Worlds of Upheaval Essay

What is 'Frankenstein'?

Mary Shelley's 1818 gothic novel that critiques the hubristic tendency of man to 'play God' and advocates for the re-establishment of Romantic values.

What historical/social upheaval influenced Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein'?

The societal upheaval caused by the French Revolution and the emerging Industrial Revolution provoked Shelley's advocacy for Romantic values.

How does the epigraph of 'Frankenstein' employ biblical allusion?

The epigraph, 'Did I request thee, Maker, from my clay?' is an intertextual reference from Milton's 'Paradise Lost' that alludes to Adam, highlighting Frankenstein's role as an unorthodox creator.

Explain the biblical allusion in the Monster's self-description in 'Frankenstein'.

The monster's description of himself as 'thy creature' and stating 'I ought to be thy Adam, but I am rather the fallen angel' alludes to both Adam and Satan, condemning man's pride in playing God.

How does Victor's quote, 'I should pour a torrent of light into our dark world,' demonstrate hubris?

Victor's dialogue, 'I should pour a torrent of light into our dark world,' metaphorically alludes to God as the creator who 'poured light' into the world, reinforcing man's hubristic desire to replicate creation.

How does Rousseau's theory support Shelley's critique in 'Frankenstein'?

Shelley integrates Rousseau's theory that people are not inherently evil but humankkind creates immorality, conveying that committing sin through false creation perpetuates evil in others.

What is 'Waiting For Godot'?

Samuel Beckett's post-World War II tragicomedy that opposes the fruitlessness of Romanticism and spirituality, opting for an Absurdist perspective.

What historical context influenced Samuel Beckett's 'Waiting For Godot'?

The social and spiritual upheaval following World War II influenced Beckett, leading him to reflect on the futility of religious belief.

What is the significance of the single tree in 'Waiting For Godot'?

The single tree is often interpreted as the Tree of Knowledge from the Garden of Eden or the cross on which Christ was crucified, symbolizing spirituality but used by Beckett to reinforce the futility of religion.

How does Beckett modify a biblical proverb in 'Waiting For Godot' to convey his Absurdist view?

Vladimir's dialogue, 'hope deferred maketh the something sick,' modifies a passage from Proverbs, highlighting the absurdist notion of the fruitlessness of waiting for religious fulfillment or meaning.

How does the dialogue about the 'two thieves' in 'Waiting For Godot' align with an Absurdist worldview?

The characters' discussion of 'Our Savior. Two thieves. One is supposed to have been saved and the other… damned. / Saved from what? / Hell' evokes feelings of confusion and futility rather than hope and salvation, emphasizing the absurdity of their situation.

What is 'The Handmaid's Tale'?

Margaret Atwood's 1985 speculative fiction novel that critiques religious fundamentalism and excessive Romantic values, particularly for their oppression and exploitation of women.

What socio-political contexts influenced Margaret Atwood's 'The Handmaid's Tale'?

Atwood was influenced by the Iranian theocratic regime of Khomeini and the Western evangelical religious movement, constructing Gilead to condemn oppressive values.

How does the epigraph of 'The Handmaid's Tale' critique Romantic and religious ideals?

The epigraph from the Book of Genesis, 'when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children… she said, ‘Behold my maid Bilhah…and she shall bear upon my knees,'' introduces the oppressive regime of Gilead and conveys Atwood's views on organized religion's exploitation of women.

How does the costuming of Handmaids in 'The Handmaid's Tale' reflect religious critique?

The Handmaids' 'shrouds' and the symbolism of 'red: the colour of blood, which defines [them]' highlight their enforced modesty and sexual submission, critiquing overtly spiritual, Romantic values.

Analyze the biblical subversion in Offred's statement about being 'filled' in 'The Handmaid's Tale'.

Offred's high modal language, 'what we prayed for was emptiness, so we would be worthy to be filled: with grace, with love, with self-denial, semen and babies,' subverts biblical imagery to detail her role as a vessel for human life, emphasizing her subjugation.

What does Aunt Lydia's allusion to 'dry ground or thorns' signify in 'The Handmaid's Tale'?

Aunt Lydia's dialogue, 'some of you will fall on dry ground or thorns,' biblically alludes to Jesus' crown of thorns, highlighting the suffering ingrained in religious fundamentalism and experienced by women in Gilead.

How does Offred's prayer to 'become a chalice' symbolize her exploitation?

Offred's prayer, 'dear God… I’ll empty myself, truly, become a chalice… I resign my body freely, to the uses of others,' uses chremamorphic affirmation to enforce her objectified treatment under Romantic, religious law, highlighting her lack of hope.

Atwood’s presentation of biblical imagery as brutal and oppressive

Atwood strongly opposes the Romantic values evident in 1980s religious fundamentalism, positioning readers to do the same.