Summary
Victor destroys the female creature he was creating, breaking his promise to the monster in a moment of horror and doubt. He realizes that creating a companion might unleash two monsters upon the world, potentially creating a race of beings that could threaten humanity. The monster, watching from outside, witnesses this betrayal and flies into a murderous rage. In retaliation, the creature kills Clerval, Victor's dearest friend, framing Victor for the murder. Victor is arrested and imprisoned, where he falls gravely ill from the psychological trauma. His father arrives to help secure his release, but Victor is now completely consumed by his need for revenge against his creation. The chapter marks the complete transformation of Victor from scientist to hunter - he has lost everything that once mattered to him and now lives only to destroy what he created. The monster has succeeded in making Victor as isolated and miserable as himself. This devastating cycle shows how revenge creates more victims than it satisfies, and how obsession can strip away everything that makes life worth living. Victor's decision to break his promise, while arguably protecting humanity, also seals his fate in an endless pursuit that will consume whatever remains of his life and sanity.
Coming Up in Chapter 25
Victor embarks on his final, obsessive hunt across the globe, pursuing his creation to the ends of the earth in a deadly game that will test who truly has more to lose.
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An excerpt from the original text.(~500 words)
London was our present point of rest; we determined to remain several months in this wonderful and celebrated city. Clerval desired the intercourse of the men of genius and talent who flourished at this time, but this was with me a secondary object; I was principally occupied with the means of obtaining the information necessary for the completion of my promise and quickly availed myself of the letters of introduction that I had brought with me, addressed to the most distinguished natural philosophers. If this journey had taken place during my days of study and happiness, it would have afforded me inexpressible pleasure. But a blight had come over my existence, and I only visited these people for the sake of the information they might give me on the subject in which my interest was so terribly profound. Company was irksome to me; when alone, I could fill my mind with the sights of heaven and earth; the voice of Henry soothed me, and I could thus cheat myself into a transitory peace. But busy, uninteresting, joyous faces brought back despair to my heart. I saw an insurmountable barrier placed between me and my fellow men; this barrier was sealed with the blood of William and Justine, and to reflect on the events connected with those names filled my soul with anguish. But in Clerval I saw the image of my former self; he was inquisitive and anxious to gain experience and instruction. The difference of manners which he observed was to him an inexhaustible source of instruction and amusement. He was also pursuing an object he had long had in view. His design was to visit India, in the belief that he had in his knowledge of its various languages, and in the views he had taken of its society, the means of materially assisting the progress of European colonization and trade. In Britain only could he further the execution of his plan. He was for ever busy, and the only check to his enjoyments was my sorrowful and dejected mind. I tried to conceal this as much as possible, that I might not debar him from the pleasures natural to one who was entering on a new scene of life, undisturbed by any care or bitter recollection. I often refused to accompany him, alleging another engagement, that I might remain alone. I now also began to collect the materials necessary for my new creation, and this was to me like the torture of single drops of water continually falling on the head. Every thought that was devoted to it was an extreme anguish, and every word that I spoke in allusion to it caused my lips to quiver, and my heart to palpitate. After passing some months in London, we received a letter from a person in Scotland who had formerly been our visitor at Geneva. He mentioned the beauties of his native country and asked us if those were not sufficient allurements to induce us to prolong...
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Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Broken Promises - When Good Intentions Justify Betrayal
Using noble intentions to rationalize breaking commitments when keeping them becomes uncomfortable or inconvenient.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to recognize when people (including ourselves) use moral reasoning to disguise self-serving betrayals.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when someone breaks a promise but wraps it in noble language—then ask what they're really protecting.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Terms to Know
Breach of promise
Breaking a serious commitment or agreement, especially one that carries moral weight. In Victor's case, he promised the monster a companion but destroys her instead. This wasn't just changing his mind - it was violating a sacred agreement.
Modern Usage:
When someone backs out of a major commitment at the last minute, like calling off an engagement or abandoning a business partnership after promises were made.
Retaliation
Getting revenge by striking back with equal or greater force. The monster doesn't just get angry at Victor's betrayal - he systematically destroys what Victor loves most. It's calculated payback designed to cause maximum pain.
Modern Usage:
When someone hurts you so you hurt them back, like spreading rumors about an ex who cheated on you, or a fired employee sabotaging their former workplace.
Framing
Making someone appear guilty of a crime they didn't commit by planting evidence or manipulating circumstances. The monster kills Clerval but arranges things so Victor appears to be the murderer.
Modern Usage:
Setting someone up to take the blame for something they didn't do, like planting drugs in someone's car or making it look like a coworker stole money.
Psychological trauma
Severe mental and emotional damage caused by extremely distressing events. Victor's mind and body break down from the horror of losing everyone he loves and being blamed for their deaths.
Modern Usage:
The lasting mental damage from experiencing or witnessing terrible events - car accidents, violence, loss of loved ones - that affects how someone functions in daily life.
Obsession
A consuming fixation on one thing that takes over a person's entire life and identity. Victor becomes so focused on destroying his creation that he loses sight of everything else that once mattered to him.
Modern Usage:
When someone becomes so fixated on one goal or person that they neglect their health, relationships, and responsibilities - like stalking an ex or gambling away the rent money.
Cycle of revenge
A pattern where each act of retaliation leads to another, creating an endless loop of violence and hurt. Victor and his monster keep hurting each other, with each attack making the other more determined to strike back.
