It's hard to say at what point a book can really grab my attention and reel me in, seldom letting me loose. Though it has yet to happen with Frankenstein, I can already see it coming. There was something about those six letters from Robert Walton to his sister that had after a few readings gotten me intrigued. The writing style of Mary Shelley is obviously not what I look for in an author but something about her delivery and philosophical mindset she has put into the main character of Dr. Frankenstein has kept me wanting more and more to dive in and see if perhaps our protagonist will follow in the footsteps of our previous protagonist, Ambrosio, who was corrupted more and more through the story of The Monk. Surprisingly I'm not familiar with the story of Frankenstein. Not to say I don't know of his monster through its many interpretations via films, television, etc. but the doctor himself is a stranger to me.

To me, the story has a theme not so evident but I expect it to become clearer if my prediction is right. The theme, I believe, is that of rise and fall. Specifically that of having a power never felt before. Of being as close to God as one can get. In the third chapter, Dr. Frankenstein is shown, by his friend, a professor named M. Waldman, the science of animation. Of bringing life into something that has ceased to hold it. From the first chapter to the second chapter, Dr. Frankenstein is already dramatically changing his viewpoints, now being a firm believer and follower of natural philosophy and now in the third familiarizing himself with the science of life before death before rebirth. "To examine the causes of life, we must first have recourse to death," (30) narrates our main character. From there he studies night, day, season after season all to bring life in a mortal previously deceased.

Reading on as Victor Frankenstein prides himself over his creation and his ability to put life into human, I began to fear that he may become pompous over what he has done, and thus begin to dislike his character, but it becomes a mixture of emotions both with Frankenstein and the reader. Frankenstein is no sooner shocked and n awe of himself that he begins to regret what he has done, disowning his monster as his monster communicates with him just as any neighbor of his could. It's clear to see Frankenstein's monster's love for him during a particular argument in which his monster is fighting to stay with his creator and ultimately accepting his fate, saying, "Thus I relieve thee, my creator...thus I take from thee a sight which you abhor. Still thou canst listen to me, and grant me thy compassion," (67). Just as I reread these passages I am drawn closer and closer to the characters in the book, sympathizing with a man-made creature that our protagonist has no respect for.

I'm looking forward to reading more at this point and watching the relationship with Frankenstein and his monster presumably grow and Frankenstein's outlook on what he held so close becoming nothing but a past notion to him.