Victor vs. Walton

As I finished reading Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, I began to notice even more similarities between Victor Frankenstein and Walton. On top of a thirst for knowledge and a love for new information, the last chapter of the novel expressed even more paralleling qualities. Both men would not back down on a challenge. Victor would search for his creation before he would do anything else, even before letting himself die! Walton said the same thing; "I had rather die than return shamefully, - my purpose unfulfilled" (Shelley, 160). Both of these men were totally devout to their plans and ambitions.

Another similarity was that of their love for their families, especially their sisters. Both men wanted only that their sisters be happy. They put their family before themselves. Victor himself say," I would die to make her happy" (Shelley, 139). Walton in his letter to his sister similarly says, "my beloved sister, the sickening failing of your heart-felt expectation is, in prospect, more terrible to me than my own death" (Shelley, 158). Both men are selfless in fighting for their sisters' happiness and tranquility.

Night and Day

In Frankenstein, Mary Shelley went out of her way to create symbolism through the time of day. It seems that during the day, Victor and even the creature were happy; rather, they were happier than they were at night. Nighttime seemed to bring about demons. After the light diminsihed from the land, the evils came out. When the creature was about to go introduce himself to De Lacey and was full of hope, "the sun shone on the red leaves that strewed the ground, and diffused cheerfulness" (Shelley, 94). That same day, the devil within the creature rose within him. As soon as night fell, he ran wild through the forrest howling like a wild beast, "When night came I quitted my retreat and wandered in the wood" (Shelley, 97). That next morning, he woke up and seemed to have calmed down and was able to think clearly; "The pleasant sunshine, and the pure air of day, resotored me to some degree of tranquility" (Shelley, 98). THEN, that night, "as the night advanced, a fierde wind arose from the woods, quickly dispersed the clouds that had loitered in the heavens" (Shelley, 99). There are many, many more examples than this for the creature; however, it is obvious that light brings about calmness, hopes, and dreams whereas darkness and storms bring about demons and destruciton.

Even for Victor, we see that the setting is important in regards to his state of mind. It seems that, like tha creature, nighttime seems to be when his family is brutally murdered. Similarly, the seasons have a great deal of significance on him. Spring brings about the regrowth of his soul and spirit. Henry loved the beauty and randiance of the newly blosomed plants and the beauty of the fresh earth. This passion that was instilled in Henry, shown on Victor in his deepest hours of agony.

Slavery

In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, there is a common metaphor used throughout the second half of the novel. This metaphor is that of slavery. Victor was a slave from the moment he began creating life. He became obsessed with overcoming such an amazing scientific feat. He lost sight of his whole world before this process that he was bound and devoted wholeheartedly. Never did it seem that the creature was his slave. I have no idea what Victor's motive was for building such a creature other than to be the first one to create life. Did he plan on making the creature his slave? Certainly not. He fled from his creation the second he instilled life within it. The entire rest of the novel is filled with the creature overpowering Victor. The creature even said, "Remember that I have the power; you believe yourself miserable, but I can make you so wretched that the light of day will be hateful to you. You are my creator, but I am your master; obey!" (Shelley, 122).The creature could overcome any human. Victor was at the hands of the creature; consequently, Victor lived the rest of his life in constant fear that his family, friends, and his own life be spared for the satisfaction of the monster.

However, the monster called himself a slave. "But I was the slave, not the master, of an impulse, which I detested, yet could not disobey" (Shelley, 164). The creature claims that after growing up in such misery and dejection, he was forced to live a life of crime. He was forced to seek attention from his father, his creator. He expresses that he hated killing Victor's loved ones. The creature would weep and mourn at their deaths. He acted with passion in the murders but afterwards, felt remorse for what he had done. The creature tells Walton that he was born a benevolent creature and that emotion never fully left him, as hard as that is to believe. The creature says, "When I run over the frightful catalogue of my sins, I cannot believe taht I am the same creature whose thoughts were once filled with sublime and transcendent visions of the beauty and the majestic goodness. But even so,; the fallen angel becomes a malignant devil" (Shelley, 165). The monster was a slave to his emotions. He had to obey them at the extent of killing others, which ultimately killed the goodness in his soul.

