Question

Read this line from Frankenstein: If, . . . my father had taken the pains to explain to me that the principles of Agrippa had been entirely exploded and that . . . the powers of [Agrippa] were chimerical, . . . I should certainly have thrown Agrippa aside. . . A chimera is a deception or fantasy of the mind. Why does the author use the word chimerical here?

Answer 1

The author Mary Shelley use the word chimerical in that line because she said that the powers of Cornelius Agrippa were improbable and because she wanted to say this in a fancy way. 

Hope this Helps :)

BTW, Mary Shelley is the author of Frankenstein <span />

Answer 2

She said that the powers of Cornelius Agrippa were improbable and because she wanted to say this in a nice and fancy way.