"He struggled violently. 'Let me go.' he cried; 'monster! ugly wretch! you wish to eat me and tear me to pieces- You are an ogre!" (page 102).
Prejudice is a very important theme of this novel. It seems to be everywhere in this book. For instance, in the first half, Victor was prejudice towards the creature after it was created. He was afraid of it, even though it was simply reaching out to Victor to be loved. Many elements in this novel are misconstrued because people simply do not take the time to get to know the creature. Felix is prejudice towards the creature because Felix thinks that the creature is a threat. However, the creature would never have harmed anyone ins the DeLacey home if they would have just listened to him. In the second half of the book, I noticed more and more forms of prejudice. When the creature finds out that William is in relation to Frankenstein, the creature says, "Frankenstein! you belong then to my enemy- to him towards who I have sworn eternal revenge; you shall be my first victim." (page 102). Here though, the creature is prejudice against William. The creature was incredibly offended when William called him ugly and that he was an ogre. This is because the creature thought that surely a child would not be judgmental towards him. Sure enough, though, the child was. I find it incredibly ironic with how the creature handles this, though. The creature is upset that William is prejudice against him for being a strange creature. However, the creature is prejudice as well. The creature is prejudice against William, thinking that he will be exactly like Victor. The creature did not even get the chance to get to really know William and kills him instantly. How sad! I feel sorry for the creature, but the creature also takes things just as far. It's kind of like little kids. If a little kid hits another child, I feel sorry for the one who was hit. However, if that child hits the other child back, then I don't feel sorry for either child because they are both doing things wrong. In the creature's defense, he cannot help it because no one has ever told him otherwise if things are right or wrong. He just learns from others, and the ways of prejudice are what he has learned.
I also noticed prejudice on page 165. The creature says, "Why do you not hate Felix, who drove his friend from the door with contumely? Why do you not execrate the rustic who sought to destroy the saviour of his child? Nay, these are virturous and immaculate beings! I, the miserable and the abandoned, am an abortion, to be spurned at, and kicked, and trampled on. Even now my blood boils at the recollection of this injustice." This is SO true! Everyone here is wrong in the way they are treating the creature, and yet, the only one being hated is the creature. He has a horrible life and people simply make it worse. It reminds me of the Native Americans. People hated them and they did nothing wrong. They were simply living their own lives, trying to live in peace, and people made their lives miserable. Why did people hate the Native Americans? Why didn't they look at themselves and hate the people from Europe, killing them off? We need to open our eyes to realize what we are doing to people. The creature is miserable because of the way he is being treated. This just makes me so sad!
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Frankenstein: sympathy
"There was none among the myriads of men that existed who would pity or assist me; and should I feel kindness towards my enemies? No: from that moment I declared ever-lasting war against the species, and more than all, against him who had formed me and sent me forth to this insupportable misery." (page 97).
After finishing this novel, I tried to figure out where I stood with each of the characters. Throughout the story, I have felt sorry for the creature. He was born deformed and so many people hated him. He was born good, so therefore, I believe that the creature has a heart. He cared for so many people, but they would turn against him. Sympathy is an integral part of the book and is located in many areas of the second half of the book. The creature seeks sympathy a lot, though, so I'm starting to think that this is an important part of the creature. The creature yearns for sympathy because the creature yearns to be loved in some way. On page 164, the creature says, "My heart was fashioned to be susceptible of love and sympathy; and when wrenched by misery to vice and hatred, it did not endure the violence of the change, without torture such as you cannot even imagine." Here, the creature is hoping to have someone feel sorry for him. However, Walton calls him out on it. Walton says, "If he whom you mourn still lived, still would he be the object, again would he become the prey of your accursed vengeance." (page 164). In short, I am recognizing that the creature is a very complex character. He wants sympathy from others, but he also did not give Frankenstein any sympathy at all. He is solely evil towards Frankenstein because Frankenstein failed to raise him. It's a lot to ponder that the creature can be someone I love and hate at the same time.
