I know that this novel is not an easy read, especially if you were expecting it to be like the 20th century film adaptations. Keep in mind that this in particular is the type of text that you will grapple with on the AP exam. At least half of the multiple choice passages will be pre-20th century texts, so you need to be comfortable with analyzing the nuances of rich, detailed, dense, classical writing. Don't get discouraged!
You will respond to three ideas this week. You will answer two questions and then develop a thematic statement.
Please choose TWO of the following questions to answer:
1. Who was Prometheus? Why is the novel subtitled "the Modern Prometheus?"
2. Note the various narrative "frames" Mary Shelley employs in her novel. What is the purpose of these various frames? What, specifically, does she wish to accomplish by employing these multiple frames? (think layers of narration, Walton, Frankenstein, Creature...)
3. What sort of man is Walton? Does he serve any thematic function in the novel, or is he included largely as a "storyteller"--that is, is he included simply as a mechanical narrative device?
4. Look carefully at Victor Frankenstein's final words--any significance? What about the Creature's final words? As "last words," these statements should carry special dramatic -- and presumably philosophical, spiritual, or moral -- significance for us as readers, because they give us a last (and therefore a lasting) impression of how each character concludes his part in the novel's events.
5. In an influential essay, the Romantic scholar and critic Harold Bloom wrote that the reader's sympathy lies with the Creature, but in his book The Romantic Conflict (1963) Allan Rodway says the reader's sympathy lies with Victor Frankenstein. Who is right?
6. Who is the novel's protagonist? Antagonist? "Hero"?
Write a thematic statement that relays an idea that Shelley is trying to express in her novel and briefly explain how this theme is developed.
OK, this may be a little challenging, but you need to practice crafting thematic statements because most of your writing in class will revolve around major themes in a work. Your thematic statement should be one complete, preferably complex, sentence. Theme should be stated as a universal idea, so your sentence will not contain specific character names or references to the plot of the novel. The idea is to relay what universal statement about the human condition Shelley is trying to convey through this novel. Do NOT go to Sparknotes for help with this. They tend to state theme as a subject rather than a complex idea.
Think about this: What subjects are explored in the text? Brainstorm a list of 3 or 4. OK, now, in a sentence, explain what Shelley is trying to say about this idea. You wouldn't say that LOVE is a theme. That is a subject. What about love is the author trying to say? Love comes in many forms and has the potential to change the way one views the world. Or Love is a dangerous emotion and if left unchecked and unbalanced, can drive a person mad. Or True love can only be shared with another when an individual completely knows and loves herself (remember Their Eyes Were Watching God?) Enough examples; you get the idea. Just give me a thematic statement for Frankenstein and then in a few sentences, explain why you think this theme is developed in the book. Let me know if you have any questions.
Prometheus was a Titan God, a part of Greek Mythology whose actions brought great agony to mankind. After his act of stealing fire from Zeus and introducing this secret to the mortal world, he was bound by chains to a rock where a vulture consistently fed on his liver as a form of grueling punishment… yikes! Frankenstein is referred to as the Modern Prometheus due mainly to the mutual act of stealing knowledge by both Victor Frankenstein and Prometheus. Frankenstein was madly obsessed with exploring the secrets of life and death and of ultimately mastering the creation of life, something that should NOT be produced by the hands of man. Both Frankenstein and Prometheus suffered greatly due to the acts of their curiosity and mere selfishness. Their dissatisfaction with unknown knowledge present in the world led them to writhe in anguish.
ReplyDeleteI would like to agree with Bloom on this matter. The Creature can be easily sympathized due to the fact that he was never loved and never accepted no matter how greatly he desired to be so. The Creature had no say so in his fate and was judged solely based off of his ghastly appearance. The Creature’s life was one easily described as miserable. In his last words, the Creature says that, “Yet even that enemy of God and man had friends and associates in his desolation; I am alone” (195). Even in his acts of vengeance, he still was not satisfied and remained a miserable creation of life, ready to leave this world.
I pity Victor Frankenstein more so than I sympathize over him. Frankenstein is in every aspect a complete fool to me. His thirst for knowledge and dissatisfaction with the world led him to his own misery. His cowardly approach towards his work of life ultimately caused him the turmoil he found himself emerged in for the remainder of his sad life, and none can be blamed but himself. He lost all of those dear to him at the work of his own hands. If he would have faced his creation with courage rather than run away from it, he would not have died such a glum man.
