In her novel Frankenstein, Mary Shelley explores a wide range of themes concerning human nature through the thoughts and actions of two main characters and a host of others. Two themes are at the heart of the story, the most important being creation, but emphasis is also placed on alienation from society. These two themes are relevant even in today's society as technology brings us ever closer to Frankenstein's fictional achievement.…
This passage is one in which Victor Frankenstein describes the birth of his creature. Frankenstein’s words and memories reflect his feelings towards his newborn child. This essay will examine Victor Frankenstein's words, feelings and attitude towards his new companion and also his creation.…
For many people, seeing someone who is different may be hard to accept. In Frankenstein, a plethora of characters mentioned were unable to accept that the monster was, for want of a better word, a person. There is an innumerable amount of traits that make a us human and the monster appeared to have many of them. The qualities that make us human include the ability to care, intense emotions, the ability to tell right from wrong, and competence. Examples of the monster portraying these traits are spread out through the book.…
Hitchcock, Susan Tyler. Frankenstein: A Cultural History. Ed. Susan Tyler Hitchcock. New York: Norton & Company, Inc. 2007. 47-49. Print. Hitchcock defines Mary Shelley 's use of tabula rasa as inspired by John Locke 's essay, Concerning Human Understanding. "Knowledge of the outside world forms as sensory impressions bombard the mind and accumulate into ideas and opinions" (47). Locke argued that man is neither innately good or evil, but rather a blank slate upon which sensations create impressions which create conscious experience. A flabbergasted Victor shuns the creature 's first human interaction, shaping the character of his creation. Hitchcock attempts to link the Romantic concept of infancy and childhood…
I believe that people are born neither inherently good nor evil, but are created as blank slates to be constructed by childhood impressions and other life experiences. In my opinion, the concepts of good and bad are impossible to be natural instinct. Rather, these ideas are mainly formed by the guidance and direction from one’s parents, and also by observation of the environment, and how others handle specific interactions.…
Readers may surmise that Victor’s tale would be the key to making Walton see Victor in a new and more reasonable light, but they would be wrong. In Walton’s final letters, dated only one more week after Victor began telling his story, he continues to describe Victor in peculiar ways. He calls Victor’s eyes “fine and lovely” (178) and says that “his eloquence is forcible and touching” (179). Although “forcible” could connote something negative, it seems more likely that Walton means it positively as in “powerful” or “convincing” (OED). On the same page he tells Margaret that his mind and “every feeling of [his] soul” were “drunk up” by Victor’s “elevated and gentle” manner and storytelling. Much like his contradictory discussion of his experience…
3a. This book cover does not correlate with my preconceived notions about Frankenstein because there is a naked man instead of the stereotypical green and blockhead monster.…
Fayden walked down the street in the early morning, sure he should have waited for someone to go with him but he wanted to be alone. He needed time to think, and come to terms with the loss of his family. He knew that his town would treat him differently now but he wouldn't leave it... That town was all Fay knew and it made the eighteen year old boy sad that he really hadn't gone anywhere in his life except to the big city a few times with his father. He slipped under the fences and over the walls as he made his way to the frozen pond. His sea green eyes looked at the layer of ice and smiled running his hand over it and then tapping it listening to hear if it would keep him up. He decided to attempt this since it had been a few weeks since the tragic…
As a person takes a look at the busy and diverse world that surrounds them, they may wonder why certain things appear a certain way. They may form opinions about certain issues or people not because they actually know whats going on, but because of what they see or hear. People judge. Even so, people don't always think about the results of their judgments, and the fact that those little opinions formed could end in complete tragedy.…
In the book, Frankenstein, Dr. Frankenstein attempts to undue the natural process, and transcend humans beyond the bounds of death. This leads to the creation of a monster, the death of almost everyone close to him, and eventually, his own death. It is a haunting statement about the dangers of attempting to go beyond nature without properly thinking about consequences, and failing to take responsibility for your actions.…
At my school, it is required that outside reading novels are read in accompaniment with the texts of the perspective language arts classes themselves. These books are chosen by the student. When it comes to finding the right books, students are given a list and introduced to a wide range of stories and novels. The contents of these literary works are entirely diverse. Very often, people have problems with the issues they deal with and many books get banned. Just in 2004, the Renton School District in Washington state banned in its high schools Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain after an African-American student claimed that the book degraded her and her culture.* Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is one of those…
Once I got to the corner it seemed like I was the only person standing there now, at that isolated corner waiting… except I wasn’t exactly sure of what though; her, or some sort of transportation to take me far away from that dreary place. The rain was now tickling my nose and I could feel the water from beneath my feet in my shoe, as well as I could feel my now very messy damp hair. As I raised my right hand for a cab I felt a very freezing raindrop go down my arm, under my sleeve, and past my chest…
I crawled out from underneath my covers, emerging like a butterfly from a cocoon, swinging my legs over the side of the bed. As my warm feet hit the cold floor, I got shivers that send chills all the way up my spine. I shook off the chills and drag my weary body to the steep staircase. Ascending those dreadful stairs is a struggle every morning. I slowly made it to the top, and am greeted by my faithful dog Bella. I meandered through the house and made my way to the bathroom to get ready.…
The water was dark and threatening; I took a deep breath and jumped. Thankfully, I’m a good swimmer. However, I wasn’t prepared for the icy intensity of the water. Panic hovered on the fringes of my brain, ready to overwhelm me. I felt numb, heavy; I could barely see anything as it was pitch dark except for the two fiery eyes burning brightly across me, the eyes of the creature responsible for my wet and frosty state. The sky was overcast and star-less, at times the hazy impression of the moon could be seen or was I imagining things? How on earth was I going to find Minnie!…
It was winter. There was pleasant sunshine. The sun started punctually just at 6 a.m. I sat beside a window and was looking outside. The sun was rising with all its splendid beauty. Within an hour our bus began running leaving the urban areas at a high speed along the road with green fields on both sides. I was looking at the houses, trees, and meadows through the window with a cheerful mind. Things came to my vision and vanished in the twinkling of an eye. Everything on either side seemed running swiftly to the opposite direction.…