Frankenstein
Mary Shelley
I'm in a constant battle between deciding if I trust the creature or not. Even Victor is slightly swayed to feel pity and sympathy for the creature. "His words had a strange effect upon me. I compassionated him and sometimes felt a wish to consol him; but when I looked upon him, when I saw the filthy mass that moved and talked, my heart sickened and my feelings were altered to those of horror and hatred" (Shelley, 106). The creature seems to have an honest, and good-hearted request of having a companion, especially since he has lacked one his whole life thus far. It is what the creature has done is reponse to Victor's abandonment in the past, that would lead me to believe that his intentions are not all good. When the creature killed William, he had intense feelings of triumph, thinking that he destroyed a creation of Victor's. His joy and feelings of success intend that he is not all good, and that though some of his actions could be justified based on his upbringing, he lacks a huge amount of compassion and harvests violent revenge.
Thursday, November 29, 2012
3. Frankenstein
Frankenstein
Mary Shelley
I'm most fascniated the way Shelley creates a picture of such a monster, but at the same time highlighting its humanity. a page and a half after the creature murders William, the creature comes to the side of sleeping Justine, and says, "'Awake, fairest, thy lover is near- he who would give his life but to obtain one look of affection from thine eyes: my beloved, awake!'" (Shelley, 103). It is the speak of a human lover! His first action after the horrendous murder of Victor's brother was that of gentle kindness. It is only out of fear, that he departs and leaves her with William's locket. His monstrosity is juxtaposed continuously with his humanistic tendancies. His request of Victor is even that of wanting to have a companion. It surprises me that out of all of his violence, he just desperately longs for a friend, or a female companion.
Mary Shelley
I'm most fascniated the way Shelley creates a picture of such a monster, but at the same time highlighting its humanity. a page and a half after the creature murders William, the creature comes to the side of sleeping Justine, and says, "'Awake, fairest, thy lover is near- he who would give his life but to obtain one look of affection from thine eyes: my beloved, awake!'" (Shelley, 103). It is the speak of a human lover! His first action after the horrendous murder of Victor's brother was that of gentle kindness. It is only out of fear, that he departs and leaves her with William's locket. His monstrosity is juxtaposed continuously with his humanistic tendancies. His request of Victor is even that of wanting to have a companion. It surprises me that out of all of his violence, he just desperately longs for a friend, or a female companion.
2. Frankenstein
Frankenstein
Mary Shelley
Frankenstein expects that he will be welcomed into the cottagers' home, only after of course explaining his condition. It is by his observations of the foreigner, Safie, that he grows to the assumption that the cottagers would welcome him as they welcomed the foreigner, Safie. "I soon percieved, that although the stranger uttered articulate sounds, and appeared to have a language of her own, she was neither understood by, nor herself understood, the cottagers" (Shelley, 82). She, although completely human, was in a similar state as the creature is. He, as is Safie, is a product of a foreign upbringing. "I contemplated the virtues of the cottagers, their amiable and benevolent dispositions, I persuaded myself that when they should become acquianted with my admiration of their virtures, they would compassionate me and overlook my personal deformity" (Shelley, 93). His personal deformity and foreign status ended up being too grand of a difference for the cottagers to look past.
Mary Shelley
Frankenstein expects that he will be welcomed into the cottagers' home, only after of course explaining his condition. It is by his observations of the foreigner, Safie, that he grows to the assumption that the cottagers would welcome him as they welcomed the foreigner, Safie. "I soon percieved, that although the stranger uttered articulate sounds, and appeared to have a language of her own, she was neither understood by, nor herself understood, the cottagers" (Shelley, 82). She, although completely human, was in a similar state as the creature is. He, as is Safie, is a product of a foreign upbringing. "I contemplated the virtues of the cottagers, their amiable and benevolent dispositions, I persuaded myself that when they should become acquianted with my admiration of their virtures, they would compassionate me and overlook my personal deformity" (Shelley, 93). His personal deformity and foreign status ended up being too grand of a difference for the cottagers to look past.
1. Frankestein
Frankenstein
Mary Shelley
"Was man, indeed, at once so powerful, so virtuous, and magnificent, yet so vicious, and base? [...] To be a great and virtuous man appeared the highest honour that can befall a sensitive being; to be base and vicious, as many on record have been, appeared the lowest degradation, a condition more abject than that of the blind mole or harmless worm" (Shelley, 84). Frankenstein provides an outside look into the many confusing aspects of humanity. He, as a functioning "human", is yet so alien, has a rather objective view of humanity at various point in his existence. Of course, his objectivity is made relative when he feels anger and frustration to humanity in the instances in which people have encountered him. Regardless of his emotional state, he has given insight into human behavior. He has many times pointed out the inconguences in human behavior, specifically when he saved a little girl from drowning, and in return, was shot. His understanding of both the malice and compassion of humanity is a valuable contribution admist his aggression.
Mary Shelley
"Was man, indeed, at once so powerful, so virtuous, and magnificent, yet so vicious, and base? [...] To be a great and virtuous man appeared the highest honour that can befall a sensitive being; to be base and vicious, as many on record have been, appeared the lowest degradation, a condition more abject than that of the blind mole or harmless worm" (Shelley, 84). Frankenstein provides an outside look into the many confusing aspects of humanity. He, as a functioning "human", is yet so alien, has a rather objective view of humanity at various point in his existence. Of course, his objectivity is made relative when he feels anger and frustration to humanity in the instances in which people have encountered him. Regardless of his emotional state, he has given insight into human behavior. He has many times pointed out the inconguences in human behavior, specifically when he saved a little girl from drowning, and in return, was shot. His understanding of both the malice and compassion of humanity is a valuable contribution admist his aggression.
