February 18, 2024 • 15 mins
Chapter 5 of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, read by Anna Butterworth
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Chapter five. It was on adreary night of November that I beheld the
accomplishment of my toils with an anxietythat almost amounted to agony. I collected
the instruments of life around me,that I might infuse a spark of being
into the lifeless thing that lay atmy feet. It was already one in
(00:21):
the morning. The rain pattered dismallyagainst the panes, and my candle was
nearly burnt out, when by theglimmer of the half extinguished light, I
saw the dull yellow eye of thecreature open. It breathed hard, and
a convulsive motion agitated its limbs.How can I describe my emotions at this
(00:43):
catastrophe, or how delineate the wretchwhom with such infinite pains and care I
had endeavored to form. His limbswere in proportion, and I had selected
his features as beautiful, beautiful,great God. His yellow skin scarcely covered
the work of muscles and arteries beneath. His hair was of a lustrous black,
(01:04):
and flowing, his teeth of apearly whiteness. But these luxuriances only
formed a more horrid contrast with hiswatery eyes that seemed almost of the same
color as the dun white sockets inwhich they were set, his shriveled complexion
and straight black lips. The differentaccidents of life are not so changeable as
(01:29):
the feelings of human nature. Ihad worked hard for nearly two years for
the sole purpose of infusing life intoan inanimate body. For this I had
deprived myself of rest and health.I desired it with an ardor that far
succeeded moderation. But now that Ihad finished, the beauty of the dream
(01:49):
vanished. The breathless horror and disgustfilled my heart. Unable to endure the
aspect of the being I had created, I rushed out of the room and
continued a long time traversing my bedchamber, unable to compose my mind to
sleep. At length, lassitude succeededto the turmoil I before endured, and
(02:12):
I threw myself on the bed inmy clothes, endeavoring to seek a few
moments of forgetfulness. But it wasin vain. I slept, indeed,
but I was disturbed by the wildnessof dreams. I thought I saw Elizabeth
in the bloom of health, walkingin the streets of Ingolstadt, delighted and
surprised. I embraced her, butas I imprinted the first kiss on her
(02:34):
lips, they became livid with hueof death. Her features appeared to change,
and I thought that I held thecorpse of my dead mother in my
arms. A shroud enveloped her form, and I saw the grave worms crawling
in the folds of the flannel.I started for my sleep with horror.
A cold dew covered my forehead.My teeth chattered, and every limb became
(02:58):
convulse. When, by the dimand yellow light of the moon, as
it forced its way through the windowshutters, I beheld the wretch, the
miserable monster on whom I had created. He held up the curtain of the
bed, and his eyes, ifeyes they may be called, were fixed
on me. His jaws opened andhe muttered some inarticulate sounds, while a
(03:23):
grin wrinkled his cheeks. He mighthave spoken, but I did not hear.
One hand was stretched out seemingly todetain me, but I escaped and
rushed downstairs. I took refuge inthe courtyard belonged to the house which I
inhabited, where I remained during therest of the night. Walking up and
down in the greatest agitation, listeningattentively, catching and fearing each sound as
(03:49):
if it were to announce the approachof the demoniacal corpse to which I had
so miserably given life. Oh,no mortal could support the horror of that
countenance. A mummy again endued withanimation could not be so hideous as that
wretch I had gazed on him whileunfinished. He was ugly then, but
(04:10):
when those muscles and joints were renderedcapable of motion, it became a thing
such as even Dantes could not haveconceived. I passed the night wretchedly.
Sometimes my pulse beat so quickly andheartily that I felt the palpitation of every
artery. At others I nearly sankto the ground through languor and extreme weakness.
(04:31):
Mingled with this horror, I feltthe bitterness of disappointment. Dreams that
had been my food and pleasant restfor so long a space were now become
a held to me, And thechange was so rapid, the overthrow,
so complete, mourning, dismal,and wet. At length dawned and discovered,
to my sleepness and aching eyes,the Church of Ingolstadt, its white
(04:57):
steeple and clock which indicated the sixth. The porter opened the gates of the
court, which had that night beenmy asylum, and I issued into the
streets, pacing them with quick steps, as if I sought to avoid the
wretch, whom I feared every turningof the street would present to my view.
