Frankenstein Quotes Flashcards
“What may be expected in a country of eternal light” Walton
- light is a symbol of knowledge and discovery
- Walton’s quest to reach northernmost part of Earth is similar to Victor’s quest for the secret of life; quest for ultimate knowledge
- beauty and simplicity of phrasing imply knowledge as a pure good
Did I request thee, Maker, from my clay
To mould me Man, did I solicit thee
From darkness to promote me?
- from Paradise Lost
- monster perceives himself as a tragic figure; compares himself to Satan and Adam
- Shunned by his creator, despite good intentions
- ill will towards Victor
I, the miserable and the abandoned, am an abortion, to be spurned at, and kicked, and trampled on.
- Monster to Walton over Victor’s body
- angry self pity as monster questions injustice of how he has been treated captures perspective of his life
- sufferings which motivated his crimes
- monster is an abortion, unwanted by his maker
his yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries..his hair was lustrous black.. his teeth of a pearly whiteness
-first associated with the term monster because of his appearance
“Supremely frightful would be the effect of any human endeavour to mock the stupendous mechanism of the creator of the world”
- Mary Shelleys introduction
- Playing God/ambition
on you it rests, whether I quit… man and lead a harmless life or become the scourge of your fellow creatures
- places blame on Victor for immoral actions
- ultimatium
I wept like a child. “Dear mountains! my own beautiful lake! how do you welcome your wanderer? Your summits are clear; the sky and lake are blue and placid. Is this to prognosticate peace, or to mock at my unhappiness?”
-Nature’s beauty evokes powerful emotion
During this short voyage I saw the lightning playing on the summit of Mont Blanc in the most beautiful figures. ..I soon felt the rain coming in large drops, but its violence quickly increased
-beauty and violence are contained together in the natural world
having been imbued with a fervant longing to penetrate the secrets of nature. in spite of the intense labour and wonderful discoveries of modern philosophers, i always came from my studies discontented and unsatisfied
- Nature is passive, fertile and submissive
- femininity of nature vs masculinity of science
benevolent intentions, thirsted for the moment I should put them in practice
- Victor as the Modern Prometheus
- As Prometheus sought fire for human betterment, Victor seeks knowledge
I am thy creature, I ought to be thy Adam
- Paradise Lost
- Creature sees himself as adam and satan; can fulful either role
“how dangerous the acquirement of knowledge, and how much happier that man is who believe that his native form is the world, than he who aspired to be greater than nature would allow”
- dangerous knowledge/ambition
- playing god
“wealth was an inferior object; but what glory would attend the discovery, if i could banish disease from the human frame”
- ambition/playing god
- Links to Prometheus; human betterment
“i will pioneer a new way, explore unknown powers, and unfold to the world the deepest mysteries of creation”
- knowledge/ambition
- sexually driven exploration of science / “nature is female”
- playing god (scientists ‘rising’ to heaven - command, mimic and mock powerful aspects of nature)
“you are my creator, but i am your master – obey!”
- shift in power, victor is no longer in control of his creation or destiny
- reinforces the idea that scientists = god
