What is Victor's reaction toward the Valley of Chamounix? How is this a departure from his previous views of nature? What commentary might Shelley be making here?
Before entering the Valley of Chamounix, the previous responses he had towards scenes involving nature were ones of reverence and awe. And as far as the physical description he held of the Valley of Chamounix, it was nothing all too different from the others. But what actually sets the Valley of Chamounix apart from the rest is the feelings it evokes from Victor; feelings of nostalgia, understanding, and appreciation that piece of nature has created for him. He finds peace in the haven developed from it for him. He says: "I was a wreck - but nought had changed in those savage and enduring scenes." However, he was more rough in his description with the use of 'savage', and, to me, I believe that shows familiarity with the subject. As far as the message Mary Shelley is conveying here, I believe she wants her audience to understand the importance of nature. The way nature has impacted her as a person. Not just appreciation of the physical beauty it exudes, but what it can give to use internally. When given the chance, it can present to you an optimism and belief. It can give you a feeling of safety, and that's exactly what Victor is experiencing through his journey upon entering the Valley of Chamounix.
First off all, before Victor goes to the Valley of Chamounix, he reminisces about his frequent visits there in his boyhood. Victor states, "I was a wreck--but nought had changed in those savage and enduring scenes. (Victor believes that things have "changed" since he was there last).
When Victor arrives to the Valley of Chamounix, his reaction towards it was, "more wonderful and sublime, but not so beautiful and picturesque, as that of Servox." (For the most part, Victor likes what he sees, however the the Valley of Chamounix is pretty much nothing too spectacular).
Overall, I believe that Victor had great respect for what he saw and we can see this from the quote where Victor says, "My wanderings were directed towards the Valley of Chamounix."
Throughout his journey in the Valley of Charmounix, he talks about how "a tingling long-lost sense of pleasure often came across me (82)." This small experience with nature temporarily alleviated Victor's unending despair and torment that burdened his soul. Before this he had regarded nature with little to no importance whatsoever, even to the extent of defying the natural laws of life through the birth of his creature. But once he found himself wandering through nature, he became relieved of his sorrow, which would finally allow him to rest easy for a while. Mary Shelly uses this scenario to highlight the significance of nature in this novel. She describes nature as this sanctified place free from worldly and societal laws created by man. This area, untainted by those social standards created by humans, provides a setting of peace and tranquility ultimately desired by all.
Shelley uses nature as a restorative agent for Victor. While he seems to be overcome with grief by the murders of his friends and family, he repeatedly shuns humanity and seeks nature for health, relaxation and to strengthen his spirits. For instance:
"I feel pleasure in dwelling on the recollections of childhood, before misfortune had tainted my mind, and changed its bright visions of extensive usefulness into gloomy and narrow reflections upon self . . . I find it arise, like a mountain river, from ignoble and almost forgotten sources; but swelling as it proceeded, it became the torrent which, in its course, has swept away all my hopes and joys." (Shelley, 21)
An additional example illustrates Victor's draw to nature in order to cope with his pain:
"About this time we retired to our house at Belrive. This change was particularly agreeable to me. The shutting of the gates regularly at ten oíclock, and the impossibility of remaining on the lake after that hour, had rendered our residence within the walls of Geneva very irksome to me. I was now free. Often, after the rest of the family had retired for the night, I took the boat, and passed many hours upon the water." (Shelley, 60)
So when Victor enters the Valley of Chamounix, he is able to experience a form of healing as he recollects his childhood memories. He finds comfort and peace in the face of a storm.
Shelley clearly does this to symbolize the importance of nature to Victor. My question is, did Shelley have the same connection to nature as Victor?
Entering the Valley of Chamounix, Victor recollects his past as many people have mentioned above. Comparing to other views, he himself notes, that it was "more wonderful and sublime, but not so beautiful and picturesque" as that of other places. Previously, then, we conclude, Victor looked with less care. He even notes little details about this area. This area is an area of escape for Victor, "associated with the light-hearted gaiety of boyhood." This allows comparison of the devastating present. I believe a use of this visit was to clearly express the converse of the depression felt by Victor through his losses.
As he approached his destination of the Valley of Chamounix he was enjoying the trip and reminiscing about his past travels when he was a boy. "A tingling long-lost sense of pleasure often came across me during this journey. Some turn in the road, some new object suddenly perceived and recognized, reminded be of days gone by, and were associated with the light-hearted gaiety of boyhood."
As he arrives to the Valley of Chamounix he is filled with safety and comfort by the nature surrounding him. This is the shift that Shelley indicates, and with this safety Victor sleeps, worn out by the exhaustions of his trip.
Victor is shown not to care much about family or nature in the beginning parts of the book because of his obsession with his studies and creation. The Valley of Chamonix is a departure from this past irrelevant feeling he had towards nature, into a more appreciated one. He, now, after being mentally agonized by the outcomes of his creation finds mental comfort in nature and comes to realize the importance of nature for not only the science of it, but the comfort of it also.
