...Introduction: Frankenstein or (the Modern Prometheus) known as the first science-fiction novel written by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, at the age of 21, the widely famous novel was published in 1818. Although serving as the basis for the Western horror story and the inspiration for numerous movies in the 20th century, the book Frankenstein is much more than pop fiction. The story explores philosophical themes and challenges Romantic ideals about the beauty and goodness of nature. But what’s the difference between Frankenstein the story and the film? About the novel (Frankenstein): This novel functions on symbolic many levels such as Frankenstein’s monster symbolize the coming of industrialization to Europe also the destruction and the death...
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...Feminism within the Novel and the Creation of Frankenstein In “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley, one can undoubtedly see how the female characters have less importance than the male characters. The reason these sex differences in status occurred because of the period that she wrote the novel. Shelley, during the first half of the nineteenth century, was writing in a time in which a woman “was conditioned to think she needed a man’s help” (Smith 275). In “Frankenstein”, Mary Shelley devotes three male characters to narrate the story, Victor Frankenstein, Robert Walton, and Frankenstein’s creation. No woman throughout the entire novel speaks directly as the three narrators do. Mary Shelley also constructs the story to follow the main character,...
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...The novel’s title, Frankenstein, references the protagonist’s name, Victor Frankenstein. In modern adaptations, Frankenstein’s monster is commonly referred to as “Frankenstein”, even though Mary Shelley never names the monster. The common misconception is likely rooted in the novel’s title. As a result, the monster is unofficially named “Frankenstein” by readers, and Shelley may have done this intentionally to convey how after the murders, the monster is the last evidence of Victor Frankenstein’s “family”. In addition, it may also allude to the idea that as the creator of the monster, Victor assumes the role of a father; therefore, as the “child” and Victor’s product, the monster also assumes his father’s last name. The novel is also subtitled...
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...Mary Shelley suffered a plethora of tragedies in her early life. She endured the death of mother, her estranged relationship with her father, the death of three of her children soon after they were born, her step sister committed suicide, and her husband ended up dying in a fishing accident. She wrote Frankenstein in the midst of all the tragedy and there is a chance she could have been suffering from depression. Depression is more than just sadness, it is a medical condition where a person feels worthless and unable to function normally. By just merely looking at someone it would be difficult to determine if the individuals depressed. Someone suffering with depression could have trouble sleeping or staying awake, change in appetite, thoughts...
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...When God created the humans, he asked the angels to bow down to his creation. One of the angels, Iblis (Satan), refused and was banished from the heavens for this sin(The Noble Qur’an 2:34). In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, The Creation is born, and is banished from civilization by his creator, Frankenstein, similar to how the devil was banished from the heavens. In both stories the one ostracized, unsightly and deformed in comparison to its creator and fellow beings, swears revenge on them but for separate reasons. Unlike the Quranic story of the devil, the novel focuses on themes of revenge and appearance allowing one to sympathize more with the creation rather than with its creator. Both Frankenstein and the creation feel the need for revenge...
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...After observing Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein,” it is apparent that her writing style gives off a very gloomy and gothic vibe. Mary Shelley incorporates many themes within the story of “Frankenstein,” that incorporate isolation, self-discovery, and death throughout the whole novel. Isolation is a key role player when it comes to Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” because it defines many different things for both the reader and writer. We see it first occurring when Victor creates a creature that he eventually becomes afraid of. Victor runs away and never wants to encounter this creature again. Although at the same time, if we read Mary Wollstonecraft’s biography, we learn that she felt unwanted from her family as well. Wollstonecraft says, “Now I look back, I cannot help attributing the greater part of my...
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...Draft 3 I believe curiosity and knowledge are liberating and positive forces, but it’s the user’s intent with these that can cause harm and endanger people. The universe is the limit and many topics can be explored without causing harm. If harm is caused it’s the person’s or persons’ responsibility to fix it as mistakes do happen. If they do not, then they should be punished, such in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein when he fled after creating a monster that killed people (Sayre, 2015). Sayre (2015), says Frankenstein was punished for acquiring knowledge, however this doesn’t make sense to me. Obtaining knowledge should not be punished, as someone may not act on it, simply knowing is not dangerous nor a punishable offence. Each person is responsible...
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...Imagine going through a mental break-down in the 1800’s. How would you react to depression and anxiety? How would cope with these emotions? In this paper, I will explore how mental health is portrayed in the Romantic period through Mary Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein. Mary Shelley was known for being a romantic writer with gothic twists. She was married to famous poet Percy Shelly, who was her father’s student. Within her life, she faced tragedy; her mother had died giving birth to her, her sister committed suicide and some of her children died. Her mother was a well-known feminist who encouraged Shelley to be a free thinker. Frankenstein was published anonymously in 1818, which later Shelley was recognized as the author. Frankenstein is a gothic...
