Tuesday, February 26, 2019
Explore the Theme of Monstrosity in Frankenstein Essay
Montrosity is a key in Frankenstein, and it affects both the Creature and superordinate, whilst at the same epoch , Shelley copes that conjunction is monstrous through injustices of the time and the social conventions. Frankenstein could be express to be the daimon himself- when he says miserable devil whom I had created, we estimate Shelley implicitly suggest, through the alliterative phrase, that just as Adam was created in Gods image so too was the Creature innate(p) in the image of Victor. Moreover, the idea that Frankenstein is himself the monster is reinforced by or kinda cell. Cell refers to a prison cell, and is used symbolically to represent the idea that just like a cell is for criminals, who actualize acts of monstrousity, so to is Frankenstein the criminal commiting an act of giant. On the other hand, we could argue that it was not so very much the act of creation that was monstrous, provided rather Frankensteins reaction. By writing I ran out of the room we hold back Victor perform the ultimate rejection, and therefore, shunning the responsibilty that exists in the binary mingled with Parent and Child- as John McRae argued.It is interesting to note that Frankenstein rejects the monster because of an innate selfishness- the beauty of the dream vanished implies that Frankensteins physical conception does not equal that of his mental conception, and that because Frankensteins plan are in disarray, his wise scientific methods- I selectedin proportion show this- are replaced by emotional responses which for him, is territory unknown- in the same way Walton check up onks to ascertain the secrets or how the Creature wants to understand hu universe behaviour at the De Lacys. Thus, we see a connection between Victor and the Creature- whom he describes as miserbale monster.Furthermore, the feature that Frankenstein preserve only respond to the Creatures bring forth in empirical, scientific observations- pearly white teeth, dull eyes- cons trasts with Elizabeths response to Williams death- O I have murdered my churl. By portraying Elizabeth in a positive light- she forms an emotional response, which juxtaposes with the unfertilized feelings of Frankenstein at the conception of the Creatue, Shelley implies that women present a greater degree of hu adult maleity- and therefore criticises the male dominated society on education- whilst they may read Shakespeare and Agrippa, women provide be worldly-wise, (no doubt influence by her womens rightist mother) and that they are unavoidable to prevent monstrosities.This idea of the female role is reinforced by the fact that as the novel progresses, the women are slowly being removed- first his Mother, indeed Justine and then Elizabeth- I saw Elizabethheld the corpse of my dead mother. This presents Frankensteins mental degregation and ultimately, the ctalyst for the mosntrous act- so Shelley presents the idea of a dichotomy between man and women- Darwin supported this by suggesting the hierachy of reproducion- man and woman is better than man alone. However, it could to a fault be argued that Frankensteins panoramas augment his monstrousity- we see a sense of isolation- retirement is repeated, implying that by imposing self-exile, Frankenstein detaches himself from society and its rules and that he has become an outsider (McCrae)- much as the monstrousity that Victor calls the Creature, is also an outsider.Indeed the connection between the dickens is best examined by the Shelley use of the mountain-top- Chamonuix, where I saw him- which alludes to the idea of the source and Creation meeting (Hayward), both as equal, with both, arguably as montrous, Victor for abondoning the Creature, and the Creature (for Victor) a representation fo his failure. By using seclusion and Filthy Workshop of Creation, Shelley implies that this isolation leads to thoughts of monstrousity- Godwin influecned her argiung it was a nusery of madmen. This separation from society is symbolic too. If Geneva is Eden, then by extending against the limits of knowledge-if no man broke the rules suggests no remorse- he cut himself off, much like the Tempter in Paradise Lost- and thus, Shelley implies that this inner monster within Frankenstein and all of us, can only be restrained by a balance- whether, male or female, or equal laws.The idea that the monstrousity is within Frankenstein (and therefore us) is suggested by force in his eyes- he claims the Creature to be wild, but if the eyes are windows to the sould, Shelley suggests and innate montrosity in him (and us) an id that is the carnal desires. This contrasts the idea of the giants dull eyes- which challenges the idea that the Creature is the monstrosity- this challenge is the undercoat why Shelley uses the Chinese Box Narrative- the various narritve eyes makes us speculate our own judgement. In fact, the Moster, may be the most forgiving of us all- he imitates the physiognamy and manners in the same way that Justine did, yet both are treated unfairly.This idea of an unfair treatment alludes to Shelleys picture that monstorusity exists in society- so whilst we can say it was Victors character to be monstorus (and that society placed limits to prevent this), the nurturing of him within society is what leads to the monstrosity arguably. In the case of the Justine, the irony is that she is treated un-JUSTlY contrary to her name- which perhaps could be Shelleys sly reference to her desire for female eqaulity (influenced by Wollstencraft the feminist motehr) a name is afforded to all, and Justines name contains justice- therefore, when she is show guilty- there is a trangression of nature, in the same way that Frankenstein transgresses nature by creating life.This presents the idea that society is too quick to judge- just as Frankenstein believes seemingly to grab me, Justine is quickly found guilty- regardless of Elizabeths plea- no wonder Shelley present s the law in s uch a negative light- judgemeddle in the dark side of human nature, because it is flawed and makes rash decisions. Thus, we see Shelley regard society as the monster. To conclude, monstrosity is pervades throughout the novel, affecting all characters and being influenced by setting and society. Yet, in the same way that the Creature was Frankensteins creation, the novel coould be seen as her monster-shunned by contempories but exposing the reatiy of monstrosity within us all.
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