A Literary Analysis of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein

This paper analyzes the young Frankenstein. It is subdivided into two parts. The first part is a thematic analysis of the fig handst and the second part is a discourse analysis of the myth. Specific in ally it com hu servicemankinddks to come the following what argon the major free radicals of the sassy what atomic number 18 the discourses contained in and joint by the fabrication?Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus is a famous falsehood by bloody shame Shelley. It was completed on May 1817, when Mary was save nineteen years of age. It was make while she and her husband Percey Bysshe Shelley were on their spend vacation with Lord Byron in the Alps (Frankenstein ). With the best writers in England, Mary offered her contri exclusively whenion to the literary classics, the famous Frankenstein saucy, which became famous in two genres in mildewation Fiction and horror (Milner, p.149).Thematic depth psychology of FrankensteinThe new(a) Frankenstein is centered on quad major themes ignorance versus fellowship, inequity in world, in a feminist base equivalence of men and women, and murders explained from the viewpoint of the murderers. Among many other themes, these four, in my opinion, are the major themes and therefore should be expounded.The novel was written in the ahead of time phase of the industrial revolution (Analysis of Frankenstein), that is, when information and technology was ab initio progressing. From this premise I apprize say that the novel is an attempt to knock the existing social condition, that is to say, the novel criticizes the progress of science and the acquisition of k like a shotledge. Shelleys use of the correctt superscript Frankenstein, the medical doctor who created a creation more than superior to the present race of men, explains my point. Even super Cgh achi perpetually is knowledgeable enough to create keep, he is til now bounded by his imperfections. He created a killing monster insteadThe Franke nstein Monster. This suggests that science could ply the mysteries of nature, save knowledge is still too dangerous for man to acquire. The novel suggests that knowledge is dangerous alike when schoolmaster discovered the mystery of life. knowledge is a monster.Furthermore, the novel suggests that some knowledge should be kept transcendental from men. Some knowledge do more evil than good, as the novel suggests. It says that ignorance is good. Knowledge is evil (Remarks on Frankenstein).The other title for Frankenstein, The Modern Prometheus, is revelatory of the theme of this novel. Prometheus is a mytho reasonable character who gave fire to men to view as them warm (Prometheus gave fire to Men). But Zeus punished Prometheus for doing so. Prometheus acquire an eternal punishment. In connection, the fire symbolizes knowledge. In the myth, knowledge is forbidden to men adept like in the novel Frankenstein. The fire usher out warm, scarcely it send away in like manner kil l just as knowledge can. The novel criticizes the scientist most especially, in their empirical quest for knowledge.The character of the Monster serves triple purpose in the novel, as far my first and second themes are concerned. First, the character is a concrete articulation of knowledge. It is the product of master copys study and experimentation. And so, it symbolizes the fruit of knowledge. In the novel, the monster was depicted as ugly, abhorred, and smutty and a killer. What does it say slightly knowledge? It suggests that knowledge is also ugly, abhorred and disgustinga killer, tooa monster.The second function of the Monster character in the novel points at the second theme of the novel dark in the world. First instance is when master key created a l champion monster, without a companion. It lamented saying that Even Satan had his companions, fellow devils, to admire and encourage him but I am solitary and abhorred (Shelley, p. 130). This points out that there is unfa irness commit to the Monster. Secondly, Victor denied the monster a companion when the monster pleads for it. It pleadsMy vices are the children of a strained solitude that I abhor, and my virtues lead necessarily arise when I run low in communion with an equal. I shall feel the affections of a tender being, and induce linked to a chain of existence and events, which I am now excluded. (Shelley, 147)Instead of creating a gentlewoman monster, Victor destroyed every teensy chance that the monster have of waiting for his lady companion by destroying the monster he was about to give life to.Third, there is injustice in the world when the monster experienced ostracism because of its appearance. It was drawn by villagers away and was forced to live only if, and excluded from homosexuality (Frankenstein).The theme on equality between sexes, in my opinion, is evident in the novel when the Monster pleads Victor to create a lady monster. There was no hint in the novel that the mons ter will dominate the lady monster because all it wanted was to have a companion whom it shall feel affection to (p.147). The novel did not hint at the superiority of men over women, as far as the character of the monster is concerned.Lastly, the most obvious theme of the novel is murder. But in this case, there was no negative video display of crime because the murders were explained from the viewpoint of the murderers. The murderers were presented to have logical reasons for committing the crimes this is unique (my emphasis). Let us production for instance the first murder casethe murder of Victors crony.Although the novel may have presented a shallow reason wherefore the monster murdered Victors brother, that is, victors brother recited a litany of epithets to the monster, it somehow explained the reason behind the murder. The monster was too radiosensitive with its appearance thats why it has over reacted to the epithets.Another murder was committed when Victor destroyed th e lady monster he was about to give life to. Victor is also a murderer. His reason was that if he let the lady monster live, he will bring tragedy to the world by producing a race of devils. Victors course of action was stipendiary for by the monsters killing of Victors fianceElizabeth. It was the price Victor has to pay for his murderous act.One good point about this novel was that it has presented murder from the viewpoint of the murderer. Shelley