Before entering the Valley of Chamounix, the previous responses he had towards scenes involving nature were ones of reverence and awe. And as far as the physical description he held of the Valley of Chamounix, it was nothing all too different from the others. But what actually sets the Valley of Chamounix apart from the rest is the feelings it evokes from Victor; feelings of nostalgia, understanding, and appreciation that piece of nature has created for him. He finds peace in the haven developed from it for him. He says: "I was a wreck - but nought had changed in those savage and enduring scenes." However, he was more rough in his description with the use of 'savage', and, to me, I believe that shows familiarity with the subject. As far as the message Mary Shelley is conveying here, I believe she wants her audience to understand the importance of nature. The way nature has impacted her as a person. Not just appreciation of the physical beauty it exudes, but what it can give to use internally. When given the chance, it can present to you an optimism and belief. It can give you a feeling of safety, and that's exactly what Victor is experiencing through his journey upon entering the Valley of Chamounix.
ReplyDeleteFirst off all, before Victor goes to the Valley of Chamounix, he reminisces about his frequent visits there in his boyhood. Victor states, "I was a wreck--but nought had changed in those savage and enduring scenes.
ReplyDelete(Victor believes that things have "changed" since he was there last).
When Victor arrives to the Valley of Chamounix, his reaction towards it was, "more wonderful and sublime, but not so beautiful and picturesque, as that of Servox." (For the most part, Victor likes what he sees, however the the Valley of Chamounix is pretty much nothing too spectacular).
Overall, I believe that Victor had great respect for what he saw and we can see this from the quote where Victor says, "My wanderings were directed towards the Valley of Chamounix."
Throughout his journey in the Valley of Charmounix, he talks about how "a tingling long-lost sense of pleasure often came across me (82)." This small experience with nature temporarily alleviated Victor's unending despair and torment that burdened his soul. Before this he had regarded nature with little to no importance whatsoever, even to the extent of defying the natural laws of life through the birth of his creature. But once he found himself wandering through nature, he became relieved of his sorrow, which would finally allow him to rest easy for a while. Mary Shelly uses this scenario to highlight the significance of nature in this novel. She describes nature as this sanctified place free from worldly and societal laws created by man. This area, untainted by those social standards created by humans, provides a setting of peace and tranquility ultimately desired by all.
ReplyDeleteShelley uses nature as a restorative agent for Victor. While he seems to be overcome with grief by the murders of his friends and family, he repeatedly shuns humanity and seeks nature for health, relaxation and to strengthen his spirits. For instance:
ReplyDelete"I feel pleasure in dwelling on the recollections of childhood, before misfortune had tainted my mind, and changed its bright visions of extensive usefulness into gloomy and narrow reflections upon self . . . I find it arise, like a mountain river, from ignoble and almost forgotten sources; but swelling as it proceeded, it became the torrent which, in its course, has swept away all my hopes and joys." (Shelley, 21)
An additional example illustrates Victor's draw to nature in order to cope with his pain:
"About this time we retired to our house at Belrive. This change was particularly agreeable to me. The shutting of the gates regularly at ten oíclock, and the impossibility of remaining on the lake after that hour, had rendered our residence within the walls of Geneva very irksome to me. I was now free. Often, after the rest of the family had retired for the night, I took the boat, and passed many hours upon the water." (Shelley, 60)
So when Victor enters the Valley of Chamounix, he is able to experience a form of healing as he recollects his childhood memories. He finds comfort and peace in the face of a storm.
Shelley clearly does this to symbolize the importance of nature to Victor. My question is, did Shelley have the same connection to nature as Victor?
Entering the Valley of Chamounix, Victor recollects his past as many people have mentioned above. Comparing to other views, he himself notes, that it was "more wonderful and sublime, but not so beautiful and picturesque" as that of other places. Previously, then, we conclude, Victor looked with less care. He even notes little details about this area. This area is an area of escape for Victor, "associated with the light-hearted gaiety of boyhood." This allows comparison of the devastating present. I believe a use of this visit was to clearly express the converse of the depression felt by Victor through his losses.
ReplyDeleteAs he approached his destination of the Valley of Chamounix he was enjoying the trip and reminiscing about his past travels when he was a boy.
ReplyDelete"A tingling long-lost sense of pleasure often came across me during this journey. Some turn in the road, some new object suddenly perceived and recognized, reminded be of days gone by, and were associated with the light-hearted gaiety of boyhood."
As he arrives to the Valley of Chamounix he is filled with safety and comfort by the nature surrounding him. This is the shift that Shelley indicates, and with this safety Victor sleeps, worn out by the exhaustions of his trip.
Victor is shown not to care much about family or nature in the beginning parts of the book because of his obsession with his studies and creation. The Valley of Chamonix is a departure from this past irrelevant feeling he had towards nature, into a more appreciated one. He, now, after being mentally agonized by the outcomes of his creation finds mental comfort in nature and comes to realize the importance of nature for not only the science of it, but the comfort of it also.
ReplyDelete