After finishing this novel, I tried to figure out where I stood with each of the characters. Throughout the story, I have felt sorry for the creature. He was born deformed and so many people hated him. He was born good, so therefore, I believe that the creature has a heart. He cared for so many people, but they would turn against him. Sympathy is an integral part of the book and is located in many areas of the second half of the book. The creature seeks sympathy a lot, though, so I'm starting to think that this is an important part of the creature. The creature yearns for sympathy because the creature yearns to be loved in some way. On page 164, the creature says, "My heart was fashioned to be susceptible of love and sympathy; and when wrenched by misery to vice and hatred, it did not endure the violence of the change, without torture such as you cannot even imagine." Here, the creature is hoping to have someone feel sorry for him. However, Walton calls him out on it. Walton says, "If he whom you mourn still lived, still would he be the object, again would he become the prey of your accursed vengeance." (page 164). In short, I am recognizing that the creature is a very complex character. He wants sympathy from others, but he also did not give Frankenstein any sympathy at all. He is solely evil towards Frankenstein because Frankenstein failed to raise him. It's a lot to ponder that the creature can be someone I love and hate at the same time.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Frankenstein: Nature vs. Nurture
"I was their plaything and their idol, and something better- their child, the innocent and helpless creature bestowed on them by Heaven, whom to bring up to good, and whose future lot it was in their hands to direct to happiness or misery, according as they fulfilled their duties towards me." (page 16).
I have saved this blog for last because I have more to say about this topic than any of the other four blogs I created previous to this one. I simply want to parallel the lives of Frankenstein and his creature. Frankenstein created the creature, hoping to make the creature like himself. I love this quote because it ties everything together. Frankenstein was raised by parents who idolized him when he was born. They showered him with love and his childhood was like one from the gods. He was raised with hopes and dreams and just wanted to make his parents proud because they did so much for him. The creature, however, wasn't raised at all. It was incredibly neglected and had to learn how to figure out its senses on its own. It is just sad. Also, I found the quote on page 69 to be very powerful as well. The creature says, "If the multitude of mankind knew of my existence, they would do as you do, and arm themselves for my destruction. Shall I not then hate them who abhor me? I will keep no terms with my enemies. I am miserable, and they shall share my wretchedness." The only the creature has been shown is hatred. It only makes sense that the creature would respond with hatred as well. It's similar to the issue of child soldiers. Children in many countries are being forced to fight. They are killing others with weapons. This is simply absurd. Why are we instilling the act of fighting into these kids' minds? The kids don't know any better. This is just like the creature. He doesn't know any better than to treat others with kindness. Everyone is afraid of him, so of course he would be like this. I found another parallel between Frankenstein and the creature. Frankenstein said, "My temper was sometimes violent and my passions vehement; but by some law in my temeperament they were turned not towards childish pursuits but to an eager desire to learn." (page 19) The creature is like this too. Even though the creature was raised in a different environment, their personality qualities are very similar. They way they act around humans is different, though, due to how they were raised. Both Frankenstein and the creature have issues with anger. However, both crave to learn more. The creature wants to learn how to communicate with others to allow others to love him. Frankenstein craves to learn how to find cures for illnesses. The parallels are everywhere, and honestly, even though I find Frankenstein and the creature to essentially be the same being, I love the creature more. The creature may be a savage, but he has a heart. Frankenstein is just a guy who is afraid of life itself and whines the whole time about how horrible his life is. His miseries are nothing in comparison to the creatures, in my opinion. Frankenstein kind of brought his miseries upon himself. If he would have cared for the creature like he should have, the complications in Frankenstein's life would be few. William would still be alive. Justine would still be alive. Frankenstein's life would be different if he just would have taken care of the innocent creature.
