FrankensteinFrankensteinIntroduction; Introduction;

Letters and Chaps 1 and 2Letters and Chaps 1 and 2Narrative Frames and Family Narrative Frames and Family

Relations Relations

OutlineOutline

Introduction: Frankenstein -- Introduction: Frankenstein -- BackgroundBackground and and Major Themes Major Themes

The Letters The Letters

Chaps 1 and 2Chaps 1 and 2

NotesNotes

ReferencesReferences

BackgroundBackground

Mary Shelley – Mary Shelley – Her mother (Mary Wollstonecraft) dies of Her mother (Mary Wollstonecraft) dies of

miscarriage; her own experience of child birth miscarriage; her own experience of child birth and infant death and infant death

The novel comes out of Byron’s suggestion of The novel comes out of Byron’s suggestion of a ghost story contest (pp. 8-9) a ghost story contest (pp. 8-9)

Background: Background: A Period of Revolutionary A Period of Revolutionary Fervor and Scientific InventionFervor and Scientific Invention

Contemporary Science: Invention and Contemporary Science: Invention and the Origin of Species the Origin of Species Dr. Erasmus Darwin: (grandfather of ChaDr. Erasmus Darwin: (grandfather of Cha

rles Darwin); invents a speaking machine rles Darwin); invents a speaking machine and a horizontal windmill, etc.and a horizontal windmill, etc.

the the generationgeneration of life: (1) life evolved from of life: (1) life evolved from a single common ancestor“ (2) animation a single common ancestor“ (2) animation (text p.9)(text p.9)

French RevolutionFrench Revolution (Monster= revolution) Beautiful, energetic (Monster= revolution) Beautiful, energetic

and also destructiveand also destructive IngolstadtIngolstadt – considered the origin of Fren – considered the origin of Fren

ch Revolution ch Revolution

Major ThemesMajor Themes

Scientific Invention and its Possible Problems—or ScientiScientific Invention and its Possible Problems—or Scientist as God; st as God; Relations between Creator and Creature (FatRelations between Creator and Creature (Father and Son, or Double? her and Son, or Double? "unwanted pregnancy""unwanted pregnancy"))Romantic HeroRomantic Hero: solitary and idealistic over-reacher, findi: solitary and idealistic over-reacher, finding solace in nature, seeking to explore and transcend hung solace in nature, seeking to explore and transcend human boundaries (like Dr. Faust) (Three types: Prometheman boundaries (like Dr. Faust) (Three types: Promethean hero, Byronic hero, Gothic hero-villain an hero, Byronic hero, Gothic hero-villain sourcesource; see p. ; see p. vi for meanings of Prometheus.)vi for meanings of Prometheus.)Definition of Humanity (appearance vs. nobility of the miDefinition of Humanity (appearance vs. nobility of the mind); Responsibility and Guilt nd); Responsibility and Guilt The Roles of The Roles of Women and Women and NatureNature The novel as a "Female Gothic“: Shelley "brought The novel as a "Female Gothic“: Shelley "brought birthbirth t to fiction not as realism but as o fiction not as realism but as gothic fantasygothic fantasy, and thus co, and thus contributed to Romanticism a myth of genuine originality." ntributed to Romanticism a myth of genuine originality." (E. Mooer)(E. Mooer)

Letters and Chaps 1 & 2Letters and Chaps 1 & 2

Major Issue (1): Major Issue (1):

Frame Narratives: Walton // Frankenstein Frame Narratives: Walton // Frankenstein What does Robert Walton desire and want? What does Robert Walton desire and want? How is he similar to but different from FrankenHow is he similar to but different from Franken

stein in his pursuit? stein in his pursuit?

Robert Walton and his LettersRobert Walton and his Letters

Walton –Walton –

His desire for exploring the Pole (pp. 15-17) and His desire for exploring the Pole (pp. 15-17) and his want (19) and understanding of his lieutenant his want (19) and understanding of his lieutenant (pp. 20-21). (pp. 20-21).

Writes to his sister as much as possible (at Writes to his sister as much as possible (at every stop: St. Petersburg, Archangel, and then every stop: St. Petersburg, Archangel, and then at North Pole) (e.g. 22) at North Pole) (e.g. 22)

Brings Frankenstein back to life: "'[You] have Brings Frankenstein back to life: "'[You] have benevolently restored me to life'" (25-27)benevolently restored me to life'" (25-27)

Walton’s Desire for the Unknown Walton’s Desire for the Unknown Geographical Boundaries Geographical Boundaries

Inspired by poets and his reading: 16-17, Inspired by poets and his reading: 16-17, 2121

““I shall satiate my ardent curiosity with the I shall satiate my ardent curiosity with the sight of sight of a part of the world never before a part of the world never before visitedvisited, and may tread a land , and may tread a land never beforenever before imprinted by the foot of man.”(16)imprinted by the foot of man.”(16)

Desires for glory and the marvelous (21-Desires for glory and the marvelous (21-22), conquering nature 22), conquering nature

WaltonWalton Frankenstein Frankenstein

First saw the monster p. 24First saw the monster p. 24Frankenstein – Frankenstein – wretched, fatigued and suffering. wretched, fatigued and suffering. ““restored him to animation by rubbing him with brandy… restored him to animation by rubbing him with brandy…

From this time a new spirit of life animated the From this time a new spirit of life animated the decaying frame of the stranger.” decaying frame of the stranger.”

