Plot Summary
Chapter 19 of Frankenstein follows Victor and Henry Clerval as they travel through England and Scotland. After spending several months in London, where Victor secretly gathers materials and scientific knowledge needed to construct a female companion for his creature, the two friends embark on a tour of the English countryside. They visit Windsor, Oxford, Matlock, and the Cumberland lakes before heading north toward Scotland.
In London, Victor uses letters of introduction to meet distinguished natural philosophers, seeking information relevant to his grim task. Meanwhile, Clerval thrives socially and intellectually, pursuing his own ambitions related to Indian trade and colonization. The two friends eventually receive an invitation from a Scottish acquaintance and begin their northward journey.
Upon reaching Perth, Victor separates from Clerval, claiming he needs solitude. He travels alone to one of the remotest islands in the Orkneys, where he rents a dilapidated hut and begins working on the second creature. The island is desolate and barren, home to only five impoverished inhabitants. Victor divides his days between his repulsive laboratory work and solitary walks along the rocky shore. As his labor progresses, he grows increasingly anxious, restless, and sickened by the work of his hands, haunted by the fear that the creature is watching him and that his delay may provoke violence against his loved ones.
Character Development
Victor Frankenstein is defined in this chapter by inner torment and self-imposed isolation. He describes himself as "a blasted tree" struck by lightning, a man who sees "an insurmountable barrier" between himself and other people, sealed by the blood of William and Justine. His guilt and dread dominate every interaction, and he can only find temporary peace in nature or in Henry's soothing company. His decision to separate from Clerval and retreat to the Orkneys reflects his deepening psychological collapse.
Henry Clerval serves as a mirror of Victor's former self—curious, sociable, and eager for knowledge. He delights in the landscapes and historical sites they visit, and his enthusiasm highlights just how far Victor has fallen from his earlier vitality. Henry's warmth and openness make him a foil for Victor's brooding secrecy and guilt.
Themes and Motifs
Isolation and Alienation: Victor deliberately removes himself from human society, traveling to one of the most remote places in Britain. His physical isolation on the Orkney island mirrors his emotional and moral isolation from the rest of humanity.
The Burden of Secret Knowledge: Victor's clandestine work creates a barrier between himself and everyone around him. Every conversation about his task makes his "lips quiver" and his "heart palpitate," illustrating how dangerous knowledge corrodes personal relationships and inner peace.
Nature as Consolation and Contrast: The beautiful English and Scottish landscapes offer temporary relief but also sharpen Victor's awareness of his degraded state. The contrast between the sublime Cumberland lakes and the barren Orkney island parallels Victor's journey from fleeting comfort to utter desolation.
Guilt and Moral Responsibility: Victor feels "as if I had committed some great crime," though he insists he is guiltless. This tension between innocence and culpability drives his paranoia that the creature may harm Clerval or his family.
Literary Devices
Metaphor: Victor's description of himself as "a blasted tree" struck by a bolt is a powerful metaphor for his ruined state—once a living, growing thing, now permanently damaged by the lightning-strike of his own ambition.
Foil: Clerval functions as a structural foil throughout the chapter. His curiosity, joy, and sociability contrast sharply with Victor's withdrawal and despair, reminding the reader of who Victor once was.
Pathetic Fallacy: The landscapes mirror Victor's emotional trajectory. The lush English countryside corresponds with moments of brief relief, while the barren, storm-beaten Orkney island reflects his growing horror and isolation.
Foreshadowing: Victor's anxious conviction that the creature is following him and his fear that delay will provoke violence foreshadow the catastrophic events of the chapters that follow.