In order to love, you must be loved.
In this novel, the Creature deals heavily with finding happiness and goodness in the world. He is judged as a wretched creature; a demon. Despite his acts of malice and torment, underneath the surface of this being lies someone who longs for the affection and adoration of a companion. He tries to find goodness in the world and puts himself out into society with hopes of finding acceptance. Sadly, he never receives such satisfaction and is doomed to an empty life. Due to his misfortunes, the Creature turns to vengeance and spite, lacking any form of love in his hollow life. He never is able to experience the greatness of love, all because he himself was never loved.
Katelyn, good thematic statement! Do you have practice crafting them? I've noticed that you have incorporated thematic statements in all of your posts. Typically I find that this is a weakness. Did you guys focus on statements of theme in Mrs. Hall's class? Good job.
ReplyDeleteThe final words of Victor kind of made me feel like he was finally giving up his fight that he had been in for so long to destroy the monster. He tells Walton to kill the monster and to not let the monster intrigue him with his intellect, but Walton doesn't do anything. When Victor says that "in other respects, this hour, when I momentarily expect my release, is the only happy one which I have enjoyed for several years. The forms of the beloved dead flit before me and I hasten to their arms." I feel like he is finally giving in, and he knows that he can't out last the monster in life and he can't search for him forever. I feel like Victor knows he has had this burden on him for a long time and that has made his life miserable because he shouldn't have created the monster in the first place. When the monster talks of killing Clerval and Elizabeth, he said that he did not enjoy killing them and that he pitied Victor. Again, I think that the monster just wanted somebody to call his own and to say that someone loved him. When he sees Victor's body, he says that he shall die now that his creator is gone and that all of his miseries and burning desires will be gone too. I feel like the monster is also giving up because in a way, I feel like the monster cared for and loved Victor, but he didn't get the same feelings back. I think that the monster's guilty conscience has finally caught up with him since his creator is gone too.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Katelyn, I think that the sympathy of the reader lies with the monster also. The fact that Victor created him and shunned him from the beginning because of his contorted appearance and didn't want to except him, makes me feel like the monster didn't know how to let those negative feelings not to get to him. The monster didn't have Victor there to teach him right from wrong or how to live among people. From the night he was created and Victor hid from him, everyone that the monster met gave him the same reaction. They shot at him, cursed him, Agatha fainted, Felix beat him, and Victor still called him a demon. The monster just wanted compassion and someone to love him for who he was, even if he didn't look like everyone else. The monster was smart, but I think that some of the sympathy could lie with Victor since the monster kills his best friend, his brother, and his wife.
You need to find courage somewhere in you to stand up to people or to say what you think. Victor had plenty of chances to tell his father, Elizabeth, Justine, and Clerval about the monster and he was a coward about it. He waited until it was too late and then he couldn't. Victor also could have stood up to the monster and taught him the difference between right and wrong instead of hiding from him,or giving in to the monster's wants of a female companion, then making things worse for Victor since the monster was outraged. If you stand up to someone, like Victor could have done, the outcome of things might change drastically than what they were. I think if Victor had the chance to kill the monster, he wouldn't have really done it.
The various frames in Frankenstein are very important. Reading the story from the views of Victor, Walton, and the creature help the reader understand the story completely. Getting to read letters from people also helps us understand how all characters see the situation at hand. Instead of a reader only getting one side of the story, a biased opinion from the narrating character, Mary Shelley makes it possible to see things through other’s eyes. If the whole book was written by Victor, readers would believe “Frankenstein” to be an absolutely evil demon that craves revenge and causes pain for others. Since Mary Shelley added in the point of view of Frankenstein, readers are torn between wanting to sympathize with him, and hating him for what he has done. The layers of narration really make the story more interesting, but it also causes a deep hurting for each character.
