PQ] Frankenstein 01. Letter 1

The Project Gutenberg E-​text of Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft (Godwin) Shelley
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Letter 1

      You will rejoice to hear that no disaster has accompanied the commencement of an enterprise which you have regarded with such evil forebodings. I arrived here yesterday, and my first task is to assure my dear sister of my welfare and increasing confidence in the success of my undertaking.

rejoice : feel or show great joy or delight
commencement : a beginning or start
foreboding : fearful apprehension; a feeling that something bad will happen / fore + bode
assure : tell someone something positively or confidently to dispel any doubts they may have
welfare : the health, happiness, and fortunes of a person or group
undertake : commit oneself to and begin (an enterprise or responsibility); take on

      I am already far north of London, and as I walk in the streets of Petersburgh, I feel a cold northern breeze play upon my cheeks, which braces my nerves and fills me with delight. Do you understand this feeling? This breeze, which has travelled from the regions towards which I am advancing, gives me a foretaste of those icy climes. Inspirited by this wind of promise, my daydreams become more fervent and vivid.

brace : make (a structure) stronger or firmer with wood, iron, or other forms of support
foretaste : a sample or suggestion of something that lies ahead
fervent : having or displaying a passionate intensity

I try in vain to be persuaded that the pole is the seat of frost and desolation; it ever presents itself to my imagination as the region of beauty and delight. There, Margaret, the sun is forever visible, its broad disk just skirting the horizon and diffusing a perpetual splendour. There—for with your leave, my sister, I will put some trust in preceding navigators—there snow and frost are banished; and, sailing over a calm sea, we may be wafted to a land surpassing in wonders and in beauty every region hitherto discovered on the habitable globe.

in vain : without success or a result
desolation : a state of complete emptiness or destruction
diffuse : spread or cause to spread over a wide area or among a large number of people
perpetual : never ending or changing / occurring repeatedly; so frequent as to seem endless and uninterrupted
splendour = splendor : magnificent and splendid appearance; grandeur
precede : come before (something) in time
banish : send (someone) away from a country or place as an official punishment
waft : pass or cause to pass easily or gently through or as if through the air
surpass : exceed; be greater than
hitherto : until now or until the point in time under discussion
habitable : suitable or good enough to live in

Its productions and features may be without example, as the phenomena of the heavenly bodies undoubtedly are in those undiscovered solitudes. What may not be expected in a country of eternal light? I may there discover the wondrous power which attracts the needle and may regulate a thousand celestial observations that require only this voyage to render their seeming eccentricities consistent forever. I shall satiate my ardent curiosity with the sight of a part of the world never before visited, and may tread a land never before imprinted by the foot of man.

phenomena : (pl. phenomenon) a fact or situation that is observed to exist or happen, esp. one whose cause or explanation is in question
solitude : the state or situation of being alone
wondrous : inspiring a feeling of wonder or delight; marvelous
regulate : control or maintain the rate or speed of (a machine or process) so that it operates properly
celestial : positioned in or relating to the sky, or outer space as observed in astronomy
render : provide (a service) / cause to be or become; make / represent or depict artistically / melt down (fat) / cover (stone or brick) with a coat of plaster
seeming : appearing to be real or true, but not necessarily being so; apparent
eccentricity : the quality of being eccentric(strange/weird)
consistent : (of a person, behavior, or process) unchanging in achievement or effect over a period of time
satiate : another term for sate(satisfy (a desire or an appetite) to the full)
ardent : enthusiastic or passionate

These are my enticements, and they are sufficient to conquer all fear of danger or death and to induce me to commence this laborious voyage with the joy a child feels when he embarks in a little boat, with his holiday mates, on an expedition of discovery up his native river. But supposing all these conjectures to be false, you cannot contest the inestimable benefit which I shall confer on all mankind, to the last generation, by discovering a passage near the pole to those countries, to reach which at present so many months are requisite; or by ascertaining the secret of the magnet, which, if at all possible, can only be effected by an undertaking such as mine.

enticement : attract or tempt by offering pleasure or advantage
induce : succeed in persuading or influencing (someone) to do something
embark : go on board a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle
expedition : a journey or voyage undertaken by a group of people with a particular purpose, esp. that of exploration, scientific research, or war
conjecture : an opinion or conclusion formed on the basis of incomplete information
confer : grant or bestow (a title, degree, benefit, or right)
requisite : made necessary by particular circumstances or regulations
ascertain : find (something) out for certain; make sure of

