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Frankenstein Or The Modern Prometheus - Blog Posts
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Henry Clerval my beloved ♥
Happy New Year! On 1 January 1818 the novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus was first published! So here's some more artwork of my own design for Victor Frankenstein to mark the occasion :)
A few of my sketches of Victor Frankenstein (based off the original novel)
My design for Captain Robert Walton from the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley ♥
I always imagined him a very dashing and fashionable young man :)
✧･ﾟ: * A little sketch of Victor Frankenstein for the Holidays *:･ﾟ✧
Wishing you all a Happy Holiday Season! ♥
My design for Justine Moritz from the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley ♥
It was very interesting researching what working women wore in the 18th century and I ended up having so much fun designing her! :) (And then redesigning her a few dozen times too!! XD )
I hope you like my little drawing of her :)
Victor Frankenstein and Henry Clerval with their hair down, to show off those beautiful long 18th century locks! ♥
(Also this is pretty much how I imagined their height difference too)
Henry Clerval is part Hobbit. You can't change my mind.
Little sketch of Creature from the novel Frankenstein :)
I actually drew this during a power cut, I realized that because I have a laptop I could still use electricity and defy the will of the gods!! >:3
So of course I drew The Creature from Frankenstein ♥
My design(s) for Elizabeth Lavenza from Mary Shelley's novel "Frankenstein" ❤️
In the 1818 version she is described as having dark auburn hair and hazel eyes and in the 1831 revised version she is described with golden hair and blue eyes, so I thought I'd draw both :)
Also I tried to dress her authentically so I hope you're proud of me because 1780s to 1790s women's fashion is very confusing XD
My design for Henry Clerval from Mary Shelley's Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus :)
An absolute ray of sunshine and Victor Frankenstein's excellent friend ♥
My own take on a design for Victor Frankenstein from Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus.
(Specifically this is meant to be Victor around the time he was studying at the university of Ingolstadt.) I feel I should specify this is based almost exclusively on his character in the book, so not an AU and also not drawn for any other reason than to try and appease my slightly obsessing mind XD This isn’t necessarily his finalised design, but for this little project I thought it would be fun to share my character designs with you all as I draw them :)
I have also drawn designs for some of the other characters already, so expect more Frankenstein drawings in the near future my dears ♥
Robert Walton: discovers a man in the most shit condition on earth. Like this man is literally looking so bad. Negative rizz.
Also Walton:
I can’t wait for Robbie’s next letter OwO
Ranking gothic lit characters by the things they do instead of sleeping
(Note: This post is a joke, and maintaining a healthy sleep schedule is important)
11. Dracula: Being the worst
10. Robert Walton: Writing down everything Victor Frankenstein says
9. The Phantom (Erik): Stalking people, causing problems, working on an opera (Unrealistic, people are not actually productive when they stay up)