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...In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein and the Creature take on the roles of God, and Satan at different occasions. Victor is often accused of attempting to assume the role of God, due to his multiple scientific endeavours as well as his relationship with the Creature. Despite this, one may suppose that Victor is not committing these acts with that goal specifically in mind, rather it becomes the consequence of his nature, when given excessive power. He is not a actively pursuing a goal of achieving godlike power, yet his actions would imply so. Victor’s actions could even be viewed as those of one who is actually Satan, spiting the powers of God. One could argue that Victor’s thirst for knowledge, and his desire for power through knowledge, is displayed at a relatively young age. After the death of his beloved mother his quest only intensifies, maybe due to an unconscious desire to reanimate the dead, rather than create life out of nothing. This increasing perseverance, which never once seems to falter until the actual reanimation of the Creature, is key to Victor’s character. However, this extreme tenacity also translates to stubbornness when coupled with naivety and impulsiveness. Victor never ponders the consequences of his own behaviour,...
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...In Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein, the main character known as Victor Frankenstein falls ill many times throughout the story. Though most do not take notice to this, but each time Victor falls ill it “coincidentally” happens to be after a tragic event has occurred. Knowing that Victor does not do well under stress, it is safe to assume that the illnesses are due to being over worked and severely stressed, causing a shut down in the immune system, leaving the body vulnerable to contracting serious illnesses. Not only does it show the impact of the stress but it allows for an excuse to not have to face society and daily issues. Many cases when viewed together demonstrate this terrible trend. In society, many people use illnesses...
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...In Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein, she warns readers about the possible dangers of science, and she shows what might happen to a person, family, or society if science were to be taken lightly and not properly reasoned. She describes how, if science were to be taken too far, it could have disastrous consequences. The famous example she makes in this book is the creation of Frankenstein’s creature, because the creature’s creation leads to several unfortunate events, which Shelley uses to symbolize the actual negative effects of science in the real world. Not only does she show that experimentation and theory may prove catastrophic, but in some cases learning as well. Her main character, Victor Frankenstein, gives a powerful statement about how dangerous scientific study can be. He says, “Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge,” (35). He says this mostly because with knowledge comes power, and with power there is a substantial risk of the negative effects it could cause....
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...During my childhood my aunt played a really big part in my life, and she influenced me and taught me to be a better person. One novel that explores the importance of a positive influence is Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, talks about a young scientist named Victor who at first started as a normal kid from a noble family. He gets interested in studying natural philosophy, chemistry and alchemy. Soon after, Victor's mother dies of scarlet fever. Which brings him great sadness, and he turns to his studies as a result of it. Consequently, he creates a monster that later in the story ruins his life and the lives of those around him. These facts prove that Victor's downfall is most likely caused by a lack of a female anchor. In the beginning of the...
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...In this exquisite piece of literature named “Frankenstein”, Mary Shelley depicts Victor Frankenstein, born into a wealthy Genevan family and audacious scientist with a desire for discovery, creating a freak of nature we come to know as Frankenstein’s Monster all through the story-telling framing structure of letters by a man named Captain Robert Walton. Obsessed with old theory books of recreating natural wonders, Frankenstein studied endlessly for decades until he went off to college in Germany. During college, he excelled at his science classes while on the side partaking in several hidden studies to hide the grief of losing his mother shortly after leaving her to go to college. These experiments consisted of delving into the practice of transferring living matter to non-living objects. After concluding with plausible data, Victor Frankenstein took it to the next level; he attempted to create a humanoid figure. In order to fit the entirety of the necessary elements for this being to live as a proper functioning human being, Frankenstein resorted to making him freakishly large and proportionally gigantic. Nevertheless, he had succeeded. The being was alive! Since, the question of technology going overboard as...
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...“Playing God” is a dangerous accusation toward the scientists and researchers that work for the betterment of humanity through organic replacements and modifications. To really play God, one must undertake deliberate actions to create life or affect the human race in a significant manner that many would consider ethically unacceptable. Today’s medical breakthroughs see unnecessary scrutiny due to the misinformed notion that the creation of life through unnatural means is an act of man playing God. This theme of creating life from other pieces is clearly shown in the novel “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley. Also, as seen in cloning, there needs to be a base from another animal or creature. In other words, a scientist cannot make a human or other...
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...Modern technology has given the world many new abilities and possibilities. We have progressed from preserving life to mending life, and now scientists have the ability to facilitate the creation of life. Many concerns from both the public and the scientific community have risen to comment on this manner of innovation. The scientific community took a large step forward with the results of genetically modifying animals and life outside of the human genome, however, the human genome may be included soon. Mary Shelley’s technological cautions in Frankenstein are reflected in the modern world in the genetic modification in humans. Similarly to the nature of the creation of the monster in Frankenstein, discussions about genetic engineering show...
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