The Creature's Evil Progression

   Mary Shelley's creation in Frankenstein was very complex. I believe that the creature's behaviors were directly stemmed from the world around him. I sympathise with the creature at times in the story when he mentions how he could only be wretched. What else could we expect. He was completely alone in the world, destined to live a life on his own on the run. All feared him. There was no one for him to turn to in hours of need. He was born a benevolent creature; however, after neglect has been forced upon him in every single aspect, there was no hope that he might sit back and take all that was thrust upon him. The creature's character changed drastically after a build up of inner rage. "The feelings of kindness and gentleness, which I had entertained but a few moments before, gave place to a hellish rage and gnashing of teeth" (Shelley, 101).  From there on out, the creatre sought revenge on his neglectful creator. Up until the death of Victor Frankenstein did the creature pursue the ultimate revenge that his creator never again feel happiness. If the creature was to be miserable, why should his creator ever have hopes again? The creature could not stand to see Victor happy with a spouse when he was completely alone in the world forever. His misery led the creature to a life to crime which he claimed to avow in the last days of his life.
   There were periods in which the creature allowed the reader to pity him and feel sympathy for him; however, the actions that proceded these assertions always led the reader back to viewing him as a monster.

The Creatures Connections

In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, as the creature began to make himself more and more educated, he began to connect himself with many of the characters whom he read about. The connection that stood out the most to me was that of himself with Satan. This entire section of the novel containted quotes from the creature of how he knew he didn't belong in the world. He felt he was completely alone and forgotten. "When I looked around I saw and heard of none like me. Was I, then, a monster, a blot upon earth, from which all men fled and whom all men disowned?" (Shelley, 85). The creature realized that all other men were created by God. Not only that, but God was always there for his children and loved them. When the creature realized that he was unlike all of God's creature, he concluded that he was no God-made. He in turn found that his creator was indeed still Victor Frankenstein who had fled from the creature at the moment of his birth. This abandonment caused the creature anguish and realized that if he could not associate himself with God, then he must be connected to the ultimate evil. "but I was wretched, helpless, and alone. Many times I considered Satan as the fitter emblem of my condition; for often, like him, when I viewed the bliss of my protectors, the bitter gall of envy rose within me" (Shelley, 92).

 The only aspect that connected the creature to Adam was the fact that they were both the first and only of their kind. However, Adam was beautiful and beloved. The creature was disfigured and ugly. All feared the creature and fled his presence. Those who were courageous enough to stick around, only attacked him and screams words of unwelcoming threats. The creature was left, then, to the only reasonable explanation that he was indeed meant to be evil.

The Creature

Mary Shelley portrays her character of the creature in Frankenstein as a very misunderstood character. He was born, against his will. The creature didn't want to be born of such huge stature. He never asked to be born a monster. Then when he was made alive, Victor just runs away from him. "His jaws opened, and he muttered some unarticulate sounds, while a grin wrinkled his cheeks. He might have spoken, but I did not hear" (Shelley, 35). This "monster" just smiled at his creator and tried to speak to him. He did not mean any harm at this point. However, after the man who took all the effort to bring him into the world ran away, the creature must have felt completely alone and miserable. How scared and confused this being must have felt while wandering around the cities and forests. I believe that the creature is ultimately good. He only wanted to be human. As he watched the family that he found in the woods, he began to pick up on social cues, english, and things that humans eat and do. He started to acknowlege human emotion and what caused sadness and stress. Because the creature noticed that the family was poor and unhappy, he went out of his way to do a kind deed for them. "during the night I often took his tools, the use of which I quickly discovered, and brought home firing sufficient for the consumption of several days" (Shelley, 78). This creature was so focused on making the famil feel better that I cannot believe he killed William. I cannot wait to see what really transpired those fateful nights.

Despair

Victor Frankenstein from Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, becomes a character of one recurring emotion. This emotion is, without doubt, despair. The grief that overcomes his soul begins as he searches for the elixir of life. All happiness is gone from his life once this goal to become the most glorious man begins. He claims his destiny was predetermined and this destiny must not have included joy. Once he finds the secret to eternal life, the mystery of how to turn inanimate objects to life, he becomes completely hopeless. The creature itself brings him only a moment of lightened emotion. He felt he was the creator of the monster that could and would destroy all that he used to love. Victor must have felt true fear and despair in hearing that his little brother William had been murdered. Victor knew that is had to be the monster he created that did it. He blamed himself but could not turn him self in, for no one would believe him. "During the whole of this wretched mockery of justice, I suffered living torture. It was to be decided, whether the result of my curiosity and lawless devices would cause the death of my fellow-beings" (Shelley, 54). Not only was Victor then the cause of William's death, but also the cause of the convicted murderer Justine. "But I, the true murderer, felt the never-dying worm alive in my bosom, which allowed of no hope or consolation" (Shelley, 59). These exclamations of total despair and hopelessness go on throughout each chapter. Victor said he even felt suicidal. "I was tempted to plunge into the silent lake, that the waters might close over me and my calamaties forever" (Shelley, 62).