8. Jack Seward: His work (lame cause he’s bad at it), ignoring his emotions (realistic)
7. Utterson: Tracking down Edward Hyde (exciting)
6. Dorian Gray: Staring at his portrait (relatable, but lame), sinning (cool)
5. Griffin: Experiencing the consequences of his actions (relatable)
4. Johnathan Harker: Worrying about the vampires that are trying to eat him (exciting)
3. Adam Frankenstein: Reading Paradise Lost (cool), setting fires (fun!), starving in the woods (tragic)
2. Dr. Jekyll: Violence (fun!), being Edward Hyde (funner!)
1. Victor Frankenstein: Playing god (cool), angsting (realistic)
autism be damned my boy can make an 8ft tall man in his college dorm
Homoeroticism I notised while reading Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (spoiler warning):
“His full-toned voice swells in my ears; his lustrous eyes dwell on me with all their melancholy sweetness; I see his thin hand raised in animation, while the lineaments of his face are irradiated by the soul within.” (Robert Walton about Victor Frankenstein)
“He appeared about fifty years of age, but with an aspect expressive of the greatest benevolence; a few grey hairs covered his temples, but those at the back of his head were nearly black. His person was short, but remarkably erect; and his voice the sweetest I had ever heard.” (Victor Frankenstein about M. Waldman)
“His manners in private were even more mild and attractive than in public.” (Victor Frankenstein about Henry Clerval)
“Excellent friend! How sincerely did you love me, and endeavour to elevate my mind until it was on a level with your own! A selfish pursuit had cramped and narrowed me, until your gentleness and affection warmed and opened my senses . . . ” (Victor Frankenstein about Henry Clerval)
“His eyes sparkled as his cheek flushed with pleasure; and at that moment I thought him as beautiful as the stranger.” (Frankenstein’s creature about Felix De Lacey)
“Clerval desired the intercourse of the men of genius and talent who flourished at this time.” (Victor Frankenstein about Henry Clerval)
“His fine and lovely eyes . . . ” (Robert Walton about Victor Frankenstein)
“I have longed for a friend; I have sought one who would sympathise with and love me. Behold, on these desert seas I have found such a one . . . ” (Robert Walton about Victor Frankenstein)
“My unfortunate guest regards me with the tenderest compassion.” (Robert Walton about Victor Frankenstein)
“His eyes sparkled, and his cheeks flushed with momentary vigour.” (Robert Walton about Victor Frankenstein)
“Margaret, what comment can I make on the untimely extinction of this glorious spirit? What can I say that will enable you to understand the depth of my sorrow [at Frankenstein’s death]?” (Robert Walton about Victor Frankenstein)
Be careful for what you wish for
Two Distinct Arts: A Clervalstein Fanfic
Clerval
“Hey, hey, wake up idiot.” I heard a snooty voice call for me, I opened my eyes and looked over to find my dear Frankenstein poking at my arm. He was poking so much that it started to hurt, I quickly sat up. “Okay okay! I’m up! Sheesh Vic..” rubbing my eyes Victor stood up, he was already all dressed up. Vic looked nice in that vest and button up, “Good,” He said, “You're lucky I even bothered waking you, we’re going to be late if you don’t hurry it up!” “You really didn’t have to break into my dorm for me, dear Victor.” He halted at the door for a moment and was quiet for a minute, which I found strange since he’s always been so assertive. “Well I’m your friend aren’t I?” For whatever reason his words made me feel like I had just drowned in a river, and a flourishing garden at the same time. I don’t quite understand but I’m sure with time it’ll come to me, “Yes of course! And you know what, as your friend I appreciate it.” I smiled, soon enough I arrived at Victor’s side and together we left the room and down the halls, both of us practically rushed into the classroom.
Our Statistics teacher was fuming when he saw us both, the old man paused class to lecture us before demanding us to our seats for interrupting class. As soon as me and Victor sat down we both eyed each other and laughed as quietly as we could. But not a minute later, Victor went back to focusing on class. Today was exactly like the other days, I noticed that there’s a common pattern with school, everyday of the year seems to go by like the others. It repeats and repeats over and over again, going down in a loop until it’s summer. Summer was different, it didn’t repeat, it never had to when I spent it with my dear Frankenstein. I believe that’s why for me summer has always been more fun, but Victor clearly never felt the same. He saw school as a hobby and a priority at the same time, he’s always been more interested in education then just freetime; he’s even admitted to me before on how much during the summer he'd rather keep going to school then have to stop in the middle, it frustrates him. It’s quite puzzling, what does he see so much of in school? I can’t imagine anyone who’d enjoy being stuck in that loop but Victor. He’s always been an odd one, but a part of me wants to give myself to that. My thoughts were interrupted by the bell and Vic looked over to me, that’s when I realized that for the majority of class I had been staring off into space in his direction. Both of us quickly got up to leave the classroom.
I nudged Vic’s elbow and teased as we walked down the hall, “My dear Frankenstein, where do you see the fun in classes? I just don’t get it.” “You probably never will.” Victor sighed, “But I am currently working on something amazing, and to achieve it I need the tools. More education I have, the more I can understand how to finish this project.” Huh, I studied his facial expressions as he spoke about this project, his eyes were cold but yet curious. I could praise Victor endlessly for his scientific intellect, that’s what made Victor Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein. And just thinking about how cold he looks, but how warm he really is makes me feel warm myself, and my chest feels so much like blooming lilies. I’m jealous of myself for how much I get to see Victor for him. “You’re right, I don’t think I’ll ever understand you but I quite enjoy a good mystery my dear friend!” We both laughed as we continued on with our day. Another day just like any other, but that feeling isn’t so bad when I’m with Victor; I could still do without it though.
