"I ought to by thy Adam, but I am rather thy fallen angel, whom thou drivest from joy for no misdeed." p.69
How did Frankenstein's creature reference a witty biblical allusion at age 2? That is the first question that comes to my mind. Obviously, he is a quick learner. However, this allusion is very significant in the story. It introduces the idea of God or creator/creation. In a way, Frankenstein should be obligated to take care of his creation like God. However, when the creation alludes to this, he twists it and shows how Victor has not done so. This really demonizes Victor in the mind of the reader for being so judgmental on the creature's appearance. Mary Shelley utilizes this such allusion to really change the readers initial perspective on these two characters in the story. I really am interested to see how significant a role this idea of creator/creation will play in the rest of the story and whether it will change Victor's current outlook on his creation at all.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Frankenstein: Why is Victor so mean???
One thing that I have noticed is that Victor just seems like a horrible person. His so called wretched creature just wants a little compassion and Victor refuses it. At first, he doesn't even try to listen to his story and even tries to attack him. All his so far nameless creature wants is a little respect and dignity, yet Victor refuses any. I just think this doesn't bode too well for Victor's character in the court of my opinion. His creation seems like a good guy. I don't see why he won't just give him a chance. Because of this, I really find myself sympathizing with the creature and not really liking Victor anymore.
Frankenstein: Motif
"Poor William! He was our darling and our pride." p. 52
"Victory says that he knows who was the murderer of poor William." p. 53
Just like we witnessed in Othello with honest Iago, another motif arises in Frankenstein. Both quotes above display such motifs. Mary Shelley frequently has characters refer to William as poor William. This creates an aspect of additional innocence to William's already delicate and adolescent character. By using this motif, Shelley is able to create an atmosphere of increased tragedy from the already tragic nature of the event. This affects the reader in recognizing the horrid nature of such an action and creates an irreconcilable villain out of the murderer. With this, the reader can associate an evil nature with who is the actual murderer or even that of the accused. When Victor associates his creation with the murder, it immediately creates a demonic nature to the creature until this is later reconciled when they meet.
"Victory says that he knows who was the murderer of poor William." p. 53
Just like we witnessed in Othello with honest Iago, another motif arises in Frankenstein. Both quotes above display such motifs. Mary Shelley frequently has characters refer to William as poor William. This creates an aspect of additional innocence to William's already delicate and adolescent character. By using this motif, Shelley is able to create an atmosphere of increased tragedy from the already tragic nature of the event. This affects the reader in recognizing the horrid nature of such an action and creates an irreconcilable villain out of the murderer. With this, the reader can associate an evil nature with who is the actual murderer or even that of the accused. When Victor associates his creation with the murder, it immediately creates a demonic nature to the creature until this is later reconciled when they meet.
Frankenstein: Frame Story
"Strange and harrowing must be his story, frightful the storm which embraced the gallant vessel on its course and wrecked it- thus!" p.14
The quote above serves as the introduction/transition into Frankenstein's tale. This serves to illustrate and create a frame story format in which the plot is conveyed to the reader. As the book starts with letters, it transitions to the present and then to Victor's story. I'm interested to see if there will be a frame story within Victor's tale, but it doesn't look like this will be the case at least so far. However, I really enjoy this format of story. It always seems as though so much is happening and keeps my attention. There hasn't really been a lull in the progression of plot as I am always wondering what will unfold next. This frame story format really creates suspense and anticipation for the reader, especially in my case. I thought Shelly implamented this technique very well in attracting me, the reader, into the depth of the novel. I think this has been key to the success and popularity of the book in general throughout its history.
The quote above serves as the introduction/transition into Frankenstein's tale. This serves to illustrate and create a frame story format in which the plot is conveyed to the reader. As the book starts with letters, it transitions to the present and then to Victor's story. I'm interested to see if there will be a frame story within Victor's tale, but it doesn't look like this will be the case at least so far. However, I really enjoy this format of story. It always seems as though so much is happening and keeps my attention. There hasn't really been a lull in the progression of plot as I am always wondering what will unfold next. This frame story format really creates suspense and anticipation for the reader, especially in my case. I thought Shelly implamented this technique very well in attracting me, the reader, into the depth of the novel. I think this has been key to the success and popularity of the book in general throughout its history.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Death of a Salesman: Theme
"He had a good dream. It's the only dream you can have- to come out number-one man. He fought it out here and this is where I'm gonna win it for him." p.1630
One thing that I think I am struggling with for this play is the central theme. I was sick today, so I never got to address it with my group. I have a guess, but it is nothing I feel adequately addresses the whole play. I think that the theme can somewhat be conveyed in the quote above. This quote describes the obsession Happy and Willy have to always be number one in life. I think the theme is that trying to be the best always leaves oneself disappointed and short of their goal. Everyone can't honestly expect to be the best at what they do. It is a good goal to strive for, but it is something that only a few ever reach. I think Miller really tries to convey this through the characters Willy and Happy. They never are really satisfied with themselves because they never can feel accomplished in what they do. Biff begins to understand this towards the end of the play and wants to be accepted for who he is. As a result, he seems to be a more composed and level-headed character. Willy and Happy, on the other hand, struggle understanding this throughout the play. This essentially is summarized in what Happy says in the quote above. I don't think I'm too off track with this theme but hopefully my group can help me clarify it tomorrow.
