Frankenstein

1

I Go to University
My name is Frankenstein – Victor Frankenstein. I was born in 1810 in the beautiful city of Geneva, in Switzerland. My father and mother loved me very much and my early lifewas happy. My younger brother, William, was born when I was twelve years old. Two years later, my dear Elizabeth came to live with us. She was the daughter of my father’s best friend. When Elizabeth’sparents died, Elizabeth came to live with us in our house. I loved her from that time. I was a good pupil at school and always came first in the examinations. I was always interested in science. Iwanted to learn about human life. I wanted to learn more in order to help people. I wanted to make their lives better. When I was eighteen, my mother died. Before she died, my mother spoke to Elizabethand myself. ‘My children,’ she said, ‘I hope that one day you will marry. Then you, my dear Elizabeth, can look after little William.’ My mother looked at me and smiled. ‘My dear Victor, the familyhopes that you will do great things,’ she said. ‘Soon you are going to the University. I know you will work hard. Perhaps, one day, you will be famous. You have been a good son and I can die happy.’ Icried when my mother died. But now I am glad that she is dead. My work has brought death and sadness to the world. Because of me, the people I loved have died. Three weeks after my mother’s death, Ileft Geneva. I was going to study at the great German University of Heidelburg.
9

In the morning, I said goodbye to my father, to Elizabeth and to my little brother, William.

I spent my lastevening in Geneva with my friend, Henry Clerval. ‘You are lucky, Victor,’ Henry said. ‘I wish I was going with you. But my father wants me to work in the family business. You will become a doctor orprofessor. Your work will be known all over the world.’ ‘We shall always be friends, Henry,’ I told him. ‘I shall see you soon. We shall be together again in the holidays.’ ‘Write to me soon, Victor,’...