Chemistry Reference
In-Depth Information
“natural philosophy”, the subject matter is completely dominated by
modern (late eighteenth-century) chemistry (chap. 3). Victor, ready to
revive his former alchemical passion, is at first surprised and disap-
pointed, because he only meets professors who are followers of the new
(Lavoisean) chemistry. The first professor, Kempe, is no less surprised at
Victor's ambition: “Have you […] really spent your time in studying
such nonsense? […] I little expected, in this enlightened and scientific
age, to find a disciple of Albertus Magnus and Paracelsus. My dear sir,
you must begin your studies entirely anew” (p. 32). What Victor dislikes
in this professor, who represents the temporary state of the 'chemical
revolution', is that the “ambition of the inquirer seemed to limit itself to
the annihilation of those visions on which my interest in science was
chiefly founded” (p. 33). A couple of days later in the lecture hall,
Frankenstein is listening to a much more ambitious chemistry professor
(Waldheim), who gives a “panegyric upon modern chemistry”; this is
Victor's initiation as a follower of the new chemistry:
“The ancient teachers of this science,” said he, “promised impossibilities
and performed nothing. The modern masters promise very little; they
know that metals cannot be transmuted and that the elixir of life is a
chimera but these philosophers […] have indeed performed miracles.
They penetrate into the recesses of nature and show how she works in
her hidingplaces […] They have acquired new and almost unlimited
powers.”
Such were the professor's words - rather let me say such the words of
the fate, enounced to destroy me. As he went on I felt as if my soul were
grappling with a palpable enemy; one by one the various keys were
touched which formed the mechanism of my being; chord after chord
was sounded, and soon my mind was filled with one thought, one con-
ception, one purpose. So much has been done, exclaimed the soul of
Frankenstein - more, far more, will I achieve; treading in the steps al-
ready marked, I will pioneer a new way, explore unknown powers, and
unfold to the world the deepest mysteries of creation.
From this day natural philosophy, and particularly chemistry, in the
most comprehensive sense of the term, became nearly my sole occupa-
tion. (pp. 34-36)
swindler 'alchemist'
Balsamo
(1844-46) be a member of the Illuminati and work for
the French Revolution.
