Frankenstein context Flashcards
Men and women representation
Male – public, possess knowledge and freedom to move with money, profession and women
Female – private sphere of domesticity, simple work, connection with religion and angels, possessed by men, nurturing imagery with children or simple plant
Shelley’s father, William Godwin – intellectual father, whilst she recieved criticisms as she was a woman
Mary Wolfcraft – feminist, radical mother, vindication for the rights to women
Shelley makes this gender division – Justine (trapped) compared to Victor, however, does push through these boundaries with representing Victor as hopeless, Lord Byron, marketing that all men are hopeless
The Gothic:
Genre of literature combining horror, death and romance which originated in 18th century but prevailed in the 19th century – illustrated but not fully embraced
Elements of:
Dark settings
Extreme landscapes like rugged mountains
Passionate, willful villain hero – evil deeds leading to downfall of character
Heroine with a tendency to faint
Hero’s identity revealed later
Horrifying events or the threat of it: gloom, mystery, suspense
Chapter 4, pg 52
Ancient Science:
Mainly originated from 1493 to 1521 which evokes a sense of religion and magic such as the mystery of the creature
Elements of:
Alchemy – turning materials into gold
Cornelius Agrippa (1486-1535) who believed God gave magic to Christians
‘New Light’ knowledge – reading things that couldn’t really happen - ‘sad trash’ ‘such nonsense’
‘Fatal impulse’ - deflecting responsibility, constantly hones in and out of himself
‘Secrets of nature’ ‘raising ghosts or devils’
Romanticism:
Focuses on the irrational and the subjective, focuses on artistic spirit rather than rules – such as the divine, the sublime, the genius, and rejecting classism and rationalism. Originated in the late 18th centuy and is mainly seen in literature or art
Elements of:
‘A spirit the magnificent appearances of this’ - inner beautification
‘Sublime shapes of the mountains, change of the seasons’ - appreciation of nature
‘Heroic songs (…) write many a tale of enchantment’ - heroism, creativity
However, can be argued that this sensibility is killed with the characters that represent them as they become too idealistic
Shelley utilizes the flourishing ideology of Romanticism as when Victor constantly attempts to violate nature, he is always overcome by its power and through the ‘immense mountains and precaps that overhung me on every side’ allows him to be renued by nature.
Galvanism:
The effects of electrical current passing through body causing muscle contraction
Elements of:
Chp 13 ‘when I was about 15..
Thunderstorms, tree
‘Unlimited powers’ ‘mimic the earthquake’ ‘mock the invisible world’ - a recognition of nature, man and God
Shown in her 1831 preface as an influence
Originally proven through an experiment with frog legs with metal being contrasted by electricity – thought they were being brought back to life – electrophysiology
THE SUBLIME
cannot rationalize how you feel you just do
Edmund Burke’s philosophical enquiry – experiences of extreme emotions – he saw nature as the most sublime object, inspiring awe and
Emotional thoughts that transcend thought or words or language
Instrumental power
Power of status, in theory, control of conversation
Interrupts
Takes turns longer and more often
Use of rhetorical devices
Doesn’t respond to adjacency pairs
Agenda setting and use of discourse markers to hold the floor
Allocates next speaker
Influential power
Focuses on passion more than control, tries to gain influence
More quickly, loudly
Trying to prove and be heard
Gesticulating, agitated
Little figurative language (tricolonic structure)
When first published
When F first published, criticized because of being considered to contain ‘no lesson of conduct, manners, or morality’ - goes against the established order, revealling Shelley’s awareness of societal injustice and a desire for reform
The Influence of the Enlightenment and Romanticism
Cue: The novel is deeply influenced by both Enlightenment ideals (rationality, science, and progress) and Romanticism (emotion, nature, and the sublime). Victor Frankenstein is initially driven by Enlightenment values—his obsession with pushing the boundaries of scientific knowledge—while the novel contrasts this with the Romantic focus on the power and beauty of nature.
Significance: The clash between these philosophical movements is key to understanding Victor’s ambition and the moral consequences of his actions. The novel questions the cost of scientific progress and warns against neglecting the emotional, ethical, and natural aspects of life.
Walton’s Letters as a Frame Narrative
Cue: The novel opens and closes with letters written by Robert Walton, an Arctic explorer, to his sister. These letters frame the narrative and introduce themes of ambition, exploration, and isolation.
Significance: Walton’s ambition mirrors Victor’s, setting up the novel’s key themes from the beginning. His letters provide a perspective of an outsider who, like Victor, seeks knowledge and greatness, offering a forewarning of the dangers of unchecked ambition. The frame structure also helps to create suspense, as Walton introduces Frankenstein’s tragic tale.
Victor’s Obsession with Alchemy and Science
Cue: Victor’s early fascination with alchemists like Cornelius Agrippa, Paracelsus, and Albertus Magnus, combined with his later studies of modern chemistry and physiology, shows his desire to unlock the secrets of life. He seeks forbidden knowledge beyond the limits of normal science.
Significance: Victor’s obsession with these early, mystical forms of science cues readers into his willingness to pursue knowledge at all costs, even when it goes against conventional morality. His rejection of ethical boundaries is a major cue toward his later downfall and the creation of the creature.
The Gothic and Sublime Settings
Cue: Throughout the novel, Shelley uses vivid descriptions of nature and Gothic settings—such as the eerie laboratory where Victor creates the creature, the isolated Arctic wilderness, and the sublime Alps. These settings often coincide with moments of intense emotion, such as Victor’s despair or the creature’s rage.
Significance: The contrast between natural beauty (the sublime) and dark, Gothic elements underscores the novel’s Romantic theme of the power of nature. It also cues the reader to the emotional and psychological states of the characters, such as Victor’s guilt and the creature’s growing anger. Nature, as a force beyond human control, serves as a reminder of the dangers of overreaching ambition.
The Creature’s Appearance
Cue: Victor’s immediate horror at the creature’s grotesque appearance when he brings it to life is one of the first major cues that his experiment has gone terribly wrong. He describes it as monstrous, with yellow skin, watery eyes, and black lips, despite his intentions to make the creature beautiful.
Significance: The creature’s horrifying appearance is a visual representation of Victor’s failure as a creator and his misjudgment in playing God. It cues the reader to the broader theme of external appearance versus internal reality. The creature’s looks lead to his rejection by society, which becomes the catalyst for his suffering and violence, hinting at the theme of prejudice and societal responsibility.
Victor’s Immediate Abandonment of the Creature
Cue: After bringing the creature to life, Victor is so repulsed and horrified by it that he immediately abandons it. He does not consider its needs or responsibilities toward it.
Significance: This abandonment cues the reader to the ethical implications of Victor’s scientific overreach. It introduces the novel’s exploration of creator responsibility and the consequences of neglecting what one has brought into existence. The creature’s subsequent actions—its loneliness, anger, and desire for revenge—are directly linked to Victor’s refusal to care for or guide his creation.
