Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is more than just a tale of scientific ambition gone awry; it is a journey across diverse landscapes that mirror the tumultuous paths of its characters. From the icy expanses of the Arctic to the serene beauty of Geneva, each setting enriches the narrative, acting as a backdrop for the drama between creator and creature. These geographical shifts not only anchor the storyline but also symbolize the internal transformations and conflicts faced by Victor Frankenstein and his creation.

The Arctic Frontier

In Shelley's Frankenstein, the narrative's extremes are captured in the desolate Arctic, where Robert Walton's letters to his sister unfold. This frozen wilderness, devoid of life and overwhelmed by ice, becomes the stage for Walton's quest for a northwest passage and his subsequent encounter with the tormented Victor Frankenstein. As Walton's ship becomes trapped in the ice, he rescues Victor, who then shares his harrowing tale. Here, the Arctic not only represents the physical distance from civilization but also serves as a metaphor for the cold, uncharted regions of scientific inquiry. Before recounting his story, Victor warns Walton of the perilous allure of such pursuits, drawing parallels between their obsessive quests.

Geneva's Dual Nature

Victor Frankenstein's tale begins in Geneva, a city nestled against a backdrop of majestic mountains and tranquil lakes. To Victor, Geneva is initially a paradise, filled with warmth and familial love. However, as the narrative progresses, the city's idyllic charm turns into a site of tragedy and despair. Victor's return to Geneva after creating his monstrous progeny marks a transformation; it becomes a place marred by the monster’s presence, where familial bonds are broken, and innocence is lost. William's murder and the execution of an innocent family servant cast long shadows over the once-peaceful setting. By the time Victor attempts a final return to wed Elizabeth, Geneva has fully transformed into a "hell on earth," symbolizing the irrevocable changes wrought by his actions.

Ingolstadt: The Birthplace of the Monster

Ingolstadt, a Bavarian city known for its academic freedom and emphasis on Enlightenment thought, plays a pivotal role in Victor's journey. It is here, amidst the university's halls, that Victor becomes consumed by his scientific ambitions and ultimately creates life. Ingolstadt's reputation for rationality contrasts starkly with the chaos that ensues from Victor's experiments. Once vibrant with intellectual pursuit, the city becomes haunted by Victor's fears and regrets, his time there marked by isolation and dread until the arrival of his friend Henry Clerval provides a brief respite.

The Sublime and Terrifying Landscapes

Victor's connection to the awe-inspiring landscapes of the Alps, particularly Mont Blanc, further illustrates his internal conflicts. The mountain's overwhelming presence serves as a site of reflection for Victor, who finds both solace and accusation in its grandeur. It is against this sublime backdrop that the creature confronts Victor, bringing the themes of creation and neglect into stark relief. The natural beauty of Mont Blanc becomes a courtroom where Victor faces the consequences of his abdicated responsibilities.

The Cottage: A Lesson in Humanity

In contrast to the vast, untamed landscapes, the creature's experience centers around a humble German cottage. Here, he observes the De Lacey family, learning the nuances of human interaction and language. The warmth of the cottage offers a glimpse into the creature’s potential for humanity, but also deepens his anguish as he realizes the isolation imposed by his existence. This microcosm of society reveals to the creature the painful distance between his desires and reality, driving his eventual demand for companionship from his creator.

From the Rhine to the Orkneys: Pursuit of a Companion

The narrative's scope expands with Victor and Clerval's travels along the Rhine and through England and Scotland, reflecting the broader European context of the story. Victor's journey to London allows him to immerse himself in the scientific discoveries of the time, but it is in the remote isolation of the Orkney Islands that he attempts to fulfill and then destroy the creature's request for a mate. This decision, made in the solitude of Scotland, ignites the creature’s wrath and sets the stage for the final tragic acts.

Scotland and Ireland: Isolation and Consequences

Scotland, with its rugged, isolated landscape, becomes the site of Victor's ultimate refusal to create a companion for his creature, prompting a confrontation that seals his fate. His subsequent journey leads him off-course to Ireland, where he is wrongfully accused of Clerval's murder, symbolizing his complete entrapment by the consequences of his past actions. The remote settings of both Scotland and Ireland emphasize Victor's growing isolation and the inescapable reach of his creation.

The Inevitable Fate

The novel's concluding scenes return to the Arctic, completing the narrative's cyclical journey. Victor's relentless pursuit of his creature across a "troubled sea" of ice mirrors the futility of his initial ambitions, as both creator and creation are ultimately consumed by their shared destinies. The polar expanse, with its chilling finality, underscores the destructive potential of hubris and unchecked ambition, leaving readers to ponder the fragile boundary between man and monstrosity.

Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is a rich tapestry of narrative techniques and literary allusions, woven together to create a profound exploration of ambition, isolation, and the human condition. Through a sophisticated structure, Shelley employs a story-within-a-story-within-a-story format, beginning with the letters of Captain Walton, which introduce the reader to Victor Frankenstein's own harrowing tale. Within this narrative, the creature himself speaks, revealing his journey towards self-awareness and the crushing solitude he faces after being abandoned by his creator.

This layered storytelling offers a profound exploration of characters' ambitions and the consequences of their striving. Walton's Arctic exploration quest parallels Frankenstein's scientific endeavors; both characters are driven by an insatiable pursuit of knowledge and discovery, though their paths diverge in outcome. Walton's retreat, compelled by the demands of his crew, signifies a failure to achieve his lofty goals, while Frankenstein's success in creating life ushers in catastrophic repercussions.

Shelley uses her characters to mirror and contrast each other's experiences, deepening the narrative's emotional and intellectual impact. Walton’s yearning for companionship—expressed in his lament of having "no friend . . . no one to participate [in] my joy . . . to sustain me in dejection"—echoes the creature's profound loneliness. This parallel highlights the universal human quest for connection and the agony of isolation, as both Walton and the creature grapple with their unmet desires for friendship. Frankenstein's demise leaves Walton bereft of his dreams, underscoring the personal and existential losses that haunt each character.

Further enriching her narrative, Shelley draws on literary allusions to infuse her story with thematic depth. The novel's subtitle, "The Modern Prometheus," evokes the Greek myth of Prometheus, the god who defied divine order to bring fire to humanity. This allusion reflects Frankenstein’s own defiance of natural laws in his creation of life, emphasizing the alienation and irreversible change he suffers as a result. Just as Prometheus' gift led to humanity's estrangement from heaven, Frankenstein's ambition leads to his detachment from his creation and from human society.

Additionally, Shelley intertwines her narrative with references to John Milton's Paradise Lost. The epic poem not only introduces the novel but also profoundly influences the creature, who reads it alongside other texts. Through this, the monster perceives himself as both Adam, solitary like the first man, and Satan, filled with the bitterness of the outcast. These allusions elevate Frankenstein beyond the confines of a mere horror story, transforming it into a meditation on creation, alienation, and the burdens of knowledge. Shelley's work resonates with echoes of ancient Greek and Christian thought, crafting a narrative that invites reflection on the enduring complexities of human ambition and the consequences of transcending boundaries.