Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus
by Mary Shelley
Contents
Chapter XXIII
Overview
On his wedding night, Victor misreads the Creature’s threat and Elizabeth is murdered. Victor glimpses the killer but fails to catch him. Returning to Geneva, Victor’s father dies of grief, and Victor is confined as mad before being released. Spurned by official skepticism, Victor dedicates himself solely to revenge.
Summary
Victor and Elizabeth arrive at Evian amid worsening weather. As night falls, Victor grows anxious, armed with a pistol, and urges Elizabeth to retire while he searches the inn for the expected assailant. A scream from Elizabeth’s room reveals the misinterpretation of the Creature’s threat: Elizabeth lies strangled on their wedding night.
Victor sees the Creature at the window, fires, and pursues with others onto the lake, but the murderer escapes. Reeling, Victor collapses, then, fearing for his remaining family, hastens toward Geneva despite storm and exhaustion.
In Geneva, Victor finds Ernest alive but his father soon succumbs to grief over Elizabeth’s death and dies in Victor’s arms. Victor’s mind breaks; he is confined for months as mad until melancholy clears and he is released.
Awakening to revenge, Victor petitions a magistrate, recounting the entire history and demanding pursuit. The magistrate, moved yet doubtful of success against so formidable a being, promises limited efforts. Frustrated by skepticism and impracticality, Victor departs, resolving to devote his life or death to the Creature’s destruction.
Who Appears
- Victor FrankensteinProtagonist; misreads the threat, loses Elizabeth and his father, suffers confinement, and dedicates himself to revenge.
- The CreatureMurders Elizabeth on the wedding night, taunts Victor at the window, and escapes into the lake.
- Elizabeth LavenzaVictor’s new wife; murdered by strangulation on their wedding night.
- Alphonse FrankensteinVictor’s father; devastated by Elizabeth’s death and dies of grief.
- MagistrateListens to Victor’s account, doubts practical capture, offers limited aid.
- Ernest FrankensteinVictor’s surviving brother; alive in Geneva amid family tragedy.
- Innkeepers and townspeopleRespond to the murder, assist briefly in the futile pursuit on the lake.