Ignorance is Bliss
“Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow.” (pg. 39)
Clearly expressing the idea that “ignorance is bliss”, Victor extols the virtues of being content with a simple lifestyle to Walton. The slight irony shines through clearly in this piece as the reader knows Walton himself seeks some sort of glory in hoping to discover the Northwest Passage through the Artic Ocean.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Victor's Obsession 2
Victor’s Obsession 2
“I seemed to have lost all soul or sensation but for this one pursuit.” (pg. 40)
Victor’s obsession has only grown now that he has discovered the “secret of life” and is able to re-animate a body. Frankenstein often bemoans the fact that he created such a monster, but in the part of the story leading up the monster’s creation, Victor has retreated so far within himself and let his obsession take over so much that it wouldn’t be a stretch to call him a monster. Again, Shelley clearly shows her opinion of singular obsession to be a negative thing.
“I seemed to have lost all soul or sensation but for this one pursuit.” (pg. 40)
Victor’s obsession has only grown now that he has discovered the “secret of life” and is able to re-animate a body. Frankenstein often bemoans the fact that he created such a monster, but in the part of the story leading up the monster’s creation, Victor has retreated so far within himself and let his obsession take over so much that it wouldn’t be a stretch to call him a monster. Again, Shelley clearly shows her opinion of singular obsession to be a negative thing.
Victor's Obsession
Victor’s Obsession
“Two years passed in this manner, during which I paid no visit to Geneva, but was engaged, heart and soul, in the pursuit of some discoveries which I hope to make.” (pg. 36)
In this sentence, Victor’s obsession begins to show. Throughout Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein’s obsession with finding the secret of life (along with the forces of destiny) is credited with his demise in the long run. It is shown through the story that Shelley clearly believed that obsession with one singular topic only lead to negative outcomes.
“Two years passed in this manner, during which I paid no visit to Geneva, but was engaged, heart and soul, in the pursuit of some discoveries which I hope to make.” (pg. 36)
In this sentence, Victor’s obsession begins to show. Throughout Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein’s obsession with finding the secret of life (along with the forces of destiny) is credited with his demise in the long run. It is shown through the story that Shelley clearly believed that obsession with one singular topic only lead to negative outcomes.
Destiny and Fate 2
Destiny and Fate 2
“Thus ended a day memorable to me; it decided my future destiny.” (pg. 35)
Again, here Shelley makes use of fate and destiny. Victor says in telling his story to Walton that several things lead to his demise, all of them part of his destiny. At this point, Frankenstein has met two new people-- his drastically differing professors. They have both given him advice on his schooling, something he credits with the events of his horrible life being set in motion. Instead of taking responsibility for deciding his own fate, Victor often shoves the responsibility of his actions onto other people, saying “they” decided his fate.
“Thus ended a day memorable to me; it decided my future destiny.” (pg. 35)
Again, here Shelley makes use of fate and destiny. Victor says in telling his story to Walton that several things lead to his demise, all of them part of his destiny. At this point, Frankenstein has met two new people-- his drastically differing professors. They have both given him advice on his schooling, something he credits with the events of his horrible life being set in motion. Instead of taking responsibility for deciding his own fate, Victor often shoves the responsibility of his actions onto other people, saying “they” decided his fate.
Careful What You Wish For
Fulfilled Wishes and Regret
“I had often, when at home, thought it hard to remain during my youth cooped up in one place and longed to enter the world and take my station among other human beings. Now my desires were complied with, and it would, indeed, have been folly to repent.” (pg. 30)
In telling his story, Victor has already mentioned several times how much regret he feels in pursuing what ultimately lead to his demise. In this passage, he speaks of himself at a younger age when he hadn’t felt regret for any of his actions yet. Victor spent his entire youth wishing to be out in the world learning, only to have his wishing lead to a life of misery. Shelley uses Frankenstein as a vehicle to show the time-tested idea of being “careful what you wish for.”
“I had often, when at home, thought it hard to remain during my youth cooped up in one place and longed to enter the world and take my station among other human beings. Now my desires were complied with, and it would, indeed, have been folly to repent.” (pg. 30)
In telling his story, Victor has already mentioned several times how much regret he feels in pursuing what ultimately lead to his demise. In this passage, he speaks of himself at a younger age when he hadn’t felt regret for any of his actions yet. Victor spent his entire youth wishing to be out in the world learning, only to have his wishing lead to a life of misery. Shelley uses Frankenstein as a vehicle to show the time-tested idea of being “careful what you wish for.”
Scarlet Fever
Scarlet Fever
“Elizabeth had caught the scarlet fever; her illness was severe, and she was in the greatest danger.” (pg. 28)
Scarlet fever is strep throat accompanied by a red-colored rash. Not all people who contract strep throat get the rash that lends it name to scarlet fever. The red rash usually begins on the tongue (giving the appearance of having strawberry-colored spots on the tongue) and then spreads over the chest and abdomen. Scarlet fever is no longer a serious risk to children and adults due to the invention of antibiotics, but during the 19th century scarlet fever was often a death sentence, hence the fear of Victor’s family and the death of his mother from the fever.
http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/scarlet-fever-topic-overview
“Elizabeth had caught the scarlet fever; her illness was severe, and she was in the greatest danger.” (pg. 28)
Scarlet fever is strep throat accompanied by a red-colored rash. Not all people who contract strep throat get the rash that lends it name to scarlet fever. The red rash usually begins on the tongue (giving the appearance of having strawberry-colored spots on the tongue) and then spreads over the chest and abdomen. Scarlet fever is no longer a serious risk to children and adults due to the invention of antibiotics, but during the 19th century scarlet fever was often a death sentence, hence the fear of Victor’s family and the death of his mother from the fever.
http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/scarlet-fever-topic-overview
Destiny and Fate
Destiny and Fate
“It was a strong effort of the spirit of good, but it was ineffectual. Destiny was too potent, and her immutable laws had decreed my utter and terrible destruction.” (pg. 27)
Fate is an important theme in Frankenstein. Many times, Victor mentions that no matter what he had done, fate or destiny had already decided his outcome. The perpetual discussion of fate vs. free will would come under fire in this novel-- was Victor doomed from the beginning to a life of misery or was he simply using the role of fate as a scapegoat for his own mistakes?
“It was a strong effort of the spirit of good, but it was ineffectual. Destiny was too potent, and her immutable laws had decreed my utter and terrible destruction.” (pg. 27)
Fate is an important theme in Frankenstein. Many times, Victor mentions that no matter what he had done, fate or destiny had already decided his outcome. The perpetual discussion of fate vs. free will would come under fire in this novel-- was Victor doomed from the beginning to a life of misery or was he simply using the role of fate as a scapegoat for his own mistakes?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)