Frankenstein

Female foeticide is killing a girl child before she is born and it is the gravest crime for me as it denies the girl child the right to live even before she is born. The main reason behind this crime is that people consider a girl child as a liability rather than an asset. In rural areas the problem is that a girl child is equated to the money that would be need to educate and marry her. Even though women today can easily rub shoulders with men, almost in every field they set their mind to, the common misconception still remains that it is the male who will help run the house, and look after his parents.

Now let us consider the far reaching consequences of this grave crime. Due to this the sex ratio of our country has fallen from 962 in 1981 to 914 in 2011 girls for every 1000 boys. This ratio is as low as 848 girls for 1000 boys in countries like china and Vietnam. This steep decline in number of women has caused problems like women trafficking and an increase in rape and assault on women. These crimes undermine the status of women which makes up about half the population of earth. Ignorance is one of the major causes for the increase in the selective sex abortion cases.

Spreading awareness can go a long way in saving our future sisters, mothers, girlfriends and wives. Widespread campaigns and seminars shoul be held for young adults and potential parents to enlighten them about the ill effects of female feticide. Co-educational institutions and equal opportunities for men and women in working sector can provide an excellent platform to develop a mutual respect for each other. In my opinion this respect and recognition of the counterpart is the only way to completely remove the gravest moral crime in our society, female foeticide.

Some readers have seen the novel as an illustration of the fear of the power of science. To what extent do you agree with this view of the novel? There are many different readings of ‘Frankenstein’ by Mary Shelley, first published in 1818. The traditional reading sees the novel being about a man getting punished by God for crossing his domain. Many different Gothic themes are used in the novel to create a sense of fear in the audience, not just in the fear of science but the fear of the power of science and the influence this power has on Victor’s character. Frankenstein’ serves as a warning to others of the power of science and creates a sense of fear in the audience. One of the key ways Shelley creates this fear is through the juxtaposing references to nature, helping to serve as a warning. In the midst of Chapter Four, when Victor is engrossed in his work, a paragraph is added describing the beauty and nature around him. Through describing the outside world as ‘beautiful’, Victor is admitting that the world is already beautiful and by ignoring that, he is being ignorant.

If Victor had left his house, maybe the could have lifted him out of his depression and stopped the future events. This sense of foreshadowing in the novel creates the sense of fear in the power placed in Victors hands; he knows he is wrapped up in his work ‘neglect the scenes around me’, and through this unhealthy obsession is left with nothing. By adding the beauty of the summer months it further highlights how obsessive Victor had become as time speeds up and months pass within a short section of the novel. The language used in ‘Frankenstein’ to describe his task is interesting to note.

The opposing views throughout the novel, adds the retrospective notion towards the story, as he is telling the story having learnt his lesson. ‘If the study to which you apply yourself has a tendency to weaken your affections and to destroy your taste… then that study is certainly unlawful’. The sense that Victor has learnt from his mistake, creates the interpretation that ‘Frankenstein’ is a morality tale. Morality tales flourished in the 16th century and were often seen as personifications of good and evil usually involved in the struggle for a man’s soul. Victor, the rotagonist, can be seen as a representative of society as a whole, with Victor representing the many scientific discoveries at the time. During the 19th Century, Science was controversial as it questioned many fundamental religious beliefs such as Creation and God. Shelley uses the novel of ‘Frankenstein’ to address the problems with advancements in science and the fundamental consequences of those playing God, thus creating a sense of fear of the power that many were acquiring at the time. The setting is an important feature in Gothic literature and the fact that Victor has isolated himself is influential in the structure of the novel.

Victor describes where he works as a ‘solitary chamber’ or ‘cell’ implying he has trapped himself there. This fuels his obsession in creating his ‘monster’ as he has little or no contact with the outside world. The negative description of the room where he works, ‘workshop of filthy creations’ and ‘slaughter house’, creates a dark and creepy atmosphere in the novel, with this use of darkness evident throughout and a key concept in Gothic Literature such as ‘Dracula’. The isolation he creates adds a sense of fear not only to science but a fear towards Victor as his obsession could lead to him becoming crazy.

Although one could presume that a fear of science is being created, this can be argued. Many would argue that actually it is the fear of the unknown that is evident in ‘Frankenstein’. Victor is exploring something that no one has ever done and thus the path to his discovery, although with good intentions, is flawed. During the 19th Century, the new scientific discoveries were controversial with many going against Religion. The description used such as ‘fire tissue’ and ‘sizzling light’ of lightning, reflects Victors experiments with conducting electricity through organisms.

