Category Archives: Group 6
Transfer of Power
To me, one of the main themes of Frankenstein is the gradual shift of power from the life-giver Frankenstein to his creation. This transfer of power comes to a head in the third and final volume of the novel. We … Continue reading →
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The Relationship of Victor and His Creation
Victor and the Creature had a tumultuous relationship throughout the book of Frankenstein. At the start of the book, Victor, despite all the focus and effort he put into creating the Creature, becomes disgusted by the Creature’s looks and hates him without knowing much about him. The Creature, who soon learns why Victor and other […] Continue reading
Profiling The Monster
One comment from the monster Frankenstein created caught my attention. The line comes on the penultimate page of the book (p. 243): “You hate me; but your abhorrence cannot equal that with which I regard myself.” Such a human emotion for such a seemingly inhuman creature! Viewed through a psychological lens, the monster’s self-loathing is […] Continue reading
Frankenstein and Fire
In Volume II, Chapter III of Frankenstein, the creature tells the story of his first encounter with fire. The warmth makes him comfortable, so he sticks his hand in, which burns him. He tells Victor, “How strange, I thought, that … Continue reading → Continue reading
Comment on Why is Victor Afraid of His Own Creation by Professor Sample
This is an interesting question. I do think the novel provides some clues, especially in the first few paragraphs of Chapter IV. It’d be a worthwhile experiment to detect the precise moment when Frankenstein’s attitude shifts. Continue reading
Comment on Responsibility For Actions and Inaction by Professor Sample
Your question of “whether or not an alternative Frankenstein has ever been written” is an interesting thought experiment. I was about to say that no, it’s never been done. But then I realized this is exactly what Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein is about. Interesting that only a parody has seemed to consider your question. This suggests that satire can approach topics that other narrative forms can’t, and it also makes me wonder if Brooks’ movie is in fact more serious that most people give it credit for. Continue reading
Responsibility For Actions and Inaction
Talking about the binaries of Frankenstein in class on Tuesday really got me thinking about the power/responsibility struggles (maybe not a true binary) in the book so far. I’ll seize the easy example and talk about Victor using the power of science to create a… being made up of deceased human body parts, yet refusing […] Continue reading
Why is Victor Afraid of His Own Creation
After reading Part One of the book “Frankenstein”, I have come to wonder why Victor Frankenstein becomes afraid of his own creation. If I were to create something, whether it is art, a recipe, or anything, I’d be proud of my accomplishment, even if it didn’t come out exactly as I planned. There has to […] Continue reading
Defining “Playing Science”
With respect to my previous blog post I thought I would further define my use of the term “playing science” versus “playing god.” The distinction I am making is that the things we attend to god can be explained by science. So therefore you are not playing god, you are playing the part of science. […]
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Scientific Pursuits (and the ills that spring therefrom)
I’ve read Frankenstein once before, years ago. Returning to it, I was instantly struck by the role that science plays. Victor Frankenstein is a fiercely committed student of philosophy and other sciences. He has a sort of obsession with the … Continue reading →
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