Books referenced in Frankenstein

Paradise Lost
Plot:

Paradise Lost is about Adam and Eve—how they came to be created and how they came to lose their place in the Garden of Eden, also called Paradise. It's the same story we find in the first pages of Genesis, expanded by Milton into a very long, detailed, narrative poem. It also includes the story of the origin of Satan. Originally, he was called Lucifer, an angel in heaven who led his followers in a war against God, and was ultimately sent with them to hell. Thirst for revenge led him to cause man's downfall by turning into a serpent and tempting Eve to eat the forbidden fruit.

John Milton's Paradise Lost is broken up into three parts:

• Books 1-4 focus on Satan
• Books 5-8 focus on Christ
• Books 9-12 focus on Adam and Eve.

Why Shelley would use this?
Shows the corruption of man (in this case woman-Eve) and how there are severe punishments for going against God, as Victor does when he creates the monster. Excited the creation with different and far deeper emotions. Read and interpreted as truth, as it would have been in time when Catholiscm was the main religion and society was religious. The monster could relate to Adam as he was the only one of his kind in exsistance. However, Adam came from the hands of God, and the creation came from the hands of someone who was defying God. Compared himself to Satan- they are both hated and "when i viewed the bliss of my protectors, the bitter gall of envy rose within me" "Satan had his companions, fellow devils, to admire and encourage him; but I am solitary and alone" Used as a plot devise to allow the creation to see that if even Satan has a mate, he should too, causing him to demand a mate and resulting in the murdering of Elizabeth. Also to learn about God, and realises that he is a create against God- reaffirms that he is all alone.

Plutarch's Lives
Why it's used- The volume of Plutarch's Lives that the Creature reads covers the "histories of the first founders of the ancient republics." Through this book the Creature says that he begins to see the world beyond what he knows. Plutarch's Lives develops the framework by which the Creature comes to understand the world around him. He says that the work taught him "high thoughts." His world was a microcosm that consisted of the cottagers. However, the book elevated the Creature's understanding of the rest of the world that he never acquainted himself with.

• the subjects of the lives are idealistic men who founded the early classical republics
• he learns about towns and cities where large groups of men and women live together, so he discovers the idea of human society
• he finds out about the vicious behaviour of some men in public and comes to admire virtuous men and peaceful lawmakers.

The Sorrows Of Werter
Plot: The story is a classic of German literature and describes a summer spent in the country by Werther where he falls in love with a woman already betrothed to another and eventually blows his brains out. Through it the monster confronts the idea of suicide and weighs the options of living or ending his own life.

Why it's used: Mary Shelley's choices in literature for the Creature each contribute a new dimension by which the reader can further understand him. These works additionally provide an avenue through which the Creature himself can learn about human nature. Not only does the creature relate to the books that he reads, he learns new levels of emotion through them. The Sorrows of Werter ends in the suicide of the main character. Since the Creature often finds himself questioning his purpose in life and whether it is worth living, the book effectively serves as a parallel to his torment.
The Sorrows of Werter teaches the Creature "despondency and gloom." The book also compels the Creature to examine himself in contrast to the world around him - he questions his place in the world as well as his identity. The reader can interpret the Creature's quote, "Cursed, cursed Creator! Why did I live?" as a reflection of the despondency that he discovers through The Sorrows of Werter. He contemplates what he could have done and mentions that he could have ended his own life.

• its domestic settings appeal to his experience with the de Lacey family
• he sympathises with both the height of the hero’s happiness and the depths of his despair
• the novel prompts him to ask questions about his own identity and destiny.

Cornelius Agrippa

A German magician, occult writer,theologian, astrologer, and alchemist who's works were read by Victor in chapter 2 and inspired him in natural sciences.