Frankenstein

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Frankenstein
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Romanticism

• Characteristics
• The predominance of imagination over reason and
  formal rules
• Primitivism
• Love of nature
• An interest in the past
• Mysticism

• Individualism
• Idealization of rural life
• Enthusiasm for the wild, irregular, or grotesque
  in nature
• Enthusiasm for the uncivilized or natural

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Romanticism

• More Characteristics
• Interest in human rights
• Sentimentality
• Melancholy
• Interest in the gothic

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Gothic Motifs Supernatural motifs appear
throughout literature but are most prominent in
the literary genre labeled "Gothic," which
developed in the late 1700s and is devoted
primarily to stories of horror, the fantastic,
and the "darker" supernatural forces.
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The Gothic Genre

• named for its
  similarities to the Gothic
  medieval cathedrals,
  which
  feature a majestic,
  unrestrained architectural
  style with often savage or
  grotesque ornamentation
  (the word
  "Gothic" derives from "Goth," the name of one of
  the barbaric Germanic tribes that invaded the
  Roman Empire).
• The vaulting arches and spires of Gothic
  cathedrals reach wildly to the sky as if the
  builders were trying to grasp the heavens and
  the cathedrals are covered with a profusion of
  wild carvings depicting humanity in conflict with
  supernatural forcesdemons, angels, gargoyles,
  and monsters.

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• focuses on humanitys fascination with the
  grotesque, the unknown, and the frightening,
  inexplicable aspects of the universe and the
  human soul.
• creates horror by portraying human individuals in
  confrontation with the overwhelming, mysterious,
  uncontrollable forces found in the cosmos and
  within themselves.
• pictures the human condition as an ambiguous
  mixture of good and evil powers that cannot be
  understood completely by human reason.
• a dilemma of dualityhumans are divided in the
  conflict between opposing forces in the world and
  in themselves.

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The Double or Doppelganger (German for
"double-goer") Defined by Federick S. Frank as
"a second self or alternate identity, sometimes,
but not always, a physical twin. The Doppelganger
in demonic form can be a reciprocal or lower
bestial self or a Mr. Hyde. Gothic doppelgangers
often haunt and threaten the rational psyche of
the victim to whom they become attached" (435).
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The double motif involves a comparison or
contrast between two characters or sets of
characters within a work to represent opposing
forces in human nature. The double motif
suggests that humans are burdened with a dual
nature, a soul forever divided.
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Monster/Satanic Hero/Fallen Man The search for
forbidden knowledge or power always leads the
hero to a fall, such as Satans or Adams fall.
The hero is often a "villain" isolated from
others by his fall and either becomes a monster
or confronts a monster who is his double. Is a
"Satanic hero" if, like Satan, he has defied the
rules of Gods universe and has tried to
transform himself into a god. Note the mad
scientist, who tries to transcend human
limitations through science, is a type of Satanic
hero that is popular in Gothic literature
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Multiple Narrative/Spiral Narrative Method The
story is frequently told through a series of
secret manuscripts or multiple tales, each
revealing a deeper secret, so the narrative
gradually spirals inward toward the hidden truth.
The narrator is often a first-person narrator
compelled to tell the story to a fascinated or
captive listener (representing the captivating
power
of forbidden knowledge). By
revealing to us their own souls secrets, these
narrators reveal the secrets of humankinds soul.
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Texts

• Frankenstein is a multi-layered frame story

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Texts

• The love story of Felix and Safie and references
  to Paradise Lost fit inside the monsters story.
• This profusion of texts is an important aspect of
  the narrative structure, as the various writings
  serve as concrete manifestations of characters
  attitudes and emotions.
• Language plays an enormous role in the monsters
  development. By hearing and watching the
  peasants, the monster learns to speak and read,
  which enables him to understand the manner of his
  creation, as described in Victors journal.
• He later leaves notes for Victor along the chase
  into the northern ice, inscribing words in trees
  and on rocks, turning nature itself into a
  writing surface.

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THEMES

• Definition
• Themes are the fundamental and often universal
  ideas explored in a literary work.

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The Quest for Forbidden Knowledge is Foolhardy.

• Victor wants to discern the secret of life.
• Victor is the Modern Prometheus by wanting to
  give the world forbidden knowledge.
• eventually results in the destruction of everyone
  dear to him,
• Walton wants to reach the North Pole.
• quits saving the lives of his

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Forbidden Knowledge Cont.

• Forbidden knowledge/power is often the Gothic
  protagonists goal.
• The Gothic "hero" questions the universes
  ambiguous nature and tries to comprehend and
  control those supernatural powers that mortals
  cannot understand.
• He tries to overcome human limitations and make
  himself into a "god." This ambition usually leads
  to the heros "fall" or destruction.
• However, Gothic tales of ambition sometimes
  paradoxically evoke our admiration because they
  picture individuals with the courage to defy fate
  and cosmic forces in an attempt to transcend the
  mundane to the eternal and sublime.

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The Thrill of Victory may be Bittersweet.

• Is Victor victorious because he accomplished his
  goal of creating life?
• -- He recoils immediately after finally
  creating life.
• Does Walton lose his chance at victory because he
  turns back?
• Is the thrill from the quest or the
  accomplishment?

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True Justice is Hard to Find.

• Justines trial results in an unjust verdict.

• as does the trial of Safies father.

• Dr. Frankenstein is unjustly accused of murder.

• Is the monster treated justly?

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Creators are responsible for their creations.

• The Frankenstein story echos both the stories
  from Greek mythology and the Judo-Christian Adam
  and Eve.
• -- the apple had already been
  bitten
• Is Dr. Frankenstein a scientist who created a
  monster?
• An artist who made a creation?
• A father who created a child?

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Society Rejects Monstrosity

• the monster is rejected by society.
• unnatural manner of creation secretive, dead
  bodies, not of collaborative scientific effort
  but of dark, supernatural workings.

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Monstrosity cont.

• Victor is a monster -- his ambition, secrecy, and
  selfishness alienate him from human society.

• the knowledge used to create the monster

• Society as a prejudiced whole.

• the novel itself as monstrous, a
  stitched-together
• combination of different voices, texts, and
  tenses

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Secrecy Can Destroy

• Victor conceives of science as a mystery to be
  probed
• Victors entire obsession with creating life is a
  secret.
• His obsession with destroying the monster is a
  secret until Walton hears his tale.
• Walton serves as the final confessor
• The monster is forced into seclusion by his
  grotesque appearance.

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Motifs Fire Ice

• Lightning strike change Dr. Frankensteins course
  of study.
• Creature created on a lightning filled night.
• Creature learns dual nature of fire.
• The monster intends to die in a fire.
• Fire represents knowledge (Prometheus)

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Fire Ice

• Ice represents isolation and the cold hearted
  side of humans.