"As yet I looked upon crime as a distant evil, benevolence and generosity were ever present before me, inciting within me a desire to become an actor in the busy scene where so many admirable qualities were called forth and displayed. But in giving an account of the progress of my intellect, I must not omit a circumstance which occurred in the beginning of the month of August of the same year." p. 122
I enjoyed how Mary Shelley expressed the conversion from good to evil in this novel. The monster starts out in a child-like innocence and is filled with love for everything. Though he is attacked, he still searches for love. When he lives in the hovel, he is disgusted by crime. However, when love is taken from him, when he is attacked by what he loves, he revolts and becomes evil. Then, he uses this lesson, the need for love, against his own creator, as leverage. In the end, he regrets this. The process of his change, as seen through his own eyes is deep and quite interesting to me, because of its several levels. It is a complex change, and I really enjoyed seeing how each small event lead to a more dramatic effect on the creation's life.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
The Creation's Guilt - Frankenstein
"That is also my victim!" he exclaimed. "In his murder my crimes are consummated; the miserable series of my being is wound to its close! Oh, Frankenstein! Generous and self-devoted being! What does it avail that I now ask thee to pardon me? I, who irretrievably destroyed thee by destroying all thou lovedst. Alas! He is cold, he cannot answer me." p. 207
It is a wonder to me that after all of this time the creation finally expresses guilt for the murders he has done. Though they may have been meant to injure Victor, they ultimately corrupted the creation's self. I also think it is interesting that he refers to Victor as one of his victims, his own creator. These circumstance are few that allow me to now pity the monster, though his acts are fiendish, they do have some small backing. It is clear that the creation understands what love is to a person, and what a lack of it can do as well. He clearly expresses his agony at what he has done, and this emotion must also come from his lack of love. When he goes on to state the pain he felt all along, it seems foolish of him to have continued in the murders. In the end, his preparedness for death is both sad and expected.
This is a rap version of the plot of Frankenstein.
It is a wonder to me that after all of this time the creation finally expresses guilt for the murders he has done. Though they may have been meant to injure Victor, they ultimately corrupted the creation's self. I also think it is interesting that he refers to Victor as one of his victims, his own creator. These circumstance are few that allow me to now pity the monster, though his acts are fiendish, they do have some small backing. It is clear that the creation understands what love is to a person, and what a lack of it can do as well. He clearly expresses his agony at what he has done, and this emotion must also come from his lack of love. When he goes on to state the pain he felt all along, it seems foolish of him to have continued in the murders. In the end, his preparedness for death is both sad and expected.
This is a rap version of the plot of Frankenstein.
Tragedy - Frankenstein
"She left me, and I continued some time walking up and down the passages of the house and inspecting every corner that might afford a retreat to my adversary. But I discovered no trace of him and was beginning to conjecture that some fortunate chance had intervened to prevent the execution of his menaces when suddenly I heard a shrill and dreadful scream. It came from the room into which Elizabeth had retired. As I heard it, the whole truth rushed into my mind, my arms dropped, the motion of every muscle and fibre was suspended; I could feel the blood trickling in my veins and tingling in the extremities of my limbs. This state lasted but for an instant; the scream was repeated, and I rushed into the room" p. 186
I don't feel like this novel qualifies as a tragedy in the same way in which some of Shakespeare's stories do, but I do feel that it has its own type of tragic manner to it. First, Victor feels that he is accomplishing the greatest feat of his life, only then to hate himself for it. Then, he lives to see the death of his brother, and innocent family friend, his own best friend, the woman he loves above all else, and his father. His entire life is filled with death and misery, and yet the monster still taunts him, At one point I still felt for the monster, but now, for all of the loss Victor has seen, it is difficult to do so. It is truly tragic that any one monster could do so many things to harm one person, moreover his creator. It is even more tragic that the cause of the monster's anger, his deformity, was not an intention on his master's part. It was circumstantial. Resultant of all of this, Victor suffers, and his work if for naught, and in my opinion, that is indeed tragedy.
I don't feel like this novel qualifies as a tragedy in the same way in which some of Shakespeare's stories do, but I do feel that it has its own type of tragic manner to it. First, Victor feels that he is accomplishing the greatest feat of his life, only then to hate himself for it. Then, he lives to see the death of his brother, and innocent family friend, his own best friend, the woman he loves above all else, and his father. His entire life is filled with death and misery, and yet the monster still taunts him, At one point I still felt for the monster, but now, for all of the loss Victor has seen, it is difficult to do so. It is truly tragic that any one monster could do so many things to harm one person, moreover his creator. It is even more tragic that the cause of the monster's anger, his deformity, was not an intention on his master's part. It was circumstantial. Resultant of all of this, Victor suffers, and his work if for naught, and in my opinion, that is indeed tragedy.
Mood - Frankenstein
"With this resolution I traversed the northern highlands and fixed on one of the remotest of the Orkneys as the scene of my labours. It was a place fitted for such a work, being hardly more than a rock whose high sides were continually beaten upon by the waves. The soil was barren, scarcely affording pasture for a few miserable cows, and oatmeal for its inhabitants, which consisted of five persons, whose gaunt and scraggy limbs gave tokens of their miserable fare. Vegetables and bread, when they indulged in such luxuries, and even fresh water, was to be procured from the mainland, which was about five miles distant." p.157
In this passage, Victor's newest residence is described in detail. Prior, he established his feelings about the making of another creation as a mate for the first. As he describes this desolate island, with little growing and poor inhabitants, a mood of woe is created. I feel that this is to reflect Victor's innermost feelings about the job set ahead of him. Being removed from the mainland, he is so too removed from others because of his work. More description is later given as to the condition of the hut he decides to inhabit. This gives a further mood of isolation, weariness, and decay, all reflective of Victor's own person. I feel like these are emotions seen frequently throughout the novel, but they are never as fully recognized by his surroundings as they are in this setting.
