What Happened to Frankenstein at the End of the Novel?

In Mary Shelley's novel "Frankenstein," the protagonist Victor Frankenstein meets his tragic end in the Arctic wilderness. After a relentless pursuit of the Monster he created, Victor succumbs to exhaustion and the harsh elements of the Arctic landscape.

At the conclusion of the novel, Victor's health deteriorates rapidly due to the physical and emotional toll of his pursuit. He becomes weak and frail as he chases the Monster across the Arctic. The harsh conditions of the environment exacerbate his decline, and he eventually collapses from exhaustion. In Chapter 24, Victor describes his state: "But my strength and my courage failed me; I dared not advance, dreading a thousand nameless evils that made me tremble, although I was unable to define them."

In this dire situation, Walton, the Arctic explorer who has been recording Victor's story, finds him near death. In his final moments, Victor shares a warning with Walton about the dangers of unchecked scientific ambition. He expresses his regret for creating the Monster and warns Walton to avoid making the same mistakes.

Victor's death in the Arctic symbolizes the consequences of his ambitious and reckless pursuit of scientific knowledge. His relentless quest for power and the secrets of life ultimately lead to his downfall. The novel's tragic ending serves as a cautionary tale about the potential dangers of scientific exploration without ethical considerations.

In conclusion, at the end of "Frankenstein," Victor Frankenstein dies from exhaustion and the harsh Arctic elements during his pursuit of the Monster. His demise highlights the consequences of his scientific ambitions and underscores the novel's themes of responsibility and the dangers of unchecked scientific experimentation.