What influence has the experiences in Mary Shelley's life had on the novel Frankenstein?
What influence has the experiences in Mary Shelley's life had on the novel Frankenstein? Mary Shelley's experiences have had a large impact on the themes and issues in her novel Frankenstein. It is considered by some to be a birth myth, because of the influence Shelley's experiences of motherhood has had on the novel. Further, the novel reveals numerous allusions to Shelley's life. The novel explores the retribution visited upon Monster and creator for incomplete infant care, and several of the characters are representations of individuals in Shelley's life. This essay explores the issues of the birth myth and family relations that are identifiable in the novel and argues that Shelley's life and her experiences have inspired the themes of creation, birth and family in the novel Frankenstein. Frankenstein is perceived as a birth myth because of the themes of maternity and parenthood alluded to within the novel. Mario Praz comments, "All Mrs. Shelley did was to provide a passive reflection of some of the wild fantasies which were living in the air about her." These fantasies or issues that existed in Shelley's life are identified in the novel as issues of birth, creation, neglect, and confusion. For example, in Frankenstein, birth is presented as a hideous thing. For birth to be possible, Victor must collect bones and decomposing body parts, among other things, in order for
A feminist analysis of Dracula
A feminist analysis of Dracula There has been, thankfully, a great shift since the chastened "New Women" of Bram Stoker's Dracula, as noted by critic Phyllis A. Roth "For both the Victorians and twentieth century readers, much of the novel's great appeal comes from its hostility toward female sexuality"1 That hostility has been a source for female transformation from the post feminist era of the 1960's to the present day. Stoker's familiarity with the feminist movement in Victorian England and his apparent support of equality between men and woman based on an intellectual level leaves us with the question of why does his support appear to draw the line when it comes to sexual equality. Stoker's personal life regarding his different relationships with women is what may suggest the motivations behind his ambivalence towards the "New Woman". So it can be said that Stoker's treatment of women in Dracula does not stem from his hatred of women in general but from his ambivalent reaction to the concept of the "New Woman". Stoker's Dracula is a window through which we can see the Victorian society. We see how Stoker is sympathetic towards the limitations placed upon women in the society, but he also does not see women as completely equal. The absence of total equality in "Dracula" shows a view point which is somewhere between Victorian standards of the 1890's and where we like
Discuss the use of ONE of the following in any of the texts you have studied on this course: - i. Symbolism and/or allegory.
Discuss the use of ONE of the following in any of the texts you have studied on this course: - i. Symbolism and/or allegory "Symbolism; the use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities"1, is the definition given in the dictionary. I have chosen to look at how this idea of symbolism is represented within Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel, The Scarlet Letter. This is a novel that is brimming with the use of symbols to represent Hawthorne's ideas and concepts on sin, knowledge and the human condition. The basic story is one of adultery, guilt and redemption. Being set in Puritan New England the severity of the characters emotions are heightened. Even though set in such a specific period, Hawthorne enables the novel to appeal throughout generations by his use of time within the story. This is evident from the introduction of the novel, 'the Custom House', in which we learn that Hester Prynne's story will be narrated to us twice removed. This theme is reinforced by the split time sequences throughout the novel. It is perhaps this splicing of time that enhances the need for symbols and allegories to bring the form of the novel together and connect the separate time periods. The first and most relevant symbol throughout the novel is that of the scarlet letter that Hester is condemned to wear for her sins. We are first confronted with the embroidered letter in the introduction, when our
"With reference to at least two novels published after 1870, examine ways in which they disclose anxieties about male and/or female sexuality at the end of the nineteenth century."
"With reference to at least two novels published after 1870, examine ways in which they disclose anxieties about male and/or female sexuality at the end of the nineteenth century." Alex Coby, Physics III H.10. MODERN LITERATURE AND DRAMA Dr Siv Jannson The end of the nineteenth century was, like the end of the twentieth, a time filled with fear, anxiety and panic. All major issues in society at any time are generally represented in the literature of the time and this was certainly the case at the end of the nineteenth century. There were many reasons for anxiety; the collapse of empire, the rising Women's emancipation movement and the rise of the theories of Darwin and Freud, amongst others. The primary anxiety at the time, in my opinion, was the fear of 'perverse' sexuality, be it the empowerment of women and the 'decadent', or homosexual man. The Picture of Dorian Gray, by Oscar Wilde and The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson both illustrate this fin de siècle sexual anxiety to great effect, and it is on these two novels that I will concentrate. They approach these anxieties in different ways, and while Dorian shows the personal anxieties felt by the homosexual in fin de siècle England, Jekyll and Hyde exposes the anxieties felt towards the homosexual: As Showalter said, Jekyll and Hyde can be most convincingly read as a fable of fin de
Bram Stoker's Dracula.
