g the ways of humans he is confined to the small enclosure of a cottage, and is only able to leave the cottage at night. The story of Frankenstein also makes use of fear. Once Victor put life into the monster no one knows what's going to happen. Fear wasn't really an element of the story though, until the monster murders William. If the monster is brutal enough to murder a child then he is capable of doing anything. Fear is an element all the way through the book after William's death. Mary Shelley is a great example of a writer who is the product of the Romantic era. This movement began in Germany with writers such as Goethe, who created the Romantic concept of Faust, yet the movement dominated the Western literature for many years. Since Mary Shelley was so familiar with the great writers of the Romantic era, it is easy to see that her work would reflect the trend. The major characteristic of Romanticism that Mary Shelley uses is the examination of senses and inner feelings. In the beginning of the story Victor contemplates his experiment: ...soon my mind was filled with one thought, one conception, one purpose. So much has been done, exclaimed the soul of Frankenstein,- more, far more, will I achieve; treading in the steps already marked, I will pioneer a new way, explore unknown powers, and unfold to the world the deepest mysteries of creation. Throughout the book Victor examines his feelings about the monster he created. The monster also examines his feelings and senses through the book. The creature explains: A strange multiplicity of sensations seized me, and I saw, smelt, heard, and felt at the same time; and it was indeed, a long time before I learned to distinguish between the operations of my various senses. At the time of the monster's creation it had only basic emotions and feelings. He gradually learned senses, like temperature through playing with fire. Through great effort the monster was able to learn intelligent matter...
