Keyword Guide · study-guide-general
High school and college literature students often hunt for this specific Frankenstein plot point for quizzes, essays, or discussion prep. Victor’s choice to destroy the female creature drives major later events in the novel. This guide gives you the exact chapter, plus structured study tools to build analysis from it.
In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Victor destroys the incomplete female creature in Chapter 20. This decision stems from his fear of the pair’s potential to harm humanity and his guilt over the violence his original creature has already caused. Jot this chapter number in your class notes immediately to reference for quizzes or discussions.
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Victor’s destruction of the female creature is a pivotal plot turn in Frankenstein. It represents his rejection of responsibility for his creation, and it triggers the creature’s vow for revenge. The act occurs when Victor breaks his promise to build a companion for his first creation.
Next step: Cross-reference this chapter number with your class reading schedule to flag key quotes or events to highlight in discussion.
Action: Locate the exact section in Frankenstein Chapter 20 where Victor destroys the female creature
Output: A highlighted passage and 1-sentence note on the immediate lead-up to the act
Action: Connect the act to 2 prior events in the novel (e.g., the creature’s request, William’s murder)
Output: A 2-sentence cause-and-effect breakdown for your study notes
Action: Link the moment to 1 real-world parallel (e.g., ethical debates about scientific experimentation)
Output: A 1-sentence connection to use in class discussion or essay analysis
Essay Builder
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Action: Confirm the chapter number using your class edition of Frankenstein (different editions may have minor chapter number variations, so cross-check with your teacher’s assigned text)
Output: A verified chapter number marked in your textbook or digital reading
Action: Analyze the scene by identifying Victor’s internal thoughts and external actions leading up to the destruction
Output: A 3-bullet point breakdown of cause, action, and immediate result
Action: Connect the scene to broader novel themes by linking Victor’s choice to prior events and future consequences
Output: A 1-paragraph analysis that ties the act to 2 core themes
Teacher looks for: Correct identification of the chapter where Victor destroys the female creature, with awareness of potential edition variations
How to meet it: Cite your assigned textbook’s chapter number, and add a 1-sentence note if your edition differs from standard versions
Teacher looks for: Clear links between the act and 2 or more of the novel’s core themes (e.g., hubris, accountability, isolation)
How to meet it: Use specific plot details from Chapter 20 to support each thematic link, rather than making general claims
Teacher looks for: Nuanced understanding of Victor’s mixed motivations, not just a single superficial reason
How to meet it: List 2 competing motivations (e.g., fear of violence and. guilt for past harm) and explain how they collide in Chapter 20
Before Chapter 20, the creature has convinced Victor to build a female companion, promising to leave humanity forever once paired. Victor agrees out of guilt, but as he works, he worries the pair will reproduce or become violent toward humans. Use this before class to contextualize the scene for group discussion. Write 1 sentence summarizing this lead-up to share with your peers.
The creature witnesses Victor destroying his companion and swears to take revenge by targeting Victor’s remaining loved ones. This vow sets up the novel’s tragic final acts, including the deaths of key characters. Use this before essay drafts to anchor your analysis of cause and effect. Circle 1 consequence to focus on in your thesis statement.
This scene highlights the novel’s critique of scientific ambition without responsibility. Victor creates life recklessly, then abandons his creation, and finally breaks his promise to provide companionship—all to avoid facing the results of his actions. Use this before exam prep to link the scene to 2 core themes. Make flashcards for each theme with a Chapter 20 example.
Victor condemns the creature’s violence, but he himself destroys a defenseless, incomplete being without giving it a chance to exist. He prioritizes his own safety and reputation over the creature’s right to companionship. Use this before class discussion to challenge your peers’ views of Victor. Prepare 1 question asking if Victor’s choice is ever justifiable.
Scholars often note that the female creature has no voice or agency in the novel—she is destroyed before she can speak or act. This reflects 19th-century societal views of women as passive objects of male control. Use this before essay drafts to add a contextual lens to your analysis. Research 1 short critical quote about the female creature to include in your introduction.
Professors often test students on this chapter because it drives so much of the novel’s final action. Common quiz questions ask for the chapter number, Victor’s motivations, and the creature’s reaction. Use this before quizzes to self-test with the exam kit’s self-test questions. Write down your answers and cross-check them with your notes.
In most standard editions of Frankenstein, Victor destroys the incomplete female creature in Chapter 20. Always confirm with your class-assigned text, as some editions have minor chapter number variations.
Victor destroys the female creature out of fear that she and the original creature will reproduce, causing widespread harm, and guilt over the violence his first creation has already inflicted on his loved ones.
The creature witnesses the destruction and swears revenge on Victor, leading to the deaths of several of Victor’s remaining family members and friends in the novel’s final acts.
No, the female creature is never fully completed or brought to life. Victor destroys her while she is still an unfinished, inanimate form.
Editorial note: This page is independently written for educational support. Verify specifics with assigned class materials and the original text.
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