Natural philosophy is the genius that has regulated my fate; I desire, therefore, in this narration, to state those facts which led to my predilection for that science.
Chapter 2 · Victor Frankenstein
Context
Victor introduces the subject of natural philosophy (early science) as the central force that has shaped his life, preparing to explain how he became interested in it.
Analysis
By personifying natural philosophy as a 'genius'—an external spirit controlling his fate—Victor deflects responsibility for his choices onto an abstract force. The passive construction 'has regulated' further removes his own agency, as if he were merely destiny's instrument rather than an active decision-maker, subtly setting up the excuse-making that runs through his entire narrative.
Essay Tip
Use this to argue that Victor's narration is unreliable because he consistently rewrites his own agency as fate—here he frames his interest in science as something that happened to him, evading accountability for the obsessive pursuit that followed.