Westmorland (also spelled Westmoreland in older texts) is located in the Northwestern part of England, and as of 1974 (along with Cumberland), it has merged with Cumbria. It was smaller than Cumberland and sat between the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales. Like Cumberland, it was a less Urban area and esteemed for its valleys, lakes, and pastoral mountains. Also, for many readers, writers, and poets during Shelly’s time, it was linked to the Romantic movement. Poets like Wordsworth—who lived and spent most of his time in the Lake District—also celebrated its beauty and was inspired to write by its scenery.

Shelley may have included the strikingly beautiful location into her writing to give the readers something to relate to. Many readers during Shelley’s time recognized how beautiful the Lake District is. By noting that Victor would have stopped here is realistic in itself, but it is also realistic because of how the chapter notes his personal growth (or lack thereof) while visiting here. Shelley includes this location to not only homage to the Romantic cultural landscape, but also to contrast with how alienated Victor feels from the rest of society. It leaves readers wondering if Shelley added this to critique the Romantic notion that nature can heal. Her bold characterization of Victor Frankenstein as someone who is, “too far gone to be saved,” adds an interesting layer that proposes credibly taboo topics for this time period.

In comparison, Shelley including Westmorland is interesting because there is not a direct genocide associated with this setting. Westmorland was a very sparsely populated, rural county that was esteemed for beauty and tranquility. However, this does not mean that it was completely safe from violence at its border. Along its borders, there were constant wars between England and Scotland that saw raids and bloodshed. Westmorland also supplied resources and soldiers to Britain during its time of colonial expansion which could also be a reason for Shelley put it in her novel as one of the places Victor decided to visit here. On the outside, traveling to Westmorland was relatable and realistic for many readers because it was a cultural staple. On the other hand, it poses a deeper question that allows the audience to ask if she included this to suggest that Victor, while being content and serene in the moment, can not achieve peace in nature because of his external turmoil.

https://www.lancs.live/news/local-news/westmorland-former-county-extensive-history-23314258

https://www.lookandlearn.com/blog/21458/westmorland-the-cradle-of-english-romanticism/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westmorland