I did not dare return to theapartment which I inhabited, but felt
(05:18):
impelled to hurry on, Although drenchedby the rain which poured from a black
and comfortless sky. I continued walkingthis manner for some time, endeavoring by
bodily exercise to ease the load thatweighed upon my mind. I traversed the
streets without any clear conception of whereI was or what I was doing.
(05:42):
My heart palpitated in the sickness offear, and I hurried on with irregular
steps, not daring to look aboutme, like one who on a lonely
road doth walk in fear and dread, and having once turned round, walks
on and turns no more his headbecause he knows a frightful fiend doth close
(06:05):
behind him, dread. Continuing thus, I came at length opposite to the
inn at which the various diligences andcarriages usually stopped here. I paused.
I knew not why, but Iremained some minutes with my eyes fixed on
a coach that was coming towards mefrom the other end of the street.
(06:25):
As it drew nearer, I observedthat it was the Swiss Diligence. It
stopped just where I was standing,and on the door being opened, I
perceived Henry Clerval, who, onseeing me, instantly sprung out My dear
Frankenstein exclaimed he, how glad Iam to see you, How fortunate that
(06:46):
you should be here at the verymoment of my alighting. Nothing could equal
my delight on seeing Clerval. Hispresence brought back to my thoughts my father,
Elizabeth, and all those scenes ofhome so dear to my recollection.
I grasped his hand, and ina moment forgot my horror and misfortune.
I felt suddenly and for the firsttime during many months, calm and serene
(07:12):
joy. I welcomed my friends thereforein the most cordial manner, and we
walked towards my college. Clairval continuedtalking for some time about our mutual friends
and his own good fortune in beingpermitted to come to Ingolstadt, you may
easily believe, said he, Howgreat was the difficulty to persuade my father
(07:33):
that all necessary knowledge was not comprisedin the noble art of bookkeeping, And
indeed I left him incredulous to thelast, for his constant answer to my
unwearied entreaties was the same as thatof the Dutch schoolmaster in the vicar of
Wakefield. I have ten thousand florinsa year without Greek. I eat heartily
(07:54):
without Greek. But his affection forme at length overcame his dislike of learning.
He has permitted me to undertake avoyage of discovery to the land of
knowledge. It gives me the greatestdelight to see you. But tell me
how you left My father, brothers, and Elizabeth very well and very happy,
only a little uneasy that they hearfrom you so seldom by the bye.
(08:18):
I mean to lecture you a littleupon their account myself. But my
dear Frankenstein, continued he, stoppingshort and gazing full in my face.
I did not remark, how veryill you appear, so thin and pale.