ESSAY: BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA Throughout the years, many authors have combined their thoughts and believes into a written project which later became a novel. In every book, the reader can learn between the lines about the author. Of course, from a year to another, beliefs were born related to the way of life. In the 18 th - 19 th centuries, Christianity made a great part of people's life. A man who was considered religious would be ashamed of talking about the devil and compromise his beliefs. Bram Stoker and Mary Shelley are two big writers who brought up a new style to the English Literature. Although with very controversial ideas, they described the society in two opposite ways. Gothic novels were always characterized as horror books. In many cases, it was not always true. It's a combination of super-natural, fear and domination (Men, leaders of the society were driven by their ambition for power and success in the upper-class society). In the novel, Dracula, Stocker brings to his characters the typical description of a human being as in real life. Often, the main character will keep his role of importance but a less important one at the beginning will obviously raise his role and will be more focused at. Characters will show qualities of rebelliousness and independence while at the beginning they were seen as regular as the others. Bram Stoker has a unique
A103 Introduction to the Humanities
A210 - Approaching Literature TMA 02 A key difference between a Gothic novel and a realist novel lies in the use of setting. Discuss with reference to Frankenstein, and either Father and Sons or Great Expectations. Frankenstein Great Expectations The term "setting" can be used for a variety of situations. In order to answer the above question, we must look for geographical locations and the buildings and environments within those locations. We must also look to both the time in history these events took place, so we can ascertain any historical relevance, and also what time of day events are taking place (for example, the brightness of day or the gloom of night). Gothic and realist novels use all of these different forms of setting to accentuate the mood they wish to convey, according to the rules often applied to each genre. Frankenstein contains a veritable feast of fascinating destinations, taking us on a journey around Europe. There are a plethora of places visited, from beautiful Geneva, Italy and Ingolstadt to the bleakness of the Orkneys, Ireland and the Arctic. Frank Darabont (Screenwriter and Director) makes the point that for contemporary readers of Frankenstein, the "novel was the only way people could go on tours of the world" (TV1, A210, The OU). This would have added to the reader's sense of amazement during each fantastical event. These different
Good vs. Evil.
Mohemmed El-Aloul El-Aloul 1 ENG 3U1 Mr. Seifert May 12, 2003 Good vs. Evil The history of super-villains and superheroes in literary works is long and well documented. Almost all villains and heroes have one or more extraordinary ability, which is offset by one serious weakness, which will play an elaborate role in the story. A perfect example of this is a literary classic that stands the test of time and still appeals to the modern reader is Bram Stoker's, Dracula. Bram Stoker, did not invent the vampire or the vampire's mystical powers, they were brought on by superstition to explain the unexplainable. Dracula's abilities and limitations were often influenced by superstition. Dracula has the ability to command the behavior and thoughts of animals, his can shape-shift into the form of mist, a wolf or a bat. On the other hand he must obey certain laws of nature, why we do not know. During the time Dracula is in England he often travels in the shape of a bat, wolf, or mist so he can have the freedom of going unnoticed by the people. . "Then outside in the shrubbery I heard a sort of howl like a dog's, but more fierce and deeper. I went to the window and looked out, but could see nothing, except a big bat." (Stoker 150) 2. " 3. "He can come in mist which he creates-that noble ship captain
Although the women's characters in Frankenstein are more underlying they are vital to the structure of the story.
Although the women's characters in Frankenstein are more underlying they are vital to the structure of the story. Because not only do they add depth and give moral guidance to the male characters such as Walton and Victor Frankenstein, they are also full of kindness, compassion and social consciousness. This has the effect of stressing the importance of taking care of family and friendship and especially feminine influences in your life in order to retain both your humanity and sanity. They represent the good women of the world and make it easier for the target audience of the time to identify with the story. Shelley also uses them to explore several themes such as the role of women in the society of the time. For example the way women were judged and valued only for their beauty and/or their usefulness to men. That the women in Frankenstein are not given a voice and that they seem not to have any opinions or power over their future, may be a comment from Shelley about the injustice of women's treatment in her society. Walton's letters to his sister Mrs Margaret Saville, have several effects. They make his account feel more personal and believable for the reader. Especially as the locations described in the novel are likely to be alien to them. The introduction of Mrs Saville, an English, middle class, married woman, would have made it easier for similar people to
The doomed bend
THE DOOMED BEND By Winsome Farah My swimming practice came to a sudden end. Mother and Father have just returned from the special Council meeting and Mother is inconsolable. "Why has it happened to us?" She wailed, turning to face Father. "I love it here, we're so lucky to be part of a loving close knit community, the children are doing well at school, you've just been promoted and-" Mother paused at that moment to mop her nose, ending with a loud blow and several snotty sniffs into her handkerchief. -"and I've only just got the kitchen and my algae garden looking perfect. I don't w -want to leave my ho-o-me. Mother sobbed. "There, there, pet," Father soothed, managing to stop the flow of Mother's tears. Of course it wasn't just our family that was affected. It was everyone living along the entire loop of the harbour. My family have lived in this stretch of the Thames, Meander Harbour for many generations. My name is Fynn Fisher and I'm two years old, that's eight years old in human years. I don't want to boast but I'm an excellent swimmer for a trout parr; a parr just means a young trout. My sisters, Shelly and shore are yearlings; seven years old in your world. Shelly is a chatterbox. Mother says that she could talk the spots off a puffer fish. Shore is a tomboy. She infiltrated my gang a few weeks ago and now competes with myself and the other
Excessive Knowledge and Power.
Jessica Zetzman Curt Myer English 24 March 2003 Excessive Knowledge and Power The destructiveness of excessive knowledge and power is an idea that has been debated for thousands of years. Examples in literature go as far back as the Tower of Babel in Biblical history. Many things fuel ambition, but the results are often similar. In Mary Shelley's book Frankenstein, she picks up this idea, showing that Frankenstein's own ambition, his pursuit of power and knowledge, leads not only to his personal downfall, but the death of his loved ones as well. By subtitling her story "The Modern Prometheus," Shelley is giving the reader an idea of the direction the book will take. Shelley is likening Frankenstein to Prometheus, the protagonist of Aeschylus's play Prometheus Bound. Essentially, Prometheus is intelligent and first uses his intellect to aid Zeus against his fellow Titans. However, he starts to focuses on his own importance and personal glory and ends up giving humans fire, an act for which he is greatly punished. Similarly, Mary Shelley's arrogant scientist, Victor Frankenstein, claimed "benevolent intentions, and thirsted for the moment when I should put them in practice" (21). However, he became too ambitious and paid dearly for his creation's actions. The death of Frankenstein is the most obvious example of the destructive powers of the ambitious quest for