Frankenstein; or, the modern prometheus

You will rejoice to hear that no disaster has accompanied the commencement of an enterprise which...

Six years have passed since I resolved on my present undertaking. I can, even now, remember the...

How slowly the time passes here, encompassed as I am by frost and snow. Yet a second step is taken...

Yet do not suppose, because I complain a little or because I can conceive a consolation for my...

No incidents have hitherto befallen us that would make a figure in a letter. One or two stiff gales...

This appearance excited our unqualified wonder. We were, as we believed, many hundred miles from...

Upon hearing this he appeared satisfied and consented to come on board. Good God. Margaret, if you...

Soon after this he inquired if I thought that the breaking up of the ice had destroyed the other...

My affection for my guest increases every day. He excites at once my admiration and my pity to an...

Even broken in spirit as he is, no one can feel more deeply than he does the beauties of nature....

I thank you, he replied, for your sympathy, but it is useless; my fate is nearly fulfilled. I wait...

Beaufort had taken effectual measures to conceal himself, and it was ten months before my father...

From Italy they visited Germany and France. I, their eldest child, was born at Naples, and as an...

Everyone loved Elizabeth. The passionate and almost reverential attachment with which all regarded...

My temper was sometimes violent, and my passions vehement; but by some law in my temperature they...

If, instead of this remark, my father had taken the pains to explain to me that the principles of...

Nor were these my only visions. The raising of ghosts or devils was a promise liberally accorded by...

When I had attained the age of seventeen my parents resolved that I should become a student at the...

She indeed veiled her grief and strove to act the comforter to us all. She looked steadily on life...

I had sufficient leisure for these and many other reflections during my journey to Ingolstadt,...

I returned home not disappointed, for I have said that I had long considered those authors useless...

Such were the professors words rather let me say such the words of the fate enounced to destroy me....

From this day natural philosophy, and particularly chemistry, in the most comprehensive sense of...

The astonishment which I had at first experienced on this discovery soon gave place to delight and...

These thoughts supported my spirits, while I pursued my undertaking with unremitting ardour. My...

My father made no reproach in his letters and only took notice of my silence by inquiring into my...

Oh. No mortal could support the horror of that countenance. A mummy again endued with animation...

Continuing thus, I came at length opposite to the inn at which the various diligences and carriages...

I trembled excessively; I could not endure to think of, and far less to allude to, the occurrences...

This was the commencement of a nervous fever which confined me for several months. During all that...

Compose yourself, said Clerval, who observed my change of colour, I will not mention it if it...

Justine, you may remember, was a great favourite of yours; and I recollect you once remarked that...

Now, dear Victor, I dare say you wish to be indulged in a little gossip concerning the good people...

M. Krempe was not equally docile; and in my condition at that time, of almost insupportable...

We passed a fortnight in these perambulations. my health and spirits had long been restored, and...

This account rather alarmed us, and we continued to search for him until night fell, when Elizabeth...

Come, Victor; not brooding thoughts of vengeance against the assassin, but with feelings of peace...

My journey was very melancholy. At first I wished to hurry on, for I longed to console and...

Yet, as I drew nearer home, grief and fear again overcame me. Night also closed around; and when I...

I remained motionless. The thunder ceased; but the rain still continued, and the scene was...

Tears, unrestrained, fell from my brothers eyes; a sense of mortal agony crept over my frame....

He then related that, the morning on which the murder of poor William had been discovered, Justine...

How kind and generous you are. every one else believes in her guilt, and that made me wretched, for...

Justine was called on for her defence. As the trial had proceeded, her countenance had altered....

I commit my cause to the justice of my judges, yet I see no room for hope. I beg permission to have...

I passed a night of unmingled wretchedness. In the morning I went to the court; my lips and throat...

Soon after we heard that the poor victim had expressed a desire to see my cousin. My father wished...

She paused, weeping, and then continued, I thought with horror, my sweet lady, that you should...

I truly thank him. In these last moments I feel the sincerest gratitude towards those who think of...

From the tortures of my own heart, I turned to contemplate the deep and voiceless grief of my...

This advice, although good, was totally inapplicable to my case; I should have been the first to...

