Frankenstein #5

"He expressed a sorrowful delight to see me. 'Welcome, my dearest Victor,' said he" (Shelley, 51).

In the above excerpt, Shelley employs a paradox and inverted syntax to reflect the bittersweet reunion of Victor with his family. This reunion was scarred greatly by the concurrent murder of the youngest Frankenstein son, William. Mr. Frankenstein's "sorrowful delight" alludes to his relief in finally seeing his son, about whom he and his family had worried for a long time while Victor was ill. However, this relieve cannot diminish the sorrow that the murder of his youngest son has caused. The subtle inversion of syntax in the second sentence also complements Shelley's paradoxical language. This tool further exposes the imperfectness of Victor's arrival which was significantly marred, denying the blissful reunion that may have been expected.