reflection of culture and fear Flashcards
each aspect of the groundbreaking and controversial text is a
•striking characterization of the cultural anxieties and values of the time as well as exaggerated personifications of shelley’s own experiences
the text itself serves as a
•cautionary tale warning readers abt the misuse of science and technology, represents the fragmented social & economic hierarchy that impacted the functionality of its society, and its genre of romanticism brings forth the subject of individuality
frankenstein confronts the
•social movements,stigmas and values with its commentary through science fiction
19th century england life was defined by
•a boistering economic prosperity & rigid class division
the industrial revolution shifted the
•economy and workforce from agriculture based to manufacture based
not only did this change a multitude of industries,
•it had a widespread effect on the functionality & culture of communities
•just as agriculturally living was seen as slower paced, modest and collaborative, living in an industrial boom mechanized society
most production & excess goods changed consumer habits and the requirements for the avg worker to be hired
•changed
•the factory environment lacked any support of emphasis of individuality which is a key then of frankenstein
piecing together this cultural history gives context
•on how individualism was portrayed throughout the novel as a reaction to a jarring shift in shelley’s and her community’s reality
charles darwin’s scientific exploration on species strongly challenged
•religiously based Victorian values
•religion and science struggled to coexist in this era & they weren’t the only two aspects of the existing culture that clashed
things that didn’t align with the values of victorian society didn’t
•fade out under oppression, rather, a no. of counter culture mvmts surface
one of these mvmts was expressed in
•the romantic genre of literature
•just as factory & industrial culture rose to become a keystone of 19th century europe, individual expression became a primary value of the growing romantic genre
in a similar way, the challenging of darwin’s discoveries and the advancement of natural science as a whole resulted in
•nature being another aspect of the genre
esp in the case of frankenstein, science was portrayed to
•wrongfully allow people to play God, and in general science was perceived as smthn that disturbs natural order
the rise of the romantic genre is seen as a
•reaction of society not valuing individuality, emotion, art and nature
•as a famed romantic text, frankenstein has a myriad of examples of how deeply emotional individuality is & how for some, it’s rejected by society
since individuality wasn’t a celebrated aspect of humanity,
•those who expressed it often struggled with humiliation and remorse
rejection of individuality has its consequences
shelley’s personification of creature exemplifies
•the cultural standpoint
•creature described as monstrous early in novel, but doesn’t fully embody monstrosity until rejected by victor
characterization of creature as something profoundly ugly personifies and represents
•how society fears science
•victor is largely accused of “playing God” by scholars & shelley’s personification of creature shows there’s consequences for those actions
this fear is demonstrated when
•creature becomes out of control & commits multiple murders while also serving as a living manifestation of fear and the unknown
during industrial revolution, innovation & creation highly valued by society. era was increasing productivity & prosperity for society
•however the creature wasn’t created for improving the quality of life for others
why was the creature created
•creature created out of curiosity by someone who played with smthn only god or nature should control: death
it’s seen that the more victor delves into the taboo aspect of science
•the more he faced repercussions
•”sorrow only increased with knowledge.”
his exploring of smthn he shouldn’t have interfered with is depicted to cause him pain. shelley is implying
•that by choosing to delve into this dangerous combination of science, death and life, the outcome is internally & externally negative
this exemplifies more than just scientific values at the time. rigid class structure only functions if
•those at bottom are uneducated & unorganized
•if lower class is convinced that education only brings sorrow then they’ll stay uninformed & ignorant
how creature if treated also is a representation of society & structure
•he’s instantly rejected as his apparent monstrosity was similar to the lower class Europeans at the time
victor doesn’t want any association with
•the creature which inevitably leads to the monster committing atrocities
on surface, seems like monster is just an angry inhumane aberration, though,
•its only when he’s denied what humans need that he acts out in such devastating ways
like lower class, creature comes into works capable of love and education like everyone else
•he only becomes a monster as a product of his environment & community
•its not unreasonable for anyone to want the same companionship the monster wants
quite a few examples of creatures humanity beyond him teaching himself how to read and write
•when being treated equally or not being attacked he expresses empathy
•feels obligated to help a family he’s staying with & learning from and even stops taking their foood as he realizes it caused them to struggle
the creatures actions are objectively empathetic, however, victors skewed view of him is monstrous since he..
