Frankenstein Review

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Feminine stage

Feminine stage

imitation of prevailing modes of the dominant tradition (anonymous)

Feminist stage

Protest against dominant standards (Mrs. Shelly)

Female stage

Phase of self-discovery or a search for identity (Mary Shelly)

Men

sphere of discovery (public sphere, discovery, commerce)

Women

sphere of domesticity (home, passive)

Gothicism

A genre of literature that combines elements of horror and romance. Predecessor to modern horror movies. Increased ideas of nature, both of healing and destruction. Weather indication of mood is common (as seen in Frankenstein)

Romanticism

A revolt against aristocratic social and political norms of the Age of Enlightenment. Embodied most strongly in the arts. Characterized by the five I's (later question)

"I ought to be thy _____, although I am thy fallen angel."

Adam

"I am benevolent and good; misery made me a fiend, made me happy and I shall again be __________."

virtuous

"Was I then a monster, a ______upon the earth, from which all men fled?"

blot

"Accused ________! Why did you form a monster so hideous that even you turned away from me in disgust?"

creator

"It is well. I go, but remember, I shall be with you on your ___________ _______."

wedding night

"Believe me, Frankenstein, I was benevolent; my soul glowed with love and humanity; but am I not alone, miserably alone? You, my creator, _______ me; what hope can I gather from your fellow creatures, who owe me nothing."

abhor

"Beware; for I am fearless, and therefore _________."

powerful

Mary Wollstonecraft

A famous feminist author who died 11 days after giving birth to Mary.

William Godwin

A famous 19th century philosopher who believed in the rights of the individual.

Prometheus

The myth has become a metaphor of what happens when humans get a hold of something they can't control

Theme: Dangerous Knowledge

Victor attempts to go beyond accepted human limits and find the secret of life.

Robert attempts to reach the North Pole. This ruthless pursuit of knowledge proves dangers.

Whereas Victor's obsessive hatred of the monster drives him to his death, Walton ultimately pulls back from his mission.

Theme: Monstrosity

The Creature's monstrosity results not only from his grotesque appearance but also in the unnatural manner of his creation, which involves stolen body parts and chemicals. He is not a product of a collaborative scientific effort, but of dark, supernatural workings.

Victor himself is a kind of monster. He is a monster on the inside as he is eventually consumed by hatred.

Motif: Passive Women

For a novel written by the daughter of an important feminist, Frankenstein is strikingly devoid of strong female characters. Many female suffer camly and then expire.

Such characters are Caroline, Justine, female Creature, and Elizabeth.

One can argue that she does this to boast the destructive behavior of the Creature and Victor.

Symbol: Light and Fire

Light symbolizes knowledge, discovery, and enlightenment. The goal of science is to spread the light to the dark, unknown mechanisms.

The dangerous and more powerful cousin of light is fire. There's a dual nature to fire, warmth and destructive heat.

This can apply to Prometheus.

Doppelganger

Both the Creature and Victor mirror each other in their effort to destroy each other. They represent a duality or alter egos.

Other Themes

Are we responsible for our own actions?
Are we responsible for the actions of others?
Can we reshape the past?

What does the cultural criticism most relate to?

The movie clips seen in class.

Who is the "big guy" with the psychoanalytic criticism?

Sigmund Freud, and thanks to him, literature began to be interpreted like dreams.

What wave of feminism was Mary Wollstonecraft?

First wave.

Elaine Showalter

A second wave feminist. Created the three stages of literary subculture development.

Essentialist viewpoint

Viewpoint that refers to the view that women are essentially different from men.

Constructionist viewpoint

Viewpoint that refers to the view that most of those differences are characteristics not of the male and female sex (nature) but, rather, of the masculine and feminine genders (nurture)

How do revolutions relate to the Creature?

Both the French and British revolution were failed experiments and the monster is a failed experiment. Many revolutions lead to horrors (death).

The monster can be seen as the emergent working class (proletariat)

Victor is the only industrial element, the Creature is the only product.

What are the five I's of romanticism?

Imagination, intuition, idealism, inspiration, individuality. A common theme is emotion, abstractness, irrational

Marxism in the prison

Addressed in the prison when Victor was given the best living conditions due to his social class, Also his instant friendship with Walton as they were similar upper class.

Safie and Safie's mother.

Representation of Mary Shelly and Mary Wollstonecraft respectively.

Ruins of Kingdom

Shows the inherent evil natures of Humankind, and paves the view of the creatures negative and harmful mindset

Sorrows of Werther

Taught Creature thoughts and human nature

Paradise Lost

Makes the Creature believe that he was like Adam with n connections to his creator.

Plutarch Lives

History on the founders of ancient republics

"Satan had his companions, fellow-devils, to admire and encourage him; but I am _______ and ________"

solitary, detested