Franekenstein Notes

Alternative transcript:

men, specifically those who seek to rise above the rest of society, are rash and "unfashioned creatures" with "weak and faulty natures" ● ●. ● Romanticism and Nature Romantic writers portray nature as the greatest and most perfect for in the universe Words like 'sublime' (Shelley uses to describe Mont Blanc) covey unfathomable power and flawlessness of the natural world. ● ● To contrast Victor describes people as "half made up" The implication of humans, weighed down by petty concerns and countless flaws such as vanity and prejudice, pale in comparison to nature's perfection Suffering is a result of imperfect men attempting to disturb nature's perfection Victor and his pride tries to discover 'mysteries of creation" to "pioneer a new way" by penetrating the "citadel ofnature." O Revenge ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Nature prevails in the end and Victor is destroyed for his misguided attempt to manipulate its power ● The monster begins its life with a warm, open heart (tabla rasa, Rousseau and the Noble Savage) But after abondamment first by Victor and then by the De Lacey family, the monster turns to revenge Prejudice ● The monster's actions are understandable: it has been hurt by the unfair rejection of a humanity that cannot see past its own prejudices and in turn wants to hurt those who hurt it "... feeling of revenge and hatred filled my bosom.. [and] I bent my mind towards injury and death" But in taking revenge, two things happen to the monster: O O O Revenge also consumes Victor, the victim of the monsters revenge In a sense, the very humans desire for revenge transforms both Victor and the monster into true monsters that have no feelings or desires beyond destroying their foe (Gothic idea of doppelgängers and relation to Cain and Abel) It ensures that it will never be accepted in human society because, by taking revenge, the monster eliminates any hope of joining society, which is what it really wants, revenge becomes the only thing it has revenge became "dearer than light or food" Nearly every human character assumes that the monster must be dangerous based on its outward appearance, when in truth the monster is warm and open-hearted Again and again the monster finds himself assaulted and rejected by entire villages and families despite his attempts to convey his benevolent intentions Violence and prejudice convince him of the "barbarity of man" The only character to accept the monster in the blind man, De Lacey, suggests that the monster is right Mankind is barbaric, blinded by its own prejudice Relates heavily to Rousseau's idea of the noble savage O Lost innocence Presents many examples of the corruption of youthful innocence Victor's loss of innocence . ● ● A young man on the cusp of adulthood, Victor leaves for uni with high hopes and loft ambitions Aims to explore "unknown powers" and enlighten all of humanity to the deepest "mysteries of creation" but his success and his pride brings an end to his innocence Creates a monster which reflects back to him the many flaws inherent in his own species and in himself in turn, Victor's cruel "un-innocent" behaviour also destroys the monster's innocence, abandons him Victor and the monster's losses of innocence ultimately lead to the deaths of William, Justine, Elizabeth, and Clerval, four characters portrayed as un quietly gentle, kind and innocent Though these murders, Shelley is suggesting that innocence is fleeting and will always be either lost or destroyed by the harsh reality of human nature