I have saved this blog for last because I have more to say about this topic than any of the other four blogs I created previous to this one. I simply want to parallel the lives of Frankenstein and his creature. Frankenstein created the creature, hoping to make the creature like himself. I love this quote because it ties everything together. Frankenstein was raised by parents who idolized him when he was born. They showered him with love and his childhood was like one from the gods. He was raised with hopes and dreams and just wanted to make his parents proud because they did so much for him. The creature, however, wasn't raised at all. It was incredibly neglected and had to learn how to figure out its senses on its own. It is just sad. Also, I found the quote on page 69 to be very powerful as well. The creature says, "If the multitude of mankind knew of my existence, they would do as you do, and arm themselves for my destruction. Shall I not then hate them who abhor me? I will keep no terms with my enemies. I am miserable, and they shall share my wretchedness." The only the creature has been shown is hatred. It only makes sense that the creature would respond with hatred as well. It's similar to the issue of child soldiers. Children in many countries are being forced to fight. They are killing others with weapons. This is simply absurd. Why are we instilling the act of fighting into these kids' minds? The kids don't know any better. This is just like the creature. He doesn't know any better than to treat others with kindness. Everyone is afraid of him, so of course he would be like this. I found another parallel between Frankenstein and the creature. Frankenstein said, "My temper was sometimes violent and my passions vehement; but by some law in my temeperament they were turned not towards childish pursuits but to an eager desire to learn." (page 19) The creature is like this too. Even though the creature was raised in a different environment, their personality qualities are very similar. They way they act around humans is different, though, due to how they were raised. Both Frankenstein and the creature have issues with anger. However, both crave to learn more. The creature wants to learn how to communicate with others to allow others to love him. Frankenstein craves to learn how to find cures for illnesses. The parallels are everywhere, and honestly, even though I find Frankenstein and the creature to essentially be the same being, I love the creature more. The creature may be a savage, but he has a heart. Frankenstein is just a guy who is afraid of life itself and whines the whole time about how horrible his life is. His miseries are nothing in comparison to the creatures, in my opinion. Frankenstein kind of brought his miseries upon himself. If he would have cared for the creature like he should have, the complications in Frankenstein's life would be few. William would still be alive. Justine would still be alive. Frankenstein's life would be different if he just would have taken care of the innocent creature.
Frankenstein: sympathy
"At first I started back, unable to believe that it was indeed I who was reflected in the mirror; and when I became fully convinced that I was in reality the moster that I am, I was filled with the bitterest sensations of despondence and mortification. Alas! I did not yet entirely know the fatal effects of this miserable deformity." (page 80).
When many of us think of monsters or evil beings, the only thing that we want to do is hate them. However, I simply cannot hate this creature. I actually love the creature and everything about it. It is kind and gentle and has an amazing heart. Isn't the creature just like any one of us? The creature just wants one thing: to be loved. We all want that. The creature reaches out to Victor, its creator, the minute the creature is born. And what does Victor do? Victor runs away. The creature is rejected and wanders off on its own. The creature spent years by itself and no one cares for it at all. This is sad. I also find it heartbreaking that the creature cannot even live among the people. He finds and shed to hide in and lives in that. Are you kidding me?! This is just devastating. And does the creature complain? No. The creature shovels people's snow and brings them fire wood. The creature is an amazing being, and people only show it hatred. I honestly feel incredibly sorry for the creature and want it to change the town with its kindness and love. People need to look past people's differences and see people for who they are by their actions and by the motives of their hearts, not their appearances.
When many of us think of monsters or evil beings, the only thing that we want to do is hate them. However, I simply cannot hate this creature. I actually love the creature and everything about it. It is kind and gentle and has an amazing heart. Isn't the creature just like any one of us? The creature just wants one thing: to be loved. We all want that. The creature reaches out to Victor, its creator, the minute the creature is born. And what does Victor do? Victor runs away. The creature is rejected and wanders off on its own. The creature spent years by itself and no one cares for it at all. This is sad. I also find it heartbreaking that the creature cannot even live among the people. He finds and shed to hide in and lives in that. Are you kidding me?! This is just devastating. And does the creature complain? No. The creature shovels people's snow and brings them fire wood. The creature is an amazing being, and people only show it hatred. I honestly feel incredibly sorry for the creature and want it to change the town with its kindness and love. People need to look past people's differences and see people for who they are by their actions and by the motives of their hearts, not their appearances.
