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This is a game where you can create the monster from Frankenstein.
Foreshadowing
"One man's life or death were but a small price to pay for the acquirement of the knowledge which I sought, for the dominion I should acquire and transmit over the elemental foes of our race" (Letter 4.21).
This foreshadows how Frankenstein will have to pay a price for his pursuit of knowledge and experimentation.
"A being formed in the 'very poetry of nature.' His wild and enthusiastic imagination was chastened by the sensibility of his heart. His soul overflowed with ardent affections and his friendship was of that devoted and wondrous nature that the world-minded teach us to look for only in the imagination" (18.2).
This shows how The Being will be much like a child with their first encounters with new things and new people in life.
"I was possessed by a kind of nightmare. I felt the fiend's grasp in my neck, and could not free myself from it; groans and cries rung in my ears" (21.4).
Victor was having nightmares and keeps having dreams of death - specifically with The Being murdering him.
Allusions
"Oh Frankenstein, be not equitable to every other and trample upon me alone, to whom thy justice, and even thy clemency and affection, is most due. Remember that I am thy creature; I ought to be thy Adam, but I am rather the fallen angel" (10.5).
This is a reference to Adam from The Bible. The monster compares himself to the first man created (Adam) towards his creator as if he were a God (Victor). Instead of being like Adam though, he says he is more like the "fallen angel" (Satan).
"But it was all a dream; no Eve soothed my sorrows nor shared my thoughts; I was alone. I remembered Adam's supplication to his Creator. But where was mine?" (15.6).
Another reference towards the Bible. Here the monster is sad that he doesn't have a female companion to "soothe his sorrows". He compares Eve, who was Adam's companion, towards the female monster he wanted to be created.
I cannot describe to you my sensations on the near prospect of my undertaking. It is impossible to communicate to you a conception of the trembling sensation, half pleasurable and half fearful, with which I am preparing to depart. I am going to unexplored regions, to "the land of mist and snow," but I shall kill no albatross; therefore do not be alarmed for my safety or if I should come back to you as worn and woeful as the "Ancient Mariner" (Letter 2.4).
Walton describes his desire to travel and explore the world. He is an exploratory person both in terms of physical travel and the mental exploration of intellectual discovery.
Symbols
"...a country of eternal light" (Letter 1.1)
This quote comes from Walton's first letter. This quote symbolizes how light is a symbol for knowledge and discovery. Walton's quest to reach the northernmost part of the world is similar to Victor's quest for the secret of life: both seek ultimate knowledge, and both sacrifice comfort of the realm of known knowledge in their respective pursuits.
"A new light seemed to dawn upon my mind" (2.6)
Here is another example of how light is the beauty and simplicity of the phrasing of the eighteenth-century scientific rationalists’ optimism about knowledge as a pure good.
"One day, when I was oppressed by cold, I found a fire which had been left by some wandering beggars, and was overcome with delight at the warmth I experienced from it. In my joy I thrust my hand into the live embers, but quickly drew it out again with a cry of pain" (11.1).
This is a quote from the monster. He finds the fire comforting but if he gets too close to it, it ends up hurting him. This can symbolize how with new life he is discovering new things, and those new things can either help or hurt him.
Themes
This document goes over the reoccurring theme of alienation in Frankenstein.
"I have no friend, Margaret: when I am glowing with the enthusiasm of success, there will be none to participate my joy; if I am assailed by disappointment, no one will endeavor to sustain me in dejection" (Letter 2).
This is a quote said by Walton. It shows how isolation and loneliness is a reoccurring theme throughout Frankenstein. Walton, Victor, and the monster all experience isolation.
"All men hate the wretched; how then, must I be hated, who am miserable beyond all living things! Yet you, my creator, detest and spurn me, thy creature, to whom thou art bound by ties only dissoluble by the annihilation of one of us" (10.7).
This quote is said by the monster. It has the themes of isolation and hatred. The monster feels hated by all of mankind, and due to this hatred because of his grotesque appearance, he feels isolated and has self hatred.
"When I looked around I saw and heard of none like me. Was I, a monster, a blot upon the earth from which all men fled and whom all men disowned?" (13.4).
Here is another example of isolation and loneliness experienced by the monster.
Allegory
"This was then the reward of my benevolence! I had saved a human being from destruction, and as a recompense I now writhed under the miserable pain of a wound which shattered the flesh and bone. The feelings of kindness and gentleness which I had entertained but a few moments before gave place to hellish rage and gnashing of teeth. Inflamed by pain, I vowed eternal hatred and vengeance to all mankind" (16.9).
This is when the monster saves the little girl from drowning. We'd think that the humans would be happy about this, but instead they drive the monster away because they thought that he was trying to kill the girl due to his horrifying looks. This shows how appearance means a lot to humans.
