The Afterlife of Frankenstein
The Frankenstein myth has produced over 2,600 pieces of derivative work and 100 films. Post-publication it was critiqued but not heavily. William Godwin, an old radical, was dedicatee on the anonymously published work and so association with him garnered rejections from conservative publications. There were questions over aspects of the novel reflecting preoccupations and values of the time. It was praised in some essays. All in kind showed some respect initially. Lawrence published his work and gained notoriety. Through being or fear of being associated with his work Mary Shelley revised her work n 1831 where se removed signs of his ideas. The first play appeared in 1823, Presumption, making three key changes from the novel: Frankenstein's religious remorse, the monster being mute and a comic servant called Fritz. It is a cautionary reading followed by The Demon of Switzerland. Before her own changes had been made, she had lost control over her own plot. Her edits were damage limitation. Conservative writers were interpreting it however they wanted knowing their readers agreed. She cut what The Quarterly wanted removed from Lawrence's work. The novel is the first in the mad-scientist genre. Victor has now become more corrupt. The creature is more sensationalised and dehumanised. Playwrights recognised problems in translating the play. The internal reasonings of Victor
Feminist critic Anne K. Mellor argues that Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is an attack on masculine Romanticism. To what extent do you agree with Mellor's assessment?
Feminist critic Anne K. Mellor argues that Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is an attack on masculine Romanticism. To what extent do you agree with Mellor's assessment? I believe that Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is an attack on the masculine Romanticism, thus, meaning my agreement with Mellor's assessment. In Shelley's novel, the ambitious Romantic hero, Victor Frankenstein, challenges the laws of nature by trying to dominate the role of the females. He attempts to do so by creating artificial life, however, his attempt to tamper with the "ever-varied powers of nature", is then the cause for his "destruction". One interpretation of the novel is that man must keep equilibrium between his ambitious "pursuit of knowledge" and "the tranquility of his domestic affections", not allowing one aspect to "interfere" with another. Shelley structures her novel in a way that Walton's framing tale is used as a warning to the readers who can relate to masculine characteristics, telling them to tame their ambition before it's too late. And through Frankenstein's narrative, Shelley hopes that the readers can "deduce an apt moral" being that over ambition corrupts. The characteristics of a masculine Romantic hero consist of a dominative egocentric personality with huge ambitions to pursue revolutionary ideas. These characteristics are represented in the novel through Walton, and Frankenstein.
Frankenstein. The creature in Frankenstein plays an important role in the novel. Mary Shelly writes good and bad aspects of the creature, that makes the audience sympathise for it
Frankenstein is a Gothic horror novel written in 1816 by Mary Shelly. Shelley had set Frankenstein in the year of 1794 - the turn over of the century - the era of scientific advancements. Mary Shelley describes a portrayal of the monster in Frankenstein and comments on her time throughout her novel. Shelley explores the conflict of science and religion, and uses this idea in her own novel to describe the advancement of science in her time, and how the idea of religion and "playing God" had a significant impact in the book. During the time when Mary Shelley was writing her novel, she was reading a book called "Emile" written by Rousseau. In this book he argues that man's nature is harmless but that men are made evil by society. Men become monsters; by the way they are treated. However, he says that a man abandoned to himself in the midst of other men from birth would be the most disfigured of all. This debate is at the heart of the book: the monster is born good but becomes wicked because people abuse and reject him. Worst of all, his creator Victor Frankenstein refuses to grant him his natural right of freedom, equality and fraternity. The creature in Frankenstein plays an important role in the novel. Mary Shelly writes good and bad aspects of the creature, that makes the audience sympathise for it. The monster was at first described ugly by the creator himself Victor
Shelley uses 'The Modern Prometheus' as a subtitle to the novel. Explore the ways in which the idea of the 'Modern Prometheus' is important to the novel as a whole.
