Saturday, April 12, 2014
Frankenstein Central Themes
Thus far the novel explores several major themes. Which characters exemplify these traits and where do we see this?
Knowledge and the idea of Dangerous Knowledge
The beauty/perfection of nature
The dangerous effects of secrecy
Monstrosity - Who is the real monster in the story?
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Knowledge and the idea of Dangerous Knowledge
ReplyDeleteVictor exemplifies the dangers of the pursuit of knowledge as his attempts to go beyond accepted human limits and access the power of God (the secret of life). In a similar way Robert Walton tries to surpass previous human explorations in his quest to reach the North Pole. The blind pursuit of knowledge proves dangerous for both men, as Victor’s creation (the monster) destroys everyone he loves, and Walton finds himself trapped in the ice. Victor’s obsessive hatred of the monster ultimately leads to his own death. Walton learns from Victor’s flaw and eventually retreats from his mission, having learned how dangerous the thirst for knowledge can be.
The beauty/perfection of nature
When Walton prepares for his mission North, the beauty of nature in St. Petersburg impresses him and inspires because of the natural beauty he believes he will find at the North Pole. He also comments on the picturesque world around him on his journey North further motivating him. Victor is mired in sorrow after the deaths of William and Justine for which he feels responsible, Victor heads to the natural beauty of the mountains to lift his spirits. Even the monster feels his burdens lifted with the natural beauty upon the arrival of spring.
The dangerous effects of secrecy
Victors obsession with penetrating the secrets of nature (the secret of life) leads to his isolation from family and friends as he strives to keep his work hidden from them. Victor also refuses to tell his friend Henry of the monster once he succeeds in creating it further isolating him and leading inevitably to his tragic end.
Monstrosity - Who is the real monster in the story?
Shelly juxtaposes Victor and the monster and reveals in the novel that the monster is far more human than Victor who is changed into a monster due to his obsessive pursuit of knowledge violating nature.
Knowledge and the idea of Dangerous Knowledge
ReplyDeleteVictor and Walton exhibit the dangers of knowledge. For Victor, he goes too far with creating a monster and not taking responsibility for his creation. Walton goes on an adventure towards the north pole. He is going beyond what any other man has gone without caring about the consequences, fortunately, he changes his mind and turns back around towards the end.
The beauty/perfection of nature
Walton describes the beauty of St. Petersburg and expresses the beauty to his sister. He continuously describes his surroundings with great detail. After William and Justine's death, Victor and the rest of his family go to the mountains. They all feel better with nature surrounding them.
The dangerous effects of secrecy
Victor is constantly keeping his secret of monster from his family. He doesn't tell anyone because he feels guilty for creating monster. It is odd that he does tell his secret to Walton, a complete stranger.
Monstrosity - Who is the real monster in the story?
Victor is the monster of the story because he creates this monster who kills his whole family. He also keeps monster a secret instead of warning people. He doesn't take responsibility for his actions.
Knowledge/Dangerous Knowledge:
ReplyDeleteWalton seeks knowledge during the beginning of the story. He is seeking to map the Arctic Circle and venture deep into the unknown to the North Pole. Victor exemplifies a more dangerous and obsessive quest for knowledge as he learns the natural sciences-this plants and nurtures the idea of the monster in his mind.
Beauty/Perfection of Nature:
Walton ventures through the town of St. Petersburg before he sails off into the Arctic Sea. He recounts the epic beauty of the town in great detail. After the death of William and the execution of Justine, Frankenstein and his family vacation off to the Swiss Alps. Here, he describes the beauty of the mountains, glaciers, and the landscape.
Dangerous Effects of Secrecy:
Secrecy played a major role in various deaths in this story. In the beginning, Victor is secretive about creating the monster, which escapes and kills his younger brother. Then, instead of confessing about the creation of the monster, he lets Justine, a friend, be wrongfully executed for the murder of William. Clerval and Elizabeth also end up murdered by the monster--it is possible they would have survived if they had known of its creation.
Who is the true monstrosity?
I think in this story there is not one single monster. Victor creates a rampaging, murderous monster who he takes no responsibility for the actions of. Victor had numerous chances to prevent the deaths surrounding him. However, the monster itself is also to blame. He monster describes educating himself from books and observing humans. He learned of civility and even describes barbarianism and wretchedness in detail on multiple occasions. He is afforded most of the blame for the murders.
Knowledge and the idea of dangerous knowledge
ReplyDeleteWalton seeks knowledge at the beginning of the story seeking out the North Pole. Victor creates the monster that destroys everyone around him and those he cares about. Because he mistreats the monster that he created, the monster takes his life. Walton along the way realizes that his quest for knowledge is far too dangerous to go on. So he heads back.
The beauty/perfection of nature
Walton is inspired by the beauty he thinks that he will find at the North Pole. And what he will see along the way. He expresses how intrigued he was to his sister by nature.
The dangerous effects of secrecy
Victor chooses to keep the monster that he created from his family and friends, but told Walton who he did not even really know. He lets Justine take the fall for the death of William.
Monstrosity
I feel that Victor is responsible for the deaths of all those he cared about because he created this monster and said nothing. I believe this makes Victor the monster.
Waltons search for knowledge of the north pole puts him trapped between two sheets of ice, Victor creates a monster and inevitably destroys everyone close to him, and leads to his own death.
ReplyDeleteVictor goes to the mountains to lighten his spirit, the monster becomes happier when spring arrives, Nature tends to influence mood through out the novel.
Secrecy is dangerous for Victor because he must guard his creation, and once he is able to confess to it, it destroys his life, the monster is forced into hiding because of his ugly appearance and contributes to his awful nature.
monstrosity is credited to victor because of his obsession of creation, his selfishness, and his secrecy.
Victor's drive to find the meaning of life leads him to create the monster. This is dangerous knowledge as he is creating life when that is not our purpose, and this upset the state of nature.
ReplyDeleteVictor and the monster both get gratification from the beauty of nature. they both seek its beauty and solitude.
Victor is the real monster of this story, his creation and all the fatalities that it created
Victor's secrets affect many of the characters in the story. He can not tell about the monster he created. The monster kills yet he still can not reveal the secret allowing another to die for a murder they did not create. His wife also loses her life from Victor's secret.