When I reflect, my dear cousin, said she, on the miserable death of Justine Moritz, I no longer see...

Sometimes I could cope with the sullen despair that overwhelmed me, but sometimes the whirlwind...

At length I arrived at the village of Chamounix. Exhaustion succeeded to the extreme fatigue both...

We rest; a dream has power to poison sleep. We rise; one wandring thought pollutes the day. We...

I expected this reception, said the dmon. All men hate the wretched; how, then, must I be hated,...

Why do you call to my remembrance, I rejoined, circumstances of which I shudder to reflect, that I...

It was dark when I awoke; I felt cold also, and half frightened, as it were, instinctively, finding...

One day, when I was oppressed by cold, I found a fire which had been left by some wandering...

It was noon when I awoke, and allured by the warmth of the sun, which shone brightly on the white...

On examining my dwelling, I found that one of the windows of the cottage had formerly occupied a...

I lay on my straw, but I could not sleep. I thought of the occurrences of the day. What chiefly...

This trait of kindness moved me sensibly. I had been accustomed, during the night, to steal a part...

I spent the winter in this manner. The gentle manners and beauty of the cottagers greatly endeared...

As the sun became warmer and the light of day longer, the snow vanished, and I beheld the bare...

These thoughts exhilarated me and led me to apply with fresh ardour to the acquiring the art of...

It was a lady on horseback, accompanied by a country man as a guide. The lady was dressed in a dark...

The next morning Felix went out to his work, and after the usual occupations of Agatha were...

My days were spent in close attention, that I might more speedily master the language; and I may...

The words induced me to turn towards myself. I learned that the possessions most esteemed by your...

But where were my friends and relations. No father had watched my infant days, no mother had...

The father of Safie had been the cause of their ruin. He was a Turkish merchant and had inhabited...

I have copies of these letters, for I found means, during my residence in the hovel, to procure the...

The Turk allowed this intimacy to take place and encouraged the hopes of the youthful lovers, while...

When the news reached Leghorn that Felix was deprived of his wealth and rank, the merchant...

As yet I looked upon crime as a distant evil, benevolence and generosity were ever present before...

The volume of Plutarchs Lives which I possessed contained the histories of the first founders of...

Several changes, in the meantime, took place in the cottage. The presence of Safie diffused...

One day, when the sun shone on the red leaves that strewed the ground and diffused cheerfulness,...

Do not despair. To be friendless is indeed to be unfortunate, but the hearts of men, when...

Excellent man. I thank you and accept your generous offer. You raise me from the dust by this...

At that instant the cottage door was opened, and Felix, Safie, and Agatha entered. Who can describe...

The sun rose; I heard the voices of men and knew that it was impossible to return to my retreat...

Presently two countrymen passed by, but pausing near the cottage, they entered into conversation,...

As the night advanced, a fierce wind arose from the woods and quickly dispersed the clouds that had...

I generally rested during the day and travelled only when I was secured by night from the view of...

After some weeks my wound healed, and I continued my journey. The labours I endured were no longer...

I gazed on my victim, and my heart swelled with exultation and hellish triumph; clapping my hands,...

The sleeper stirred; a thrill of terror ran through me. Should she indeed awake, and see me, and...

I do refuse it, I replied; and no torture shall ever extort a consent from me. You may render me...

If you consent, neither you nor any other human being shall ever see us again; I will go to the...

You swear, I said, to be harmless; but have you not already shown a degree of malice that should...

I swear, he cried, by the sun, and by the blue sky of heaven, and by the fire of love that burns my...

Morning dawned before I arrived at the village of Chamounix; I took no rest, but returned...

My dear father, reassure yourself. I love my cousin tenderly and sincerely. I never saw any woman...

These feelings dictated my answer to my father. I expressed a wish to visit England, but concealing...

It was in the latter end of September that I again quitted my native country. My journey had been...

We travelled at the time of the vintage and heard the song of the labourers as we glided down the...

Our journey here lost the interest arising from beautiful scenery, but we arrived in a few days at...

After passing some months in London, we received a letter from a person in Scotland who had...

