Frankenstein 2

• “My father looked carelessly at the title page of my book, and said, “Ah! Cornelius Agrippa! My dear Victor, do not waste your time upon this; it is sad trash.”” (p. 34)

Cornelius Agrippa was a German magician, occult writer, theologian, astrologer, and alchemist. Agrippa wrote a masterpiece, De occulta philosophia libri tres, regarding his occult thought (supernatural practices and techniques). In this excerpt, Shelley intends for Victor's father to think that Victors interest in Agrippa’s work is foolish because occult philosophy and practicing magic seem absurd.

(Works Cited)
"Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa." Absolute Astronomy. Web. 31 July 2009. http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Heinrich_Cornelius_Agrippa#encyclopedia.

(Photo Credit)

Photograph. Cornelius Agrippa. Web. 13 Sept. 2009. http://www.katinkahesselink.net/his/agrippa.html.