Through the Window Pane
A multitude of overlapping themes and stylistic choices meld together in Frankenstein and Flowers for Algernon, two novels which, though written over a century apart, are notably similar. Characterised by the use of epistolary storytelling techniques, the window is a recurring symbol which is structured following a period of nine months. This parodies of a human’s gesticulation period and mocks man’s attempts to play God by ending both novels in the season of Fall. In Frankenstein, letters from Robert Walton elucidate the tale of Victor Frankenstein and his creation. The Creature, forsaken by Victor for his appearance, is filled with humiliation and sadness which quickly turns into resentment and vengeance after failed attempts to fit into society. Flowers for Algernon is written in the form of “progris riports” (Keyes 1) by Charlie Gordon, a mentally retarded 32-year-old filled with innocent naivety, who excitedly notes the results of an experiment conducted on him to enhance his intelligence. The experiment is initially successful, however Charlie still finds himself skirting amidst the fringes of …show more content…
Mary Shelley places Frankenstein, though a product of the early 19th century after the liberation of the European revolutions, during the period of social unrest prior to the revolution which dealt with a struggle for equal rights. In Daniel Keyes’ context, there was much focus on the prejudice against the mentally handicapped and the civil rights movement in 1960s American society when he wrote Flowers for Algernon. Both texts thus give a voice to the underrepresented of the respective periods and point out the flaws in societal treatment of the alienated minorities, presented in the duality of windows having the capacity to be a repressing and isolating barrier from the
A multitude of overlapping themes and stylistic choices meld together in Frankenstein and Flowers for Algernon, two novels which, though written over a century apart, are notably similar. Characterised by the use of epistolary storytelling techniques, the window is a recurring symbol which is structured following a period of nine months. This parodies of a human’s gesticulation period and mocks man’s attempts to play God by ending both novels in the season of Fall. In Frankenstein, letters from Robert Walton elucidate the tale of Victor Frankenstein and his creation. The Creature, forsaken by Victor for his appearance, is filled with humiliation and sadness which quickly turns into resentment and vengeance after failed attempts to fit into society. Flowers for Algernon is written in the form of “progris riports” (Keyes 1) by Charlie Gordon, a mentally retarded 32-year-old filled with innocent naivety, who excitedly notes the results of an experiment conducted on him to enhance his intelligence. The experiment is initially successful, however Charlie still finds himself skirting amidst the fringes of …show more content…
Mary Shelley places Frankenstein, though a product of the early 19th century after the liberation of the European revolutions, during the period of social unrest prior to the revolution which dealt with a struggle for equal rights. In Daniel Keyes’ context, there was much focus on the prejudice against the mentally handicapped and the civil rights movement in 1960s American society when he wrote Flowers for Algernon. Both texts thus give a voice to the underrepresented of the respective periods and point out the flaws in societal treatment of the alienated minorities, presented in the duality of windows having the capacity to be a repressing and isolating barrier from the