Yet one duty remained to me, the recollection of which finally triumphed over my selfish despair. It was necessary that I should return without delay to Geneva, there to watch over the lives of those I so fondly loved and to lie in wait for the murderer.
Chapter 21 · Victor Frankenstein
Context
Despite suicidal despair, Victor resolves to return to Geneva to protect his remaining family and kill the creature if given the chance.
Analysis
The phrase 'selfish despair' is a moment of surprising self-awareness—Victor admits his suicidal wishes are selfish—but this admission is immediately subordinated to 'duty,' allowing him to reframe continued life as virtuous rather than necessary. 'Lie in wait' borrows the language of hunting or ambush, repositioning Victor from victim to predator. Yet the reversal feels hollow because it remains conditional: 'if any chance led me' keeps him passive, waiting for opportunity rather than creating it.
Essay Tip
Support a thesis that Victor's turn toward revenge is less a genuine transformation than a new form of passivity—he vows to 'lie in wait,' continuing to depend on chance and circumstance rather than decisive action.