Sublime

There are multiple moments in Frankenstein’s life where he experiences the sublime qualities of nature. It is a dependable source of comfort to him throughout all the circumstances that burden him. For him the beauty of nature possesses a comforting quality that he desperately clings to in his grief. When he is in the middle of a lake, or in the mountains, he can almost forget all of his regrets and mistakes. The tranquil power of the outdoors is only enough to bring him momentary relief however. I don’t believe that nature has any power at all; any comfort that can be found in nature comes from the reminder of who God is, which is evident in his creation.

The novel both begins and ends in ice, which is a recurring motif in the story. Ice could possibly represent the numbing of Frankenstein and Mo to their obsessions and ambition. In the same way that ice is used to numb the sense of feeling, Frankenstein and his creation become increasingly unaware of how consumed they are with their dark pursuits. This leads to their relentless suffering, and eventually their mutual destruction. The use of ice to represent this numbness to the true nature of their obsessions is fitting; the story is being told by Frankenstein to Robert Walton, who is pursuing the answer to a question he is curious about. The moral Frankenstein relates from his story is not to be consumed by ambition as he was.

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