"I often referred the several situations, as their similarity struck me to my own. Like Adam, I was apparently united by no link to any other being in existence; but his state was far differentfrom mine in every other respect." page 124
This brings up an intresting form of allusion and comparision. The story of Adam and Eve is very well known. Evryone knows the story but if you look closely there really are a lot of similaritites to the story of Frankenstein. This also brings religion into the picture. the creature is different from Adam becaue he is not loved by his creator and he is not as perfectly made as adam. This shows how Victor failed in his attempt in playing God and in doing so made an immoral sin that resulted in the creature suffering. The story is also were the creature may have gotten the idea that he wanted a lady friend. He saw that God made Adam a lady and he didn't want to be lonely either. THe stories parallel each other very well but show that human actions can not compare to God's actions.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
The Conclusion
"Farewell! I leave you, and in you the last of humankind whome these eyes will ever behold. Farewell, Frankenstein!" page 211
THis was a rather anitclimatic ending in a way. Everyone in Victor's life is dead and the monster plans to kill himself. Fortunately for me I'm one of those people who enjoy these types of endings. It was sad yet taught alot about human nature. We may be filled with anger and seek revenge but when we see the effects of our wrong doings we are remorseful. (If only the monster would have realized this before he killed everyone..). We also learn that our hateful actions will come back around to us. Both Victor and the monster realize that it was because of their own hate that so many people died. I think it would have been really interesting if the story would have gone in a different way. FOr example, if Frankenstien would have created the monster a lady friend. He mentions that he worries they will have children etc. I think that could have made a pretty good sequal.
THis was a rather anitclimatic ending in a way. Everyone in Victor's life is dead and the monster plans to kill himself. Fortunately for me I'm one of those people who enjoy these types of endings. It was sad yet taught alot about human nature. We may be filled with anger and seek revenge but when we see the effects of our wrong doings we are remorseful. (If only the monster would have realized this before he killed everyone..). We also learn that our hateful actions will come back around to us. Both Victor and the monster realize that it was because of their own hate that so many people died. I think it would have been really interesting if the story would have gone in a different way. FOr example, if Frankenstien would have created the monster a lady friend. He mentions that he worries they will have children etc. I think that could have made a pretty good sequal.
Parallelism
"Hideouse Monster let me go!" page 136
"Great God who are you!" page 128
Through out the story there is a repeating theme of rejection. THe monster is first rejected by his creator, then the cottagers, then William, then the girl he tried to save. In fact this repeated rejection is what lead him to act appon his hatred for victor. Another theme that is associated with this is that the people fear and hate the creature because of his looks. The reader understands that he only seeks companionship and love. The monster makes a comment when he frames Justine for murder that he learned his evil ways from man. THis is certainly the case. THe monster starts out lost and reaching for his creator and ends up being constanly rejected to the point of hating his life and not caring for the lives around him. Prejeduce and hatred inspire his actions and are the driving force in the story.
"Great God who are you!" page 128
Through out the story there is a repeating theme of rejection. THe monster is first rejected by his creator, then the cottagers, then William, then the girl he tried to save. In fact this repeated rejection is what lead him to act appon his hatred for victor. Another theme that is associated with this is that the people fear and hate the creature because of his looks. The reader understands that he only seeks companionship and love. The monster makes a comment when he frames Justine for murder that he learned his evil ways from man. THis is certainly the case. THe monster starts out lost and reaching for his creator and ends up being constanly rejected to the point of hating his life and not caring for the lives around him. Prejeduce and hatred inspire his actions and are the driving force in the story.
Foreshadowing
"I will revenge my injuries; if I cannot inspire love, I will cause fear, and cheifly towards you my arch enemy, because my creator, do I swear inextinguishable hatred." page 139
All of the Creature's story is told by him to Frankenstien. When he ends his tale with his request for a lady friend he says if Frankenstien fails he will certainly kill everyone he loves and make him as lonely as he is himself. Frankenstein makes a comment to Walton about how he really did kill Henry. This clues in the reader that Victor will fail in making the lady friend and his loved ones will die. While there are brief glimpses of forshadowing through out the story this is the most dramatic because it basically tells us how the next few chapters are going to go. The author uses this technique when the frame story shifts becasue there are over lapping events such as the death of william and finding out who killed him. This made the story more interesting because we know what happens a little bit but we find out the other sides of the story at separate times.
