Frankenstein Review
Shelley gave the novel the subtitle of "A Modern Prometheus." How is the character Victor Frankenstein like the "modern Prometheus?" Make sure to explain how the allusion to Prometheus adds meaning to the story. What theme is shared? Provide evidence and analysis from each work to support your answer.
Prometheus created mankind for Zeus he provides for mankind (i.e. fire) so that could survive. Prometheus is punished for disobeying the gods and is sentenced to an agonizing death.
1. Frankenstein is rich with the use of symbols. List two major symbols from the story and explain how each functions as a symbol and provide support from the text. Please go beyond one idea and consider several layers of meaning.
Light: knowledge, discovery, enlightenment "What could not be expected in the country of eternal light?": Walton's faith and optimism about science He sees lightning destroy a tree "a stronger light pressed upon [his] nerves, so that [he] was obliged to shut [his] eyes." "more and more oppressive" Fire: life and death fire provides warmth and light in the cold and dark night when he touches it, he finds that it also has a harmful effect Paradise Lost, the creature describes demons suffering in the lake of fire in hell the creature burns down the De Lacey's property
3. One motif in Frankenstein is judging by external appearances. Consider what Shelley reveals about first impressions and judging by appearances through this novel. How is the Greek myth of Pygmalion relevant to this theme in the novel? Provide specific examples from Frankenstein to support your interpretations.
Like Pygmalion, Victor creates his monster with the physical characteristics as the number one priority. He fails to view the monster as a being with thoughts, emotions, and a sense of morality Victor treats the monster as a belonging whereas Pygmalion wishes for his sculpture to become his mate Without being able to see his external features, the blind man and the creature were able to talk and connect for a while All good and moral characters are portrayed as pleasing to the eye by Victor. Examples: Elizabeth, Professor Waldman, Henry, His mother, the Arabian, Felix, Agatha... All characters that look ugly are portrayed as evil and unimportant by Victor. Examples: the creature, Professor Krempe...
5. Explain the importance of the epistolary frame narrative told from the perspective of Robert Walton. Why does Shelley use multiple narrators in Frankenstein? How are the narrative structures of Robert Walton and Victor Frankenstein different? Focus on one thematic idea that connects the two stories and provide evidence and analysis from each work to support your answer.
Both Walton and Frankenstein have/had a pursuit of knowledge and recognition. Walton wanted to discover the North Pole, magnetism, trade routes, etc, while Frankenstein wanted to discover how to create life and make an impact in the scientific community. Frankenstein telling the story of the creature to Walton is the first we hear of Victor sharing his story. Until his narrative for Walton, he has kept his discovery secret. Frankenstein's story is quite far fetched, and thus having Walton telling his sister the story through the epistolary narrative provides credit to Victor's story. Walton's narration is in anticipation of great success upon completion of his voyage, while Frankenstein's narration is coming at a time when he is fatigued, delusional, and vengeful. The shift in time between the two narrators on what is a very similar internal journey provide juxtaposing tones. Walton describes Victor as "his eyes have generally an expression of wildness, and even madness" (pg. 9), and Victor himself realizes that death is the only way to "no longer feel the agonies which now consume me" (pg. 166). Walton is characterized as young, bold, and reckless yet caring at the same time. In his letters to his sister, he writes "my first task is to assure my dear sister of my welfare, and increasing confidence in the success of my undertaking" (pg. 1) as well as "do I not deserve to accomplish some great purpose?... I preferred glory to every enticement that wealth placed in my path." (pg. 3). These two quotes provide indirect and self-characterization of Walton and his contrasting emotional states.
*2. Shelley makes references to Milton's Paradise Lost when the creature identifies itself with two characters, Adam and Satan ("The Fallen Angel"). Consider the significance of each of these allusions and how they help us to understand the psychology of the creature. Analyze how the characters of Satan and Adam from "Paradise Lost" are used as allusion in Frankenstein; provide evidence and analysis from each work to support your answer.