You look as if you had beenwatching for several nights. You have
(08:39):
guessed right I've lately been so deeplyengaged in one occupation that I have not
allowed myself sufficient rest, as yousee. But I hope, I sincerely
hope that all these employments are nowat an end, and that I am
at length free. I trembled excessively. I could not endure to think of,
(09:03):
and far less to allude to theoccurrences of the preceding night. I
walked with a quick pace, andwe soon arrived at my college. I
then reflected, and the thought mademe shiver that the creature whom I had
left in my apartment might still bethere, alive and walking about. I
dreaded to behold this monster, butI feared still more that Henry should see
(09:26):
him, entreating him. Therefore,to remain a few minutes at the bottom
of the stairs, I darted uptowards my own room. My hand was
already on the lock of the doorbefore I recollected myself. I then paused,
and a cold shivering came over me. I threw the door forcibly open,
as children are accustomed to do whenthey expect a specter to stand in
(09:48):
waiting for them on the other side. But nothing appeared. I stepped fearfully
in the apartment was empty, andmy bedroom was also freed from its hideous
guests. I could hardly believe thatso great a good fortune could have befallen
me. But when I became assuredthat my enemy had indeed fled, I
(10:09):
clapped my hands for joy and randown to Clerval. We ascended into my
room, and the servant presently broughtbreakfast. But I was unable to contain
myself. It was not only joythat possessed me. I felt my flesh
tingle with excess of sensitiveness, andmy pulse beat rapidly. I was unable
(10:30):
to remain for a single instant inthe same place. I jumped over the
chairs, clapped my hands, andlaughed aloud. Clerval at first attributed my
unusual spirits to joy on his arrival, but when he observed me more attentively,
he saw a wildness in my eyesfor which he could not account,
and my loud, unrestrained, heartlesslaughter frightened and astonished him. My dear
(10:54):
victor cried, he, what forGod's sake is the matter? Do not
laugh in that manner, how illyou are, What is the cause of
all this? Do not ask me, cried, I, putting my hands
before my eyes, for I thoughtI saw the dreaded specter glide into the
room. He can tell, oh, save me, save me. I
(11:18):
imagine that the monster seized me.I shrugged furiously and fell down in a
fit. Poor Clerval what must havebeen his feelings, a meeting which he
anticipated with such joy so strangely turnedto bitterness. But I was not the
witness of his grief, for Iwas lifeless and did not recover my senses
(11:39):
for a long long time. Thiswas the commencement of a nervous fever,
which confined me for several months.During all that time, Henry was my
only nurse. I afterwards learned that, knowing my father's advanced age and unfitness
for so long a journey, andhow wretched my sickness would make Elizabeth,
(12:01):
he spared them this grief by concealingthe extent of my disorder. He knew
that I could not have a morekind and attentive nurse than himself, and
firm in the hope he felt ofmy recovery, he did not doubt that
instead of doing harm, he performedthe kindest action that he could towards them.
(12:22):
But I was in reality very ill, and surely nothing but the unbounded
and unremitting attentions of my friend couldhave restored me to life. The form
of the monster on whom I hadbestowed existence was forever before my eyes,
and I raved incessantly concerning him.Doubtless my words surprised Henry. He at
(12:43):
first believed them to be the wanderingsof my disturbed imagination. But the pertinacity
with which I continually recurred to thesame subject persuaded him that my disorder indeed
owed its origin to some uncommon andterrible event. By very slow degrees and
with frequent relapses that alarmed and grievedmy friend, I recovered. I remember
(13:07):
the first time I became capable ofobserving outward objects with any kind of pleasure.
I perceived that the fallen leaves haddisappeared, and that the young buds
were shooting forth from the trees thatshaded my window. It was a divine
spring, and the season contributed greatlyto my convalescence. I felt also sentiments
(13:30):
of joy and affection revive in mybosom. My gloom disappeared, and in
a short time I became as cheerfulas before I was attacked by the fatal
passion. Dearest Clerval, exclaimed,I, how kind, how very good
you are to me. This wholewinter, instead of being spent in study
(13:50):
as you promised, yourself has beenconsumed in my sick room. How shall
I ever repay you? I feelthe greatest remorse for the disappointment of which
I have been the occasion. Butyou will forgive me. You will repay
me entirely if you do not discomposeyourself, but get well as fast as
(14:11):
you can. And since you appearin such good spirits, I may speak
to you on one subject? MayI not? I trembled? One subject?
