Frankenstein themes

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  • Created by: 12olivea
  • Created on: 14-04-17 17:56
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  • Frankenstein themes
    • Knowledge
      • Walton and Frankenstein both want knowledge
        • They both want to learn and make discoveries
        • They are motivated by ambitions
        • They both have ambitions they think will benefit mankind
          • Shelley uses imagery of light to represent the new knowledge- "country of eternal light" "pour a torrent of light" positive imagery has emphasis benefits of their discoveries
        • They have selfish ambitions
        • They new discoveries are seen as negative- knowledge and selfish ambition is dangerous
      • Knowledge causes destruction
        • Shelley presents their knowledge and ambition as a harmful thing
        • Frankenstein becomes ill after making the monster- "pale" "nervous fever"
        • Frankenstein and Walton become isolated by their ambitio- Walton needs a friend "bitterly"
        • Waltons ambitions make him reckless- many of the sailors die but he still risks the lives of his men to continue his expedition
        • The ambition of Frankenstein is destructive to others- after he creates the monster many of his friends and family die
      • Some knowledge is forbidden
        • Frankensteins knowledge is presented by Shelley as disturbing- "tortured" "horrors" "filthy creation"
        • The knowledge is presented as violent
          • Shelley uses battle imagery  to describe the scientific work of Frankenstein-"break through" "nature to her hiding places"
        • Shelleys language suggests that frankensteins knowledge is forbidden as it goes against nature
          • Biblical imagery is used to show Frankensteinsknowledge is sinful he compares his search for knowledge as  "a serpent" which refers to Adam and Eve
      • The knowledge damages the monster
        • The monster becomes disillusioned by knowledge and wishes he never had it, the more he learns about humanity the more he learns he won't be accepted
        • The De Lacey family teaches him about human virtues and about the "vices of mankind"
        • He learns to read from Frankensteins journals and discovers the disgust he feels for his creation "accursed creator" this anger leads to murder and destruction
      • Suggestions about human nature
        • Shelley presents makings ambition as self destructive
        • Frankenstein shows some don't learn from mistakes  even when he's dying because of his discoveries. He things someone else may "succeed" where he did not
        • Walton is a repeat of Frankenstein- despite Frankensteins story Walton doesn't want to give up his expedition
    • Creation
      • Natural creations
        • The natural world is shown as beautiful- "the beauties of nature"
          • Links to the romantic movement- they believer that all things natural was a reflection on gods image nature also has a restorative effect
            • When Frankenstein see some ow small he is in comparison to the "eternity" of the Alps his problems feel not important the "weight" of his sorrows is "lightened"
        • Shelley inks the natural world with God- "a power as mighty as omnipotence""divine"
        • When Frankenstein see some ow small he is in comparison to the "eternity" of the Alps his problems feel not important the "weight" of his sorrows is "lightened"
      • Unnatural creations
        • Creating a life without doing it the natural way is considered an unnatural from of creation
        • While Frankenstein created the monster he shits himself away from the world- "a most beautiful season" "workshop of filthy creation"
        • When he's about to create the second monster he is less effected and becomes "embittered"
        • Frankenstein describes his creation as "hideous" he wasn't able to imitate God who made Adam the "perfect creature"
        • The monster is made from dead people "the unhallowed damps of the grave" the monster was made from death and that's what he created
        • Shelley suggests that messing with gods creation can upset the laws of nature is ungodly and dangerous
      • The monster has human features even though he is an unnatural creation he has the desire to be loved and wants a companion he is denied this love "if I have no ties and affections, hatred and vice must be my portion"
    • Family
      • Family bonds
        • Families are shown as an important source of happiness and support- Frankenstein's parents show this
        • love-they show Frankenstein "inexhaustible love and affection" support- clerical joins Frankenstein on his travels to uni his father assures this and visits him when he's in jail education- he is taught "patience" and "self comtrol" he doesn't follow though
        • The De Lacey family are a model family the monster sees them as "superior" becuase of how they behave with loyalty and consideration
      • Motherly values
        • His mother prioritises family and sacrifices things to take care of her family she takes care of her father when he is dying and thinks of her children when she is dying
        • Caroline adopts Elizabeth and takes in Justine
        • Elizabeth treats her younger cousins like her children  she calls William her son "my little William" and she takes Caroline's place when she dies