Victor
Clerval will never cease to confuse me, all throughout statistics class I noticed how he was staring at me, but what made me curious the most was how he could so easily just forget about class and focus on nothing. It angered me a little but it doesn’t matter anyway, he’s always been like that. And I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t jealous of it, I can’t be as carefree as him. Not if I want to do what I want to do in the end, Clerval has his own path and I have mine, of course we’d be vastly different. Clerval said that poetry was the science he would pursue, I argued that writing simple literature isn’t science but that was what we disagreed on. After me and Clerval parted ways we went to our respective dormitories, and I began continuing the progress on my project.
The next day I get up and get dressed, exiting my room I see Clerval waiting outside the door, “Vic! Hey!” He waved, “I see you’re actually up in time for once.” I huffed. Clerval gave an awkward laugh, “Well I wanted to make it up to you for yesterday.. and last week hehe, I realized that it wasn’t very fair to you that I got in your way of getting to class on time..” I held Clerval’s hand, “It’s fine, it always was fine, you know that. It’s what friends do.” “Right.” For some reason, I wasn’t expecting to grab his hand. It was almost as if it was an instinct to do so. We walk down the halls hand in hand, actually making it to class on time and sitting in our seats. The day repeated once again and I could return to work, entering the dormitory’s basement. I picked up my scalpel out of my series of tools and began getting a brain in a small jar out from the cabinet, then I began messing with it. It was fun to experiment for a while, I ended up staying up all night and falling asleep on my desk face first.
The next morning Clerval came down to get me, he grumbled as he stomped down the stairs. “Victor! Victor! We’re going to be late, what're you doing down here, you can’t be so hypocritical like this!” I awoke from the loud noise and looked up to find Clerval walking down the stairs, in a panic I stood up and rushed that way but it was far too late. He had seen what I was planning, all it took was a quick glance around my laboratory. “Vic..?” He looked completely dumbstruck, “What.. What is all this?” “Henry, listen I know-“ Clerval interjected, “Why are you toying with God?” He grabbed one of the blueprints of the project and looked at it in puzzlement. “A man? Victor please this is absolute folly of you! I know you're smarter than this!” “Henry, you have to understand, the only God I believe in is science.” “I’m not worried about your beliefs Victor.. I’m worried about you! You always worry me so much! I always worry! Always! I don’t want you getting hurt!” He gripped me by the shoulders, gazing at me seriously but I could see the glint of fear and melancholy in his eyes. I don’t want to jump to conclusions. I don’t, but am I a burden to him? Am I hurting my dearest friend? I don’t want to. I don’t mean too. “Clerval, am I hurting you? Am I burdening you? Please be honest with me..” He stopped, he stopped for a long while before ignoring my question, “How far are you with this?” I didn’t want to bring up my question again so I just answered him. “I just need to implant the brain and close and fix the headspace and I’m finished.” Clerval sighed and just walked away in disbelief I think. I haven't heard from Clerval since.
It was a long year, Clerval started ignoring me in class whenever I sat by him, and when summer came I still didn’t hear anything from him. And my creation was also on pause since then. I was laying in my bed now, back home in Geneva for the summer, I didn’t have much to do until my cousin Elizabeth called from downstairs. “Victor!” “I’m coming! Hold on!” I grumbled, making my way to the living room, I sat down facing Liza. “Well?” Elizabeth looked to the side and the housemaid Justine came to Elizabeth’s side, “I just wanted to let you know that I’m dating Justine now! I’m very excited to go test the waters into the relationship pool again.” She grinned, I blinked, I didn’t know my cousin liked the same sex. It was common but I definitely wasn’t expecting it from my cousin. I stood up and congratulated them both before returning to my room to process. That’s when I realized something, something interesting. I had never in my life looked at the opposite sex in such a way, Justine and Liza were always best friends so they must’ve liked each other romantically for a long time. I guess I’d always known because now that I look back, their body language was suggesting something more than a simple friendship when I saw the two. I suddenly had another realization, me and Clerval also share that body language quite frequently, does that mean Clerval wants something more? Do I want something more? Questions were racing in my mind but again, I can’t jump to conclusions.
Clerval
I wasn’t mad about Victor’s plan. I was mad that he worried me so much and I don’t understand why. I worry about him more than just any friend would, sure we’re close but it’s not the same as other friendships clearly. I’m not mad at Victor. I’m mad at myself for being so stupid of not thinking about this before, the only reason I’m avoiding Victor is because I need this space right now to think. I was sitting in the backyard against our tree, thinking. Why do I worry over him so much? Why do I like how he looks and acts more than a friend would? What is this? I’ve certainly never felt it before.
