Victor Frankenstein and his father finished their voyage (a long journey by ship). They traveled to Paris. Victor Frankenstein was very weak and tired. He needed to rest before he went home to Geneva.
His father was very kind to him. But his father did not know why Victor Frankenstein was sad. His father wanted Victor Frankenstein to meet new people. But Victor Frankenstein did not want to see anyone. He felt like a murderer.
Victor Frankenstein felt that he brought death to the world. He created the monster. Now the monster killed his friends and family. Victor Frankenstein thought other people would hate him if they knew his secret.
Victor Frankenstein’s father tried to help him. He thought Victor Frankenstein was sad about the trial in Ireland. Victor Frankenstein told his father that he was the murderer. He said that William, Justine, and Henry Clerval died because of him.
Victor Frankenstein’s father was very surprised. He thought Victor Frankenstein was still sick in his mind. He thought Victor Frankenstein had a delirium (a state of mind where you see or say strange things because you are sick). Victor Frankenstein did not explain the monster.
Victor Frankenstein stayed silent because he did not want people to think he was mad. He wanted to tell the truth. But he was afraid of the horror of the story. He felt a great weight on his heart.
Victor Frankenstein became a little calmer as time passed. He did not talk about his crimes again. He tried to act normal for his father. A few days before they left Paris, Victor Frankenstein received a letter from Elizabeth Lavenza.
In the letter, Elizabeth Lavenza said she was happy that Victor Frankenstein was in Paris. She was worried about his health. She also asked a very important question. She asked if Victor Frankenstein loved another woman.
Elizabeth Lavenza knew that their parents wanted them to marry. They were friends since they were children. But she did not want Victor Frankenstein to marry her because of a promise. She wanted him to be happy.
Elizabeth Lavenza told him that she loved him. She wanted to be his wife. But she said she would be miserable if he did not choose her freely. She told him to be honest with her.
Victor Frankenstein read the letter. He remembered the monster’s threat. The monster said, “I will be with you on your wedding-night!” Victor Frankenstein thought the monster wanted to kill him on that night.
Victor Frankenstein thought a big fight would happen. If the monster killed him, Victor Frankenstein would finally be at peace. But if he killed the monster, he would be a free man. He decided to marry Elizabeth Lavenza.
Victor Frankenstein wrote a letter back to Elizabeth Lavenza. He said that he loved her. He said he had one terrible secret. He promised to tell her the secret the day after the wedding.
Victor Frankenstein and his father arrived in Geneva one week later. Elizabeth Lavenza was very happy to see him. But she saw that Victor Frankenstein was very thin. He still looked very sick.
Elizabeth Lavenza was also different now. She was thinner and she did not laugh as much. But she was very gentle with Victor Frankenstein. She was the only person who could make him feel better.
Victor Frankenstein’s father wanted the wedding to happen immediately. Victor Frankenstein agreed. He wanted to make Elizabeth Lavenza happy. They decided the wedding would be in ten days.
Victor Frankenstein was very afraid of the monster’s threat. But he was also confused. He thought the monster only wanted to kill him. He did not think the monster would hurt Elizabeth Lavenza.
Victor Frankenstein prepared to fight. He always carried pistols (small guns) and a knife. He watched every shadow. He thought he was ready for the monster.
The day of the wedding arrived. Victor Frankenstein and Elizabeth Lavenza got married. There was a big party. Then Victor Frankenstein and Elizabeth Lavenza went on a boat to go to a small house by the lake.
The weather was very beautiful and the sun was hot. They saw the high, snowy mountains. Victor Frankenstein held Elizabeth Lavenza’s hand. He felt happy for a short time.
Elizabeth Lavenza was quiet and a little sad. She looked at the clouds and the fish in the water. She tried to be happy for Victor Frankenstein. She told him that the day was very peaceful.
The sun began to go down behind the mountains. The wind was soft and smelled like flowers. They landed the boat at sunset. Victor Frankenstein felt his fear return. He knew the monster was close.