ReplyDeletePrometheus was a person in Greek mythology. He was very, very intelligent and supposedly stole fire from Zeus and gave it to mortals. Punishment for this crime was being bound to a rock while his liver was eaten by an eagle every day. I think the novel is subtitled the Modern Prometheus because the stories have a similar situation. Zeus is considered God of all Gods, and taking power from him can’t turn out to be a good choice. In Frankenstein Victor could be seen as Prometheus because he was intelligent, and gave life to something without being God. Nothing good can come from making something that you were not meant to make. Because of this, Victor’s life went down hill really quick. Every day he suffered huge amounts of pain and regret, and it was all from doing something he shouldn’t. Same goes for Prometheus. He shouldn’t have stolen fire from Zeus and given it to mortals. Sometimes, people need to realize that they are not God and should leave the work of God to God himself. Since Victor chose to give life, and Prometheus chose to steal and give to mortals, they both must be punished. Surely the pain Victor endured was about as bad as the suffering of Prometheus; although Victor’s suffering was an internal conflict, and Prometheus’ was physical. Regardless, both stories resemble each other.
Never judge a book by its cover. Throughout the whole story, the monster wanted love and acceptance, and because of his looks, he never got it. After he realized he was an ugly creature, and people were terrified, he began to hide. After watching the family in the little cottage for so long, he felt as though he knew them, and that maybe they would give him a chance. When he finally got the guts to approach, he waited until he could get the blind man alone. Frankenstein knew that because the man was blind, he could not be judged for his looks, but what was in his heart. The blind man understood his story to a certain extent, but once his family returned home, the hopes for Frankenstein were shattered. At that moment, his heart was broken, because he lost the only thing he loved due to his appearance. Frankenstein says in many parts of the book that people are scared of him because he is ugly, and they never give him a chance to show them who he really is. Maybe if he was not so ugly, his creator may have even given him a chance. With one look at this finished experiment, Victor saw a monster and a demon; he never took the time to talk, and get to know his feelings. Because the creature was so ugly, he felt that the only thing that wouldn’t judge him would be another monster like himself. Even the thought of making another thing as ugly as him, Victor refused. Frankenstein tells Victor, “Believe me, Frankenstein, I was benevolent; my soul glowed with love and humanity; but am I not alone, miserably alone? You, my creator, abhor me; what hope can I gather from your fellow creatures, who owe me nothing? They spurn and hate me. The desert mountains and dreary glaciers are my refuge.” He goes on to say, “Let your compassion be moved, and do not disdain me. Listen to my tale; when you have heard that, abandon or commiserate me, as you shall judge that I deserve. But hear me. The guilty are allowed, by human laws, bloody as they are, to speak in their own defense before they are condemned.” Just imagine, if Frankenstein wouldn’t have been so ugly, he could have been a big hit with people. He admits that his soul glowed with love and that he only wanted to be accepted for who he was. Because he was rejected so many times, just because of his looks, he turned into a complete monster. If someone had given him one chance to show what was on the inside, the story would have taken a totally different turn.
ReplyDeleteShelley uses different narrative approaches throughout the chapters of her novel. While this is sometimes common, other times it is not. When asked to explain/give an opinion on why she does this, I believe that it is to supply the reader with the best of both worlds. While the feelings and thoughts of Victor Frankenstein are well developed throughout the novel, the expression of mixed emotions become even more in-depth when Victor and the reader learn of the Creature's many feelings and encounters with mankind. Shelley devotes several chapters in this novel where only the Creature himself is talking and is given the chance to express his hurt, wishes, and threats of revenge towards Victor. In my opinion, the author does an outstanding job of conveying her two main characters, internally and externally.
ReplyDeleteHarold Bloom, in my opinion, would be the winner of the argument over to whom the reader's sympathy is given in this novel. Although Victor struggled internally and externally throughout most of the novel, the Creature was forever burdened from the very first time he was introduced in the text. Death and regret take over Victor's life due to the fact that he didn't think about the consequences of his actions while creating the Creature, nor did he think/plan ahead to spend time with him, teaching him right from wrong, to prevent confusion and hate between the two of them. Victor Frankenstein was self inflicting, while his Creature overwhelmed with sadness, needing to be accepted.
For one to be able to make others happy, one must first be able to accept and be completely happy with thyself.
Throughout the novel, Victor is constantly expressing his love towards Elizabeth and the rest of his family, diverting the attention off of himself. Upon reaching Ingolstadt, he sought out the attention and acceptance of his professors and turned to studying their beliefs, and not his own. Victor's insecurities were again brought forth when he ran from his own creation, afraid to accept something that he himself hard workingly brought to life. Given many chances to admit the truth of William and Justine's death to his family, he repeatedly avoided it, knowing the everlasting pain it would mark on their lives. Victor Frankenstein chose to live his life in grief and regret due to his inability to deal with his insecurities about not being able to make others happy.
