Read the excerpt from Chapter 23 of Frankenstein, which focuses on Victor's state of mind
following his father's death.
What then became of me? I know not; I lost sensation, and chains and darkness were the
only objects that pressed upon me. Sometimes, Indeed, I dreamt that I wandered In
flowery meadows and pleasant vales with the friends of my youth, but I awoke and found
myself in a dungeon. Melancholy followed, but by degrees I gained a clear conception of
my miseries and situation and was then released from my prison. For they had called me
mad, and during many months, as I understood, a solitary cell had been my habitation.
How does Mary Shelley portray Victor Frankenstein after the death of his father, who died a few
days after learning of Elizabeth's death? Why does Shelley portray Victor in this way? Provide
examples and evidence from the text to support your analysis.