Answer TWO of the following...
1. How might we use Polidori’s The Vampyre to read some of the events and characters of Frankenstein? Since both writers knew one another and were inspired by the same event (and books, ideas), do we see a connection between Aubrey and Frankenstein? Or Frankenstein and Lord Ruthven?
2. How does Shelley attempt to humanize the “creation” throughout the narrative? What account does the “creature” give of his own “birth,” and how might this contrast with Frankenstein’s creation narrative?
3. The Creature’s education is chiefly in the form of four books: Volney’s Ruins of Empires, Goethe’s The Sorrows of Young Werther, Milton’s Paradise Lost and Plutarch’s Lives. Why this strange collection of works? What do they collectively “teach” the Creature about human life?
4. What do you make of the lengthy interlude of Felix and his relationship with Safie and her father, the Turk? Why does the Creature (or Shelley) feel it necessary to include this tale? Does it echo any of the characters/events of the rest of the story?
1. How might we use Polidori’s The Vampyre to read some of the events and characters of Frankenstein? Since both writers knew one another and were inspired by the same event (and books, ideas), do we see a connection between Aubrey and Frankenstein? Or Frankenstein and Lord Ruthven?
ReplyDeleteBoth Aubrey and Frankenstein are naive in the beginning and gain insight when they are awakened to the darker aspects of reality. Both of them care very deeply about the women in their lives, and they both inadvertantly bring pain to those they love most. Aubrey and Frankenstein both become obsessed, Aubrey with the vampyre and Frankenstein with creating life. As the stories progress, we see that both of them suffer because of their obsessions. There are also similarities between Lord Ruthven and Frankenstein. Neither of them consider how their actions will affect others. The vampyre kills for his own survival, and Frankenstein is so blinded by his obsession to create life that he doesn't consider just how his creature will turn out. Both of them also exercise immense power. The vampyre excites the interest of others and has the power to control women. Frankenstein harnesses the power of nature to create life.
Shanon Norton
2. How does Shelley attempt to humanize the “creation” throughout the narrative? What account does the “creature” give of his own “birth,” and how might this contrast with Frankenstein’s creation narrative?
ReplyDeleteShelly humanizes the creature by using emotion, which is very fitting for such a Romantic work. The creature elicits our compassion by telling of the brutal treatment he received at the hands of people. He experiences what humans experience: he gets hungry, lonely, and scared (but most animals do). His character transcends this animal existence in a few different ways. He uses reason and logic when trying to persuade Frankenstein to listen to him. He reminds Frankenstein of his responsibilities as the creator, and he points out that the brute he has become is a direct result of Frankenstein's neglect. He shows consideration for Frankenstein when he says "the temperature of this place is not fitting to your fine sensations; come to the hut upon the mountain" (95). He expresses meekness by offering his own life (which he loves despite the treachery of others) if only Frankenstein will hear his tale. Like a human baby, his birth is accompanied by adjustments. He must adjust to his senses and develop them just as a baby would. His eyes are out of focus; he learns through trial and error. His humanity is further illustrated by the delight he experiences in watching the family. He is a social creature despite the horrific way he has been treated.
Shanon Norton
2. How does Shelley attempt to humanize the “creation” throughout the narrative? What account does the “creature” give of his own “birth,” and how might this contrast with Frankenstein’s creation narrative?
ReplyDeleteI felt that the "creation" was humanized throughout the first awakenings by the expressions of all the emotions that Shelly creates. We see the creation what the possibilities of an infant might see and possibly undergo. The creation examines things as all being foriegn objects to him. This beautiful imagery creates a childlike essence of the creation and even makes the sympathy more felt. The meeting of the other people makes the creature know that he is different and puts him outcasted to just sit in a house and fend for himself. This humanizes him because we hear him explaining how he eagerly wants to go talk to the others but does not want to be cast out another very "Humanistic" view.
Shannon McKim
4. What do you make of the lengthy interlude of Felix and his relationship with Safie and her father, the Turk? Why does the Creature (or Shelley) feel it necessary to include this tale? Does it echo any of the characters/events of the rest of the story
I felt the interlude helped show the creator that he was humanized and no different than others. Upon watching and creating all these assumptions of this family he understands what is happening to them and their hardships. It also shows his desire to have those same feelings and to be excepted. Also it helped to show that he was not the horrible man eating character and just wants to like everyone else. The Turk just cast aside these people and that is basically what Frankenstein did to his creation. I felt that the creation was over emphasising that he was alone and just has a need for someone else like Felix and Safie again another very humanistic characteristic.
Shannon McKim
Question 1:
ReplyDeleteI think that it would be an adequate assumption to say that Frankenstein and Ruthven were similar in the sense that they both were intrigued by 'creation' and by 'life'. Both Victor and Lord Ruthven bestow gifts of life on creatures that seem to be the least likely and least deserving of the bequeathing. It seems to say that perhaps the writers of these stories may have had some issues as to the worthiness of the recipients of their work. Did they feel that their works were largely under appreciated or misunderstood, perhaps? What *is* life, afterall? Is it in the breathing that we live it or is the breathing only a result of living and the life something else entirely different? These are they types of questions that the comparison of the two brings to the surface.
Question 2
I feel that the ultimate question (or the sublime content) of Frankenstein was one of Creator/created and the desirable situation that should be experienced by them. Shelley humanizes the creation throughout, by giving the creation all of the traits of a feeling, sentient being and yet despite the fact that he is for all intensive purposes, human--he is not received as human and not treated to the common human courtesies. Failed by his Creator, the creature seeks to find out how life works only to find that he is reviled everywhere he goes--misunderstood and mistreated. The Creator, loathes the creature from the first breathing that it accomplishes. Victor wanted the conquest of seeing what would happen but didn't truly want the responsibility of the care of this creation. He hated it before it had ever done a thing.
Shelley seems to be working out her own issues throughout the content of Frankenstein; she works on her own grief and inability to express it without fear and guilt; she seems to show an understanding of a Creator who is disenchanted by the created and at the same time, she is able to show the feelings of the Created after having been abandoned and left so alone by the Creator and without even a spouse to ease his loneliness.
Important questions in the effort to understand the sublime at work throughout the novel.
2. Shelley humanizes the monster by showing us that it experiences the same emotions that we do and with just as much passion. He experiences hunger, fear, longing, happiness, anger, etc. We feel for the monster as it recalls its hurtful treatment received from the people it encounters. Shelley also shows us that the monster is very intelligent as he uses logic and reason to figure out problems and find solutions.
ReplyDelete