I enjoyed this scene, and yet my enjoyment was embittered both by the memory of the past and the...

But he found that a travellers life is one that includes much pain amidst its enjoyments. His...

Henry wished to dissuade me, but seeing me bent on this plan, ceased to remonstrate. He entreated...

In this retreat I devoted the morning to labour; but in the evening, when the weather permitted, I...

I sat one evening in my laboratory; the sun had set, and the moon was just rising from the sea; I...

I left the room, and locking the door, made a solemn vow in my own heart never to resume my...

Slave, I before reasoned with you, but you have proved yourself unworthy of my condescension....

All was again silent, but his words rang in my ears. I burned with rage to pursue the murderer of...

Yet, before I departed, there was a task to perform, on which I shuddered to reflect; I must pack...

Some hours passed thus; but by degrees, as the sun declined towards the horizon, the wind died away...

I was exceedingly surprised on receiving so rude an answer from a stranger, and I was also...

About half a dozen men came forward; and, one being selected by the magistrate, he deposed that he...

Another woman confirmed the account of the fishermen having brought the body into her house; it was...

A fever succeeded to this. I lay for two months on the point of death; my ravings, as I afterwards...

I replied in the same language, with a feeble voice, I believe I am; but if it be all true, if...

These were my first reflections, but I soon learned that Mr. Kirwin had shown me extreme kindness....

As Mr. Kirwin said this, notwithstanding the agitation I endured on this retrospect of my...

My father calmed me with assurances of their welfare and endeavoured, by dwelling on these subjects...

My father was enraptured on finding me freed from the vexations of a criminal charge, that I was...

Ever since my recovery from the fever, I had been in the custom of taking every night a small...

My father had often, during my imprisonment, heard me make the same assertion; when I thus accused...

It gave me the greatest pleasure to receive a letter from my uncle dated at Paris; you are no...

You have travelled; you have spent several years of your life at Ingolstadt; and I confess to you,...

In this state of mind I wrote to Elizabeth. My letter was calm and affectionate. I fear, my beloved...

My dear Victor, do not speak thus. Heavy misfortunes have befallen us, but let us only cling closer...

Preparations were made for the event, congratulatory visits were received, and all wore a smiling...

Those were the last moments of my life during which I enjoyed the feeling of happiness. We passed...

The wind, which had hitherto carried us along with amazing rapidity, sank at sunset to a light...

Elizabeth observed my agitation for some time in timid and fearful silence, but there was something...

When I recovered I found myself surrounded by the people of the inn; their countenances expressed a...

After an interval I arose, and as if by instinct, crawled into the room where the corpse of my...

What then became of me. I know not; I lost sensation, and chains and darkness were the only objects...

When I had concluded my narration, I said, This is the being whom I accuse and for whose seizure...

That cannot be; but all that I can say will be of little avail. My revenge is of no moment to you;...

And now my wanderings began which are to cease but with life. I have traversed a vast portion of...

I darted towards the spot from which the sound proceeded, but the devil eluded my grasp. Suddenly...

My life, as it passed thus, was indeed hateful to me, and it was during sleep alone that I could...

The triumph of my enemy increased with the difficulty of my labours. One inscription that he left...

I cannot guess how many days have passed since then, but I have endured misery which nothing but...

In this manner many appalling hours passed; several of my dogs died, and I myself was about to sink...

Are you mad, my friend. said he. Or whither does your senseless curiosity lead you. Would you also...

When younger, said he, I believed myself destined for some great enterprise. My feelings are...

And what, Margaret, will be the state of your mind. You will not hear of my destruction, and you...

This speech troubled me. I had not despaired, nor had I yet conceived the idea of returning if set...

The die is cast; I have consented to return if we are not destroyed. Thus are my hopes blasted by...

It was long before he was restored, and I often thought that life was entirely extinct. At length...

His voice became fainter as he spoke, and at length, exhausted by his effort, he sank into silence....

I entered the cabin where lay the remains of my ill fated and admirable friend. Over him hung a...

After the murder of Clerval I returned to Switzerland, heart broken and overcome. I pitied...

But it is true that I am a wretch. I have murdered the lovely and the helpless; I have strangled...