Ireland has significance in Frankenstein as it is where Victor Frankenstein washes up to shore after destroying the female creature, he was working on in the Orkney Islands. Upon his arrival, Frankenstein is accused of murdering his friend, unbeknownst to the town folk, Clerval. Victor spends his time in a jail cell, in relative comfort, while he is constantly struggling with feverish guilt of the passing of his best friend Clerval and his brother William. Here is where Frankenstein continues to toil with his grievances of creating the creature, and how damned he truly is. While he seemingly rots away in madness, a visitor appears, where he hastily tells them to leave, where Frankenstein then discovers his father had come to see him. Frankenstein is eventually acquitted of all murder charges thanks to his father; however, this freedom does not relieve Frankenstein's conscience as he still feels to blame for Clerval's demise. A man can be heard saying as Frankenstein and his senior leave the prison, " He may be innocent of the murder; however, he certainly has a bad conscience!", which is almost a note to proof of his madness. 

Ireland was going through a lot around this time, as the end of the Napoleonic wars and the Act of Union which was signed in 1801, which made Ireland part of the United Kingdom. It was at this time Ireland was meant to be partners, but eventually the United Kingdom viewed Ireland as a resource and more of a colony instead of its own standing country. Mary Shelley was known to highlight themes of unjust and abuse of power, which makes sense as to why she would use this as a pivotal moment where Victor Frankenstein not only faces the mental anguish of losing his best friend, but also the public trials that follow suit.

“Act of Union.” Encyclopaedia Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, 1 Jan. 1801, www.britannica.com/event/Act-of-Union-United-Kingdom-1801. Accessed 30 Sept. 2025.

Kay, Sean. “Social, Economic, and Cultural Life in the 17th and 18th Centuries.” Encyclopaedia Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, 29 Sept. 2025, www.britannica.com/place/Ireland/Social-economic-and-cultural-life-in-the-17th-and-18th-centuries. Accessed 30 Sept. 2025.

Dunluce Castle -Northern Ireland Coast

Photo is of Castle Dunluce, which resides in the Northern Ireland Coast. 

Iain. Old Medieval Ruins of Dunluce Castle on Ocean Coast in Northern Ireland (Free Stock Photo). Pexels, 2025, www.pexels.com/photo/old-medieval-ruins-of-dunluce-castle-on-ocean-coast-in-northern-ireland-famous-place-in-uk-2350366/. Accessed 30 Sept. 2025.