Chapter 1 opens up with Victor narrating his back ground. His father Alphonse had a good friend named Beaufort who became very ill. Beaufort had a daughter who cared for him named Caroline. When Beaufort passed away, Victor's father became Caroline's protector and soon married her. The two then had Victor, their first child. The family visited Italy, where Caroline became fascinated with a beautiful child of a poor family. Caroline and Alphonse became this girls guardian and took her home with them. Elizabeth was a gift to Victor, Caroline had said to him.
Chapter 2 continues with Victor's childhood. The birth of his brother, Ernest, caused his family to settle down in Geneva where they also had their last child, William. Here, Victor and Elizabeth grew up together, and Victor met his best friend, Henry Clerval. Victor then becomes fascinated with science and education with the falling upon some writings of Cornelius Agrippa, Paracelsus, Albertus Magnus and Sir Isaac Newton. His father discouraged Victor's fascination with these old scientist, but Victor was hooked. He educated himself in various subjects.
Chapter 3 begins with Victor's education furthering to the University of Ingolstadt where his father wished him to go. Before Victor leaves, Elizabeth becomes deathly ill with scarlet fever and Caroline nurses her during her illness. Nursing Elizabeth back to health, Caroline catches the fever herself and does not recover. Her last wishes were for Elizabeth and Victor to marry. After her death, Victor departs to Ingolstadt. There, Victor meets with his professors, one of which, M. Krempe. Victor tells him of his studies and the professor tells Victor he has wasted much time on old scientists and suggest some natural philosophy to Victor. In Victors chemistry class, he meets a professor M. Waldman which directs Victor to science.
Chapter 4 opens with Victor's constant studies in which he confines himself to. Victor talks of his fascinations of science, death, anatomy, life and much more. Life and death is what over whelmed him most. He became motivated in controlling it himself. Ignoring his family and friends, Victor confined himself in his home to creating a perfect human being.
Chapter 5 begins with Victor's finish of the creature he has been creating for months. On a stormy night Victor brings the monster to life and instantly becomes horrified by the creature. He goes to bed and wakes up from a nightmare to see the monster starring over his bed. He rushes out of the house where he runs into his friend Henry the following day. Henry and him go back to the apartment and in Victor's relief, the creature is gone. Shortly after, Victor falls into a long illness from his labor and fear of his creation. Henry stays to nurse Victor back to health. When Victor is well enough, Henry passes on a letter to Victor from Elizabeth
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