The Other, despite its strangeness, functions ironically in the two texts as a parallel to the normal, thus destabilising the normalised and in turn serving as an effective critique of society’s rigid over-simplified belief system – one that involves the flawed tendency to judgmentally delineate what is normal or not.
In Shelley’s “Frankenstein”, the monster as the traditionally conceived Other (arising from its distorted looks) disturbingly mirrors his creator Victor who supposedly is more ‘normal’. Victor, though hailing from a respectable family and being largely assimilated within human society, essentially transmutes into the same ground as the Other through his alignment with the creature. To illustrate, both characters bear striking …show more content…
Although there is no actual ‘ordinary’ figure to be viewed in relation with Lamia (unlike “Frankenstein”), her identity as the Other still effectively subverts the conception of normality by challenging what is typically internalised as natural or that which is readily taken for granted. In turn, through harnessing this figure of the Other, the poet criticises the fixed belief systems society blindly subscribes to, such as philosophical schools of knowledge. To begin, Lamia is being significantly de-normalised in the poem. Despite the emphasis placed upon her portrayal as the standard pious woman, devious undercurrents of malignancy still exist, evident from the demonic elements insidiously incorporated into her character description. Undoubtedly, the poet does construct her being to be one that markedly resembles that of a normal lady, as from how she “had a woman’s mouth with all its pearls complete” (60), the perfect wholeness and attractiveness exhibited in her physical traits evoking the pleasant image of the socially-accepted, graceful wife emanating desirable beauty. Resonating this association is his enactment of her eyes to be ones that “weep” (62) and “were born so fair” (62). Once again, by reinforcing her appearance as the enthralling young maiden, Keats further …show more content…
Interestingly, Keats, in contrast to Apollonius, does acknowledge the Othered Lamia as fundamentally occupying a place within the scheme of normality. In the poem, he effectively brings out her victimisation through humanising her. As Apollonius persecutes her, she metaphorically shape-shifts into a weak and abused lady, a far cry from her former serpent-like countenance. To illustrate, her “deadly white” (276) face generates the pitiful figure of a pale and terrified woman undeservingly punished. Her agonised state is further exemplified from how Apollonius’ condemning gaze “went through her utterly” (300) as painfully as that of a “sharp spear” (300). The violent image efficiently highlights her tortured state, painting a picture of her soul writhing in anguish under the sophist’s piercing glare. Finally, unable to endure the horrifying torment, she vanished with a “frightful scream” (306), eventually subdued and utterly defeated. All these visual enactments are directed towards the purpose of evoking within the readers sympathy for the unjustly brutalised Lamia – a subjugated Other who has been destroyed by a knowledge-bound society that over-generalises her as ‘abnormal’. Furthermore, the association of Lamia with an “awful rainbow” (231) which is being
In Shelley’s “Frankenstein”, the monster as the traditionally conceived Other (arising from its distorted looks) disturbingly mirrors his creator Victor who supposedly is more ‘normal’. Victor, though hailing from a respectable family and being largely assimilated within human society, essentially transmutes into the same ground as the Other through his alignment with the creature. To illustrate, both characters bear striking …show more content…
Although there is no actual ‘ordinary’ figure to be viewed in relation with Lamia (unlike “Frankenstein”), her identity as the Other still effectively subverts the conception of normality by challenging what is typically internalised as natural or that which is readily taken for granted. In turn, through harnessing this figure of the Other, the poet criticises the fixed belief systems society blindly subscribes to, such as philosophical schools of knowledge. To begin, Lamia is being significantly de-normalised in the poem. Despite the emphasis placed upon her portrayal as the standard pious woman, devious undercurrents of malignancy still exist, evident from the demonic elements insidiously incorporated into her character description. Undoubtedly, the poet does construct her being to be one that markedly resembles that of a normal lady, as from how she “had a woman’s mouth with all its pearls complete” (60), the perfect wholeness and attractiveness exhibited in her physical traits evoking the pleasant image of the socially-accepted, graceful wife emanating desirable beauty. Resonating this association is his enactment of her eyes to be ones that “weep” (62) and “were born so fair” (62). Once again, by reinforcing her appearance as the enthralling young maiden, Keats further …show more content…
Interestingly, Keats, in contrast to Apollonius, does acknowledge the Othered Lamia as fundamentally occupying a place within the scheme of normality. In the poem, he effectively brings out her victimisation through humanising her. As Apollonius persecutes her, she metaphorically shape-shifts into a weak and abused lady, a far cry from her former serpent-like countenance. To illustrate, her “deadly white” (276) face generates the pitiful figure of a pale and terrified woman undeservingly punished. Her agonised state is further exemplified from how Apollonius’ condemning gaze “went through her utterly” (300) as painfully as that of a “sharp spear” (300). The violent image efficiently highlights her tortured state, painting a picture of her soul writhing in anguish under the sophist’s piercing glare. Finally, unable to endure the horrifying torment, she vanished with a “frightful scream” (306), eventually subdued and utterly defeated. All these visual enactments are directed towards the purpose of evoking within the readers sympathy for the unjustly brutalised Lamia – a subjugated Other who has been destroyed by a knowledge-bound society that over-generalises her as ‘abnormal’. Furthermore, the association of Lamia with an “awful rainbow” (231) which is being