Frankenstein quotes paper 2

“I am malicious because I am miserable.”

Causal syntax (“because”) + juxtaposition of “malicious/miserable” links suffering to violence.

Medea’s suffering similarly transforms into destructive revenge; both suggest rejection/betrayal can produce violence.

Suffering, isolation, revenge, morality, nature vs nurture.

“I ought to be thy Adam, but I am rather the fallen angel.”

Biblical allusion + antithesis (“Adam” / “fallen angel”) presents corrupted creation.

Medea also disrupts conventional parent-child relationships, transforming motherhood from protection into destruction.

Creation, responsibility, religion, parenthood, morality, power.

“I conceived the idea, and executed the creation of a man.”

Parallel verbs (“conceived” / “executed”) + reproductive imagery gives Victor sole creative authority.

Medea challenges conventional gender roles in a different way, asserting agency within a patriarchal society.

Knowledge, creation, gender, power, ambition, responsibility.

“I was the slave, not the master.”

Antithesis + metaphor of slavery reverses the expected power relationship.

Medea similarly transforms from powerless exile into a figure who controls Jason’s suffering and fate.

Power, control, reversal, ambition, revenge, agency.

“burning hatred, and ardent desire of revenge”

Fire imagery (“burning”, “ardent”) conveys consuming, destructive emotion.

Medea’s passion likewise becomes an overwhelming force that consumes rationality and drives revenge.

Revenge, passion, suffering, obsession, violence.

“What was I?”

Rhetorical question + interrogative syntax conveys an unstable sense of identity.

Medea’s exile similarly destabilises her identity and sense of belonging in Corinth.

Identity, isolation, alienation, belonging, otherness.

“no link to any other being in existence”

Absolute language (“no”, “any”, “existence”) emphasises total isolation.

Medea’s status as a foreign exile similarly leaves her without familial/social support.

Isolation, alienation, belonging, rejection, society.

“lost all soul or sensation but for this one pursuit”

Absolutist language + narrowing (“this one pursuit”) suggests obsessive psychological fixation.

Medea similarly becomes consumed by revenge, allowing passion to overwhelm rationality.

• Obsession, revenge, emotion, ambition, psychological deterioration.