“No one can conceive the variety of feelings which bore me onwards, like a hurricane, in the first enthusiasm of success. Life and death appeared to me ideal bounds, which I should first break through, and pour a torrent of light into our dark world. A new species would bless me as its creator and source; many happy and excellent natures would owe their being to me” (3.6)
Here is a quote said by Victor explaining all the emotions he feels about creating life. He actually seems quite cocky that he'll be creating life by saying all life should owe their being to him. Maybe it's a lesson not to become so cocky.
"I am malicious because I am miserable. Am I not shunned and hated by all mankind?" (17.5).
This shows how our personalities - or what we believe to be our personalities - are created, not born. For The Being, he thinks of himself this way because of how humans have treated him so far.
Archetype
"You seek for knowledge and wisdom, as I once did; and I ardently hope that the gratification of your wishes may not be a serpent to sting you, as mine has been" (Letter 4.2).
This quote is said by Victor. It shows how Victor had ambition at first with his pursuit for knowledge and admires Walton for wanting the same thing, but warns him that there may be prices he'll have to pay and sacrifices he'll have to make.
"When I looked around I saw and heard of none like me. Was I, a monster, a blot upon the earth from which all men fled and whom all men disowned?" (13.7).
This is a quote said by the monster. He knows that he's different, especially physically wise. This also shows another form of isolation for the monster.
Catastrophe
"How can I describe my emotions at this catastrophe, or how delineate the wretch whom with such infinite pains and care I had endeavoured to form? His limbs were in proportion, and I had selected his features as beautiful. Beautiful! -- Great God! His yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath; his hair was of a lustrous black, and flowing; his teeth of a pearly whiteness; but these luxuriances only formed a more horrid contrast with his watery eyes, that seemed almost of the same colour as the dun white sockets in which they were set, his shrivelled complexion and straight black lips" (5.2).
This was a great catastrophe for Victor. He is reevaluating his new creation and he is both satisfied and unsatisfied with it. He calls his creature "beautiful" but the way he describes the physical appearance of it isn't very beautiful.
"You can blast my other passions, but revenge remains--revenge, henceforth dearer than light of food! I may die, but first you, my tyrant and tormentor, shall curse the sun that gazes on your misery." (20.8).
Here is another example of catastrophe. It shows how badly the monster wants Victor to die, and emphasizes the revenge he's been wanting.
"William is dead!--that sweet child, whose smiles delighted and warmed my heart, who was so gentle, yet so gay! Victor, he is murdered!" (20.1)
This is a situation catastrophe. Here it reveals that William, Victor's younger brother, is dead. Victor is worried that William's death could be at the hands of the monster he created.
Characterization
"The gentle words of Agatha and the animated smiles of the charming Arabian were not for me. The mild exhortations of the old man and the lively conversation of the loved Felix were not for me. Miserable, unhappy wretch!" (13.19)
The monster quickly changes from ugly and kind to ugly and murderous. The transformation is due to him being ugly and the experiences he has with other humans because of it. Not only is he ugly on the surface, he is innately ugly as well just from a few bad interactions with humans.
"She attended her sickbed; her watchful attentions triumphed over the malignity of the distemper—Elizabeth was saved, but the consequences of this imprudence were fatal to her preserver" (3.1).
This shows how caring and sacrificial Caroline Frankenstein is. She loves Elizabeth so much that she basically sacrifices her own life in order to save Elizabeth's when she is sick with scarlet fever. Most parents are like this whenever their child(ren) become(s) sick; they know that there is a chance of them catching the sickness as well but they don't care about that, they care more about helping and healing their child(ren).
"Who shall conceive the horrors of my secret toil as I dabbled among the unhallowed damps of the grave or tortured the living animal to animate the lifeless clay?" (4.9).
Victor's obsessive desire to create life has led him to "secret horrors". He does immoral things such as torture animals in order to create this life. In order to create life, he has to kill a lot of living things and deal with a lot of dead things (animals, humans).
Tone
This essay file goes over the language Mary Shelley uses to create tension in her novel.
frankenstienessay-finaldraft.docx | |
File Size: | 7 kb |
File Type: | docx |
"My days were spent in close attention, that I might more speedily master the language; and I may boast that I improved more rapidly than the Arabian, who understood very little and conversed in broken accents, whilst I comprehended and could imitate almost every word that was spoken" (13.12).
This tone is slightly racist, because Mary Shelley is implying that a new monster is better at speaking in Western languages other than Arabians.
"I improved, however, sensibly in this science, but not sufficiently to follow up any kind of conversation, although I applied my whole mind to the endeavor, for I easily perceived that, although I eagerly longed to discover myself to the cottagers, I ought not to make the attempt until I had first become master of their language, which knowledge might enable me to make them overlook the deformity of my figure, for with this also the contrast perpetually presented to my eyes had made me acquainted" (12.12).
