a fit of enthusiastic madness
Although one of the definitions in Johnson's Dictionary describes
the substantive of this word as "any violent affection of mind or
body," in general the connotation emphasized is the temporary state of the
affliction. In contrast, Victor's enthusiastic obsession was years
in its gestation, and it was succeeded by another, more lethal obsession
with the destruction of the being he created. In other words, though the
madness he admits to may have taken several forms, it has been
unremitting since he entered upon his studies at the University of
Ingolstadt. As Victor's diction appears to mitigate its force, it
suggests
that even now, in his final assessment, he is unwilling fully to engage
his own culpability.