During the time, Johann Willhelm Ritter, had done experiments whereby he would pass electricity from metal conductors into frog’s legs and this is referred to in the novel. Ketterer says that Shelley’s awareness and fascination with the big scientific discoveries of her day is highlighted in the 1831 version of Frankenstein, where Victor asks his father to demonstrate that lightning is electricity. The novel ‘Frankenstein; is a response to these scientific advancements acting as a warning to those playing god ‘How dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge’ creating fear in the unknown not just in science.

Following on from the fear of the unknown, some would argue that it is also the fear of change in ‘Frankenstein’. Religion was a fundamental part of society and many believed that Science was a usurper to Religion and many would still believe that today. ‘In other studies you have gone to where others have gone before’. Unlike subjects such as History, Victor believes Science is about change and therefore oversteps the boundaries of discovery; it is the reference to the sublimeness of his task that makes this more evident. ‘In scientific pursuit there is continual food for discovery and wonder’.

The fear not only in the power of science but in the ‘discovery’ is clear in ‘Frankenstein’ with continual conflict between the two. The novel describes the ultimate consequence of those attempting to cross two of Gods domains, ‘man’ and ‘God’. Victor creates the monster, which challenges the advancement of technology during the industrial revolution and thus a fear of industry and scientific advancement, not necessarily the direct fear of science. The fear of the power of science is a concept that can be seen clearly in ‘Frankenstein’.

Although, it can be argued that it is the fear of the unknown or change, the real fear is in the power of Science. Victor’s obsession with science allows him to feel powerful and thus make mistakes, that when retrospectively telling the story he is able to recount and acknowledge. The power placed in Victors hands when he is able to create life, is ultimately the one to be feared. Shelley’s ability to subtly create fear through setting, language and structure is important in creating the fear of the power of science which is crucial in this Gothic text.

Are you a made man? In Mary Shelley’s (1797-1851) Frankenstein; Or the Modern Prometheus (1818), Victor Frankenstein creates a fiend out the dead body parts. Frankenstein, as a product of the Enlightenment and the Scientific Revolution, is obsessed with advancing the cause of science, and in becoming famous and respected. “A new species would bless me as its creator and source; many happy and excellent natures would owe their being to me.

I might in process of time (although I now found it impossible) renew life where death had apparently devoted the body to corruption ”(Shelley 48). This modern day Prometheus, succeeds in doing what no man has done before, create life. The man he creates is contrary to what Victor envisioned. “How can I describe my emotions at this catastrophe, or how delineate the wretch whom with such infinite pains and care I had endeavoured to form? His limbs were in proportion, and I had selected his features as beautiful. Beautiful! Great God!

His yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath; his hair was of a lustrous black, and flowing; his teeth of a pearly whiteness; but these luxuriances only formed a more horrid contrast with his watery eyes, that seemed almost of the same colour as the dun-white sockets in which they were set, his shrivelled complexion and straight black lips”(Shelley 51). After his creation comes to life, he refuses to accept his (parental) obligation; he does not care for the fiend, he does not provide it with shelter nor with food or love. He fails to teach and to instruct dismissing a relationship with his creature.

Instead, in disgust of what he has done, Victor abandons “the fiend. ” The fiend attempts to live a normal life; however, being abandon leaves the monster confused, afraid, left to his own devices, and angry. “‘I am alone and miserable: man will not associate with me;’’ (Shelley 129) Victor abandon and left the monster as a fatherless child like his mother did when she died “.. She whom we saw every day and whose very existence appeared a part of our own can have departed forever” (Shelley 38-39) All of the thing that he loved about his mother had been taken away and he was left as a motherless child.

The story of Frankenstein and his creation is ultimately a story of abandonment. Abandonment (and neglect), Shelley suggests, is detrimental to growth and maturity; abandonment might result in the dehumanization of both the creator (parent) and his creation (child). Shelley’s novel is an exploration of where abandonment might lead. [NOT SURE WHERE YOU ARE GOING WITH THIS. KEEP IT FOR NOW, IF YOU DECIDE THAT YOU NEED MORE OF A HISTORICAL FRAMEWORK] Ultimately, Frankenstein refuses to accept the responsibility of providing a source of companionship for the creation since he does not allow for any connection between himself and the monster.