This monster's diction is very eloquent. He believes that if he knows how to speak the other human's language well enough, then they will overlook his hideous appearance.
"He struggled violently. "Let me go," he cried; "monster! Ugly wretch! You wish to eat me and tear me to pieces. You are an ogre. Let me go, or I will tell my papa" (16.25-27).
This tone from William is rather harsh towards the monster. He calls him ugly, and fears that the monster will hurt him just based on his looks.
Epic Characteristics
"Shall each man," cried he, "find a wife for his bosom, and each beast have his mate, and I be alone? I had feelings of affection, and they were requited by detestation and scorn. Man! You may hate, but beware! Your hours will pass in dread and misery, and soon the bolt will fall which must ravish from you your happiness forever. Are you to be happy while I grovel in the intensity of my wretchedness? You can blast my other passions, but revenge remains -- revenge, henceforth dearer than light or food! I may die, but first you, my tyrant and tormentor, shall curse the sun that gazes on your misery. Beware, for I am fearless and therefore powerful. I will watch with the wiliness of a snake, that I may sting with its venom. Man, you shall repent of the injuries you inflict" (20.11).
You tend to feel bad for the monster. He's revengeful and hateful only because he's so lonely. He used to be very compassionate, and strives to be good and do good things, but this quickly changes once he has a few bad encounters with humans.
Simile
"Sir Isaac Newton is said to have avowed that he felt like a child picking up shells beside the great and unexplored ocean of truth" (2.12).
This simile is quite self explanatory. Isaac Newton is comparing the pursuit of knowledge to a child picking up shells at the beach; there is just so much (to know, to pick up) that the numbers aren't quantifiable.
"No one can conceive the variety of feelings which bore me onwards, like a hurricane, in the first enthusiasm of success" (4.15).
Let's just say Victor is feeling a lot of feels. He's comparing the plethora of emotions he feels as if it were like a hurricane.
Metaphor
"I saw him descend the mountain with greater speed than the flight of an eagle, and quickly lost among the undulations of the sea of ice" (17.25)
Here we see that The Being is being compared to an eagle due to his incredible speed.
"I feel pleasure in dwelling on the recollections of childhood, before misfortune had tainted my mind, and changed its bright visions of extensive usefulness into gloomy and narrow reflections upon self" (2.5).
Ah, Victor reflecting back on childhood, how nice it was. But now that he's older all he sees is gloom. Kind of like how it is for the monster; child
"The moon gazed on my midnight labours" (4.23).
This is metaphorical because a moon can't literally gaze when it's something that doesn't have eyes.. or does it? DUN DUN DUNNNN
Hope you enjoy this picture of the moon over Clock Town from Majora's Mask.
Hope you enjoy this picture of the moon over Clock Town from Majora's Mask.
Hamartia
"So much has been done, exclaimed the soul of Frankenstein—more, far more, will I achieve; treading in the steps already marked, I will pioneer a new way, explore unknown powers, and unfold to the world the deepest mysteries of creation" (3.6).
Frankenstein says this because his professor Mr. Waldman ignited a desire for knowledge of the secret of life. This is one of Frankenstein's downfalls; he becomes so imbursed with his passion for knowledge, he isn't able to control this pursuit. It leads him to do questionable things. Take note that he also speaks in third person when he says this quote, which is quite odd.
"It was the secrets of heaven and earth that I desired to learn; and whether it was the outward substance of things or the inner spirit of nature and the mysterious soul of man that occupied me, still my inquiries were directed to the metaphysical, or in its highest sense, the physical secrets of the world" (2.9).
Here is another example of how passionate Frankenstein is for his pursuit in knowledge. Success to him was discovering knowledge that no other human had yet possessed. He wanted to have a "godly" role in creating life.
"Frankenstein! you belong then to my enemy -- to him towards whom I have sworn eternal revenge; you shall be my first victim" (16.2).
Here is an example of hamartia for The Being. Like most life forms, they pursue love and affection at first. The Being was denied this love by his creator (Frankenstein) and in turn, The Being developed hatred and wanted revenge.
Invocation
"Wandering spirits. of you indeed wander, and do not rest in your narrow beds, allow me this faint happiness, or take me, as your companion, away from the joys of life" (10.3)
This is while Frankenstein goes on a hike to get away from his problems and to think. Here you see him talking to the "wandering spirits" of his hike, asking them to help calm him down, make him happier, add ease to the situation.
Although I couldn't find any other direct textual examples of invocation in this book, the idea that the book portrays itself is a good representation of invocation. Frankenstein summons The Being by creating it from bits and pieces of human and animal parts, et voila! Frankenstein is like a representation of a deity because he created life (The Being).
Irony
"In my education my father had taken the greatest precautions that my mind should be impressed with no supernatural horrors" (4.8).