All of the Creature's story is told by him to Frankenstien. When he ends his tale with his request for a lady friend he says if Frankenstien fails he will certainly kill everyone he loves and make him as lonely as he is himself. Frankenstein makes a comment to Walton about how he really did kill Henry. This clues in the reader that Victor will fail in making the lady friend and his loved ones will die. While there are brief glimpses of forshadowing through out the story this is the most dramatic because it basically tells us how the next few chapters are going to go. The author uses this technique when the frame story shifts becasue there are over lapping events such as the death of william and finding out who killed him. This made the story more interesting because we know what happens a little bit but we find out the other sides of the story at separate times.
Irony
"It is true that I am a wretch. I have murdered the lovely and the helpless; I have strangled the Innocent as they slept and grasped to death his throat who never injured me or any other living thing. I have devoted my creator, the seclect specimen of all that is Worthy of my love and admiration"
WHAT!!? This whole time the monster has been devoted to revenge. He sought out Victor and killed his loved ones. It was completely unexpected to find him weeping over Victor's dead body. I think this further goes to show the human-like emotions that the creaute portrayed in the beginning of the novel. We see that the creature feels guilt. Through out the story, the monster struggles with lack of purpose and social interaction. He finds purpose when he seeks revenge on Victor. But in the end he is horrified with what he has done and despises his life. This is another form of ironic doubling because Victor died hating what he had done. This was an ironic twist of events that really shows the truth about the monster and humanity as a whole in his response.
WHAT!!? This whole time the monster has been devoted to revenge. He sought out Victor and killed his loved ones. It was completely unexpected to find him weeping over Victor's dead body. I think this further goes to show the human-like emotions that the creaute portrayed in the beginning of the novel. We see that the creature feels guilt. Through out the story, the monster struggles with lack of purpose and social interaction. He finds purpose when he seeks revenge on Victor. But in the end he is horrified with what he has done and despises his life. This is another form of ironic doubling because Victor died hating what he had done. This was an ironic twist of events that really shows the truth about the monster and humanity as a whole in his response.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Splice
There is a movie that has just come out in the past year called "Splice". In this movie, two scientists create a kind of clone out of genetic studies etc. When the clone is first created, they are disgusted and scared of their creation. They don't fully comprehend what they have created and if they even should have. Through the story there is a debate over weather this is moral or not. In the end the clone kills them all (sorry spoiler). This story is very similar to Frankenstien. HE is disgusted with his creation. Weather it be over morals or appearance, it is unsure. (another spoiler!) ALso similar is that Frankenstiens creation kills his loved ones. The Splice movie was like a modern day Frankenstien with some really weird sci-fi twists. In both stories the scientists feel responible for their creations. This is a theme of the book.
Monster!!!
If you were to ask anyone who has not read the oringinal verion of Frankenstien, they would 1. say Frankenstien is the monster not the doctor and B. Say that Frankenstien is an angry terrifying monster! However, us wise scholars who have indulged in the REAL story have discovered that the "monster" may very well be gentel in nature. Frankenstien is not an mad scientist in the ways that movies deplict him. However he is obsessive with his work. There is no flash of lightening and rejoicing from Frankenstien. In fact Frankenstien is immediately disgusted by his creation. It is odd how media and Hollywood always distorts the true story to please the audience. However they miss out on all the themes of the story and the lessons it teaches of human nature. On another note, I think its really sad that Frankenstien instanly rejects his creation. I automatically thought of a small child looking to its parents and being turned away because they are ugly or the parent decied they were a bad idea after all. poor creature thing :(
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