"He had vowed to be with me on my wedding-night... Elizabeth alone had the power to draw me from these fits; her gentle voice would soothe me when transported by passion and inspire me with human feelings when sunk in torpor." pg 180-1
Victor feels Elizabeth is the only left source of happiness in his life. Foreshadowing her death, the only thing capable of keeping Victor sane was his companionship with Elizabeth. I just wanted them to get married already and every time I read into hope, the dumb monster came and tore it all away! Shelley creates the monster in part to accentuate and symbolize pure benevolence in his younger days, before he had experienced true rejection and heartache, and later, the malevalence found in souls who thirst for love. Frankenstein has this passion with Elizabeth and that dumb monster envies it. So what does he do? Strangles her to death on their wedding night. Thanks a lot for a happy ending to a happy story Shelley!!!!
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Man and his Creator
"Remember that I am thy Creature; I ought to be thy Adam, but I am rather the fallen angel, whom thou drivest from joy for no misdeed." pg 95
"Like Adam, I was apparently united by no link to any other being in existence; but his state was far different from mine in every other aspect." pg 124
"...no Eve soothed my sorrows nor shared my thoughts; I was alone. I remembered Adam's supplication to his Creator. But where was mine? He had abandoned me and in the bitterness of my heart I cursed him." pg. 125-6
As references appear sporadically in the novel relating Creature to the biblical Adam and Frankenstein to God the Creator, I ultimately realized Creature's view of Victor. He saw him as the only person who might give any bit of consolation to the exiled life he lived. Shelley incorporates biblical allusions into the story to call to mind possible faith questions. Creature relates himself to Adam for several reasons. He was made the only being of his kind with no mate to share in his struggles. He sees Victor as the only person readily able to create him a companion, just as God alone could create a companion for Adam. Also, Adam was abandoned and exiled by his Creator based on shame of the created. God punished Adam for sinning; Victor unknowingly punished Creature for being so terribly frightening.
"Like Adam, I was apparently united by no link to any other being in existence; but his state was far different from mine in every other aspect." pg 124
"...no Eve soothed my sorrows nor shared my thoughts; I was alone. I remembered Adam's supplication to his Creator. But where was mine? He had abandoned me and in the bitterness of my heart I cursed him." pg. 125-6
As references appear sporadically in the novel relating Creature to the biblical Adam and Frankenstein to God the Creator, I ultimately realized Creature's view of Victor. He saw him as the only person who might give any bit of consolation to the exiled life he lived. Shelley incorporates biblical allusions into the story to call to mind possible faith questions. Creature relates himself to Adam for several reasons. He was made the only being of his kind with no mate to share in his struggles. He sees Victor as the only person readily able to create him a companion, just as God alone could create a companion for Adam. Also, Adam was abandoned and exiled by his Creator based on shame of the created. God punished Adam for sinning; Victor unknowingly punished Creature for being so terribly frightening.
Safie
"... I beheld a countenance of angelic beauty and expression... Felix seemed ravished with delight when he saw her, every trait of sorrow vanished from his face, and it instantly expressed a degree of ecstatic joy..." pg 112
Safie, in her foreign beauty, serves as an important character in the formation of Creature's tale and development. For one, as indicated by the quote, she is the sole link to Felix's absent happiness. Creature quickly picks up on the fact that once Safie arrived, the attitude and atmosphere of the family changed. In his young brain, this appearance of a woman starts him on a notion: If Frankenstein creates a woman for him, he'd have someone to love and appreciate him in all his ugliness. Safie gives the monster a glimpse of love between she and Felix; furthermore, Creature decides a female version of himself would bestow upon him this love.
Safie also gives monster a way for learning the French language since Felix had to teach her; he could learn quicker than Safie.
Safie, in her foreign beauty, serves as an important character in the formation of Creature's tale and development. For one, as indicated by the quote, she is the sole link to Felix's absent happiness. Creature quickly picks up on the fact that once Safie arrived, the attitude and atmosphere of the family changed. In his young brain, this appearance of a woman starts him on a notion: If Frankenstein creates a woman for him, he'd have someone to love and appreciate him in all his ugliness. Safie gives the monster a glimpse of love between she and Felix; furthermore, Creature decides a female version of himself would bestow upon him this love.
Safie also gives monster a way for learning the French language since Felix had to teach her; he could learn quicker than Safie.
Human Error
"Shall I respect man when he contemns me? Let him live with me in the interchange of kindness, and instead of injury I would bestow every benefit upon him with tears of gratitude at his acceptance. But that cannot be; the human senses are insurmountable barriers to our union." pg 138
In the middle of the novel, Creature conveys through his story a major theme: the need of human acceptance and love. I am entranced at the deep thought and truth in this quote. Creature talks of how he has been shunned from all of society, an outcast based on prejudices. He longs for a companion or any glimpse of kindness from a human being. The hatred which shuns Creature based on his homely and frightening appearance is the barrier which Shelley deduces blocks union from the abnormal outcasts to the rest of society.