This is ironic because Frankenstein's father sends him to Ingolstadt in order for Victor to stray away from supernatural beliefs. He ends up becoming obsessed with his studies of science that still leads to supernatural horrors - creating The Being.
"Accursed creator! Why did you form a monster so hideous that even you turned from me in disgust? God, in pity, made man beautiful and alluring, after his own image; but my form is a filthy type of yours, more horrid even from the very resemblance. Satan had his companions, fellow-devils, to admire and encourage him; but I am solitary and abhorred" (15.6).
This is said by The Being towards Victor. I find the situation ironic because most creations would love their creators, and vice versa, but this isn't the case. The Being is full of hatred and revenge towards Victor, and the creator (Victor) is fearful.
Dramatic Irony
"I will be with you on your wedding-night" (20.2)
This is said by The Being towards Victor. This makes Victor think that The Being is going to kill him but the ironic thing is, The Being is going to kill Elizabeth. Since The Being was unloved, he wants to take something that Victor loves away. Another form of irony with this is that since Victor took away a female companion from The Being, The Being wanted to get revenge by doing the same to Victor.
"...whispered together with gestures that at any time might have produced in me a slight sensation of alarm" (20.3).
Victor says this quote. This is ironic because people have become suspicious of Victor over the death of Clerval, and later Clerval's body is found, and Victor is accused of murder. It seems like whenever Victor is narrowly about to escape peril, he is brought back into it.
Tragic Irony
“[Frankenstein] tore to pieces the thing on which [he] was engaged. The wretch saw [Victor] destroy the creature on whose future existence he depended for happiness” (20.4).
This quote is tragic towards the innocent. Because Victor took The Being's chance of love or of a companion away, The Being wanted revenge and to do the same back.
“I shunned the face of man; all sound of joy or complacency was torture to me; solitude was my only consolation—deep, dark, deathlike solitude” (9.5).
This is tragic irony said by The Being. Since he was shunned by humans because of his grotesque appearance, he took any and everything in life - including the joys and happiness - and shunned them.
Plot
“How dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspires to be greater than his nature will allow" (4.8).
This idea follows the whole book with Victor - his pursuit for knowledge. He believes a person is much happier when they know more. This can be debatable, some people like being ignorant (not sure why) and they are happy with life.
"The companions of our childhood always possess a certain power over our minds which hardly any later friend can obtain" (24.5).
This quote is one of the few that reflects on life. It says how people in our childhood tend to leave more of an impression and influence us stronger compared to when we are older. This can be seen when The Being is first created with all of his encounters with humans.. which aren't that great.
Crisis
"I continued for the remainder of the day in my hovel in a state of utter and stupid despair. My protectors had departed and had broken the only link that held me to the world. For the first time the feelings of revenge and hatred filled my bosom, and I did not strive to control them, but allowing myself to be borne away by the stream, I bent my mind towards injury and death" (16.12).
This quote is the very beginning for The Being's thirst for revenge. The Being is so infatuated with the thought of revenge throughout most of the novel.
“Listen to me, Frankenstein. You accuse me of murder; and yet you would, with a satisfied conscience, destroy your own creature. Oh, praise the eternal justice of man!”
This quote is said by The Being towards Victor. He still doesn't understand why Victor hates him so much and would even kill The Being with a happy conscience.
Complications
"If I cannot inspire love, I will cause fear!” (17.3)
This is said by The Being. This complicates the story because at first The Being wanted to get along with humans, but ends up hating all humans, and ends up killing many innocent people.
Setting
Victor Frankenstein is born in Italy; raised in Geneva, Switzerland; and then goes to Ingolstadt, Germany, for his studies - and that's where he creates the monster. He goes to England to create the monster's female companion.
Climax
An example of climax is when Victor finally decides to make The Being a female companion. Victor then regrets his decision and ends up destroying the female monster in front of The Being due to Victor's fear of the two monsters being together. This is a climax of emotions and hatred that The Being has for his creator - he wants revenge by doing the same thing back to Victor (destroying a female that he loves).
Denouement
I believe the denouement of Frankenstein is when almost everyone dies in the end. This ties together everything because with everyone dead (other than the boat captain), the story can no longer progress.
Protagonist
We'd think that Victor Frankenstein would be the protagonist because he is the main character. I actually believe it's The Being himself. Although he isn't completely innocent (wanting revenge all the time and murdering a lot of people), he is still considered a protagonist. All he wanted was love and compassion. Three examples of how he performs things out of grace; he saves the little girl from drowning, he gathers wood for the peasants, and he doesn't judge people based on their appearance.
Antagonist
With The Being as the protagonist, Victor would be considered as the antagonist (or all of mankind for the matter). Victor antagonizes the monster by refusing to have compassion and love for him, by refusing to support him after creating him, and by refusing to make him a companion.