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Frankenstein (5/5)
Frankenstein
Mary Shelley
It's all just one big terrible irony. Frankenstein created life! My God that should be something phenomenal and celebrated- but this creation is a "catastrophe". "How can I describe my emotions at this catastrophe, or how delineate the wretch whom with such infinite pains and care I had endeavored to form?" (Shelly, 35). He spent two years and his passion and energy on collecting parts from various sources (slaughterhouses nonetheless) and created an actual live being. Especially when this novel was written, that notion was presumably huge (today we can duplicate cells in pitri dishes all the time). What's even more painful, is that those he loves are being killed. "...William and Justine, the first hapless victims to my unhallowed arts" (Shelley, 60). Obviously his creature killed the two, and possibly he will murder more to come. It is terrible that all of his study and work came to such unfortunate circumstances.
Mary Shelley
It's all just one big terrible irony. Frankenstein created life! My God that should be something phenomenal and celebrated- but this creation is a "catastrophe". "How can I describe my emotions at this catastrophe, or how delineate the wretch whom with such infinite pains and care I had endeavored to form?" (Shelly, 35). He spent two years and his passion and energy on collecting parts from various sources (slaughterhouses nonetheless) and created an actual live being. Especially when this novel was written, that notion was presumably huge (today we can duplicate cells in pitri dishes all the time). What's even more painful, is that those he loves are being killed. "...William and Justine, the first hapless victims to my unhallowed arts" (Shelley, 60). Obviously his creature killed the two, and possibly he will murder more to come. It is terrible that all of his study and work came to such unfortunate circumstances.
Frankenstein (4/5)
Frankenstein
Mary Shelley
When I read this next section, I was thinking about what someone talked about in class the other day, that "this is what happens when people try to play God". I suppose I understand that statement. Especially when Frankenstein dedicated his passion and health for two years in the hopes of creating a beautiful life and it turned out to be a disaster/killing machine. Obviously this is tragic for Frankenstein and the family and Elizabeth, but I have a great sympathy for Frankestein because what he intended and fought for with all of the right intentions turned back on him. He's just a mad scientist with the right intentions and the wrong circumstances. This is probably going to sound absurd, but didn't God create humankind with the intention that they would be in God's image? All of the right intentions, and yet humans are still broken. I am by no means saying Frankenstein is God, but isn't he kind of similar in that he has such a love for creating and infusing love and right into the world that he worked like a madman for years to get to this beautiful creation? That is my weird thought of the day.
"Remember, that I am thy creature; I ought to be thy Adam, but I am rather the fallen angel, whom thou drivest from joy for no misdeed" (Shelley, 69).
Mary Shelley
When I read this next section, I was thinking about what someone talked about in class the other day, that "this is what happens when people try to play God". I suppose I understand that statement. Especially when Frankenstein dedicated his passion and health for two years in the hopes of creating a beautiful life and it turned out to be a disaster/killing machine. Obviously this is tragic for Frankenstein and the family and Elizabeth, but I have a great sympathy for Frankestein because what he intended and fought for with all of the right intentions turned back on him. He's just a mad scientist with the right intentions and the wrong circumstances. This is probably going to sound absurd, but didn't God create humankind with the intention that they would be in God's image? All of the right intentions, and yet humans are still broken. I am by no means saying Frankenstein is God, but isn't he kind of similar in that he has such a love for creating and infusing love and right into the world that he worked like a madman for years to get to this beautiful creation? That is my weird thought of the day.
"Remember, that I am thy creature; I ought to be thy Adam, but I am rather the fallen angel, whom thou drivest from joy for no misdeed" (Shelley, 69).
Frankenstein (3/5)
Frankenstein
Mary Shelley
Reading on, it becomes clear Frankenstein's motivation for such a creation. The opening story he shares is of his mother and her experience as a young adult, being orphaned when her father died in her arms. Then, when Elizabeth gets the scarlette fever, Caroline Frankenstein falls ill to the same illness while taking care of her. Under these circumstances, it makes sense that Victor would have such a longing to create life and health where there is no hope for it otherwise. "Pursuing these reflections, I thought, that if I could bestow animation upon lifeless matter, I might in process of time (although I now found it impossible) renew life where death had apparently devoted the body to corruption" (Shelley, 32). His passion and madness is directly stemmed from being traumatized from his experience of death. He longs to dive into the impossible.
"[...] And soon my mind was filled with one thought, one conception, one purpose. So much has been done, exclaimed the soul of Frankenstein,-- more, far more, will I achieve: treading in the steps already marked, I will pioneer a new way, explore unknown powers, and unfold to the world the deepest mysteries of creation" (Shelley, 28).
Mary Shelley
Reading on, it becomes clear Frankenstein's motivation for such a creation. The opening story he shares is of his mother and her experience as a young adult, being orphaned when her father died in her arms. Then, when Elizabeth gets the scarlette fever, Caroline Frankenstein falls ill to the same illness while taking care of her. Under these circumstances, it makes sense that Victor would have such a longing to create life and health where there is no hope for it otherwise. "Pursuing these reflections, I thought, that if I could bestow animation upon lifeless matter, I might in process of time (although I now found it impossible) renew life where death had apparently devoted the body to corruption" (Shelley, 32). His passion and madness is directly stemmed from being traumatized from his experience of death. He longs to dive into the impossible.
"[...] And soon my mind was filled with one thought, one conception, one purpose. So much has been done, exclaimed the soul of Frankenstein,-- more, far more, will I achieve: treading in the steps already marked, I will pioneer a new way, explore unknown powers, and unfold to the world the deepest mysteries of creation" (Shelley, 28).
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