a shout of tumultuous joy
Although there are shrieks of fear or anger here and there across this
novel's landscape, this is the only shout heard in
Frankenstein. The intense silence of the novel, indeed, is a
remarkable stylistic achievement. The noisy enthuasiasm of the sailors
may remind us of Victor's recent recollection of how the Greek soldiers
wept for joy upon reencountering the sea when they returned from Persia
(3.7.6).
The naturalness of the mariners' response stands in paradoxical contrast
with Victor's sense of transcendental empowerment. It is little wonder
that he should be awakened from his sleep by the threat simple humanity
poses against his aims.