      These reflections have dispelled the agitation with which I began my letter, and I feel my heart glow with an enthusiasm which elevates me to heaven, for nothing contributes so much to tranquillize the mind as a steady purpose—a point on which the soul may fix its intellectual eye. This expedition has been the favourite dream of my early years. I have read with ardour the accounts of the various voyages which have been made in the prospect of arriving at the North Pacific Ocean through the seas which surround the pole. You may remember that a history of all the voyages made for purposes of discovery composed the whole of our good Uncle Thomas' library. My education was neglected, yet I was passionately fond of reading. These volumes were my study day and night, and my familiarity with them increased that regret which I had felt, as a child, on learning that my father's dying injunction had forbidden my uncle to allow me to embark in a seafaring life.

agitation : a state of anxiety or nervous excitement
glow : give out steady light without flame
tranquillize : (of a drug) have a calming or sedative effect on
ardour : enthusiasm or passion
prospect : the possibility or likelihood of some future event occurring
neglect : fail to care for properly
seafaring : (of a person) traveling by sea, esp. regularly

      These visions faded when I perused, for the first time, those poets whose effusions entranced my soul and lifted it to heaven. I also became a poet and for one year lived in a paradise of my own creation; I imagined that I also might obtain a niche in the temple where the names of Homer and Shakespeare are consecrated. You are well acquainted with my failure and how heavily I bore the disappointment. But just at that time I inherited the fortune of my cousin, and my thoughts were turned into the channel of their earlier bent.

peruse : read thoroughly or carefully
effusion : an instance of giving off something such as a liquid, light, or smell
niche : a shallow recess, esp. one in a wall to display a statue or other ornament
acquaint : make someone aware of or familiar with
inherit : receive (money, property, or a title) as an heir at the death of the previous holder

      Six years have passed since I resolved on my present undertaking. I can, even now, remember the hour from which I dedicated myself to this great enterprise. I commenced by inuring my body to hardship. I accompanied the whale-​fishers on several expeditions to the North Sea; I voluntarily endured cold, famine, thirst, and want of sleep; I often worked harder than the common sailors during the day and devoted my nights to the study of mathematics, the theory of medicine, and those branches of physical science from which a naval adventurer might derive the greatest practical advantage. Twice I actually hired myself as an under-​mate in a Greenland whaler, and acquitted myself to admiration. I must own I felt a little proud when my captain offered me the second dignity in the vessel and entreated me to remain with the greatest earnestness, so valuable did he consider my services. And now, dear Margaret, do I not deserve to accomplish some great purpose? My life might have been passed in ease and luxury, but I preferred glory to every enticement that wealth placed in my path. Oh, that some encouraging voice would answer in the affirmative! My courage and my resolution is firm; but my hopes fluctuate, and my spirits are often depressed. I am about to proceed on a long and difficult voyage, the emergencies of which will demand all my fortitude: I am required not only to raise the spirits of others, but sometimes to sustain my own, when theirs are failing.

resolve : settle or find a solution to (a problem, dispute, or contentious matter
dedicate : devote (time, effort, or oneself) to a particular task or purpose
hardship : severe suffering or privation
naval : of, in, or relating to a navy or navies
derive : obtain something from (a specified source
acquit : free (someone) from a criminal charge by a verdict of not guilty
earnestness : resulting from or showing sincere and intense conviction
affirmative : agreeing with a statement or to a request
fluctaute : rise and fall irregularly in number or amount
firtitude : courage in pain or adversity

      This is the most favourable period for travelling in Russia. They fly quickly over the snow in their sledges; the motion is pleasant, and, in my opinion, far more agreeable than that of an English stagecoach. The cold is not excessive, if you are wrapped in furs—a dress which I have already adopted, for there is a great difference between walking the deck and remaining seated motionless for hours, when no exercise prevents the blood from actually freezing in your veins. I have no ambition to lose my life on the post-​road between St. Petersburgh and Archangel. I shall depart for the latter town in a fortnight or three weeks; and my intention is to hire a ship there, which can easily be done by paying the insurance for the owner, and to engage as many sailors as I think necessary among those who are accustomed to the whale-​fishing. I do not intend to sail until the month of June; and when shall I return? Ah, dear sister, how can I answer this question? If I succeed, many, many months, perhaps years, will pass before you and I may meet. If I fail, you will see me again soon, or never. Farewell, my dear, excellent Margaret. Heaven shower down blessings on you, and save me, that I may again and again testify my gratitude for all your love and kindness.

stagecoach :
excessive : more than is necessary, normal, or desirable; immoderate
depart : leave, typically in order to start a journey
fortnight : a period of two weeks
graditude : the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness

      Your affectionate brother,     R. Walton