What could it be? Could heallude to an object on whom I
dared not even think? Compose yourself? Said Clerval, who observed my change
of color. I will not mentionit if it agitates you. But your
(14:35):
father and cousin would be very happyif they received a letter from you in
your own handwriting. They hardly knowhow ill you have been, and are
uneasy at your long silence. Isthat all, my dear henry? How
could you suppose that my first thoughtswould not fly towards those dear, dear
friends whom I love, and whoare so deserving of my love. If
(14:58):
this is your present temper, myfriend, you will perhaps be glad to
see a letter that has been lyinghere some days for you. It is
from your cousin, I believe
Chapter five. It was on adreary night of November that I beheld the
accomplishment of my toils with an anxietythat almost amounted to agony. I collected
the instruments of life around me,that I might infuse a spark of being
into the lifeless thing that lay atmy feet. It was already one in
(00:21):
the morning. The rain pattered dismallyagainst the panes, and my candle was
nearly burnt out, when by theglimmer of the half extinguished light, I
saw the dull yellow eye of thecreature open. It breathed hard, and
a convulsive motion agitated its limbs.How can I describe my emotions at this
(00:43):
catastrophe, or how delineate the wretchwhom with such infinite pains and care I
had endeavored to form. His limbswere in proportion, and I had selected
his features as beautiful, beautiful,great God. His yellow skin scarcely covered
the work of muscles and arteries beneath. His hair was of a lustrous black,
(01:04):
and flowing, his teeth of apearly whiteness. But these luxuriances only
formed a more horrid contrast with hiswatery eyes that seemed almost of the same
color as the dun white sockets inwhich they were set, his shriveled complexion
and straight black lips. The differentaccidents of life are not so changeable as
(01:29):
the feelings of human nature. Ihad worked hard for nearly two years for
the sole purpose of infusing life intoan inanimate body. For this I had
deprived myself of rest and health.I desired it with an ardor that far
succeeded moderation. But now that Ihad finished, the beauty of the dream
(01:49):
vanished. The breathless horror and disgustfilled my heart. Unable to endure the
aspect of the being I had created, I rushed out of the room and
continued a long time traversing my bedchamber, unable to compose my mind to
sleep. At length, lassitude succeededto the turmoil I before endured, and
(02:12):
I threw myself on the bed inmy clothes, endeavoring to seek a few
moments of forgetfulness. But it wasin vain. I slept, indeed,
but I was disturbed by the wildnessof dreams. I thought I saw Elizabeth
in the bloom of health, walkingin the streets of Ingolstadt, delighted and
surprised. I embraced her, butas I imprinted the first kiss on her
(02:34):
lips, they became livid with hueof death. Her features appeared to change,
and I thought that I held thecorpse of my dead mother in my
arms. A shroud enveloped her form, and I saw the grave worms crawling
in the folds of the flannel.I started for my sleep with horror.
A cold dew covered my forehead.My teeth chattered, and every limb became
(02:58):
convulse. When, by the dimand yellow light of the moon, as
it forced its way through the windowshutters, I beheld the wretch, the
miserable monster on whom I had created. He held up the curtain of the
bed, and his eyes, ifeyes they may be called, were fixed
on me. His jaws opened andhe muttered some inarticulate sounds, while a
(03:23):
grin wrinkled his cheeks. He mighthave spoken, but I did not hear.
One hand was stretched out seemingly todetain me, but I escaped and
rushed downstairs. I took refuge inthe courtyard belonged to the house which I
inhabited, where I remained during therest of the night. Walking up and
down in the greatest agitation, listeningattentively, catching and fearing each sound as
(03:49):
if it were to announce the approachof the demoniacal corpse to which I had
so miserably given life. Oh,no mortal could support the horror of that
countenance. A mummy again endued withanimation could not be so hideous as that
wretch I had gazed on him whileunfinished. He was ugly then, but
(04:10):
when those muscles and joints were renderedcapable of motion, it became a thing
such as even Dantes could not haveconceived. I passed the night wretchedly.
Sometimes my pulse beat so quickly andheartily that I felt the palpitation of every
artery. At others I nearly sankto the ground through languor and extreme weakness.
(04:31):
Mingled with this horror, I feltthe bitterness of disappointment. Dreams that
had been my food and pleasant restfor so long a space were now become
a held to me, And thechange was so rapid, the overthrow,
so complete, mourning, dismal,and wet. At length dawned and discovered,
to my sleepness and aching eyes,the Church of Ingolstadt, its white
(04:57):
steeple and clock which indicated the sixth. The porter opened the gates of the
court, which had that night beenmy asylum, and I issued into the
streets, pacing them with quick steps, as if I sought to avoid the
wretch, whom I feared every turningof the street would present to my view.