Shelley uses 'The Modern Prometheus' as a subtitle to the novel. Explore the ways in which the idea of the 'Modern Prometheus' is important to the novel as a whole. An allusion to a myth enables the writer to make a point more clearly using fewer words, but in order for this to be successful it is necessary for the reader to have some knowledge about the myth or be interested enough to investigate the background to the reference. Shelley does not just mention Prometheus in passing but uses the 'Modern Prometheus' as a subtitle to her book and therefore it must be of some considerable importance to the themes she is trying to communicate to the reader. However, in order to discover the importance of these ideas it is necessary to explore what Shelley meant by the 'Modern Prometheus'. Historically two different versions of the Prometheus myth were in existence - Greek and Latin. The Greek version shows a rebel who steals fire from the gods to help humanity and is then eternally punished by Zeus. In the Latin version Prometheus creates man from clay and water. It would appear that Shelley may well have had a combined view of both of these versions in mind when using the subtitle to her novel. It is also very likely that she had the comtempory Romantic version of Prometheus in mind when alluding to this myth. Percy Shelley, Mary's husband wrote 'Prometheus Unbound' around the
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[The] juxtaposition of the ghastly and the everyday suggests one of the defining characteristics of the gothic genre, that of the uncanny double, the shadowy world that is the complex underbelly of familiar experience(TM) "L
'[The] juxtaposition of the ghastly and the everyday suggests one of the defining characteristics of the gothic genre, that of the uncanny double, the shadowy world that is the complex underbelly of familiar experience' -Laura Kranzler. Discuss this quote with close reference to Frankenstein. The quote above was found in the introduction to the collection of Gothic Tales by Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell. The introduction goes on to describe the genre of gothic fiction and how each tale individually applies to it. In this introduction and indeed this quote, Laura Kranzler points out, as she says, the 'defining characteristics of the gothic genre...' which include the comparison and contrast of good and evil, and within the comparison there is the discovery of darkness and impurity far beyond what could be found in other genres. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein does not stray far from its gothic genre beginnings. Her use of contrasts and the combination of horror and romance is prototypical of the gothic genre at the time and is present throughout the novel's three volumes. The novel begins with Robert Walton's letters home to his sister; with the opening paragraph dedicated to ensuring her that he is well and that nothing disastrous had yet occurred. This immediately implies that Walton is in possible danger on his journey and sparks the suspense that the reader will carry
Compare and contrast the ways in which Frankenstein and one other Gothic novel explore the meaning of the 'monstrous'.
Compare and contrast the ways in which Frankenstein and one other Gothic novel explore the meaning of the 'monstrous'. Frankenstein and the other novel I have chosen to analyse, Dracula, both contain creatures that can be seen as being monsters. However, both these novels describe and depict the characteristic of being monstrous, although the actual definition of the monstrous varies widely between the various extracts that can be taken, and between the two novels themselves. The monstrous can be perceived to mean a number of things, from simply the supernatural, the intelligence of the characters in question, to the physical appearance of something which is not what is usually expected, and can even be the moral issues that a character experiences. Both Frankenstein and Dracula are creatures which are 'abnormal', unnatural, even supernatural because indeed they do exist, but they technically should not because whereas Frankenstein is made from reanimated flesh, Dracula can take the life-force of another and use it to prolong the life of another which can be considered monstrous since it goes against the natural order of things. This why Jonathan wishes to send Dracula's soul 'for ever and ever into burning hell'; only then will the retribution against Dracula for all the cruelty be achieved. Frankenstein's creature on the other hand does not wish to harm others originally,
In Frankenstein(TM) it is generally accepted that the female characters and their values are presented in direct contrast to the ambitious, self seeking men. Examine the impact of two or more female characters in this appropriate sta
In 'Frankenstein' it is generally accepted that the female characters and their values are presented in direct contrast to the ambitious, self seeking men. Examine the impact of two or more female characters in this appropriate statement. It is generally accepted that the female characters are more passive and submissive to the active and dominant males. Their role is often in the background waiting at home for the male characters to send orders or perhaps tell of their adventure. Such a role is ironic since Mary Shelley's mother, Mary Wollstonecraft, was an active feminist and author of feminist book, 'The Vindication of the Rights of Women'. What is the significance of this irony? Is it possible to parallel some female characters with the male characters? As one of the main female characters Elizabeth is made reference to throughout Victor Frankenstein's narrative. She is self-sacrificing; this characteristic emerges in the passion to prove Justine innocent despite the humiliation she may face, 'If she is condemned, I never shall know joy more...' Her efforts to aid Justine are admirable in contrast to the lack of effort from Victor despite the reader's knowledge of his ability to provide evidence to free Justine. This contrast can be seen as feminist by some critics since Elizabeth has the courage to humiliate herself in order to save Justine where the male character
How does Shelly portray the creature through her narrative?
