Frankenstein- Foreshadowing

Frankenstein

by Mary Shelley

Letters- chap XII

Because the narrator of the story (Victor) is relating events that have already occurred, his narrative involves a lot of foreshowing, for his purpose of warning Walton.  The author of the novel employs foreshadowing to create suspense and keep the reader speeding through the chapters to find what happens next.  Victor uses foreshadowing as if to tell Walton, "You just wait, it gets much worse."  When speaking of his change in interests from almost magical science to more logical science and mathematics, Victor referred to his new inclination as "the last effort made by the spirit of preservation to avert the storm that was even then hanging in the stars, ready to envelope me" (Shelley, 23).  This foreshadowing implies that Victor will soon suffer a terrible misfortune, related to his intense focus, borderline obsession, with knowledge and the secrets of life.  He foreshadows his misery  in order to continually warn Walton, who is also very determined in his quest for knowledge.  The foreshadowing is ominous, but not specific enough for the reader to hypothesize the exact events the might occur.  This makes the reader want to continue through the story.

Victor foreshadows his misery again when he says, "Destiny was too potent, and her immutable laws had decreed my utter and terrible destruction" (Shelley, 23).

Let us read on... :}