The creature and Adam are both brought into this world by a creator, but once they enter into being, two drastically different routes are taken. The Creature is left to fend for himself, finding his only comfort in a fire that kept him warm and observation of the De Laceys while he himself remains in deep isolation. In contrast with God's creation, the Creature is pieced together from fragments of decomposed corpses; Adam is made from dust, and is thus "of the Earth." Additionally, while the Creature is never even given a name by Victor, God immediately gives Adam a name, showing His love for His creation. This allows Adam to set on a more joyful path and he is welcomed by all the other creatures in the new world. On the other hand, the creature finds hatred every way he turns, and this sparks a hatred for his creator for making him so repulsive. He begins to discover more and more about humans, language, geography, and literature. This knowledge enlightens him to the fact that he is a total outcast and could never be loved. Adam has a similar, but not so drastic, realization when he finds that all other life is beneath him. This yearning for association pushes Adam and the Creature to pursue their creators and ask to be granted a mate. Both yearn for companionship; Adam asks for a companion of equal intelligence (above those of the animals), the Creature asks for another creature like himself. The psychology between the creator and creation, however, is disparate here as God responds benevolently to Adam, while Frankenstein responds largely out of fear and repulsion. The creature is subjected to constant neglect and ostracism, gradually driving him to a more hardened, resentful character. Adam is granted his wish for a mate while the creature is denied this happiness. Just as Satan wants to take revenge on God for placing him in hell, so does the creature want to take revenge on his creator for making him an outcast. The creature takes revenge in every way possible to make his creator unhappy. He kills Frankenstein's family and friends, leaving his creator with in perpetual agony and despair. Satan takes a similar revenge on God by manipulating Eve's hand to disobey her creator. This deeply disappoints God, who made man in His own image, and He banishes man and women to a life of uncertainty. Thus, the Creature is similar also to Satan as they both take revenge on their creators out of hatred and anguish.
7. In Frankenstein, Mary Shelley uses an excerpt from Wordsworth's poem "Tintern Abbey when describing Victor's feelings about Henry and their shared appreciation of the mountains and nature. Analyze how Wordsworth's poem "Tintern Abbey" is used as allusion in Frankenstein. Focus on one thematic idea the two works xshare and provide evidence and analysis from each work to support your answer.
The poem Tintern Abbey, as we have analyzed in class, refers to nature. The poem is used around Victor's description of Henry and the differences between how they deal with/are a part of nature. Henry sees it as a place of natural order, spiritual, something to coexist with. Henry accepts nature as it is without questioning how it came to be, just accepting it for the gift that it is. This makes him a foil to Victor's personality of seeing nature as a challenge, something to manipulate and try to control. Victor and Henry represent two different sides to the Man/Science. Nature argument, and because Henry can be considered an extension of the natural world with his purity, it foreshadows Henry's death when Victor tampers with Nature and creates the Monster. Additionally, Tintern Abbey refers to a hermit, which could be considered the monster or Frankenstein. They both are loners, Victor due to his creation, and the monster, due to his physical isolation. They both are at odds with nature, and so are isolated from the world, AKA nature.
8. In Frankenstein, Mary Shelley uses an excerpt from her husband Percy Shelley's poem "Mutability" when describing Victor's feelings as he tries to recover from the deaths of his brother William and Justine Moritz. Analyze how Shelley's poem is used as allusion in Frankenstein. Focus on one thematic idea the two works share and provide evidence and analysis from each work to support your answer.
nothing in life is constant except change Victor Frankenstein's emotional shifts throughout the novel Percy's poem is placed there just as a reminder that although Victor is having all these emotions, only one thing is constant; change itself
4. Shelley describes, in detail, the childhoods of several characters in Frankenstein. What is the function of the importance of childhood in the novel, especially as it pertains to the influence of nature vs. nurture? Use at least two characters as examples. Provide specific examples from Frankenstein to support your interpretations.
the creature's childhood is characterized by abandonment and ultimately turns it to killing and harming others Victor was brought up in a warm household with a loving family