VICTOR'S TRANSGRESSION & INGOLSTADT Flashcards
quotes on Mr Krempe
little squat man with a gruff voice
repulsive countenance
did not prepossess in my favour pursuits
quotes on M. Waldman
his voice the sweetest I had ever heard
aspect expressive of great benevolence
AO3 Physiognomy
Physiognomy was a popular pseudo science proposed by lombroso who suggested an individual’s characteristics could be determined and judged through their physical appearance
AO3 prometheus
The initial title of the book was supposed to be the Modern prometheus which is echoed in some of Victor’s transgresisve actions paralleling with prometheus who was eternally punished for attempting to steal fire from Zeus
AO3 industrial revolution
The rapid advancements of the industrial period had revealed the unfulfilling nature of human society and the desire for more and more developments which worried the romantics who became very wary towards the movement for the damage it’d cause to nature and the traditional way of life
AO3 galvini and aldini
The 18th century was a major period of scientific experimentation which is exemplified by these scientists who believed that it was possible to reanimate life into animals through running electric currents before it was eventually tested by Aldini on a real criminal called George foster in 1803
AO3 laws
1752 murder act meant that the body of criminals could be used for scientific experimentation
banning of graverobbing
quotes on victor’s transgression
the moon often gazed upon my midnight labours
stars often disappeared
filthy workshop of creation
quotes of victor’s unnatural desires
I pursued nature in her hiding place
life and death appealed to me as the ideal bounds to break
charnel houses/ unhallowed damps of graves
quotes on victor’s isolation
cell/ solitary chamber
I paid no visit to Geneva
solely wrapt up in this
analyse the moon often gazed upon my midnight labours
the moon is often a bad omen in the gothic convention which reveals Victor’s transgression to evil
the fact that his actions are carried out at midnight and in the dark reveals how he wants them to remain secretive and is aware of the their sinful nature
analyse stars often disappeared
the stars are symbolic of god and the heavens which reflect the immorality of his actions which has meant that he now lacks redemption and saving
the lack of light reflects his desire to keep his sins hidden and not exposed
analyse filthy workshop of creation
the dirty setting reflects how victor is surrounded by corruption and is an early characterisation of the monster’s isolation and evil
analyse cell/solitary chamber
the costly pursuit for knowledge has led to the compromise of victor’s freedom
reveals how he desires for his creations to be isolated and hidden away from mainstream society
analyse I was solely wrapt up in this
reveals the sense of entrapment his ambition has caused him - overwhelming power and danger
analyse I paid no visit to Geneva
Highlights his transgression from a place of innocence and good - detaches himself
analyse I pursued nature in her hiding place
The personification of nature highlights the immorality of his actions as he actively goes out of his way to be invasive and intrude upon forbidden knowledge - emphatic of his arrogance and selfishness
analyse charnel houses/ unhallowed damps of graves/ life and death appealed to me as the ideal bounds to break
the references to these liminal settings reflects his desire to break and usurp the natural order between life and death
victor’s arrogance leads him to desire an almost godlike power and control over life and death