Prometheus is in Greek mythology as being the creator of human beings from clay, water, and his divine breathe. Also Prometheus is thought to have angered Zeus the “Father of Gods” and in doing that Zeus punishes humans with misery and illness. I believe that Frankenstein is subtitled “the Modern Prometheus” because Victor Frankenstein’s story is very similar to Prometheus’ story. Same as Prometheus, Frankenstein created life and also faced consequences partly because of it. After Frankenstein angered his creation it began to cause him turmoil when the creature begins to kill all of Frankenstein’s friends and family. Some what the same as what Prometheus went through when he angered Zeus.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Bloom is right in the argument that the creature gets all of the sympathy from the readers. I think he’s right because in the novel the creature is misunderstood even though he kills all of Frankenstein’s friends and family he does it because all he wanted was a companion and he said he would leave to South America but Frankenstein was afraid that they’d start to have monster children and soon terrorize the world. I don’t think that the creature would do that because throughout the novel he tries to find someone to be his friend but every time he tries it doesn’t work out as planned. For example when he tries to talk to the blind man when Felix, Agatha, and Safie come back from their walk and scares the creature away. So from that I think that anyone would have sympathy for the creature instead of Frankenstein.
Revenge is not the answer.
I believe that that’s true in any situation. The creature on the other hand didn’t think so, he terrorized Frankenstein until he drove him mad all over revenge. After being created Frankenstein ran away from his own creation which angered it. Also when Frankenstein destroys the creatures companion, it angered the creature and he promised to take revenge on Frankenstein. He so by killing all of his family and friends.
Mrs. Hollifield! Thank you! We did work with themes in Mrs. Hall's class. I don't know that we focused exactly on thematic statements, but her class taught me a lot. She's great!
ReplyDeleteThe various narrative frames Mary Shelly employs in her novel allow the readers to get to know each character equally and allows them to form their own un-swayed opinions about each character. If we had just read the story from the creature’s point of view Victor would seem like purely an “unfeeling, heartless creator” who abandoned the creature and forced him out on his own. If we had read the entire story in Victor’s perspective we would have only know the creature as a crazed demon and a random murderer. Instead we learned that the creature is miserable and alone, and he longs for a companion to share his feelings and affection with, and that Victor is afraid for his family’s safety and doesn’t want to inflict the remorse that he feels on the future generations. Also when reading Walton’s angle at the end we find that he views Victor as a great and honorable man who’s life has been destroyed by the creature, and this causes the story to have more of a tragic ending.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Harold Bloom was correct in saying that the creature holds the reader’s sympathy. I also agree with Caitlyn that Victor Frankenstein was self-inflicting and that the creature was burdened from his very beginning. The creature was completely alone and man was not initially created to be alone. The only true sympathy he received throughout the whole novel was from the blind man because everyone he encountered was afraid of him because of his appearance. I also believe that the reader feels for the creature because we know that he started off with a good heart. He risks being seen to save a little girl from drowning in the river and in return the man she was with shot the creature out of fear of his appearance.
Fear overpowers reasoning.
Throughout the novel Victor is constantly making the wrong decisions because he is afraid. When he first creates the creature he is so scared that he abandons him in his apartment when really he should have stayed and watched over him, teaching him the basics of life. When Victor tears up the work he has done on the creature’s companion he thinks that he is saving his family from the creature’s evil nature, but really he is doing the exact opposite, and the creature becomes even more vengeful. Also after Victor and Elizabeth gets married he is so absorbed in the fear of his own death he doesn’t realize that he himself isn’t who the creature was after. Previously the creature had murdered people close to Victor in hopes to cause him grief so it would only make sense that Elizabeth would be next, but he failed to notice that. Victor’s tragic life was result of his fear and irresponsibility.
Prometheus, a Greek titan, was given the job to create mankind out of clay. He tricked the other gods in order to better the lives of his creation, but when they found him out, he was punished horribly. Frankenstein is subtitled ‘the Modern Prometheus’ because, in the novel, Victor takes the role of Prometheus, but more modernly so. Instead of molding a man out of clay, he used the parts of dead bodies. His “job,” or what he thought was his job, was to create a human from a lifeless form. Victor and Prometheus are also alike in that they stole knowledge. Prometheus stole fire from Zeus and Victor stole the ability to create life. Both Victor and Prometheus also suffered horribly for their actions. Prometheus was punished by having his regenerating heart forever eaten by an eagle. Victor watched as his loved ones were murdered by his creation.
