Gothic Class
1. What does he ask for? Is this rational? Why or why not? Justified? What evidence does he offer for the legitimacy of his request? Analyze Victor’s reaction to him.
When Victor has his first encounter with the creature he is very shocked and scared at the same time. “Devil, do you dare approach me? And do not you fear the fierce vengeance of my arm wreaked on your miserable head? Begone, vile insect! or rather, stay, that I may trample you to dust! And, on! That I could with the extinction of your miserable existence……” Victor main goal was to create a human and whether it came out beautiful or ugly he should have never spoke that to Frankenstein. In society, we look as Frankenstein as a horrible scary monster when in fact he just always wanted to be love; he didn’t ask to be here. Because of what he went through there are causes that effect the way that he lives. When Frankenstein speaks for the first time he says “do your duty towards me, and I will do mine to you and the rest of mankind.” This is in fact rational because the creature just wants a female companion to keep him company. “I am alone and miserable; man will not associate with me; but one as deformed and horrible as myself would not deny herself to me. My companion must be of the same species and have the same defects. This being you must create.” This quote shows how much he wanted to be loved by another. Victor refuses because he did not know the consequences of making another like Frankenstein that could cause society harm.
2. Discuss parent-child relationships and responsibilities in the novel. What is Victor’s childhood like? What kind of “parent” is Victor? What kind of parent is his father? Why does this all matter, thematically? Keeping in mind that Mary Shelley had two famous parents, writers and activists, and that she never knew her mother, think about her obsession here with what does and does not define a family. Don’t overuse her biography, but keep it in the back of your mind.
When Victor has his first encounter with the creature he is very shocked and scared at the same time. “Devil, do you dare approach me? And do not you fear the fierce vengeance of my arm wreaked on your miserable head? Begone, vile insect! or rather, stay, that I may trample you to dust! And, on! That I could with the extinction of your miserable existence……” Victor main goal was to create a human and whether it came out beautiful or ugly he should have never spoke that to Frankenstein. In society, we look as Frankenstein as a horrible scary monster when in fact he just always wanted to be love; he didn’t ask to be here. Because of what he went through there are causes that effect the way that he lives. When Frankenstein speaks for the first time he says “do your duty towards me, and I will do mine to you and the rest of mankind.” This is in fact rational because the creature just wants a female companion to keep him company. “I am alone and miserable; man will not associate with me; but one as deformed and horrible as myself would not deny herself to me. My companion must be of the same species and have the same defects. This being you must create.” This quote shows how much he wanted to be loved by another. Victor refuses because he did not know the consequences of making another like Frankenstein that could cause society harm.
2. Discuss parent-child relationships and responsibilities in the novel. What is Victor’s childhood like? What kind of “parent” is Victor? What kind of parent is his father? Why does this all matter, thematically? Keeping in mind that Mary Shelley had two famous parents, writers and activists, and that she never knew her mother, think about her obsession here with what does and does not define a family. Don’t overuse her biography, but keep it in the back of your mind.