I did not dare return to theapartment which I inhabited, but felt
(05:18):
impelled to hurry on, Although drenchedby the rain which poured from a black
and comfortless sky. I continued walkingthis manner for some time, endeavoring by
bodily exercise to ease the load thatweighed upon my mind. I traversed the
streets without any clear conception of whereI was or what I was doing.
(05:42):
My heart palpitated in the sickness offear, and I hurried on with irregular
steps, not daring to look aboutme, like one who on a lonely
road doth walk in fear and dread, and having once turned round, walks
on and turns no more his headbecause he knows a frightful fiend doth close
(06:05):
behind him, dread. Continuing thus, I came at length opposite to the
inn at which the various diligences andcarriages usually stopped here. I paused.
I knew not why, but Iremained some minutes with my eyes fixed on
a coach that was coming towards mefrom the other end of the street.
(06:25):
As it drew nearer, I observedthat it was the Swiss Diligence. It
stopped just where I was standing,and on the door being opened, I
perceived Henry Clerval, who, onseeing me, instantly sprung out My dear
Frankenstein exclaimed he, how glad Iam to see you, How fortunate that
(06:46):
you should be here at the verymoment of my alighting. Nothing could equal
my delight on seeing Clerval. Hispresence brought back to my thoughts my father,
Elizabeth, and all those scenes ofhome so dear to my recollection.
I grasped his hand, and ina moment forgot my horror and misfortune.
I felt suddenly and for the firsttime during many months, calm and serene
(07:12):
joy. I welcomed my friends thereforein the most cordial manner, and we
walked towards my college. Clairval continuedtalking for some time about our mutual friends
and his own good fortune in beingpermitted to come to Ingolstadt, you may
easily believe, said he, Howgreat was the difficulty to persuade my father
(07:33):
that all necessary knowledge was not comprisedin the noble art of bookkeeping, And
indeed I left him incredulous to thelast, for his constant answer to my
unwearied entreaties was the same as thatof the Dutch schoolmaster in the vicar of
Wakefield. I have ten thousand florinsa year without Greek. I eat heartily
(07:54):
without Greek. But his affection forme at length overcame his dislike of learning.
He has permitted me to undertake avoyage of discovery to the land of
knowledge. It gives me the greatestdelight to see you. But tell me
how you left My father, brothers, and Elizabeth very well and very happy,
only a little uneasy that they hearfrom you so seldom by the bye.
(08:18):
I mean to lecture you a littleupon their account myself. But my
dear Frankenstein, continued he, stoppingshort and gazing full in my face.
I did not remark, how veryill you appear, so thin and pale.