ReplyDeleteI must agree with Harold Bloom, the reader’s sympathy lies with the creation. The monster was rejected by every human he came across. He was even abandoned by his creator and left with no knowledge about how to survive in the world where he now lived. Of course he was vengeful. He’s was lonely and emotionally damaged from Victor’s abandonment of him. All he wanted was to be accepted by someone, anyone. He could never find acceptance, so he dealt with his resentment by seeking revenge towards Victor. The reader, I believe, should not pity Victor. Most of what happened to him, he brought on himself. He was much loved as a child, by his parents and his siblings. He went to Ingolstadt and created the monster, but then he just left it there after he brought it to life. The monster offered to leave Victor alone, if he would only create a companion for the monster. If Victor didn’t comply with him, the monster threatened to kill Elizabeth on the night of their wedding. Victor refused, so the monster killed Elizabeth on their wedding night, as he promised.
Obsession with knowledge is dangerous.
Victor is a smart boy. As a child, he reads books about alchemy and natural science. He finds that he has a strong interest in the area of natural science. He takes his interest to Ingolstadt to further his studies. He continues to seek more and more knowledge about his area of science. He seeks the knowledge to create life. When he finally gets the knowledge he is searching for, his creation horrifies him. He immediately abandons it and runs away. The monster is vengeful because of its abandonment. He goes after the only thing Victor truly cares for, his family and friends. He kills them off one by one, hoping to satisfy his lust for revenge. Each death takes a toll on Victor and he grows sicker and sicker. He travels through ice covered mountains in search of the monster so he can destroy it. He never gets the chance to, however, because his illness overwhelms and kills him. One could even say that the monster indirectly killed him because Victor was weakened during his search to destroy the monster, and eventually died from his weak state.
During Frankenstein's final words, I feel that he is conveying to Walton that he, like the monster, is now all alone in the world and without any companions or loved ones to talk to or be with. The tables are almost turned in that Victor is now chasing the monster and trying to kill him for the death of Elizabeth, his love, and his Father, while previously the monster had been stalking Victor for causing the death, or rather not bringing to life, of possibly his future love. In his final words Victor also shows that he has been totally consumed by revenge and will not stop until he finds the monster as shown by his words on pg. 184 "Oh! When will my guiding spirit, in conducting to the demon, allow me the rest I so much desire?" It is apparent by Victor's last words that he is not even a human anymore but has become a creature bent on the destruction of his creation. Likewise, in the Monster's last words he reveals that he regretful of what he has become and that he wishes that he wouldn't have had to kill all of those innocent people just to hurt his creator. I almost feel that the monster is disgusted with what he has done when he says "my heart was poised with remorse." In the end, although they have traveled two different paths both Victor and the Monster have arrived at the same destination, being totally alone in the world and despised by everyone including themselves.
ReplyDeletePrometheus was a mythological Greek God, or Titan, and the brother of Atlas who held the world on his shoulders. He is famous his theft of fire from the leader of all the gods, Zeus, and his presentation of this fire to humanity. Zeus had Prometheus chained naked to a pillar as punishment and his liver is eaten by vultures. Also, as further punishment Zeus unleashes Pandora's box on earth which contains all the evils which plague us today such as old age, labor, and sickness. Whether it was through the never-ending search for revenge or disembowelment by a vulture, both suffered horrendous consequences due to their actions. I believe that Frankenstein is often referred to as "the modern Prometheus" because like Prometheus, Frankenstein thought that he could create or control life, but in the end, both caused nothing but pain for themselves and their creations.
No one deserves to have the power to decide between the life and death of another. In this story, Victor believes that he can simply study for years and then through many grotesque methods, such as digging up dead corpses, create a perfect living creature. Upon the creation of his monster Victor discovers how appalling his work has been. He thinks that he can simply throw his creation into the world to experience feelings and emotional contact by itself without any guidance. Sadly, he is wrong as the simple appearance of the creature is enough to scare off many and eventually leads to his hatred of humankind. Victor's rash decision to hold the power of life and death in his hands eventually leads to his death and obsession with revenge, along with the deaths of many of his family members and the one he loves.
