![]() The sublimity of the natural landscape is a typical Romantic symbol throughout the novel, as it acts as a source of emotional and spiritual renewal for both Frankenstein and his creature. A key difference between Victor and Walton’s fate, however, is that while Victor’s hatred of the creature drives himself into misery, he serves as a warning for the latter to pull back from his treacherous mission, proving just how dangerous the desire for knowledge can become. Shelley evidently warns against such pursuits, as Victor’s creation causes the destruction of all those dear to him, and Walton finds himself critically trapped between sheets of ice, with only his deep loneliness to keep him company. Walton mirrors this pursuit by his attempt to surpass previous human explorations in his endeavour to reach the North Pole. Victor’s personal torment throughout the novel arises as a result of his attempt to surge beyond accepted human limits of science. The novel is designed to make the reader wonder - is scientific exploration an exciting or terrifying thing? How much ambition is too much - and does having it offer more good or harm to humanity? Thus, in Frankenstein, Shelley explores not only the scientific possibilities of human existence, but also the nature of man and self awareness of ambition.There has been critic speculation that Shelley’s creature is an emblem of the French Revolution itself – originally created in order to benefit mankind, but the abuse of which drives it to uncontrollable destruction. The context of Frankenstein was also the backdrop of the French Revolution.Shelley took inspiration from this to form the crucial plot device of Frankenstein. It was during this period that galvanism was born Luigi Galvani’s experimentalism with electrical currents to stimulate muscle movement. During the 18th century, the traditional and metaphysical understanding of the meaning of life were replaced by more secular ideologies.Her father, William, was a philosopher who condemned social institutions as corrupt and instead advocated for reason to guide people’s decisions. Born in London, 1797, Mary Shelley was the only daughter of notable intellectual radicals.Unlike in an omniscient narrative perspective, each storyteller is a character with concomitant shortcomings, limitations, prejudices, and motives. ![]() Frankenstein is also a frame narrative, a form which examines the dark, internalised consciousness of each character that narrates the events of a story in each frame.This effectively integrates the reader into the story by allowing them to feel as if they are receiving a personal account of the events of the novel, adding an element of immersion. The novel is told in the epistolary form - written in a series of letters.Through her main plot of raising the dead to create a living creature, Shelley stays true to Gothic elements by allowing her characters to cross boundaries between mortal and supernatural worlds. Such elements are manifested in the novel by Shelley’s use of isolated settings and dark undertones. The genre emerged in the eighteenth century, and was characterised by elements of mystery, horror and the supernatural. For a detailed guide on Text Response, check out our Ultimate Guide to VCE Text Response. Frankenstein is usually studied in the Australian curriculum under Area of Study 1 - Text Response.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |