1. Dark and Gloomy Atmosphere:
* Setting: The story begins in the Arctic, a desolate and unforgiving landscape. This creates a sense of isolation and foreshadows the isolation that Victor will experience throughout the novel.
* Weather: The stormy weather, particularly the "tempestuous night" when Victor encounters the creature, contributes to the overall atmosphere of unease and foreboding.
* Dreams and Visions: Victor's dreams and visions, particularly the one where he sees Elizabeth lying dead, further enhance the gloomy and unsettling tone.
2. Supernatural Elements:
* The Creature's Creation: The very act of creating a creature from dead body parts is a clear example of the supernatural. The novel explores the boundaries between life and death and challenges traditional beliefs about nature.
* The Creature's Appearance: The creature's grotesque appearance, described as "hideous," "deformed," and "monstrous," is a common trope in Gothic literature. It represents the fear of the unknown and the potential for humanity's actions to create monstrous consequences.
3. Psychological Terror:
* Victor's Guilt and Regret: Victor is haunted by his guilt over creating the creature and the consequences it brings. This internal struggle, the terror of his own creation, contributes to the psychological terror of the novel.
* The Creature's Isolation and Loneliness: The creature's experiences of rejection and loneliness, his struggle to understand his own existence, create a sense of psychological terror for both him and the reader.
4. Themes of Isolation and Alienation:
* Victor's Seclusion: Victor isolates himself in his pursuit of knowledge, creating a space for his obsession to thrive and leading to his ultimate downfall.
* The Creature's Exile: The creature is shunned and ostracized by society due to his appearance. He is a powerful representation of the consequences of prejudice and the pain of isolation.
5. Gothic Setting:
* Dark and Mysterious Castles: While not present in the first four chapters, the later setting of Frankenstein's family home and the dark, isolated castle where the creature learns to read, clearly evoke the classic gothic setting.
By establishing these elements early on, Mary Shelley sets the stage for a classic gothic novel filled with suspense, terror, and profound questions about humanity, nature, and the consequences of our actions.