Frankenstein-Winter

"In a thousand spots the traces of the winter avalanche may be perceived, where trees lie broken and strewed on the ground..." (pg 66). The setting in the book has mainly taken place during the winter. Robert is sailing to the North Pole so he is surroundings are covered with ice and snow. After the death of Justine, Victor travels into the snow covered mountains. Creature also spends the beginning of his life in the snow. He clears the path covered in snow for the family living in the house he watches. Winter is often described as cold, harsh, and desolate. Robert felt friendless and isolated from the ones he loved. Victor was consumed by a harsh guilt of creating Creature who caused the death of William and Justine. Creature was physically cold as he struggled to stay alive in the forest and he was also alone. Winter is also a sign of hopelessness.

Frankenstein-Health

"For this I had deprived myself of rest and health" (pg 35). One of the themes in Frankenstein is health, or lack of it. Frankenstein works hard day and night to give life to his creation. His health declines and when Creature comes to life, he flees from it in realization of its horror and disgust. He health fails him even more and he is confined to his bed. He receives a letter from his father and finds that William had been killed. Justine is charged for the murder and is killed although she was innocent. Elizabeth succumbs to grief as does Victor, but for different reasons. His health further declines because of his agonizing guilt for creating the creature who murdered his little brother. Had he of been in the right mind and perfect health when he hatched the plan to bring life to the creature, he might have thought twice about his plan.

Frankenstein-Sympathy

''I saw few human beings besides them; and if any other happened to enter the cottage, their harsh manners and rude gait only enhanced to me the superior accomplishments of my friends" (pg 79). The monster spends his life in the forest watching this family for most of the day. He has never met the young couple or the old man before but he considers them to be his friends. When the little boy, William, was killed, Victor immediately blames Creature. The reader also feels compelled to hate Creature because Victor describes him as wretched and disgusting. When Creature becomes the third narrator, the reader feels more sympathy towards him. He wants friends and is depressed and lonely. He is very similar to Robert because Robert was also in desperate need of a friend. Monster could not even talk to anyone because everyone was so frightened.

Frankenstein-POV

"You will rejoice to hear that no disaster has accopmanied the commencement of an enterprise which you have regarded with such evil forebodings" (pg 1). Robert Walton is the first narrator in the story and he speaks through the letters he writes to his sister, Margaret. He is an explorer journeying to the north pole to reveal and understand its mysteries. During his travels, he finds a man emaciated and close to death. He nurses him back to health and the reader discovers that the man is Victor Frankenstein, the person who created the monster. In Walton's letter to his sister Frankenstein tells Walton about his life and what he had done in creating the monster. The story is in Victor's point of view until page seventy. The monster tells Frankenstein what he had done in his life so far and how he had survived by himself. The reader feels more sympathetic toward the creature because he expresses his sadness and misery because of his loneliness.

Frankenstein-Benevolence

"And yet you rescued me from a strange and perilous situation: you have benevolently restored me to life" (pg 9). Robert had found Victor emaciated and near dead and he decided to help him out. Victor has many benevolent people in his life. He describes his parents as benevolent and his professor. Robert was benevolent to Victor because he nursed a stranger back to health and gave him food and shelter. It adds a contrast to how he treated his creation. He immediately abandons the monster after it was brought to life. Victor did not even know how his creation would act and did not take the time to observe him. The reader would think that Victor would extend common courtesy toward his creation and look after him because of all the benevolent people in his life, but he does not.

The Great Gatsby-Characters

" 'They're a rotten crowd,' I shouted across the lawn. 'You're worth the whole damn bunch put together.' I've always been glad I said that. It was the only compliment I ever gave him, because I disapproved of him from beginning to end." I really liked Nick Carraway. I think I liked him a lot because of this line. He spends most of his time with people like Tom and Daisy, but he realizes they are not the best people. He was also genuinely kind to Gatsby. He did not talk to Gatsby because he wanted anything. He was one of the few people who actually took the time to find out past events in Gatsby's life. He actually knew the truth about him and how he was James Gatz before he was Jay Gatsby. Nick seemed genuine and honest and as a result, Daisy and Tom were portrayed as shallow and fake. The Great Gatsby has become one of my favorite books.

Gatsby-Metaphor

"So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past" (pg 180). The boat in this sentence is a metaphor for all the people. The boat against the current signifies the struggle to escape from the past or trying to relive the past. Some people run from their past, but do not succeed as well as those who try to relive their past and fail. People will always carry their past with them whether they try to forget it or not. Events from a person's past made them what they are today. Gatsby was a man who lived for the past. He wanted to marry Daisy and start their life right where they left off five years ago. He could not accept that he could not relive his past and it led to his demise. He had lived almost his entire life building his fortune so that he could marry Daisy. He did not have anything in the present to live for.