You look as if you had beenwatching for several nights. You have
(08:39):
guessed right I've lately been so deeplyengaged in one occupation that I have not
allowed myself sufficient rest, as yousee. But I hope, I sincerely
hope that all these employments are nowat an end, and that I am
at length free. I trembled excessively. I could not endure to think of,
(09:03):
and far less to allude to theoccurrences of the preceding night. I
walked with a quick pace, andwe soon arrived at my college. I
then reflected, and the thought mademe shiver that the creature whom I had
left in my apartment might still bethere, alive and walking about. I
dreaded to behold this monster, butI feared still more that Henry should see
(09:26):
him, entreating him. Therefore,to remain a few minutes at the bottom
of the stairs, I darted uptowards my own room. My hand was
already on the lock of the doorbefore I recollected myself. I then paused,
and a cold shivering came over me. I threw the door forcibly open,
as children are accustomed to do whenthey expect a specter to stand in
(09:48):
waiting for them on the other side. But nothing appeared. I stepped fearfully
in the apartment was empty, andmy bedroom was also freed from its hideous
guests. I could hardly believe thatso great a good fortune could have befallen
me. But when I became assuredthat my enemy had indeed fled, I
(10:09):
clapped my hands for joy and randown to Clerval. We ascended into my
room, and the servant presently broughtbreakfast. But I was unable to contain
myself. It was not only joythat possessed me. I felt my flesh
tingle with excess of sensitiveness, andmy pulse beat rapidly. I was unable
(10:30):
to remain for a single instant inthe same place. I jumped over the
chairs, clapped my hands, andlaughed aloud. Clerval at first attributed my
unusual spirits to joy on his arrival, but when he observed me more attentively,
he saw a wildness in my eyesfor which he could not account,
and my loud, unrestrained, heartlesslaughter frightened and astonished him. My dear
(10:54):
victor cried, he, what forGod's sake is the matter? Do not
laugh in that manner, how illyou are, What is the cause of
all this? Do not ask me, cried, I, putting my hands
before my eyes, for I thoughtI saw the dreaded specter glide into the
room. He can tell, oh, save me, save me. I
(11:18):
imagine that the monster seized me.I shrugged furiously and fell down in a
fit. Poor Clerval what must havebeen his feelings, a meeting which he
anticipated with such joy so strangely turnedto bitterness. But I was not the
witness of his grief, for Iwas lifeless and did not recover my senses
(11:39):
for a long long time. Thiswas the commencement of a nervous fever,
which confined me for several months.During all that time, Henry was my
only nurse. I afterwards learned that, knowing my father's advanced age and unfitness
for so long a journey, andhow wretched my sickness would make Elizabeth,
(12:01):
he spared them this grief by concealingthe extent of my disorder. He knew
that I could not have a morekind and attentive nurse than himself, and
firm in the hope he felt ofmy recovery, he did not doubt that
instead of doing harm, he performedthe kindest action that he could towards them.
(12:22):
But I was in reality very ill, and surely nothing but the unbounded
and unremitting attentions of my friend couldhave restored me to life. The form
of the monster on whom I hadbestowed existence was forever before my eyes,
and I raved incessantly concerning him.Doubtless my words surprised Henry. He at
(12:43):
first believed them to be the wanderingsof my disturbed imagination. But the pertinacity
with which I continually recurred to thesame subject persuaded him that my disorder indeed
owed its origin to some uncommon andterrible event. By very slow degrees and
with frequent relapses that alarmed and grievedmy friend, I recovered. I remember
(13:07):
the first time I became capable ofobserving outward objects with any kind of pleasure.
I perceived that the fallen leaves haddisappeared, and that the young buds
were shooting forth from the trees thatshaded my window. It was a divine
spring, and the season contributed greatlyto my convalescence. I felt also sentiments
(13:30):
of joy and affection revive in mybosom. My gloom disappeared, and in
a short time I became as cheerfulas before I was attacked by the fatal
passion. Dearest Clerval, exclaimed,I, how kind, how very good
you are to me. This wholewinter, instead of being spent in study
(13:50):
as you promised, yourself has beenconsumed in my sick room. How shall
I ever repay you? I feelthe greatest remorse for the disappointment of which
I have been the occasion. Butyou will forgive me. You will repay
me entirely if you do not discomposeyourself, but get well as fast as
(14:11):
you can. And since you appearin such good spirits, I may speak
to you on one subject? MayI not? I trembled? One subject?
What could it be? Could heallude to an object on whom I
dared not even think? Compose yourself? Said Clerval, who observed my change
of color. I will not mentionit if it agitates you. But your
(14:35):
father and cousin would be very happyif they received a letter from you in
your own handwriting. They hardly knowhow ill you have been, and are
uneasy at your long silence. Isthat all, my dear henry? How
could you suppose that my first thoughtswould not fly towards those dear, dear
friends whom I love, and whoare so deserving of my love. If
(14:58):
this is your present temper, myfriend, you will perhaps be glad to
see a letter that has been lyinghere some days for you. It is
from your cousin, I believe
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