“I entered with the greatest diligence into the search of the philosopher’s stone and the elixir of life” (p.21). The philosopher’s stone and the elixir of life are both legendary substances and (as Shelley knows), by the nineteenth century, both started to become recognized as unrealistic. The stone would supposedly be capable of turning any metal to pure gold, making anyone instantly rich. The elixir of life, thought to be a liquid that you drink, supposedly would give the drinker eternal life or youth. Both of these substances have been sought-after by many alchemists, but it is very unlikely that anyone has ever owned one of them. The author includes these objects in the area that first interests Frankenstein. From the very beginning the reader is accustomed to Victor's innovative mind.
“The Philosopher’s Stone.” Crystalinks. 30 Aug. 2009. http://www.crystalinks.com/philosopherstone.html
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I like how you point out that it is "from the beginning"
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