Frankenstein: characterization / detail
"His limbs were in proportion, and I had selected his features as beautiful. Beautiful! -Great God! his yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath; his hair was of a lustrous black, and flowing; his teeth of pearly whiteness; but these luxuriances only formed a more horrid contrast with his watery eyes, that seemed almost of the same colour as the dun-white sockets in which they were set, his shrivelled complexion and straight black lips..." (page 35)
In the quote above, Victor describes the features of the creature in full detail. I could literally visualize exactly how this creature looked. I also find the way he describes the creature to be very ironic. Before the creature is created, Victor talks about how the creature would "bless him (Victor) as the creator and source." (page 32). I discussed this in the previous blog about how this all changed. When the creature is created, Victor selected his features as "beautiful," as stated in the quote above. However, when the creature comes to life, Frankenstein is horrified by what he had created, and he sees no beauty in the creature at all. Victor described the entire process of creating the creature in full detail. Actually, he describes his journeys, his encounters with others, his family, and basically everything in full detail. Everything is illustrated beautifully. I don't really see the point as to why Frankenstein went into so much detail. However, everything is so evenly interconnected. When Frankenstein began his story when the chapters begin in this novel, he starts with his family background. Again, Frankenstein goes back to his father and how his mother married. This leads to Victor being born and Victor's siblings becoming part of the family. This leads to Victor being excited about learning, which leads to his experiments, which leads to the creature being born. Yes, it all makes sense. However, Victor's background is that simple. The creature is not even born until Chapter V, though. There is so much fluff before the meat of the story really begins. As a reader, this is kind of aggravating, but that's okay. The detail is amazingly expressive and beautiful. I just would prefer that we would cut to the chase already.
In the quote above, Victor describes the features of the creature in full detail. I could literally visualize exactly how this creature looked. I also find the way he describes the creature to be very ironic. Before the creature is created, Victor talks about how the creature would "bless him (Victor) as the creator and source." (page 32). I discussed this in the previous blog about how this all changed. When the creature is created, Victor selected his features as "beautiful," as stated in the quote above. However, when the creature comes to life, Frankenstein is horrified by what he had created, and he sees no beauty in the creature at all. Victor described the entire process of creating the creature in full detail. Actually, he describes his journeys, his encounters with others, his family, and basically everything in full detail. Everything is illustrated beautifully. I don't really see the point as to why Frankenstein went into so much detail. However, everything is so evenly interconnected. When Frankenstein began his story when the chapters begin in this novel, he starts with his family background. Again, Frankenstein goes back to his father and how his mother married. This leads to Victor being born and Victor's siblings becoming part of the family. This leads to Victor being excited about learning, which leads to his experiments, which leads to the creature being born. Yes, it all makes sense. However, Victor's background is that simple. The creature is not even born until Chapter V, though. There is so much fluff before the meat of the story really begins. As a reader, this is kind of aggravating, but that's okay. The detail is amazingly expressive and beautiful. I just would prefer that we would cut to the chase already.
Frankenstein: irony
"No one can conceive the variety of feelings which bore me onwards, like a hurricane, in the first enthusiasm of success. Life and death appeared to me ideal bounds, which I should first break through and pour a torrent of light into our dark world. A new species would bless me as its creator and source; many happy and excellent natures would owe their beign to me. No father could claim the gratitude of his child so completely as I should deserve theirs. Pursuing these reflections, I thought, that if I could bestow animation upon lifeless matter, I might in process of time renew life where death had apparently devoted the body to corruption." (page 32).
This quote simply made me laugh. I guess I missed the irony in this phrase when I read these chapters the first time. When I came back and reread the first half of the book, I noticed this and was astonished. I find it incredibly ironic that Frankenstein talks about how he would "be blessed as its creator source" if he made a body structure come to life. When Frankenstein really does create the creature, he is blind to the fact that he was blessed as its creator. However, without getting to know the creature, Frankenstein ran away from his creation and neglected it. I also found the line after that ironic. Mary Shelley scribes "many happy and excellent natures would owe their beign to me" (page 32). Later in the chapters, the creature brought upon destruction and made Frankenstein's life miserable. Frankenstein created the creature thinking that he would be happy and could save others' lives. However, the creature did anything but this. Continuing on with the quote above, Victor felt that the creature would "renew life where death had apparently devoted the body to corruption." I find this ironic as well. Victor created the creature, hoping that the creature would bring about cures to illnesses to save people from dying. Victor did this because he was miserable when his mother died. However, the creature did not renew life. If the creature really is the murderer of William (and many others, I presume), then the creature is annihilating life and destroying it. In the creature's defense, he doesn't know any better. All in all, Victor created the creature in hope for happiness and cures, but things didn't exactly go the way he planned. Although the whole plot of recreating a human being is unrealistic, this theme is very realistic. Things don't always go the way we plan.............
