Victor Frankenstein, driven by a desire to transcend natural limits, assembles a humanoid creature from dead matter. Horrified by his creation, he abandons it, prompting the being to seek revenge for its isolation. The narrative follows the catastrophic fallout of this broken bond, moving from the icy Arctic to the serene Swiss Alps, as creator and creation are locked in a mutual pursuit of ruin.
The ship still remained trapped in ice, and the crew, facing death, began to despair. Fearing a mutiny, Walton was confronted by a deputation of sailors who demanded that he engage to return southwards if the ice should dissipate. Walton hesitated, but Victor, rousing himself from his languor, delivered a stirring speech to the men. He asked if they were so easily turned from their design, reminding them that the expedition was glorious because it was full of dangers and terror. He urged them not to return with the stigma of disgrace marked on their brows, but to return as heroes who had fought and conquered. His voice was so modulated and his eye so full of heroism that the men were moved and retired to consider his words.
Despite Victor’s eloquence, the men’s fear prevailed. Walton consented to return if the ice broke, a decision that blasted his hopes of utility and glory. On September 9th, the ice began to move, and roarings like thunder were heard as the islands split. The ice cracked behind them and was driven toward the north, while a breeze sprang from the west, opening the passage to the south. The sailors shouted with tumultuous joy at the prospect of returning to England. Victor, dozing, awoke and asked the cause of the tumult. When Walton explained that they were returning, Victor declared that while Walton might give up his purpose, his own was assigned by Heaven and he dared not abandon it. He endeavored to spring from his bed but fell back and fainted.
He was long in recovering, and the surgeon informed Walton that his friend had not many hours to live. Victor’s sentence was pronounced. He sat by his bed, watching as Victor’s eyes closed. Presently, Victor called to him in a feeble voice, expressing that his strength was gone and he felt he would soon die. He stated that in his last moments, he did not feel the burning hatred of before, but felt justified in desiring the death of his adversary. He examined his past conduct, finding it not blamable; he had refused to create a companion for the Creature to protect his own species, a duty he deemed paramount. He believed the Creature ought to die, and although he had failed in the task, he renewed his request that Walton should destroy the fiend if the opportunity arose. He advised Walton to seek happiness in tranquillity and avoid ambition. His voice became fainter, and at length, he sank into silence, pressing Walton’s hand feebly before his eyes closed forever.
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