Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Victor Frankenstein

Creator of the monster, becomes obsessed with the idea of creating the human form and acts upon it. Immediately after creating the monster, he falls into a depression and fear. He leaves the school and returns home to his family, only to find tragedy there. Not fully aware of the consequences of his creating a new human, he spends his entire life trying to destroy the same creation. Genevese by birth, born in Naples, and oldest child in his family. Built creature 8 ft tall because he could not work rapidly with ordinary minute parts

Captain Robert Walton

The Arctic seafarer whose letters open and close Frankenstein. Picks the bedraggled Victor Frankenstein up off the ice, helps nurse him back to health, and hears Victor's story. He records the incredible tale in a series of letters addressed to his sister, Margaret Saville, in England. Narrated Volume 1

Elizabeth Lavenza

orphan child taken in by the Frankenstein family, who was lovingly raised with Victor Frankenstein; later becomes Victor's wife and is killed by the monster on their honeymoon. The daughter of a Milanese nobleman and a German mother. She was found living with a poor family near Lake Como. She was granted land, where she and Victor honeymooned, around the time she was getting married. The one who keeps the family together after Caroline dies, survives the scarlet fever plague that takes Caroline. She writes to Victor while at school and tells him what is going on with the family. She is the source for information for Victor when he is away at the university. Her letters are important in the plot of the story. Spoke to Victor about Justine being innocent

Professor Krempe

(mean one) A professor of natural philosophy at Ingolstadt. He dismisses Victor's study of the alchemists as wasted time and encourages him to begin his studies anew.

Professor Waldman

(nice one) The professor of chemistry who sparks Victor's interest in science. He dismisses the alchemists' conclusions as unfounded but sympathizes with Victor's interest in a science that can explain the "big questions," such as the origin of life.

19 years

1818 Mary Shelley finished Frankenstein, her age was

Geneva, Switzerland

Home of the Frankenstein family where Victor grew up and to which he returned after college and the creation of the monster. The murders of William and Justine were located in the area around here.

Caroline Beaufort Frankenstein

Involved in charity work — much like Mary Shelley and her mother Mary Wollestonecraft — especially for families in poverty. Wife of Alphonse and mother of Victor, Ernest, and William. Daughter of a once-wealthy friend of Alphonse. Planning to aid his friend, Alphonse found his home and went there only to find her weeping over his coffin. Alphonse took her into his home and married her two years later. They had a loving relationship and cared for their children very much. She was a good, beautiful, and gentle woman adored by all her family until she died from the scarlet fever when Victor was 17 that she contracted nursing Elizabeth back to health.

Mrs. Magaret Saville

Robert Walton's sister who receives his letters. Walton writes to her of the progress of his journey and his acquaintance with Frankenstein.

Safie

The betrothed of Felix. She is presented as exotically beautiful. The de Lacey family wishes to marry her to Felix and convert her to Christianity. Her father, a wealthy Turkish merchant, was arrested and Felix helped him escape in return for her marriage. Once he was free her father tried to take her back to Turkey but she ran away. Her mother was a Christian Arab and she arrived in Italy from Constantinople

Agatha De Lacey

The daughter of De Lacey, she is an example of selfless womanhood, caring for her brother and her father despite their poverty and her own sadness.

De Lacey

The head of the household observed by the creature, has been robbed of his fortunes as a result of his own kindness. His blindness makes him capable of recognizing the creature's sincerity and goodness despite his hideous appearance. He plays guitar, and his family is despondent because they are dispossessed exiles

M Kirwin

The magistrate who accuses Victor of Henry's murder. He later becomes more sympathetic

Felix De Lacey

The son of de Lacey, he is devoted to his family and his mistress, Safie. Though noble, he drives the creature from the family cottage with stones. He thereby symbolizes one of the basic flaws in the human character: the hatred of difference.

Mont Blanc

Victor met his creature face to face on a "sea of ice" within this place. A mountain near Geneva. This mountain is referred to again and again in descriptions of scenery throughout the novel. It carries weight as a mark of Romanticism because it is the subject of a famous poem by Percy Shelley, Mary Shelley's husband.

Ingolstadt, Germany

Victor went to college in here and created the monster in his laboratory there. This was the city of the monster's awakening.

Henry Clerval

Victor's best friend who helps Victor in his time of need. The monster kills him after Victor breaks his promise of creating a female companion for the monster. He studies language at the University of Ingolstadt and is totally unaware of Victor's creation. Deeply read in books of chivalry and romance, made them act plays, composed heroic songs

Alphonse Frankenstein

Victor's father. He suffers from illness probably brought on from his advanced age and depression from the events that have happened. Died

Ernest Frankenstein

Victor's younger brother by six years. He is the only Frankenstein to survive the novel. Elizabeth mentioned he wanted to join the Swiss Army in a letter.

William Frankenstein

Victor's youngest brother, he is sweet, happy, greatly adored by his family. Strangled in the woods while the family was out for a walk. His is the first of the monster's victims, and Justine, their servant after her mother died, is framed for the murder.

Mer de Glace

initial meeting between Victor and the monster on this, Lake of ice/ Glacier where the monster confronts Frankenstein