Elizabeth and Justine

I believe that Mary Shelley's characters, Elizabeth Lavenza and Justine Mortiz, from Frankenstein had the same feelings. Both had been taken in by the Frankensteins, for they both had poor home lives. They were both benevolent souls that would do anything to serve others. Elizabeth was full of courage and strength. Even at the lowest of times in her life, she strove to be the comfort to others. "She inded veiled her grief, and strove to act the comforter to us all. She looked steadily on life, and assumed its duties with courage and zeal" (Shelley, 24). Elizabeth grieved terribly for the death of her adoptive mother. Caroline had shared the same story life without parents as she. Although Elizabeth was in mourning of yet another soul taken from her life, her main purpose was to be there for those she called her uncle and cousins. She even acted as a mother figure to her younger cousins William and Ernest.

Justine Mortiz was also an extremely compassionate character. As a reader, we don't get to see a whole lot of this charcter. What we do get to see is her being accused of murder. However, Elizabeth and Victor cannot believe that she would do such a thing. Elizabeth testifies, "During all that period she appeared to me the most amiable and benevolent of human creatures" (Shelley, 56). Elizabeth goes on to talk of how Justine nursed sick Caroline and her own sickly mother. What murderer would put forth so much kindness and effort into tending to the sick? I was sad to see such a kind and short lived character be killed off so quickly. I also feel as though her character might become one of more importance as the novel goes on. Justine was a Catholic who felt trapped and confessed to a sin in order that she might receive God's complete forgiveness and absolution. The mystery still remains as to how she came to be the keeper of Williams photo of his mother and of why she was acting so strangely.

Frankenstein Allusions

    One literary technique that Mary Shelley seems to use alot in Frankenstein is the use of allusions. There seems to be one every single chapter if not multiple per chapter. Shelley compares these allusions to Victor Frankenstein himself. The first, "I was like the Arabian who had been buried with the dead and found a passage to life, aided only by one glimmering and seemingly ineffectual light" (Shelley, 31). By this quote, Victor was saying that he had felt almost buried with the dead, totally hopeless and depleated of any inspiration. Then when he discovered the secret to bringing the dead back to life, he found the light at the end of the tunnel. 

    A second allusion was more of a historical reference. "If no man allowed any pursuit whatsoever to interfere with the tranquility of his domestic affections, Greece had not been enslaved, Caeser would have spared his country; America would have been discovered more gradually; and the empires of Mexico and Peru had not been destroyed" (Shelley, 34). Here, Victor was suggesting that if we don't go for our dreams for fear of being disappointed or uncomfortable on the way, we will never accomplish anything. 

    Then, Shelley brought another allusion that ties back to literature. She references Dante, who we know from World Literatre, was a man who was sent to see the levels of Hell and all the people and events that went on down there. " he was ugly then, but when those muscles and joints were rendered capable of motion, it became a thing such even Dante could not have conceived" (Shelley, 36). This quote suggests that the monster's movements and appearance were so horrifying that even Dante, who saw the worst of the worst in Hell, would be terrified. This might be a bit of an exaggeration; however, this reference does seem to call to attention how fearful Victor was of his creation.

Frankenstein vs Folktales

    As I read Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, I began to notice the similarities and differences between my previous assumptions of the old tale and of what is really written in the novel. The story itself has numerous accounts that are different than the prejudices I had of this eerie story. The appearance of the creation was the most different aspect. The mad scientist did not stand up and exclaim, "IT'S ALIVE!" In fact, Victor's disposition changed rather quickly. For a split second, I did notice that Victor was proud of his achievement and creation. However, this quickly changed. "I had worked hard for nearly two years, for the sole purpose of infusing life into an inanimate body...but now that I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horrow and disgust filled my heart" (Shelley, 35). I had always believed that this character used his creature and admired it. On the contrary, Victor despised the monster in almost an instant.There was no sidekick to Victor either. Where is his evil, demented assistant, Igor? Similarly, the creature itself was described radically different than what I had imagined. Although the monster was said to be eight feet tall and huge, his skin was yellow. In every picture and movie that I have seen about Frankenstein, the monster is green! Not even this, but also the monster's name isn't even Frankenstein! My entire image of this common story was completely disputed by this one chapter in Shelley's novel. The stereotypical monster that I had imagined is almsot totally false.

   This story does contain one aspect that seems to coincide with my original beliefs. Victor Frankenstein is in fact a bit insane. He does have a bit of mad scientist in him after all. Victor spent two years creating this being and bringing it to life. During this time, he shunned himself from the rest of the world. He stopped communicating with his family, friends, and anyone at the institution. His health began to deteriorate and became extremely thin. Being without human interaction for so long, caused Victor to obsess over his project and experiments. He began to go crazy in the nicest of terms. "I did not watch the blossom or the expanding leaves-sights which before always yielded me supreme delight!-so deeply was I engrossed in my occupations...my enthusiasm was checked by my anxiety, and I appeared rather like on doomed..." (Shelley, 34). Victor felt he was doomed to unhappiness and maybe even to Hell. He needed a God send to bring him back to life. Ironically, Victor could bring inanimate objects to life, but could not safe his soul from death.