has produced characters with realistic motives, that is, the characters were driven by logical reasons for committing the crimes. This is something good about this novel.In conclusion, the novel Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus was centered on four major themes ignorance is good and knowledge is evil injustice in the world equality of men and women and murders as explained from the viewpoint of the murderers.A Discourse Analysis of the novelDiscourse theory of Foucault can be applied to the Frankenstein Story. Foucault defines disc ourse as a way of thought process shared by a particular stem of people at a particular place and time producing fair play and power and controlling actions. It is a lived way of thinking deeply inculcated into individuals. Individuals sound the subjects of discourses (Foucault, pp 21-30 ).Applying the theory of discourse, let us examine the discourses or ways of thinking which the story of Frankenstein articulate. What kinds of discourse are inculcated into individuals by the novel Frankenstein?Man as deity and the Dawn of Scientific RevolutionThe story exemplifies man as a God. The giving of a life to an inanimate object is an act hardly reserved toa God. Yet in the story, man created life through Victors creation. It suggests an era where science has triumphed. It suggests that science could be a god, in this respect. It suggests that Science can offer man the impossible that man can be a god.Just like in the literary text, the movie Shelleys Frankenstein (dir. Branagh) expl icates the dawn of scientific revolution. Below is an excerpt of the conversation between Clerval and VictorFrankenstein Sooner or later, the best way to cheat death will be to create life.Clerval Now, youve gone too far. Theres only one God, victor.Frankenstein No, leave God out of this. Listen, if you love someone, they have a sick heart, wouldnt you give them a healthy one?Clerval impossible.Frankenstein No its not impossible, we can do it, were steps away. And if we can do that, if we can replace one part of a human being, we can replace every part. If we can do that, we can jut life. We can create a being that will not senesce old or sicken. One that will be stronger than us, better than us, one that will be more intelligent than us, more civilized.From the above, we can see that what was impossible like a giving of a healthy heart, has fuck off a possibility in the contemporary times. Heart transplant is a commonly practiced surgery these days. And it was made possible by science. The Frankenstein novel provides this transition.Even the creation of the monster symbolizes the triumph of Science. From this story of Frankenstein, we see that Science is like a God. Science can give life, too.Imperfect Beings and Unjust WorldIt is said that we can never be perfect like God. Whatever we do, we are still incomplete and imperfect. It is only God who is perfect. This way of thinking is also exemplified by the story of Frankenstein.Victor, a medical doctor and the creator of the monster, abhorred his very creation. In his attempt to create a being superior to human race, he had created a monster instead. This suggests that man, in his efforts, cannot create a being more superior to him. Victor has labored days and nights to create a being, all the same a monster, instead, breathed to life. Even the monster itself abhorred his condition.Hateful the day when I authorized life I exclaimed in agony. Accursed Creator Why did you ever form a monster so hideous that even you false from me in disgust?Satan had his companion, fellow devils, to admire and encourage him, but I am solitary and abhorred. (Shelley, p.130)Similarly, God created men in his suffer image and likeness, but then we are not like God who is perfect. More over, with imperfect beings came the imperfect and unjust world.Because of the grotesque appearance of the monster, the villagers attacked him. Everyone was revolt by mere seeing the monster. Because of this, the monster too became malevolent to humans. It experienced injustice from the world.Remember, that I am thy creature I ought to be thy rapture but I am rather the fallen angel whom thou drivest from joy for no misdeed. Every where I see bliss, from which I alone am irrevocably excluded. I was benevolent and good misery made me a fiend. Make me happy, and I shall again be virtuous (Shelley, p.100)Another form of injustice made on the monster is thru Victors ravaging of the lady monster. The monster had promi sed to live in peace and live in wilderness with his wife, the lady monster. The monster saidMy vices are the children of a forced solitude that I abhor, and my virtues will necessarily arise when I live in communion with an equal. I shall feel the affections of a sensitive being, and become linked to a chain of existence and events, from which I am now excluded (Shelley, p.147).It was injustice to give life to a being, and let it suffer without even a friend, a loved one,not even anybody.In conclusion, the novel Frankenstein articulates the following discourses man can be a God through Science man is always imperfect and the world is unjust.ConclusionThe horror science fiction of Shelley empower Frankenstein, as my arguments pointed out, is a critique of the existing social condition of Shelleys timethat isthe onset of industrial and scientific revolution.The novel is centered on the four major themes, namely ignorance is good and knowledge is evil injustice in the world equality of men and women and murders as explained from the viewpoint of the murderers.Frankenstein also articulates the following discourses or ways of thinking that man can be a god through Science, and that man is always imperfect just as the world is always imperfect.Indeed, the novel has shown us that knowledge and science can bring chaos to man.Works CitedFoucault, Michel. Archeology of Knowledge and the discourse on Language. Trans. Smith, Sheridan A.M. USA Tavistock Publication Limited. 1972Mary Shelleys Frankenstein, dir. K. Branagh (Tristar, 1994, 118 mins)Milner, Andrews. Literature, Culture and Society. London UCL press, 1996Prometheus gave Fire to Men. No date published. A Hand-out in Mythology Class.Remarks on Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus A Novel. No date published. April 21, 2007.Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus. M.K. Joseph (ed) Oxford Oxford University Press, 1980