This quote simply made me laugh. I guess I missed the irony in this phrase when I read these chapters the first time. When I came back and reread the first half of the book, I noticed this and was astonished. I find it incredibly ironic that Frankenstein talks about how he would "be blessed as its creator source" if he made a body structure come to life. When Frankenstein really does create the creature, he is blind to the fact that he was blessed as its creator. However, without getting to know the creature, Frankenstein ran away from his creation and neglected it. I also found the line after that ironic. Mary Shelley scribes "many happy and excellent natures would owe their beign to me" (page 32). Later in the chapters, the creature brought upon destruction and made Frankenstein's life miserable. Frankenstein created the creature thinking that he would be happy and could save others' lives. However, the creature did anything but this. Continuing on with the quote above, Victor felt that the creature would "renew life where death had apparently devoted the body to corruption." I find this ironic as well. Victor created the creature, hoping that the creature would bring about cures to illnesses to save people from dying. Victor did this because he was miserable when his mother died. However, the creature did not renew life. If the creature really is the murderer of William (and many others, I presume), then the creature is annihilating life and destroying it. In the creature's defense, he doesn't know any better. All in all, Victor created the creature in hope for happiness and cures, but things didn't exactly go the way he planned. Although the whole plot of recreating a human being is unrealistic, this theme is very realistic. Things don't always go the way we plan.............
Frankenstein: foreshadowing
"My departure was therefore fixed at an early date; but, before the day resolved upon could arrive, the first misfortune of my life occurred- an omen, as it were, of my future misery." (page 23)
The novel Frankenstein contains many elements of foreshadowing upcoming events. Part of this could be due to the fact that the story is told as a frame story. Victor is telling the story, so it is only logical that Victor would know what is coming next. He has lived through these events. All of the elements of foreshadowing in this story have to deal with a negative connotation. In the quote above, the words "misfortune" "omen" and "misery" are used to describe Frankenstein's future. As a reader, I am afraid as to what is coming. Victor often uses this vocabulary when describing his future. This is probably why he is in such a horrible state when Robert Walton meets him. Frankenstein has lived a hard life; I just don't know what the creature is going to do to him. Victor has lost so much already. He has lost his mother and his brother and his sanity. If he lost anything more, I am worried that he is going to go insane. Maybe it's not the creature that is going to make Frankenstein miserable. Maybe it is Frankenstein himself who will bring on his own misery... But isn't the creature Victor in another form? Aren't they parallels of each other? So if the creature is going to make Victor miserable, isn't this essentially Victor making himself miserable since they are similar beings? It's something I have been thinking about, and I guess that only time will tell.
The novel Frankenstein contains many elements of foreshadowing upcoming events. Part of this could be due to the fact that the story is told as a frame story. Victor is telling the story, so it is only logical that Victor would know what is coming next. He has lived through these events. All of the elements of foreshadowing in this story have to deal with a negative connotation. In the quote above, the words "misfortune" "omen" and "misery" are used to describe Frankenstein's future. As a reader, I am afraid as to what is coming. Victor often uses this vocabulary when describing his future. This is probably why he is in such a horrible state when Robert Walton meets him. Frankenstein has lived a hard life; I just don't know what the creature is going to do to him. Victor has lost so much already. He has lost his mother and his brother and his sanity. If he lost anything more, I am worried that he is going to go insane. Maybe it's not the creature that is going to make Frankenstein miserable. Maybe it is Frankenstein himself who will bring on his own misery... But isn't the creature Victor in another form? Aren't they parallels of each other? So if the creature is going to make Victor miserable, isn't this essentially Victor making himself miserable since they are similar beings? It's something I have been thinking about, and I guess that only time will tell.
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