Frankenstein

Determining the primary role women play in Frankenstein creates many different beliefs about the strengths and weaknesses the females bring to the gothic novel. For example, Vanessa D. Dickerson, author of “The Ghost of a Self: Female Identity in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein” argues that “the females in the novel are quintessentially ambiguous figures: present but absent, morally animate angels, but physically and politically inanimate mortals.” Therefore, Dickerson asserts that the men in the…

Throughout the novel of Frankenstein, there is a noticeable pattern between Victor and his creation. Both Victor and his creation are pursuing something very important to them. Though they are pursuing certain goals it is hard to see what is driving them. Their drive can be narrowed down to the pursuit of a life purpose or complete and utter selfishness. Based on the text, I’ve found that they are driven by both a combination of purpose and selfishness. Both Victor and his creation pursuing a…

Foils are characters who contrast the protagonist’s traits in order to emphasize them. In many cases there is more than one foil to a character. Frankenstein, Or, The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley provides an example of multiple foil characters. Elizabeth Lavenza, Robert Walton and Henry Clerval each counteract the main character, Victor Frankenstein. The most effective foil, however, is the creature Victor brings to life. As the differences, and sometimes similarities, between the two…

In the novel Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein attempts to synthetically create a living humanoid. The book documents the journey of both Frankenstein and his creature as they try to navigate their relationship and their lives. Frankenstein, the parental figure for the creature, ended his research and experimentation with rejection and disdain for the creature. The rift between Frankenstein and his creation highlights and perpetuates the book’s theme of the detrimental effects of social…

Shakespeare and the novel Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, share the common theme of the cost of ambition. In Hamlet, the protagonist Hamlet discovers the cost of ambition when he vows revenge on his Uncle for murdering his father. In Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein observes the cost when he creates a monster, trying to unveil the secrets about life, and then monster gets vengeful when Victor doesn’t accept him. In both novels the protagonist Hamlet from Hamlet, and Victor from Frankenstein, pay…

In the book Frankenstein by Mary Shelley the main character Victor Frankenstein uses his eagerness to help him accomplish his goals. Victor had wanted to become a famous scientist through his project of reanimating life. I had willingly invested his time into the making of his creation. However once completing his task he was not satisfied and the creation had become a source of destruction in his life. During this process Victor had demonstrated character traits that were beneficial to his…

Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, best known for her story of Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus, went on to write one of the most famous horror novels in her generation and many to come after, still known today, spawning movies, television shows, and other literary works. Looking closely at the novel, Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley imprints her life into the novel by reflecting her own trials and tribulations into the plot. Mary Wollstonecraft, soon to be known as Mary Shelley, was born on August…

Visual Analysis Essay Within Frankenstein, written by Mary Shelley, and the image of the monster staring into the pool, illustrated by Ward Lynd, there are many similarities and differences that can be found. The illustration adequately portrays the original text of Frankenstein and adheres to the same tone and theme of the original text. Also, there are vivid examples displayed throughout the illustration that strongly support Shelley’s original writing. These examples are portrayed through…

In the novel Frankenstein, Mary Shelley tells the story of two monsters, one with a boundless ambition that causes both to suffer the consequences. Through diction, figurative language, and juxtaposed imagery, the character of Victor Frankenstein is established as an eager, studious man with a god-complex who desires to defy the laws of nature. Frankenstein’s “breathless eagerness” (26-27) and “unremitting ardor” pushed him to become the real monster on the inside (18). The specific diction…

Looking at the works read during the year, one may say that strong characterization is one of the most skilfully and uniquely used literary devices that made the works both more connected to the themes and more captivating to read, especially Frankenstein and Lord of the Flies. Mary…