Miss Brill

The way Katherine Mansfield writes Miss Brill allows the reader an unusual perspective. The short story is written in third person but the only insight on thoughts and feelings of characters is through the main character, Miss Brill. Because of this, the reader gets to witness the world through the eyes and mind of Miss Brill. With this perspective in mind, the reader gets a strong sense of loneliness in her. First off, with the title "Miss" instead of "Mrs.," we can conclude that she is not married. That fact alone would make it reasonable that an old, unmarried woman would be in solitude. Another aspect that added to Miss Brill's lonely character was the speaking to her fur coat. "Miss Brill put up her hand and touched her fur. Dear little thing! It was nice to feel it again...She could have taken it off and laid it on her lap and stroked it" (Mansfield, 182). Miss Brill clearly had an odd connection with this garment. The fact that wearing it made her feel a sense of companionship is a bit sad. The last clue that showed her loneliness was the act of going to the park every Sunday afternoon. Here, she would sit on a bench for hours on end and people-watch. This action alone may sound a bit creepy; however, Miss Brill was only trying to imagine her life through watching the lives of all of the people as they walk by.

Bartleby, the Scrivener

Herman Melville's portrayal of Bartleby in the short story Bartleby, the Scrivener, was very difficult for me to understand. My opinions of Bartleby fluctuated greatly throughout the story. At first, he struck me as a no nonsense, straight to work kind of fellow. He was fast at copying and very accurate. Then, my opinion of Bartleby's character changed. " '...I want you to help me compare this sheet here-take it,' and I thrust it towards him. 'I would prefer not to,' said he" (Melville, 649-650). When Bartleby kept "preferring not to" do examine the documents, I came to a conclusion that maybe Bartleby could not read and was embarrassed by it. I know Bartleby was a copyist; however, I believed that maybe he has some sort of talent where he could just copy the words without being about to read them. Quickly though, this conclusion was wrong yet again. When Bartleby starting "preferring not to" do anything at all, I knew there wasn't something quite right with him. My last conclusion was that he might have some form of autism. By his apparent lack of connection with anyone and inability to communicate to the lawyer or anyone else even further strengthened this hypothesis. Autistic people have very strict routines that they hardly stray from and are repetitive in things they say and do. They are reluctant to any type of change or anything that would deviate them from the normal day to day activities. Bartleby was clearly used to and preferred his position at the office. When his eyes went bad and couldn't copy, Bartleby still came to the office everyday. When the lawyer changed offices completely to get Bartleby out, Bartleby still went to the office everyday. " 'The time has come; you must quit this place; I am sorry for you; here his the money; but you must go.'  'I would prefer not,' he replied, with his back still toward me," (Melville, 662). The details throughout the entire short story helped prove this conclusion that I believe to be true.

APO 96225

Larry Rottmann's poem APO 96225 explains today's society and our view of war. In today's world, no one wants to think of the horrors going on in foreign countries. No one wants to think of the terrors that occur due to our own soldiers actions either. The government paints a pretty picture over every action that goes on in war. This poem reminded me of the events in the Vietnam War. No one in the United States really had a clue what was going on over there. The government informed the US that the soldiers duties were justified; however, Americans came to find out later that US soldiers were killing innocent civilians and some were treating them in complete inhumane ways. As I read the poem, I seemed to compare the boy writing to his mother to one of these soldiers. The son kept telling his mother about just the weather and anout the rain. When his mother insisted that he tell her more details, he said, "Today I killed a man. Yesterday, I helped drop napalm on women and children," (Rottmann, 846). The mother wouldn't even write back to him. The news was completely depressing, and she didn't want to hear it. The parents of the son did not want to hear the horrors, just as the US didn't want to hear of their soldiers demeaning work in Vietnam.

Much Madness is Divinest Sense

As I read Emily Dickinson's poem Much Madness is divinest Sense, I began to understand that Dickinson was inferring that madness might not be a negative thing.  This "divinest Sense" (Dickinson, 830) seems to be a rare and hard to attain. The speaker seems to say that only some become mad, but those who are mad, actually have much sense. To me, the quote, "Much Sense-the starkest Madness- 'Tis the Majority In This, as All, prevail-Assent-and you are sane," (Dickinson, 830), means that the majority of the world's population make the generalization and characterization of what a sane person is. However, the speaker seems to believe that this standard is wrong; those people marked "insane" are actually the smartest and have the most wisdom. Also, as I read, I did not know what "demur" (Dickinson, 830) meant. When I looked it up, it means "to make an objection." Within the context of the poem, I believe that Dickinson is insinuating even more persistently that the speaker objects to the society's understanding of the insane and mad people of the world.