Modern Usage:
When families, gangs, or even countries keep attacking each other in response to previous attacks, with no one able to break the pattern and walk away.
Characters in This Chapter
Victor Frankenstein
Protagonist in crisis
Destroys the female creature and breaks his promise to the monster, then gets framed for Clerval's murder. His decision to protect humanity costs him his best friend and his freedom. He transforms from scientist to obsessed hunter.
Modern Equivalent:
The whistleblower who does the right thing but loses everything - their job, friends, and peace of mind
The Monster
Vengeful antagonist
Witnesses Victor destroying his potential companion and flies into murderous rage. Kills Clerval as punishment and successfully frames Victor. Shows calculated intelligence in his revenge.
Modern Equivalent:
The scorned person who systematically destroys their ex's life after being betrayed
Clerval
Innocent victim
Victor's dearest friend who becomes the monster's target for revenge. His murder represents the monster's ability to hurt Victor in the deepest way possible. Dies because of a conflict he had nothing to do with.
Modern Equivalent:
The friend who gets hurt because they're caught in the middle of someone else's drama
Victor's father
Loyal supporter
Arrives to help secure Victor's release from prison and stands by his son despite the serious charges. Represents the family loyalty that Victor still has left to lose.
Modern Equivalent:
The parent who shows up to bail their adult child out of trouble, no questions asked
Key Quotes & Analysis
"I thought with a sensation of madness on my promise of creating another like to him, and trembling with passion, tore to pieces the thing on which I was engaged."
Context: When Victor destroys the female creature he was creating
This shows Victor's horror at what he's doing and his impulsive decision to break his promise. The word 'madness' reveals how the moral weight of potentially creating two monsters overwhelms him completely.
In Today's Words:
The thought of making another monster like him drove me crazy, so I ripped apart what I was building.
"You have destroyed the work which you began; what is it that you intend? Do you dare to break your promise?"
Context: When the monster confronts Victor about destroying the female creature
The monster's questions show his rage and disbelief at Victor's betrayal. He's holding Victor accountable to their agreement and warning him of consequences.
In Today's Words:
You destroyed what you were making for me - are you seriously going back on your word?
"I will revenge my injuries; if I cannot inspire love, I will cause fear."
Context: The monster's threat after Victor breaks his promise
This reveals the monster's core motivation - if he can't have companionship and love, he'll settle for making others as miserable as he is. It's a chilling declaration of his intent to spread his suffering.
In Today's Words:
I'm going to make you pay for hurting me - if I can't be loved, I'll make sure everyone fears me.
Thematic Threads
Revenge
In This Chapter
The monster retaliates for Victor's broken promise by killing Clerval and framing Victor for murder
Development
Escalated from threats to systematic destruction of Victor's relationships
In Your Life:
When someone betrays you, the urge to hurt them back often destroys more than it satisfies
Isolation
In This Chapter
Victor becomes completely alone—imprisoned, friendless, consumed only by vengeance
Development
Progressed from self-imposed isolation during creation to total abandonment by circumstances
In Your Life:
Obsession with fixing or fighting one problem can strip away everything else that makes life meaningful
Class
In This Chapter
Victor's father's influence helps secure his release from prison, showing how social connections provide protection
Development
Consistent thread showing how family status shields Victor from consequences
In Your Life:
Having people who can make calls and pull strings often determines whether you survive crisis or get crushed by it
Identity
In This Chapter
Victor transforms from scientist to hunter, his entire sense of self now defined by destroying his creation
Development
Complete reversal from creator seeking knowledge to destroyer seeking revenge
In Your Life:
When trauma reshapes your identity around one mission, you can lose sight of who you were before the crisis
Consequences
In This Chapter
Victor's decision to break his promise sets off a chain reaction that destroys his remaining relationships
Development
Each choice has led to worse outcomes, showing how early decisions compound over time
In Your Life:
Breaking trust often creates enemies who know exactly how to hurt you most effectively
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
Victor breaks his promise to create a companion for the monster. What reasons does he give himself for this decision, and what do you think his real motivations are?
analysis • surface - 2
The monster retaliates by killing Clerval and framing Victor. How does this show the monster understands exactly how to hurt Victor most effectively?
analysis • medium - 3
Think about times when people break promises by claiming they're 'protecting' someone else. Where do you see this pattern in workplaces, families, or relationships today?
application • medium - 4
If you had to keep a difficult promise that might have negative consequences, how would you handle it differently than Victor did?
application • deep - 5
Victor and the monster are now locked in a cycle of revenge where each loss creates more anger. What does this teach us about how revenge actually works in real life?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
The Promise Audit
Think of a promise you've broken or been tempted to break recently. Write down the 'official' reason you gave (or would give) for breaking it, then write the real reason underneath. Look at the difference between these two explanations. Now imagine you're the person who was promised something - how would each explanation feel to receive?
Consider:
- •Notice how we dress uncomfortable truths in noble language
- •Consider whether the 'official' reason actually serves the other person or just makes us feel better
- •Think about how broken promises affect trust even when the reasons sound logical
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when someone broke a promise to you using a 'good' reason. How did it feel, and what did it teach you about making and keeping your own commitments?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 25: Justice and Injustice Collide
In the next chapter, you'll discover grief can cloud judgment and lead to poor decisions, and learn the way legal systems can fail innocent people. These insights reveal timeless patterns that resonate in our own lives and relationships.