"Tintern Abbey" and "Frankenstein"

Mary Shelley’s work features a strong Romantic influence, due to the era in which it was written. In Frankenstein, this influence is seen most notably in the references to romantic poetry, specifically to Wordworth’s “Tinturn Abbey”. Shelley utilizes excerpts from Wordsworth's poems throughout her writings, doing so in order to mirror the journey taken by the speaker of "Tintern Abbey", with Victor’s growth from youth to maturity. Additionally, the use of Clerval throughout the novel is indicative of what Victor’s childhood might have been like had his actions taken a different course, one that did not follow of those seen in “Tinturn Abbey”

Throughout "Tintern Abbey," the speaker of the poem reminisces of his childhood and the enthusiasm he had in exploring the natural world.  In “Tinturn Abbey”, the speaker comments on this exploration stating, "Like a roe I bounded o'er the mountains, by the sides of the deep rivers, and the lonely streams, wherever nature led." Because he was consistently in contact with nature, his growth throughout childhood was allowed to be dictated by his natural surroundings and occurances. While this constant interaction with nature appears to be a positive influence on his youth initially, later the speaker comes to the realization that he was acting "in the hour of thoughtless youth." Ignoring the amazing aspects of nature, he merely focuses on simple and superficial observations of his natural surroundings. These petty activities engaged in through his childhood reveal a carelessness and recklessness that leads to the abandonment of anything but what exists on the surface of the natural world. When compared  to the youth discussed in the poem, Victor’s youthful nativity mirrors the that of the reckless youth displayed in the poem. Victor was blind to the potential effects of his creation in during his wild search for scientific discover, and he devotes all of his time and energy during his maturation to such discovery, ignoring the consequences.  Eager  to pursue the path of science and to achieve glory, Victor never even considers what will happen if he actually succeeds in creating life.

Clerval is also used by Shelley to represent the potential that rested in Victor’s youth. Clerval and Victor were both eager to take in what the world and nature had to offer during their youth. While both  are eager for what each day beholds, they have dramatically different motives and reasoning for their eagerness. Clerval directs his energy towards good by continuing his knowledge and education, while Victor educates himself, but on far more controversial topics, leading him down a dangerous path.  He fervently works on creating life without ceasing and is saddened over all moments lost in working on it.

The latter part of "Tintern Abbey" reveals the maturity that the speaker experiences after the a reckless childhood.).After maturing, the speaker realizes that his actions as a child were incorrect and harmful, leaving him with empty and superficial experiences of the natural world. This connects to Victor's life because he ultimately realizes that his discovery has created disastrous consequences for both others and himself. In  "Tintern Abbey", it is also mentioned that the past, with "all its aching joys, are now no more, and all its dizzy rapture" are lost. Victor realizes that the past is done and he no longer wants to engage in his previous passionate scientific endeavors, and instead  wishes he could take back his youthful mistakes that he has now come to realize as harmful.

The contrast of  reckless youth and the matured adult seenin Wordsworth's "Tintern Abbey" exemplify the changes that occur during Victor Frankenstein's life. Additionally, Mary Shelley usesn the characters of  Clerval and Victor Frankenstein in an attempt to reveal the two contrasting choices present in youth. Clerval chose to use his energy to further his educate himself, while Victor Frankenstein used his energy to partake in disastrous scientific discoveries and ignoring the consequences. Clerval represents Victor Frankenstein could have become had he made different choices.