I personally wasn’t font of the section when Walton took over telling the story. Walton just seemed to me like a typical guy who listened to Frankensteins’ problems and tried to gradually cheer him up. I don’t think Walton was placed in the novel to serve any thematic purposes. He didn’t really say or do anything that makes the reader think on a deeper level. I think he was used solely as a story teller in the novel. He had to take over and narrate so when Frankenstein died, we would still have someone to talk to the monster and help us see his side of the story. So I do believe that he was important in the story regardless.
ReplyDeleteI think that it’s a lot easier to sympathize for Frankenstein. I cared for the monster at first and felt sorry for him, but after he murdered all of Frankenstein’s close friends and wife, I completely hated him. I know he gave his reasoning at the end about how he was lonely and unloved, but that’s bull crap in my opinion. That didn’t give him the right to torture the being who created him. Frankenstein had to put up with tremendous amounts of torture and pure agony. His entire life was ruined because of a sick, evil fiend that had nothing better to do than kill.
Revenger ultimately leads to the destruction of the person that is bent on seeking revenge.
I believe this is a pretty obvious theme that is shown throughout the story. Both Frankenstein and the monster are only set out to wreak revenge on one another. And throughout the entire story, neither of them are happy. They both feel alone and depressed, until their goal is met.
I think that Walton was more than just a story telling device, the story really I think couldn't have ended properly without him. I think that Walton was really a kind of heir or at least pupil in a way to Victor, Victor passed on to him the fact that no knowledge is worth his life. And another thing to consider is that the novel would have had a strange and abrupt ending without Walton, it would have been strange for Victor to die and and the monster do his little monologue outloud no one to hear him
ReplyDeleteUnlike everyone else I think that the sympathy lies with Victor. He was a happy person who wanted to expand his knowledge and make something of hisself, and he paid for it dearly. If the monster really was intelligent like it considered itself to be then it should have seen itself for what it was instead of blaming Victor. The monster gave up after one failed attempt at finding a friend and decided to punish Victor in excess of what he deserved. Was victor guilty, yes, buit did he deserve to have everything he held dear taken away from him? I don't think so. And as far as not making the monster a bride I agree with victors thinking on all that could go wrong, and the fact that they may breed a race just as cruel as the monster.
You can't live if you have nothing to live for.
You can apply that to both of the main characters. Victor when he was younger had a good family, and he had a goal. But progressively as he lost that goal and and each member of his family he got worse and worse, but he could still hold on til he lost his wive, it was at that point that he eventually couldnt go on. And its also true for the monster. He from the beginning had something to live for, but he lost his creator, then he lost hope in people, then he learned he'd never have a companion. And finally when victor died he couldn't even live for that anymore and just like victor he could no longer live.
Prometheus yes I believe you know the story so I’m not going to go into the whole thing my class mates have taken care of that. Yes Victor Frankenstein is a very good example of a modern day Prometheus as my classmates have also pointed out but I believe even the monster could also be considered a Prometheus look alike. The Frankenstein monster, excluding his initial creation, basically creates himself just like Prometheus created mankind the monster was the one that discovered how to survive on his own he learned to read and write by his own way and essentially created his whole being without any experience of someone showing him the way. The monster was truly self made. Also like Prometheus’ great search for knowledge the monster also had an immense thirst for the knowledge and understanding of language, emotions, and the human race in general. Of course also like Prometheus the Monster was sentenced to an eternal life of isolation and pain because he was cut off from the one thing he wanted the most, which was to be excepted by human kind for who he was and not his superficial curse. Victor, the monster, and Prometheus were all subject to the same class of life they were the creators of something great were all betrayed by their extreme thirst for knowledge and in the end were condemned to a life of solitude and agony (not a very good class of life)
ReplyDeleteThe Protagonist of this story in my mind is defiantly Victor Frankenstein. He was just a youth just looking to make his mark on the world and because of his one big mistake that he makes when he is like twenty or so he is cursed for the rest of his life. Victor is the protagonist because even though he makes a lot of stupid mistakes, never asks for help from anybody, and cries a majority of the time he is ultimately fighting the good fight in trying to atone for his past sins. The monster is definitely the antagonist he is the one who is constantly in the way of Victor’s attempts at happiness. The monster even compares himself to Satan the biggest antagonist of them all. He is constantly killing off framing and threatening victor’s whole family throughout almost the entire novel so yeah in my mind the Frankenstein monster is the antagonist. I really don’t think there was a Hero of the story everyone was corrupt in some shape or form, from Victor huge mistake of thinking he could create life without consequence to Victors family knowing there was something extremely wrong with Victor and them doing nothing even the cottagers that struck the monster down without ever hearing him out. To me all were corrupt and there was not a single hero figure.