One thing that I think I am struggling with for this play is the central theme. I was sick today, so I never got to address it with my group. I have a guess, but it is nothing I feel adequately addresses the whole play. I think that the theme can somewhat be conveyed in the quote above. This quote describes the obsession Happy and Willy have to always be number one in life. I think the theme is that trying to be the best always leaves oneself disappointed and short of their goal. Everyone can't honestly expect to be the best at what they do. It is a good goal to strive for, but it is something that only a few ever reach. I think Miller really tries to convey this through the characters Willy and Happy. They never are really satisfied with themselves because they never can feel accomplished in what they do. Biff begins to understand this towards the end of the play and wants to be accepted for who he is. As a result, he seems to be a more composed and level-headed character. Willy and Happy, on the other hand, struggle understanding this throughout the play. This essentially is summarized in what Happy says in the quote above. I don't think I'm too off track with this theme but hopefully my group can help me clarify it tomorrow.
Death of a Salesman: Irony
"Why didn't anybody come? It was a nice funeral. But where are all the people he knew?" p.1629
Wow I definitely did not expect such an irony like this to end the play. The entire focus of the character Willy is his impressions on other people. He goes about his whole life trying to be well-liked by everyone. He even raises his two sons in this manner. He thinks that success is directly correlated with how many people like you and how well-known you are. Nothing could be more ironic than having only two people outside his family show up to his funeral. All his life Charley had been there for him and still is at his funeral. However, it is ironic that Charley, who never pushed success on his own son, has a son who ended up being the most successful out of all of the characters. It is very ironic for practically no one to pay their respects to Willy at his funeral, and it is even more ironic that the two who do are Charley and Bernard.
Wow I definitely did not expect such an irony like this to end the play. The entire focus of the character Willy is his impressions on other people. He goes about his whole life trying to be well-liked by everyone. He even raises his two sons in this manner. He thinks that success is directly correlated with how many people like you and how well-known you are. Nothing could be more ironic than having only two people outside his family show up to his funeral. All his life Charley had been there for him and still is at his funeral. However, it is ironic that Charley, who never pushed success on his own son, has a son who ended up being the most successful out of all of the characters. It is very ironic for practically no one to pay their respects to Willy at his funeral, and it is even more ironic that the two who do are Charley and Bernard.
Death of a Salesman: Parallels with the Glass Menagerie
"Can you imagine that magnificence with twenty thousand dollars in his pocket?" p.1627
This quote from the story pretty much summarizes one of the key aspects of the play. Willy has good intentions for his son, Biff. He wants him to be the best he can be, however, his intentions are often misguided. He tries to convince Biff that in order to be successful, he has to be popular and loved by everyone. This irrational view distorts Biff's life as he grows up trying to be the best at everything. This quote from Willy shows that he never truly moved on from the idea that Biff has to be great in whatever he does. Willy goes on to kill himself just to give Biff a chance to start a business, something Biff doesn't even want to do. Willy has good intentions, however, they are just really misguided. This parallels with the character Amanda from the "Glass Menagerie". Like Willy, she wanted what was best for Laura but often went about in the wrong way of doing it. Both characters were stuck in their past and never really accepted their children for who they were, but rather what they expected them to be. I found these two plays to be very similar in the many parallels among characters.
This quote from the story pretty much summarizes one of the key aspects of the play. Willy has good intentions for his son, Biff. He wants him to be the best he can be, however, his intentions are often misguided. He tries to convince Biff that in order to be successful, he has to be popular and loved by everyone. This irrational view distorts Biff's life as he grows up trying to be the best at everything. This quote from Willy shows that he never truly moved on from the idea that Biff has to be great in whatever he does. Willy goes on to kill himself just to give Biff a chance to start a business, something Biff doesn't even want to do. Willy has good intentions, however, they are just really misguided. This parallels with the character Amanda from the "Glass Menagerie". Like Willy, she wanted what was best for Laura but often went about in the wrong way of doing it. Both characters were stuck in their past and never really accepted their children for who they were, but rather what they expected them to be. I found these two plays to be very similar in the many parallels among characters.
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