As usual when I’m conflicted like this, I write. So I went into my room and began writing as I picked up my quill; poetry has always been soothing to my soul, a way for me to release anguish or conflicted emotions, or just for fun. This has always been my escape, my escape from the real world and into the sea of my feelings, into myself. I usually write about romantic antics, as those are fun to create, but those are with fiction. Fictional stories, but then a thought suddenly overwhelms my mind and I scavenge through my drawer. Scanning and reading through my poems I compare them to what I recently wrote. Now I understand these feelings, I know what I need to do.
Victor
I cannot believe I’m in love with my dear friend, this is absurd, it’s madness, dare I say it’s even more folly then my creation. This cannot happen, I am very worried, and I hate to admit it, I really do. But I’m also scared, what if this distracts me from my path? And what could this do to me and Clerval if he doesn’t reciprocate and I misread him? There are too many things that could happen, so I will not allow myself to keep falling. I can’t, I won’t fall for my delusions of grandeur, I’m going to continue on my project, I can’t let anyone get in the way. No one will get in my way.
Soon enough summer finally ended, and I could return to my project. The first thing I did when returning to my dormitory was entering my laboratory and continuing with work as soon as I equipped the proper gear before class for a bit before having to go. After class I worked endlessly on my creation, until finally, it was complete. And no one will get in my way to restore mankind, I am the modern Prometheus. I am the savior of man, Victor Frankenstein.
Clerval
I waited out for a couple of days, I had to make sure I was ready. I wasn’t even looking for perfection, I just don’t want to look like a bumbling fool. After finally being prepared I knocked on Vic’s dormitory door, quickly the door opened, it was Victor in a white lab coat and black gloves and goggles, dripping with blood. Victor raised his goggles from his eyes and peered at me before beginning to slam the door. Acting quickly I stopped the door with my foot, but instead of it looking dramatically assertive and dedicated, I looked like the fool I didn’t want to look like, the door pushed my foot hard into the door frame and it hurt like hell. I yelped quietly and held my foot, sinking to the floor, Vic looked down on me and sighed before dragging me inside. He thankfully helped my foot feel better, all it did was bruise it a little, Vic then stood up and was about to push me out again. But this time I turned and stopped him by grabbing his wrists, “There's a reason that I came here Vic.” He didn’t answer, he hasn’t since I got here, “Please let me talk to you.” We both sat down, Vic peered again at me with his arms crossed, “Talk.” I took a deep inhale and exhaled for a moment. We sat there in silence for a good two minutes before I could actually form the words, “Thank you for being patient with me, I needed to prepare myself but Victor.. I can’t get you out of my mind. I worry about you, more than a friend would. And I didn’t understand, I didn’t for a long time but now I know. Victor I’m so sorry for seeming like I wasn’t caring about you when that was the opposite. Victor, you’re the most important person in my life, I care about you the most. I always have.”
Victor
I didn’t know how to take this information, I wanted to give in, I wanted to let everything go. But that’s not the smart thing to do, I know it isn’t, I can’t fall for this. This is a trap for failure, I tell myself this but yet the words are coming out against my wishes, “I care about you too Clerval, you are also the most important person in my life. You’re the only one who has brought me into the depths of such confusion, only you have made me sit and think about my life with someone else. Only you have made me feel like.. well whatever this is.” “Victor, nothing has to change if you don’t want it too, even if we did enter a romantic relationship.. we don’t have to change anything. I don’t care either way so I’ll leave it up to you.” He grasped my hand, do I want things to change? Was I okay with what we did before? It took me a moment before answering, hesitantly I responded, “I think.. I want to experience new things with you as my romantic interest, but I wouldn’t mind if most of it stayed the same.. are you okay with that Henry?” “Of course my dear Frankenstein.” Clerval wrapped his arms around me in a warm embrace, I reciprocated and we both stood there embracing for a moment in the silence.
I drew a lil creature,, my Adam says hi,,,
What of your destiny?
Heheh lyric chain,,, les go gang,
Victor:
“Damn this fever in my mind . . .
Heheh lyric chain,,, les go gang,
Victor:
“Damn this fever in my mind . . .
a series of unfortunate events