Vengeance will never satisfy.
Victor try to satisfy his vengeance with the monster by pursuing him for the rest of his days and all that got him was a cold lonely death on some guy’s boat that he didn’t even know. And in the case of the monster’s vengeance even after he had done every possible thing that he could do to destroy the life of his creator it proved to not be enough and in the end he mourned the death of Victor because his revenge would never satisfy his soul and only death could complete his life of misery.
12:01 Monday morning yeah i did it for the kids
ReplyDeletePrometheus was a Titan in Greek mythology. He was known for his intelligence he apparently stole fire from Zeus and gave it to morals. As a punishment, he was chained to rocks, where an eagle every single day plucked and ate at his liver. Prometheus is held responsible for playing a key role in the history of humanity. During the war, he became a form of hope and inspirations for Greek revolutionaries and their supporters. He is a balanced thinker and a fuming dissenter. I believe that Victor is more like Prometheus in the book than anyone else, because he made a creature, much like when Prometheus made humans. Like Prometheus was punished for making humans and messing up mankind, so was Frankenstein when he created the monster. Both of them were trying to help humanity, not knowing that they were messing everything up. That is why Frankenstein the book can best be seen as The Modern Prometheus.
ReplyDeleteI believe Shelley uses the different narratives frames in the story, to help the readers see through the story and the details. When you read the views from the characters, it helps you to see what they are going through, kind of like you can see into their heads. When I read the letters from the various people, it helped me to understand more about the situation. Shelley helps the readers by presenting the book as different approaches, because if Victor Frankenstein narrated the book, he would have made the monster, Frankenstein, evil and not allow him to be accepted by humans, instead he would have tried to make him revengeful instead of trying to be friends. The different frames help us see through the views of other peoples on the story. The different perspective makes it easier to read, but brings on a much deeper thought process.
In order to be accepted, you have to accept yourself first.
Frankenstein was trying to be accepted and loved by humans, but he could not because he was not like them. Frankenstein was mad at Victor simply because he did not make him like the other humans, his appearance was different. But in order to be accepted by others you have to learn to accept and come to terms with the way you are made, because it is not going to change, and you will be upset with yourself and never get to show the real you to others, which may lead to others not accepting you. Frankenstein had that problem. I believe if he would have loved and accepted the way he was made, others would have accepted him, instead of trying to take his anger out on people and seeking revenge. We are all created different but still made in the image of God. The outside is different but the inside is all the same.
The different frames that Shelley uses really gives each character their own opinion of the story, with Victor’s being the main one, and the monster and Walton right behind with fairly large parts. The part Walton tells ultimately gives the reader the last days of Victor’s life (it doesn’t really specify the time period from when Victor boards the ship and when he dies) and Victor’s story, as well as the horror that Walton concludes by himself from Victor’s story. Even though Victor warns Walton about the monster’s smooth talking ways, Walton is still shocked by how eloquent the monster talks and how the monster tells his final story to Walton. The story of the monster in his point of view is critical to the story because the reader learns how difficult it was to learn to use all of his senses, and ultimately feels sorry for the monster because of the constant rejection in his life. Victor, of course, is the main storyteller and it feels like he always becomes a martyr towards something bad that happens.
ReplyDeleteI think Walton is more than just a storyteller. I think that he gives his own opinions about the story of Victor Frankenstein and that he tells his sister of Victor’s tale too. He doesn’t kill the monster like Victor tells him to, he stands in amazement at the monster’s height and his appearance. Without Walton, Victor’s story might not have survived, and no one would have believed that such a monster was created by a man with too much want for knowledge. Without Walton, Victor’s story would not have been told to Walton’s sister and the book would have ended differently, instead of Victor chasing the monster and running into Walton’s ship
Acceptance is hard to come by. Not only does the monster want acceptance, I think that Victor is scared of still being accepted by his family if he ever revealed that he created the monster that killed four people very close to him. The monster wants acceptance for different reasons than Victor, but doesn't everybody want acceptance in their lives sometime? Whether it be to fit in, for a job, a friend, school, or anything else, acceptance sometimes is hard to come by and you get rejected for looks, or lack of some characteristic that someone wants.