Victor basically flees, hoping to forget what he has created. He attempts to live a normal life however his abandonment leaves the monster confused, angry, and afraid. Frankenstein is an Enlightenment scientist, who crosses the boundaries of science and feels the need to discover the secrets of life. The Enlightenment Period was a cultural movement of intellectuals beginning in the late 17th and 18th century Europe emphasizing reason and individualism rather than tradition. [START HERE] Victor Frankenstein has always been fascinated by nature and always wanted to conquer the unknown

[PLACE AND ANALYZE THE QUOTE HERE – WHERE HIS FASCINATION BEGINS – “When we visited it the next morning, we found the tree shattered in a singular manner. It was not splintered by the shock, but entirely reduced to thin ribbons of wood. I never beheld anything so utterly destroyed. Before this I was not unacquainted with the more obvious laws of electricity” (Shelley 36). After being introduced to science Victor became fascinated with it. In retaliation to his fascination, Victor betrays nature by creating the Monster. Victor frankenstein felt the need to challenge nature with him imagination and creating his own being.

The Romantic believed there was good in all things, and the darkness could not be ignored. Many expressed their beliefs in through dark romantic writing and art work using the ideas of nature, emotion, individualism, and creativity and passion was a reaction against the rules and conventions of society. To all romanctic writers believed nature is devined there for violating nature is a violation of there god and themselves. Victor’s fascination led him to successful create a creature and Privately abandon his own needs, hidden away in his apartment where no one can see him work, he decides to begin the construction of the creature.

Abortion and devoting himself to this labor, he neglects everything else family, friends, studies, and social life. This lead victor to grow increasingly pale, lonely, and obsessed. “My cheek had grown pale with study, and my person had become emaciated with confinement. Sometimes, on the very brink of certainty, I failed; yet still I clung to the hope which the next day or the next hour might realise. One secret which I alone possessed was the hope to which I had dedicated myself; and the moon gazed on my midnight labours, while, with unrelaxed and breathless eagerness, I pursued nature to her hiding-places.” (shelley 48)

Victor creates the Monster to replace the lonely feeling he had after his mothers death. In creating the monster, one might say, that Victor is reconciling his own sense of abandonment. In other words, he creates a creature to validate him (often what our parents do) and to reconcile his feelings of maternal abandonment. Ironically, he in turn abandons the creature that he builds. Frankenstein feels abandoned by his mother and the Monster feels abandoned by Frankenstein. After creating the Monster, Victor takes takes one look at the monster and immediately abandons him, “But I escaped and rushed downstairs.

I took refuge in the courtyard belonging to the house which I inhabited; where I remained during the rest of the night… ” (Shelley 59). When he returns to his chamber, the monster is gone and Victor feels relieved from his creator. Two years go by before Victor and his eight feet tall creation, face each other again. Victor is headed home after receiving his fathers letter informing him that his little brother William had been murdered. Victor is soon aware that the fiend is responsible for the murder of his brother.

His adopted sister Justine is framed by the fiend. She is found guilty and is soon executed. Although Victor feels sadness, anger, frustration and guilt, especially about Justine’s death, he feels that he cannot confide his suspicion that his creation is responsible. Who would believe him? Victor begins his traveling toward Geneva with thought of the Monster. During his traveling he sees his creature , while coming face to face with his creating he insisted on the creature diapering and having the slightest contact with him.

On one hand the creator had different feelings he almost seemed excited about seeing his creator and wanted to share all the thing he had learned with him even while victor continued to abandon him. “Be calm! I entreat you to hear me, before you give vent to your hatred on my devoted head. Have I not suffered enough that you seek to increase my misery? Life, although it may only be an accumulation of anguish, is dear to me, and I will defend it. Remember, thou hast made me more powerful than thyself; my height is superior to thine; my joints more supple.

But I will not be tempted to set myself in opposition to thee. I am thy creature, and I will be even mild and docile to my natural lord and king, if thou wilt also perform thy part, the which thou owest me. Oh, Frankenstein, be not equitable to every other, and trample upon me alone, to whom thy justice, and even thy clemency and affection, is most due. Remember that I am thy creature; I ought to be thy Adam; but I am rather the fallen angel, whom thou drivest from joy for no misdeed. Everywhere I see bliss, from which I alone am irrevocably excluded. I was benevolent and good — misery made me a fiend.

Make me happy, and I shall again be virtuous. ” “Begone! I will not hear you. There can be no community between you and me; we are enemies. Begone, or let us try our strength in a fight, in which one must fall. “(shelley 89) though the monster had been abandoned several times by his creator he tried every chance he got [THIS IS AN IMPORTANT SCENE AND MOUNTAIN, SO MAKE SURE THAT YOU DO IT JUSTICE. AND REMEMBER THE MONSTER NOTIFIES VICTOR TO EXACTLY WHERE HE WILL MEET HIM, BECAUSE HE WANTS THIS AUDIENCE WITH HIS CREATOR]. {YOU DON’T HAVE TO BRACKET THIS, BUT YOU SHOULD TRANSITION INTO THIS.

IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE MONSTER IS ABANDONED MANY TIMES… VICTOR, WHO LOST HIS MOTHER SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT THE MONSTER LOST HIS FATHER – VICTOR – YET HE FAILS TO EMPATHIZE WITH HIS CREATION] He told Victor about how he grew to love the DeLacey Family and learned to see what it meant to love another. Studying the family led to the monster feeling abandoned because he couldn’t connect with them. “I had admired the perfect forms of my cottagers — their grace, beauty, and delicate complexions: but how was I terrified when I viewed myself in a transparent pool!

At first I started back, unable to believe that it was indeed I who was reflected in the mirror; and when I became fully convinced that I was in reality the monster that I am, I was filled with the bitterest sensations of despondence and mortification. Alas! I did not yet entirely know the fatal effects of this miserable deformity”. (Shelley ____ ) Before the cottage family met the creature he had already opened his heart to them wishing for adoption. When the monster finally felt he had completely prepared himself to meet his teachers he was rejected and again abandoned.

This abandonment was held a great deal of the creatures hate for mankind. He then told Victor that he had met a little boy on his way back to find Victor, his creator. He tells that he thought he could make the little boy except him, because of the little boy’s youth mind. The Monster then learned that the boy was a brother to Victor, who had abandoned him first. (talk about how he tried to grow comfort with the boy but was abandon) He got very angry at the thought of being friends with the brother of the man who caused the Monster such great pain.

The Monster then killed the little boy and had taken the locket and put it into the pocket of a lady. Justin was soon executed for the murder of the little boy (William). “I determined to seek that justice which I vainly attempted to gain from any other being that wore the human form. ” (Pg. 136) Victor then told the Monster to leave and never come back or he would kill him. The Monster then realizes that the blame is on him, himself and he decides to kill himself. “Cursed, cursed creator! Why did I live? ” (Pg. 132) Once again this left me wondering if the Monster killed himself, would that leave another void in Victor’s life?

Victor had already lost so many loved ones that were so close to him. Did he have feelings for the Monster? Not feelings of love, because all that he had done; but some type, any type of feelings since he after all created the Monster. At the end of the book the Monster finally talks Frankenstein into creating a female for him. The Monster wanted another like him so he could feel normal and not feel the abandonment for the rest of his life. Victor begins making another replica of the Monster, but then abandon the thought in the middle of his work.

Victor then realized what could happen if he finished the female Monster. victor realized that if he finished the female Monster that it too could turn against human kind, and also go on a killing spree. Victor then destroyed his half way complete work. This angered the Monster and he then swore to make Victor the most miserable person in the world. The Monster did this by going on another killing spree of people that were close to Victor. He killed Victor’s best friend Henry Clerval and Victor was almost executed for the murder. In the mean time Victor had met a lady called Elizabeth, whom he planned to marry.

So the Monster waited for the night after Victor and Elizabeth’s wedding and then murdered Elizabeth. Victor’s father had also grown very depressed from all the void’s in his own life and too soon died after hearing the news Elizabeth’s death. Victor then was very ragged and obsessed to get a bitter revenge on the bitter Monster. Victor chased the Monster up into the North. He nearly killed himself when he was chasing the Monster on dog sleds and broke through the ice and fell into the water. Victor was saved by a passing ship. He recovered enough to tell his long, remorseful story to Robert Walton.

Victor then got very sick and soon died. Thus, leaving a void in Walton’s life. That same night the Monster came to see Victor in his death-bed. The monster met Walton while doing this and told him of all of the rage he felt toward Victor. Walton did not like the Monster at all. The Monster told Walton that he would kill himself now that Victor had died. He told Walton he would do this by going where nobody could see him, in the North, and set fire to himself. In conclusion, I feel the theme of the book is abandonment. I think this because every event that happens is the result to some sort of abandonment.

Victor Frankenstein felt abandoned and had a void because his mother died. As a result to that feeling, he betrayed nature and created the Monster. He abandoned the Monster, leaving a void in the Monster’s life. The abandonment from Victor made the Monster angry, wanting to make Victor’s life miserable. The Monster then began to kill people who were close to Victor, making Victor have even more abandonment in his life. Finally, Victor died from being sick and the Monster killed himself. All of the events in this book support that the theme of the book is abandonment.