Assignment paper no. 103
This blog is an assignment paper no. 103 literature of the Romantic . In this assignment I am dealing with the themes of Frankenstein.
Name : Gohel Dhruvika
Paper no. 103 : literature of the Romantic
Subject code : 22394
Topic name : Themes of Frankenstein
Batch : M.A sem 1
Roll no. 07
Enrollment no.: 5108240012
E-mail address: dhruvikagohel252@gmail.com
Submitted to: smt, S.B gardi, department of English, MKBU.
💠 About author:
Mary shelley:
( mary Shelly ) Mary Shelley, born on August 30, 1797, is best known for her groundbreaking novel "Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus." As the daughter of renowned feminist Mary Wollstonecraft and political philosopher William Godwin, Shelley was immersed in a rich intellectual environment from a young age.
Her most famous work, "Frankenstein," published in 1818 when she was just 20 years old, explores themes of creation, responsibility, and the consequences of playing God. The novel tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a scientist who creates a living being from dead matter, only to be horrified by his own creation. This story not only delves into the ethical implications of scientific advancement but also examines the nature of humanity and isolation.
Shelley's writing is characterized by its vivid imagery, emotional depth, and philosophical inquiries, making her a key figure in the Romantic literary movement. Her contributions extend beyond "Frankenstein," as she wrote several other novels, essays, and works of nonfiction. Mary Shelley's legacy endures, as her exploration of complex themes continues to resonate with readers and inspire adaptations in various media.
💠 Themes of Frankenstein:
1. Family , society , isolation
2. Ambition and fallibility
3. Romanticism and nature
4. Revenge
5. Prejudice
6. Lost innocence
🔷 Family , society , isolation:
Frankenstein claims to be a novel that gives a flattering depiction of "domestic affection." That seems a strange claim in a novel full of murder, tragedy, and despair. But, in fact, all that tragedy, murder, and despair occur because of a lack of connection to either family or society. Put another way, the true evil in Frankenstein is not Victor or the monster, but isolation. When Victor becomes lost in his studies he removes himself from human society, and therefore loses sight of his responsibilities and the consequences of his actions. The monster turns vengeful not because it's evil, but because its isolation fills it with overwhelming hate and anger. To make Victor as isolated as it. Add it all up, and it becomes clear that Frankenstein sees isolation from family and society as the worst imaginable fate, and the cause of hatred, violence, and revenge.
🔷 Ambition and fallibility
Frankenstein portrays human beings as deeply ambitious, and yet also deeply flawed. Both Victor and Walton dream of transforming society and bringing glory to themselves through their scientific achievements. Yet their ambitions also make them fallible. Blinded by dreams of glory, they fail to consider the consequences of their actions. So while Victor turns himself into a god, a creator, by bringing his monster to life, this only highlights his fallibility when he is completely incapable of fulfilling the responsibilities that a creator has to its creation. Victor thinks he will be like a god, but ends up the father of a devil. Walton, at least, turns back from his quest to the North Pole before getting himself and his crew killed, but he does so with the angry conclusion that he has been robbed of glory. Neither Victor nor Walton ever escapes from their blinding ambitions, suggesting that all men, and particularly those who seek to raise themselves up in glory above the rest of society, are in fact rash and "unfashioned creatures" with "weak and faulty natures."
🔷 Romanticism and nature
Romantic writers portrayed nature as the greatest and most perfect force in the universe. They used words like "sublime" (as Mary Shelley herself does in describing Mont Blanc in Frankenstein) to convey the unfathomable power and flawlessness of the natural world. In contrast, Victor describes people as "half made up." The implication is clear: human beings, weighed down by petty concerns and countless flaws such as vanity and prejudice, pale in comparison to nature's perfection.
It should come as no surprise, then, that crises and suffering result when, in Frankenstein, imperfect men disturb nature's perfection. Victor in his pride attempts to discover the "mysteries of creation," to "pioneer a new way" by penetrating the "citadel of nature." But just as a wave will take down even the strongest swimmer, nature prevails in the end and Victor is destroyed for his misguided attempt to manipulate its power.
🔷 Revenge
The monster begins its life with a warm, open heart. But after it is abandoned and mistreated first by Victor and then by the De Lacey family, the monster turns to revenge. The monster's actions are understandable: it has been hurt by the unfair rejection of a humanity that cannot see past its own prejudices, and in turn wants to hurt those who hurt it. As the monster says when Felix attacks it and flees with the rest of the De Lacey family, "...feelings of revenge and hatred filled my bosom...[and] I bent my mind towards injury and death." But in taking revenge, two things happen to the monster. First, it ensures that it will never be accepted in human society. Second, because by taking revenge the monster eliminates any hope of ever joining human society, which is what it really wants, revenge becomes the only thing it has. As the monster puts it, revenge became "dearer than light or food."
Revenge does not just consume the monster, however. It also consumes Victor, the victim of the monster's revenge. After the monster murders Victor's relatives, Victor vows a "great and signal revenge on [the monster's] cursed head." In a sense then, the very human desire for revenge transforms both Victor and the monster into true monsters that have no feelings or desires beyond destroying their foe.
🔷 Prejudice
Frankenstein explores one of mankind's most persistent and destructive flaws: prejudice. Nearly every human character in the novel assumes that the monster must be dangerous based on its outward appearance, when in truth the monster is (originally) warm and open-hearted. Again and again the monster finds himself assaulted and rejected by entire villages and families despite his attempts to convey his benevolent intentions. The violence and prejudice he encounters convinces him of the "barbarity of man." That the only character who accepts the monster is a blind man, De Lacy, suggests that the monster is right: mankind is barbaric, and blinded by its own prejudice.
🔷 Lost innocence
Frankenstein presents many examples of the corruption of youthful innocence. The most obvious case of lost innocence involves Victor. A young man on the cusp of adulthood, Victor leaves for university with high hopes and lofty ambitions. He aims to explore "unknown powers" and enlighten all of humanity to the deepest "mysteries of creation," but his success and his pride brings an end to his innocence. He creates a monster that reflects back to him the many flaws inherent in his own species (an unquenchable thirst for love, a tendency toward violence, and a bloodthirsty need for justice and revenge) and in himself (prejudice based on appearance). And, in turn, Victor's cruel "un-innocent" behavior also destroys the monster's innocence.
Victor and the monster's losses of innocence ultimately lead to the deaths of William, Justine, Elizabeth, and Clerval, four characters whom the novel portrays as uniquely gentle, kind, and, above all, innocent. Through these murders, Shelley suggests that innocence is fleeting, and will always be either lost or destroyed by the harsh reality of human nature.
💠 Conclusion:
In conclusion, "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley presents several profound themes that continue to resonate with readers today. The novel explores the dangers of unchecked ambition and the quest for knowledge, as Victor Frankenstein's desire to transcend natural boundaries leads to tragic consequences.
Moreover, the novel delves into the conflict between creator and creation, raising questions about the ethical implications of scientific exploration and the moral obligations that come with it. Overall, "Frankenstein" serves as a cautionary tale about the potential repercussions of human hubris and the importance of empathy and understanding in a world driven by ambition and isolation.
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