In this passage, Victor's newest residence is described in detail. Prior, he established his feelings about the making of another creation as a mate for the first. As he describes this desolate island, with little growing and poor inhabitants, a mood of woe is created. I feel that this is to reflect Victor's innermost feelings about the job set ahead of him. Being removed from the mainland, he is so too removed from others because of his work. More description is later given as to the condition of the hut he decides to inhabit. This gives a further mood of isolation, weariness, and decay, all reflective of Victor's own person. I feel like these are emotions seen frequently throughout the novel, but they are never as fully recognized by his surroundings as they are in this setting.
Foreshadowing - Frankenstein
"And where does he now exist? Is this gentle and lovely being lost forever? Has this mind so replete with ideas, imaginations fanciful and magnificent, which formed a world, whose existence depended on the life of its creator; has this mind perished? Does it now only exist in my memory? No, it is not thus; your form so divinely wrought, and beaming with beauty, has decayed, but your spirit still visits and consoles your unhappy friend.
Pardon this gush of sorrow; these ineffectual words are but a slight tribute to the unexampled worth of Henry, but they soothe my heart, overflowing with the anguish which his remembrance creates. I will proceed with my tale." p. 149
This is one example of foreshadowing that happens throughout the the novel, however, it is not the most subtle. In the giving of this paragraph, it is suggested that Clerval will die, and in a tragic way. It also expresses some guilt on Victor's behalf. It can then be assumed that this death is by the monster's hands, which further complicates the plot. In general, I like foreshadowing novels. However, I felt that this foreshadowing was too grandiose and gave away too much key information in the future of the plot. It is disappointing to me that Clerval will be the next to die, especially because he seems to be one of the most enthusiastic characters of this novel. This foreshadowing is key though because it does mean that further conflict must occur and be resolved before the termination of the novel.
Pardon this gush of sorrow; these ineffectual words are but a slight tribute to the unexampled worth of Henry, but they soothe my heart, overflowing with the anguish which his remembrance creates. I will proceed with my tale." p. 149
This is one example of foreshadowing that happens throughout the the novel, however, it is not the most subtle. In the giving of this paragraph, it is suggested that Clerval will die, and in a tragic way. It also expresses some guilt on Victor's behalf. It can then be assumed that this death is by the monster's hands, which further complicates the plot. In general, I like foreshadowing novels. However, I felt that this foreshadowing was too grandiose and gave away too much key information in the future of the plot. It is disappointing to me that Clerval will be the next to die, especially because he seems to be one of the most enthusiastic characters of this novel. This foreshadowing is key though because it does mean that further conflict must occur and be resolved before the termination of the novel.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
The Creature - Frankenstein
""How can I move thee? Will no entreaties cause thee to turn a favourable eye upon thy creature, who implores thy goodness and compassion? 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. I have wandered here many days; the caves of ice, which I only do not fear, are a dwelling to me, and the only one which man does not grudge." p. 94
To me, it is funny that within this novel there are 3 characters so very similar to each other. Robert, Victor, and his monster are all looking for friendship. They search for acceptance and love, despite their difficulty in finding it with others. I think this is interesting, because each puts so much work towards it that they seem almost to drive that goal, that friends away. On the creature's own part it is more pitiable still. Not only can he find no friend, he can only find enemies. He is so fearsome, that he drives others away, or they he. He may speak eloquently, but it means nothing because of the fear he brings to others. I feel like these similarities are going to continue on throughout the novel. Eventually, they will likely result in some sort of climacticly similar event as well, I believe.
To me, it is funny that within this novel there are 3 characters so very similar to each other. Robert, Victor, and his monster are all looking for friendship. They search for acceptance and love, despite their difficulty in finding it with others. I think this is interesting, because each puts so much work towards it that they seem almost to drive that goal, that friends away. On the creature's own part it is more pitiable still. Not only can he find no friend, he can only find enemies. He is so fearsome, that he drives others away, or they he. He may speak eloquently, but it means nothing because of the fear he brings to others. I feel like these similarities are going to continue on throughout the novel. Eventually, they will likely result in some sort of climacticly similar event as well, I believe.
The Creation - Frankenstein
"It was a dreary night in November that I beheld the accomplishment of my toils. With an anxiety that almost amounted to agony, I collected the instuments of life around me, that I might infuse a spark of being onto the lifeless thing that lay at my feet. It was already one in the mornign; the rain pattered dismally against the panes, and my candle was nearly burnt out, when, by the glimmer of the half-extinguished light, I saw the dull yellow eye of the creature open, it breathed hard, and a convulsive motion agitated from its limbs." p. 56It is in my personal opinion that this creation is better than those of the movies. It is not boasting or over developed in discrption. As such, it better fits Victor's character as a whole. He is usually to a degree at least modest. Additionally, he doesn't want others to know the specific details of how he created the monster that he did. In this way, a movie which shows lightning and giant machinery and which has the statement of : "IT'S ALIVE" is not suiting to the story as a whole. Since this moment so much terrified Victor, it only seems right that he should not go into extreme detail, else he need to relive it again. Overall, this interpertation seems more human as well, because he does see the fault in his ways and is regretful instead of prideful.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)