Mont Saleve

In Frankenstein, the creature finds refuge in the hills where it runs to after killing William, as the creature climbs near perpendicular walls of mountain to escape after. This is a pivotal moment in the book, as the creature is looking for comfort in the innocence of a child, left feeling rejected and abandoned again, when William exclaims at it hideousness. The steepness and vastness of the mountains wall's is shown accentuate the largeness of the creature, and how its physical strength is so unhuman, as it has the ability to scale the mountain in mere moments. Victor can be seen reflecting, "Who could arrest a creature capable of scaling the overhanging sides of Mont Saleve? These reflections determined me, and I resolved to remain silent. ", where he feels hopeless at the creature's strength, and that if he were to announce such things, would be deemed mad and insane. Victor continues to suffer silently, comparing the mountains beauty and sheer terror in its vastness. I think this does a great job showing how the creature is formidable like Mont Saleve, a creation of God that can be beautiful but also terrifying. 

Also in the text, Victor finds himself reveling in his last known happy moments, which were with Elizabeth after their wedding ended, and they traveled by boat seeing sights like Mont Saleve. I feel that this specific mountain, known for its sheer magnitude (which stands at an elevation of 4,524 ft), is an encompassing reference to the creature.

“Mont Salève.” Switzerland Tourism – MySwitzerland, Switzerland Tourism, www.myswitzerland.com/en-us/experiences/mont-saleve/. Accessed 30 Sept. 2025.

 

View of Mont Saleve

View from Mont Saleve

Images from Gallery on https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-us/experiences/mont-saleve/

Coordinates

Latitude: 46.094167000000
Longitude: 6.140278000000