontiers of Italy; a setting for visiting cottages of the poor.

  • Parents spend a week on the shores of the Lake of Como.
  • Narrator’s mother and narrator visit a poor cottage in a vale/foldings near the lake.
Chapter 1

Milan

A city near which the narrator’s father goes by himself; the poor cottage is visited after that. Also referenced as the origin of Elizabeth’s noble lineage.

  • The narrator’s mother visits the poor abode when the father has gone by himself to Milan.
  • Elizabeth is described as the daughter of a Milanese nobleman.
Chapter 1

our villa (parents’ villa hall)

The narrator’s family residence; includes a hall where Elizabeth is found playing with him and where she is integrated into family life.

  • Father returns and finds Elizabeth playing with the narrator in the hall of their villa.
  • Elizabeth becomes the inmate of the parents’ house and companion of their occupations and pleasures.
Chapter 1

a poor cot in the foldings of a vale

A singularly disconsolate poor cottage setting associated with penury and five hungry babes.

  • Narrator’s mother notices the cot during a walk with the narrator.
  • She finds a peasant couple distributing a scanty meal to five hungry babes.
Chapter 1

Belrive (eastern shore of the lake)

A campagne on the eastern shore of the lake near Geneva; described as the main residence in seclusion and later the location near which the family witnesses a storm and seeks scientific interest.

  • Family resettles to a house near Belrive after the birth of the second son.
  • Thunderstorm occurs while they are retired to their house near Belrive.
Chapter 2

the lake near Geneva

A lake associated with the eastern shore where Belrive lies; used as part of the description of the family’s Swiss home.

  • Belrive is identified as being across the lake’s eastern shore from Geneva.
  • Victor contemplates calm waters at Lausanne and later travels by road along its side toward Geneva.
  • Victor crosses the lake in a boat during the storm to arrive at Plainpalais.
Chapter 2

Jura

A mountain range behind which the storm advances.

  • Thunderstorm advances from behind the mountains of Jura.
  • Observed from the lake as they coasts opposite banks.
Chapter 2

the old and beautiful oak

An oak tree near the family’s house, struck by lightning; later found destroyed in a peculiar way.

  • Lightning turns a stream of fire into the oak; the tree disappears, leaving only a blasted stump.
  • Next morning, the tree is found shattered into thin ribbons of wood.
Chapter 2

Ingolstadt

University town where the narrator attends lectures, cultivates the acquaintance of scientists, and runs laboratory work with chemical instruments.

  • The narrator’s arrival and lodging in a solitary apartment.
  • He visits principal professors and attends lectures.
  • He decides his future destiny after the day’s encounters.
  • The narrator studies natural philosophy and chemistry there for about two years.
  • Professors Krempe and Waldman are involved through lectures and instruction.
  • The narrator makes chemical discoveries and gains esteem at the university.
  • The narrator walks through streets in fear through rain and cold
  • Henry Clerval arrives via a Swiss diligence stopping on a street near an inn
  • The church in Ingolstadt is visible in the morning light/clock strikes sixth hour
  • Victor introduces Clerval to the university professors.
  • Walking tour occurs in the environs of Ingolstadt.
  • Victor expects a letter fixing his departure date from Ingolstadt.
Chapters 3, 4

University of Ingolstadt

Institutional setting within Ingolstadt where lectures occur and where the narrator gains recognition for proficiency.

  • The narrator’s planned enrollment drives the travel timeline.
  • Students are astonished by the narrator’s ardour and skill.
  • Professors Krempe and Waldman respond to the narrator’s progress.
  • Victor is introduced to the professors.
  • Victor experiences distress during praise and discussion.
Chapters 3, 4

M. Krempe’s lecture context / professorial setting

The academic space in which Krempe questions the narrator and later lectures.

  • The narrator delivers letters of introduction and visits principal professors.
  • Krempe asks questions about the narrator’s science background and dismisses his alchemists.
Chapter 3

the laboratory and its machines

The narrator’s laboratory workspace at Ingolstadt containing instruments and machines used for chemical work and experimentation.

  • The narrator works obsessively until morning light disappears the stars.
  • Later, he uses his refined capabilities as a foundation for his subsequent creation project.
Chapter 4

Belrive

Region associated with earlier time near which a scientific visitor explained electricity and galvanism.

  • Victor and the family retire there for mourning after Justine’s death.
  • Victor uses boat trips on the lake when family sleeps.
  • Victor’s house becomes a house of mourning, with Elizabeth despondent and less engaged in ordinary occupations.
Chapter 4

a solitary chamber / cell at the top of the house

A secluded workshop space separated from other apartments by a gallery and staircase; where the narrator keeps his creation workshop.

  • The narrator conducts clandestine construction work there.
  • He gathers and arranges materials and attends to the detailed parts of his created being.
Chapter 4
Secondary 25

Lucerne

A town where Beaufort retreats to live unknown and in wretchedness with his daughter.

Reuss

A river used as a geographic reference point near the house where Beaufort hides.

Naples

A city where the narrator is born.

Austria

A country referenced as imprisoning the Italian father of Elizabeth’s orphan status; dungeons and confiscation occur under its power.

the frontiers of Italy (beyond)

Border region referenced as the route for an excursion when narrator is about five years old.

a mean street near the Reuss

Specific neighborhood in Lucerne-like geographic context where Beaufort’s house is located—described as mean and associated with misery.

a cottage (peasant abode)

The specific peasant home containing the family and the hungry children; described as penury in its worst shape.

the Swiss home

The family’s Swiss dwelling environment, surrounded by mountains and seasonal natural scenery.

Roncesvalles

A chivalric setting referenced through the play-acting and masquerades Clerval tries to stage.

the Round Table of King Arthur

Arthurian legend referenced as inspiration for Clerval’s plays and masquerades.

Roncesvalles / Round Table tradition (masquerades)

General chivalric/moral-theatrical context; not a distinct location but a narrative setting for childhood games.

Thonon

A Swiss location whose nearby baths are the destination of a pleasure trip mentioned in the narrator’s youth.

the baths near Thonon

A bathing destination near Thonon; part of the excursion during which weather keeps them inside an inn.

an inn near the baths (Thonon trip)

A lodging where the family stays during bad weather on the trip; depicted as the place where the narrator finds a volume of Cornelius Agrippa.

the town of Ingolstadt (with a high white steeple)

A visual landmark encountered upon approach to the city.

the narrator’s solitary apartment

A private lodging room in Ingolstadt where the narrator spends the evening alone.

M. Waldman’s lecturing room

A classroom/lecturing space where Waldman enters and delivers public lectures on chemistry.

M. Waldman’s laboratory

Waldman’s private laboratory containing various machines.

a house of mourning

The domestic space described as closely resembling death’s repose, where the family remains after the mother’s death.

a churchyard

A site of burial and decay, described as merely the receptacle of bodies deprived of life.

vaults and charnel-houses

Dark underground or storage spaces associated with death and decay used for anatomical observation.

the dissecting room

A room used for anatomical study by dissection.

the slaughter-house

Place where animals are killed and processed, used as a source of materials.

the fields

Countryside scenery described as beautiful during the narrator’s summer of work.

cemetery-like spaces / grave (implied)

A general reference to places associated with graves and the grave’s dampness.

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