I feel like so many themes we've studied have been centered around the crucial reliance on a friend or acceptance or love of others- O'Brien searched for answers to deep questions long after the war, Phoenix Jackson attached herself to the memory of her grandson for companionship, the little old lady found pleasure in watching the scenes of the park with her little fur friend. All in all, authors have introduced us to characters whom suffer what we suffer- loss, fallout of friends, death of loved ones.
In the middle of the novel, Creature conveys through his story a major theme: the need of human acceptance and love. I am entranced at the deep thought and truth in this quote. Creature talks of how he has been shunned from all of society, an outcast based on prejudices. He longs for a companion or any glimpse of kindness from a human being. The hatred which shuns Creature based on his homely and frightening appearance is the barrier which Shelley deduces blocks union from the abnormal outcasts to the rest of society.
I feel like so many themes we've studied have been centered around the crucial reliance on a friend or acceptance or love of others- O'Brien searched for answers to deep questions long after the war, Phoenix Jackson attached herself to the memory of her grandson for companionship, the little old lady found pleasure in watching the scenes of the park with her little fur friend. All in all, authors have introduced us to characters whom suffer what we suffer- loss, fallout of friends, death of loved ones.
2 Pi
"Once my fancy was soothed with dreams of virtue, of fame, and of enjoyment. Once I falsely hoped to meet with beings who pardoning my outward form, would love me for the excellent qualities which I was capable of unfolding." pg. 209
Before the slightly disturbing suicide of Frankenstein, Victor relays to Walton his main point in telling him this story. Victor imposes the goals and aspirations which he once had to delve into a place no one has been before. In doing this, utter destruction and devastation followed him around like a grey cloud. He could never escape the haunting presence of the monster he created. In telling this story, his woes, his nightmares, Victor
speaks directly to R. Walton in hopes of altering his mindset. The story, in its frame story style, takes us completely full circle in understanding where and why Victor adamantly works to pry Walton from his obsession 2 Pi= full circle, eh? eh?) Walton, like Victor, wishes to discover what no human ever has. Victor Frankenstein tries desperately to defer Walton's obsession with finding a passage through the North Pole because he knows how his seemingly pointless ambitions paved the way for the most desperate life. Almost as if a last ditch attempt, he dives from the cabin window of the ship in front of Walton. If this doesn't prove to Walton his aspirations might be a little too lofty, I don't know what is!
Before the slightly disturbing suicide of Frankenstein, Victor relays to Walton his main point in telling him this story. Victor imposes the goals and aspirations which he once had to delve into a place no one has been before. In doing this, utter destruction and devastation followed him around like a grey cloud. He could never escape the haunting presence of the monster he created. In telling this story, his woes, his nightmares, Victor
speaks directly to R. Walton in hopes of altering his mindset. The story, in its frame story style, takes us completely full circle in understanding where and why Victor adamantly works to pry Walton from his obsession 2 Pi= full circle, eh? eh?) Walton, like Victor, wishes to discover what no human ever has. Victor Frankenstein tries desperately to defer Walton's obsession with finding a passage through the North Pole because he knows how his seemingly pointless ambitions paved the way for the most desperate life. Almost as if a last ditch attempt, he dives from the cabin window of the ship in front of Walton. If this doesn't prove to Walton his aspirations might be a little too lofty, I don't know what is!
Thursday, April 14, 2011
It's ALIVE! And IT TALKS!
"It is with considerable difficulty that I remember the orignial ear of my being; all the events of that period appear confused and indistinct." pg. 98 Creature reflects on the first hours and days of his life beginning in Chapter 11. The shift in narrators adds to the frame story style in such a way that we once again see the story in another light. As Frankenstein educates Walton on his inevitable destruction if he continues down the "discovery" path he purues, he incorporates Creature's words. The whole chapter is based on Creature's adjusting to the busling, bright, and loud world around him without a companion on whom he could rely. It is in this chapter that we as readers send sympathy to Creature.
I found it semi-ironic that Creature spoke so distinctly and refined after living months on his own and having been made from NOTHING! In that aspect, I'll admit I was disturbed. I expected him to be this wollering mass of giant stature stomping around make cavemen grunts... nope. Disappointed as I was to find this not the case, I am glad Creature's intellect adds to the plot and drama of the story.
Justine vs. Justice
"I commit my cause to the justice of my judges, yet I see no room for hope. I beg permission to have a few witnesses examined concerning my character, and if their testimony shall not overweigh my supposed guilt, I must be condemned, although I would pledge my salvation on my innocence." pg. 80 First off, thank you once again timeless and classic literature for bestowing upon your reader the most depressing of circumstances which students are prompted to read for English classes!! I felt so much sympathy for these fictional characters upon reading of William's death that I felt as if I needed to protect my own little brother! His death, preceded by his mother's, hints at the misery and misfortunes Frankenstein alludes to throughout the story. Based on the time period, I wondered briefly if Justine's being a woman had anything to do with her condemnation, but soon reflected upon all the evidence against her. She didn't stand a chance, especially when Victor sat silently fuming thinking he knew the utmost truth about the real murderer. His loathing of the monster only fueled events in chapters to come... dun dun dunnn!
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