          • all of the women follow the same pattern- hardship, taken in, motherly role models. Justine becomes an "affectionate mother" to william women are crucial to keeping the family together
      • Bad families
        • justines mother doesn't love her. Elizabeth  doesn't understand this "strange perversity" it's unnatural not to love her child
        • The De Lacey's reject the monster the monster lacks supportive family love which Shelley describes as vital making it more tragic for the monster
        • frankenstein created the monster so is his father but won't raise him the monster becomes a tragedy and bitter and angry
    • Society and isolation
      • Benefits to characters
        • There are two main functions shown in the novel- company and friendship (clerical and frankenstein) and to provide support through institutions and things like church and through communities
        • Frankenstein and clerval friendship shows strength and joy especially to frankenstein- "perfectionateour weak and faulty natures"
        • Caroline feels it neccessary to help the poor in society Felixstowe made a "solemn vow" to help Sadie and her father   Shelley portrays how society can help each other
      • Impact of isolation
        • Walton becomes isolated by his ambitions and wants a friend to complete his voyages with "severe evil" " nobody to sympathise"
        • Frankenstein decides to isolate himself to create the monster but being alone makes him miserable and not healthy "miserable fears" (shows damaging effect of isolation"
        • Monster experiences isolation throughout the novel but he doesn't choose to be isolated he is offered no support through society or friendship or communities like the other characters this makes him angry and vicious he uses feeling lonely as a weapon
      • Problems with society
        • When the monster is rejected it shows society's imperfections and shows how humanity can be aggressive
        • Inequalities are shown between the socials classes too Caroline's father dies in shame and Elizabeth's foster family "bent down by care and labour"
        • the institutions that are shown by shelley as a good thing also shows flaws too- Justine gets bullies by someone in the church and gets executed when she's innocent when Frankenstein calls it a "wretched mockery of justice"
          • There are two main functions shown in the novel- company and friendship (clerical and frankenstein) and to provide support through institutions and things like church and through communities
    • Prejudice
      • The monster
        • Society is prejudice towards the monster me he is describes as a "catastrophe" by Frankensteinshowing he is judging on his appearance
        • Society also reacts negatively towards the monsters appearance including when he saves the girl from drowning
        • The only person not prejudice towards the monster is Delaney and he is blind but he notices the monsters qualities
        • The monster becomes prejudice towards humans "vengeance in all mankind" "all men hate thewretched"he thinks all the people are the same
        • He then frames Justine becuase of the prejudice
          • The monster becomes prejudice towards humans "vengeance in all mankind" "all men hate thewretched"he thinks all the people are the same
        • This leads to a self fulfilling prophecy "terrified" by his own reflection and calls himself a "monster"
          • He then frames Justine becuase of the prejudice
        • Other characters
          • Walton wants a friend but thinks he won't find one among the "merchants and seamen" - showing his class prejudice
          • Justine dies becuase of prejudice e monster puts on her
          • Safies father experiences discriminationbecuase of his religion
          • Frankenstein experience prejudice when he is arrested for clerval's murder
        • Justine confesses as she starts to believe she has become a "monster"
        • Revenge
          • How it drives characters
            • The monster  completes a cycle of revenge in the novel he kills William to punish Frankenstein
              • He thinks of his revenge showing how clever he is (kills Elizabeth not frankenstein)
            • Revenge keeps both frankenstein and the monster going- the monsters desire "dearer than light and food" Revenge is also important to frankenstein
            • Frankenstein amd the monster share revenge in common - this os represented by their journey to the arctic
          • Negative portrail of revenge
            • Alphonse tells frankenstein to avoid "brooding thiughts of vengeance" after william dies "festering the wounds of our minds" -negative connotations with disease and unhealthy
            • The revenge frankenstein experiences isolates him from society and drives him to the arctic- the monster also becomes blinded by revenge
            • Revenge doesnt make the characters happy the monster thinks revenge is "deadly torture" amd makes him miserable
            • Frankenstein has to die to break the cycle of revenge which makes the monster want forgiveness but it is too late and ne is left unhappy with nothing to live for

      Comments

      behishtax

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      Lots of spelling mistakes :(

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