•has never treated the creature as an equal or with respect
how does victors view of the monster reflect 19th century
•reflective of the 19th century europe’s social values since entire groups of people were automatically deduced to being uneducated and classless just because they were born into a lower socioeconomic community
things such as wealth and property were directly correlated with an individuals or entire class’s humanity
•the creatures reflection makes this clear
•”…I possessed no money, no friends, no kind of property…. I was not even of the same nature as man..”
shelley expertly articulates the reflection of an
• individual who’s being rejected because of his lack of material items
•he teaches himself how to read and write but still is reduced to a monster with no humanity
as society and victor see him as a monster..
•the monster sees himself as one and starts to act like one too
•his uniqueness alienates him
shelley’s exploration of romanticism and gothic literature also reveals
•that she had an opposing value of her era and culture: individualism
her portrayal of individuality in the creature is personified in him being
•alone, having no trust in a human society,and being a product of science
science at the time was strong parallel to individuality as in essence represents developing new and unique ways to perceive world
•victors pursuit of science overstepped boundaries in his pursuit to discover the unknown
both characters portray individuality in their own ways and both experience negative repercussions of said individuality
•victor expresses individuality in his thoughts and actions while the creature is the only being of his kind
•both of them experiencing struggles in response to their expression of self reflects the rising era of the industrial revolution
what did the growing culture of factor assembly lines & mass production oppose
•science and creativity
what does the creature epitomize
•epitomizes romanticism as a reaction to the oppression of his and shelley’s apparent society
shelley’s portrayal of the creature shows
•the torture that ensues towards an individual who’s diff from rest of society
creature loathes own existence and creation
•”Why, in that instant, did I not extinguish the spark of existence which you had so wantonly bestowed?”
both creature and victor loathe themselves after
•creatures creation and individually having powerful internal battles
•in some ways victor represents a byronic hero
how does victor represent a byronic hero
•he’s a fascinating character that expresses both Gothic and Romantic elements whose complicated paradoxes and bruiting attitude ultimately lead him into a lot of internal & external struggles
what does victor denying to name the creature allude to
•alludes to his view on the relationship between individuality & humanity
•by not giving creature a name, he inherently loses aspects of individuality
the creatures realization of his uniqueness is accompanied by his realization of his monstrosity
•”I am an unfortunate and deserted creature,”
•”I am an outcast in this world forever.”
his awareness of his rejection turns him into
• a monster
•a creation being rejected by a creator did irreparable damage to the creature
•shelley’s portrayal of individuality suggests that not celebrating people’s uniqueness is what’s truly destructive
it’s challenging to discern which aspects of shelley’s writing reflected
•her own views or commentary on her culture and society
•the cultural values of the time were very different than they are now, esp considering the impact of the industrial revolution and the value on religion
the rise of the gothic and romantic genres support that
•groups and individuals were reacting to the societal values or lack there of with these counterculture movements
the creature personified the views of
•religion and science. individuality, the changing factory based environment, and the social and economic hierarchies that existed
the creature was an early personification of
•the fear of science and the dangers that amount as a result of the ignorant and curious man
since having a name is a humanizing characteristic,
•by not giving the creature one, it supports that shelley was commenting on the concept of individualism
the creature lacked individuality and was also
•disrespected and disregarded by society similarly to the poor and working class
the culture of 19th century england had both deeply
•ingrained and also rapidly changing values
•while they coexisted, the change in culture left some alienated and monstrous
the creature was an amalgamation of
•the fears of science and rejection while also personifying shelley’s commentary and criticisms of society
