Transcript Frankenstein

Frankenstein
Themes
• Forbidden Knowledge— The Modern
Prometheus
• Moral & Ethical Implications of Science
• Personal Ambition vs. Social
Responsibility
• “Domestic Affections”/ Family
Frame Narrative
• Epistolary narrative provides
verisimilitude
• Prepares us for central narrative’s
themes through parallel situations and
characters
– Dangerous quest for “forbidden
knowledge” by ambitious individualist
• Setting foreshadows quest’s outcome
Frame Narrative
• Arctic Setting
– Unknown—quest for extraordinary
knowledge
– Dangerous—dangers of forbidden
knowledge
– Cold—cold-heartedness/spiritual death
– Isolated—loneliness of the ambitious
individualist
Frame Narrative
• Robert Walton—parallels Frankenstein
– Loving nature, strong domestic ties
– Tremendous ambition, violates domestic
ties (pp. 932-934; pp. 1028-1031)
– Isolated and lonely
Central Narrative
• Victor Frankenstein—divided nature
– Benevolent—domestic affection, desire to
serve humanity
– Selfishly ambitious—devotion to science,
ignores responsibilities to others
– Noble but fallen
Central Narrative
• The Creature—Frankenstein’s
Doppelganger (“double-goer”/ alter ego)
– Embodies destructive ambitions that bring
isolation and spiritual death (p. 934-935)
Central Narrative
• The Creature—Frankenstein’s
Doppelganger
– Embodies destructive ambitions that bring
isolation and spiritual death (p. 934-935)
– Enacts Frankenstein’s desires to escape
domestic responsibilities (p. 935)
Central Narrative
• The Creature—Frankenstein’s
Doppelganger
– Embodies destructive ambitions that bring
isolation and spiritual death (p. 934-935)
– Enacts Frankenstein’s desires to escape
domestic responsibilities (p. 935)
– Embodies Frankenstein’s benevolence and
domestic affections (p. 972-973; p. 986)