How does Shelly portray the creature through his narrative? As the Creature tells his story of his ‘childhood’ in chapters 11 to 16 the pre-conceptions of the creature are challenged. It is the first time the Creature tells his story and immediately it is apparent of the humanistic features he beholds. “It is with considerable difficulty that I remember the original era of my being.” The simple statement proves how far physically and emotional he has come; physically his language has advanced compared to chapter 5 when he speaks “inarticulate sounds.” Emotionally he is not spiteful of the “birth.” His innocence is portrayed through the 11th chapter as the reader experiences the sensations and understanding the world as the creature does. “I felt cold also, and half frightened.” Shelly is creating a sense of empathy for the creature. When the Creature finds the De Lacy’s cottage there is evidence that he has feelings as he feels sympathy for the girl who has “enticed my life.” This furthermore shows his understanding of emotions because even though he can not tell why she is upset he still feels the “kindness and affection.” He learns of human morals, and feels guilty because he “inflicted pain of the cottagers” for taking their food in the night. Instead he finds other food and helps them in their “labours” by bringing their firewood. In
Themes in Frankenstein
From our reading so far I can identify many themes within the novel which I will now explore and analyse in this essay. Possibly the most powerful theme shown in Volume One is the dangerous pursuit of knowledge and the possible moral consequences of ambition. From the day we first meet Victor we learn that he is an obvious over-reacher and will attempt to surge beyond any regular human limits to access the secret of life. Through Victor and his ruthless ambition Shelley makes it clear that she believes knowledge such as the type of which Victor is enthralled in can lead to no good and that it soon becomes destructive when uncontrolled. Although, not only Victor is affected by this theme, Walton too succumbs to his uncontrollable passion, saying this though; it is Victor whose obsession is bizarrely intense. “I collected bones from charnel-houses and disturbed, with profane fingers, the tremendous secrets of the human frame. In a solitary chamber, or rather cell, at the top of the house, and separated from all the other apartments by a gallery and staircase, I kept my workshop of filthy creation: my eyeballs were starting from their sockets in attending to the details of my employment,” it is during these lines where his obsession grows immensely. In fact Victor is so deeply engrossed in the process of making his creation that he fails to consider what his
Motif of Light and Darkness in Mary Shelly's Frankenstein
Frankenstein Motif Journal - Section 2 (Ch. 9-17) - Light/ Darkness Quote 1: "This state of mind preyed upon my health, which had perhaps never entirely recovered from the first shock it had sustained. I shunned the face of man; all-sound of joy or complacency was torture to me; solitude was my only consolation -- deep, dark, deathlike solitude. My father observed with pain the alteration and endeavored by arguments deduced from the feelings of his serene conscience and to inspire me with fortitude, and awaken in me the courage to dispel the dark cloud, which brooded over me." (85) In this quote, Shelly generates sympathy toward Victor Frankenstein by means of word choice. "Observed pain" and " torture" uncovers a miserable state and hence creates a grievous and upsetting mood. The use of dark imagery through out the passage reveals a forlorn tone of narration. Shelly emphasizes on alliteration to paint a dark and gloomy picture of the situation. Shelly elaborates the Victor Frankenstein's feeling at that point by unraveling his solitude to being "deep, dark, deathlike". The repetition of the sound 'd' adds to the melancholic mood. Darkness in Frankenstein symbolizes despair. Shelly furthers the idea of Frankenstein's upcoming upheavals and foreshadows his dangers by using dark imagery. Victor Frankenstein's willingness to overcome these dangers is also presented by means