"The deep grief which this scene had at first excited quickly gave way to rage and despair. They were dead and I lived; their murderer also lived, and to destroy him I must drag out my own weary existence." -page 150
During this scene, Victor Frankenstein is visiting the cemetary where his deceased family members are. As he kneels on the ground near his father, Elizabeth, and William, he makes his depression and grief known. This has all happened to Victor because of his decision to create the monster. I think an important point that is trying to be expressed is that knowledge is not always a good thing. Victor's knowledge, which motivated and allowed him to create the monster, has tied him down and has only complicated his life regarding every aspect. Being the only one to know how to do something can be rewarding at times, but this is definitely not true in Victor's circumstances. Because he was the only one who knew how to create life with his knowledge, his talents were no longer beneficial. They only created destruction and stress in his life. Victor understands this concept after it is too late for him, but he tells his story to Robert regarding the thirst for knowledge to avoid the same thing from happening all over again.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Blog #9 The Monster's Request
"You must create a female for me, with whom I can live in the interchange of those sympathies necessary for my being. This alone you can do; and I demand it of you as a right which you must not refuse to concede." -page 104
At this point in the story, the monster presents Victor with his idea that it would be appropriate for Victor to create him a companion. During this conversation between Victor and the monster, I feel sympathy for both characters at different times. First, I feel bad for the monster. He has been rejected by people over and over again, and he has no one that will interact with him. The monster just wants to love and be loved, but his appearance is too much for humans to handle. I do feel bad that he is always alone and has no female companion, but I also feel bad for Frankenstein in this situation. He doesn't want anything to do with the monster at this point, but he has to make a difficult decision. Either way he decides, there are negative consequences that Victor must face. The monster sort of blackmails Victor into consenting to his plans. With his safety and the safety of his friends and family in jeopardy, Victor has no choice but to agree with what the monster wants.
At this point in the story, the monster presents Victor with his idea that it would be appropriate for Victor to create him a companion. During this conversation between Victor and the monster, I feel sympathy for both characters at different times. First, I feel bad for the monster. He has been rejected by people over and over again, and he has no one that will interact with him. The monster just wants to love and be loved, but his appearance is too much for humans to handle. I do feel bad that he is always alone and has no female companion, but I also feel bad for Frankenstein in this situation. He doesn't want anything to do with the monster at this point, but he has to make a difficult decision. Either way he decides, there are negative consequences that Victor must face. The monster sort of blackmails Victor into consenting to his plans. With his safety and the safety of his friends and family in jeopardy, Victor has no choice but to agree with what the monster wants.
Blog #8 Literary Term: Dynamic Character
"I will exert myself; and if it is in my power to seize the monster, be assured that he shall suffer punishment proportionate to his crimes." -page 148
Dynamic character: is one who changes in some important way as a result of the story's action
Throughout the story, Victor Frankenstein is constantly trying to avoid the monster that he created. As soon as the monster comes to life, Victor immediately rejects the creature. He clearly wants nothing to do with him, and he wants to forget about the monster even existing. This attitude of hatred and anger against the monster also remain constant throughout the plot, but his desire to stay away from the monster changes. When Victor does not feel that his friends and family are threatened by the monster, he avoids contact with the monster at all costs. However, once he realizes what the monster is capable of, he starts to worry about his safety and the safety of his family. After too much death and destruction occurs for Victor to handle, he finally decides to make a change. It is on his wedding night when Elizabeth is killed that he takes on a new attitude about the monster. He has now decided to go after the monster to seek out justice and revenge for all the bad things that the monster has done.
Dynamic character: is one who changes in some important way as a result of the story's action
Throughout the story, Victor Frankenstein is constantly trying to avoid the monster that he created. As soon as the monster comes to life, Victor immediately rejects the creature. He clearly wants nothing to do with him, and he wants to forget about the monster even existing. This attitude of hatred and anger against the monster also remain constant throughout the plot, but his desire to stay away from the monster changes. When Victor does not feel that his friends and family are threatened by the monster, he avoids contact with the monster at all costs. However, once he realizes what the monster is capable of, he starts to worry about his safety and the safety of his family. After too much death and destruction occurs for Victor to handle, he finally decides to make a change. It is on his wedding night when Elizabeth is killed that he takes on a new attitude about the monster. He has now decided to go after the monster to seek out justice and revenge for all the bad things that the monster has done.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Blog #7 Literary Term: Point of View
"...we entered the hut, the fiend with an air of exultation, I with a heavy heart and depressed spirits. But I consented to listen, and seating myself by the fire which my odious companion had lighted, he thus began his tale." -page 70
Point of View: the vantage point from which the writer tells the story
This story is told in the first person point of view. It is different from most books that have the first person point of view because there are multiple narrators during different sections of the book. At all points, one of the characters are describing things and telling the story from their viewpoint. The book first begins with Robert Walton's perspective for a short time, and then it quickly moves to Victor Frankenstein's framestory. On page 70, there is another shift in point of view from Frankenstein to the monster. This shows the reader what emotions the monster is feeling and what challenges he has gone through. This transition is important because it allows the reader to better understand the background of the monster. The change in point of view at this point was significant for me personally because it got rid of the stereotypical views of the monster in my mind. It made me step back and take a look at the situation in the monster's eyes, which caused me to feel sympathy for him when I hadn't before he told his story.
Point of View: the vantage point from which the writer tells the story
This story is told in the first person point of view. It is different from most books that have the first person point of view because there are multiple narrators during different sections of the book. At all points, one of the characters are describing things and telling the story from their viewpoint. The book first begins with Robert Walton's perspective for a short time, and then it quickly moves to Victor Frankenstein's framestory. On page 70, there is another shift in point of view from Frankenstein to the monster. This shows the reader what emotions the monster is feeling and what challenges he has gone through. This transition is important because it allows the reader to better understand the background of the monster. The change in point of view at this point was significant for me personally because it got rid of the stereotypical views of the monster in my mind. It made me step back and take a look at the situation in the monster's eyes, which caused me to feel sympathy for him when I hadn't before he told his story.
Blog #6 Literary Term: Conflict
"His words had a strange effect upon me. I compassionated him and sometimes felt a wish to console him; but when I looked upon him, when I saw the filthy mass that moved and talked, my heart sickened and my feelings were altered to those of horror and hatred." -page 106
Conflict: the struggle between opposing forces or characters in a story
This part of the story occurs when Frankenstein comes face to face with the creature and fully interacts with him for the first time. At this point, when the monster finally gets Frankenstein to come to his hut and listen to his story, Frankenstein doesn't know what to do, say, or think. His emotions are constantly swaying and going back and forth. He is dealing with an emotional and internal conflict. This becomes very apparent when the monster presents his request for a female companion just like him to Frankenstein. Frankenstein has to think about the benefits and consequences of creating another monster versus not creating another monster. He has to think about the safety of his friends, family, and community before he makes his final choice. He begins to feel sympathy and sadness for the monster at points, and then his feelings change when he even looks at the monster. Weighing all of the factors to the best of his ability, Frankenstein finally decides to comply with the monster's request even though creating another monster will also add to the internal conflict that he is deal with.
Conflict: the struggle between opposing forces or characters in a story
This part of the story occurs when Frankenstein comes face to face with the creature and fully interacts with him for the first time. At this point, when the monster finally gets Frankenstein to come to his hut and listen to his story, Frankenstein doesn't know what to do, say, or think. His emotions are constantly swaying and going back and forth. He is dealing with an emotional and internal conflict. This becomes very apparent when the monster presents his request for a female companion just like him to Frankenstein. Frankenstein has to think about the benefits and consequences of creating another monster versus not creating another monster. He has to think about the safety of his friends, family, and community before he makes his final choice. He begins to feel sympathy and sadness for the monster at points, and then his feelings change when he even looks at the monster. Weighing all of the factors to the best of his ability, Frankenstein finally decides to comply with the monster's request even though creating another monster will also add to the internal conflict that he is deal with.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Blog #5 The Monster
"You accuse me of murder, and yet you would, with a satisfied conscience, destroy your own creature." -page 69
This is basically a slap in the face for Frankenstein from the monster that he created. He is essentially being called a hypocrite by the creature that he has given life to. I find this very interesting and surprising because it shows how intelligent the monster really is. The monster is fully aware of his circumstances, which is extremelty impressive and unexpected at the same time. This scene is also very important because it conveys that the creature has feelings. He is hurt and upset by the fact that his creator completely abandoned him. The monster also shows his intelligence during this part of the book when he convinces Frankenstein to listen to what he has to say. He basically outsmarts Victor, giving him no choice but to listen to the monster's tale. This scene is a key part of the story, because it allows the reader to learn about the creature and better understand him.
This is basically a slap in the face for Frankenstein from the monster that he created. He is essentially being called a hypocrite by the creature that he has given life to. I find this very interesting and surprising because it shows how intelligent the monster really is. The monster is fully aware of his circumstances, which is extremelty impressive and unexpected at the same time. This scene is also very important because it conveys that the creature has feelings. He is hurt and upset by the fact that his creator completely abandoned him. The monster also shows his intelligence during this part of the book when he convinces Frankenstein to listen to what he has to say. He basically outsmarts Victor, giving him no choice but to listen to the monster's tale. This scene is a key part of the story, because it allows the reader to learn about the creature and better understand him.
Blog #4 Justine
"I dared not ask the fatal question; but I was known, and the officer guessed the cause of my visit. The ballots had been thrown; they were all black, and Justine was condemned." -page 57
I felt so bad for Justine because of everything that she had to go through. She had to suffer for something that she clearly didn't do. She was only a young girl, and she had to go through a trial in front of many people who had already decided that she was guilty beforehand. At this point, when things got this bad, I thought that Frankenstein would show some courage and step up to do something about this. He clearly knew that Justine was not capable of such a crime, and he also knew who it was that really killed William. As a reader, I became somewhat frustrated with Frankenstein for not handling the situation in a better manner. I expected him to take some responsibility for once and accept the consequences for what he created. I thought that Frankenstein should have taken some ownership in order to preserve the innocent life of Justine. Although her role is very sad, Justine is an essential character in the story. Her unjust death really gives Frankenstein a wake up call. It is at this point that he finally realizes that he has to stop this madness and confront the creature that he has created at some point if he wants to make things right.
I felt so bad for Justine because of everything that she had to go through. She had to suffer for something that she clearly didn't do. She was only a young girl, and she had to go through a trial in front of many people who had already decided that she was guilty beforehand. At this point, when things got this bad, I thought that Frankenstein would show some courage and step up to do something about this. He clearly knew that Justine was not capable of such a crime, and he also knew who it was that really killed William. As a reader, I became somewhat frustrated with Frankenstein for not handling the situation in a better manner. I expected him to take some responsibility for once and accept the consequences for what he created. I thought that Frankenstein should have taken some ownership in order to preserve the innocent life of Justine. Although her role is very sad, Justine is an essential character in the story. Her unjust death really gives Frankenstein a wake up call. It is at this point that he finally realizes that he has to stop this madness and confront the creature that he has created at some point if he wants to make things right.
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