Walton: p. 25 interested in F as a “creature” (wildness Walton: p. 25 interested in F as a “creature” (wildness and madness + benevolence and melancholy)and madness + benevolence and melancholy)

P. 27 “I begin to love him as a brother, and hisP. 27 “I begin to love him as a brother, and his constant and deep grief fills me with sympathy and constant and deep grief fills me with sympathy and

compassion.” compassion.” On friendship 28; Honoring F’s double existence 29On friendship 28; Honoring F’s double existence 29

Walton and FrankensteinWalton and Frankenstein

Is Walton a double of Frankenstein? A Is Walton a double of Frankenstein? A better version? Or a less heroic one? better version? Or a less heroic one?

Chaps 1 & 2Chaps 1 & 2

Major Issue (2): Major Issue (2): Friendship and Family Relations (among ParenFriendship and Family Relations (among Parents and Children, and Siblings) ts and Children, and Siblings) F’s Father (Alphonse) and Beaufault: Father’s trying tF’s Father (Alphonse) and Beaufault: Father’s trying t

o helpo help Father and his attachment to Catherine Beaufort pp. 3Father and his attachment to Catherine Beaufort pp. 3

2-332-33 F’s childhood in Geneva. 33-34 – heavenly bliss F’s childhood in Geneva. 33-34 – heavenly bliss Elizabeth 34– angelic, a present for VictorElizabeth 34– angelic, a present for Victor Chap 2: the contrast among Elizabeth, Henry Clerval Chap 2: the contrast among Elizabeth, Henry Clerval

and F.pp. 36-37, 38and F.pp. 36-37, 38

F’s Pursuit of knowledgeF’s Pursuit of knowledge

Friendship and Family RelationsFriendship and Family Relations

F. born to parents who are humanitarian and loyF. born to parents who are humanitarian and loyal to their friends al to their friends nobility of the mind and his c nobility of the mind and his childhood education (33, )hildhood education (33, )Parallel between Catherine and Elizabeth (later) Parallel between Catherine and Elizabeth (later) Elizabeth: natural beauty and goodness (pp. 36, Elizabeth: natural beauty and goodness (pp. 36, 38)38)The contrast between Clerval and F: that of RomThe contrast between Clerval and F: that of Romantic poet and scientist (37)antic poet and scientist (37)All of these serving as a foil to the tragedies aboAll of these serving as a foil to the tragedies about to happen. ut to happen.

F’s Pursuit of KnowledgeF’s Pursuit of Knowledge

The course of his interest as that of fate: The course of his interest as that of fate: ““for the birth of thatfor the birth of that passionpassion which afterwards ruled my desti which afterwards ruled my desti

ny I find it arise, like ny I find it arise, like a mountain rivera mountain river, from , from ignoble and alignoble and almost forgotten sourcesmost forgotten sources; but,swelling as it proceeded, it b; but,swelling as it proceeded, it became ecame the torrentthe torrent which, in its course, has swept away al which, in its course, has swept away all my hopes and joys.” (38) l my hopes and joys.” (38) Natural Philosophy: “the genius that has regulated [his] faNatural Philosophy: “the genius that has regulated [his] fate” (38)te” (38) (pp. 39) The contrast between (pp. 39) The contrast between occultism and alchemyoccultism and alchemy (re (represented by Cornelius Agrippa,Albertus Magnus, and Ppresented by Cornelius Agrippa,Albertus Magnus, and Paracelsus) on the one hand, and aracelsus) on the one hand, and modern sciencemodern science (repres (represented by mathematics and the study of electricity)ented by mathematics and the study of electricity)(p. 41) a brief turn to modern science (p. 41) a brief turn to modern science defeated by “De defeated by “Destiny” (“stiny” (“Destiny Destiny was too potent, and her immutable laws was too potent, and her immutable laws had decreed my utter and terrible destruction.” 42)had decreed my utter and terrible destruction.” 42)

Notes: Notes: (2) Mer de Glace, a glacier above C(2) Mer de Glace, a glacier above C

hamonixhamonix

Note (2): Ingolstadt, Germany Note (2): Ingolstadt, Germany

Where Frankenstein studies;the birthplace Where Frankenstein studies;the birthplace of the Illuminati, a secret society that introdof the Illuminati, a secret society that introduced revolutionary ideas believed by many tuced revolutionary ideas believed by many to have helped foment the revolution in Frano have helped foment the revolution in France. ce.

ReferencesReferences

Reading: Reading: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/20038/2003http://www.gutenberg.org/files/20038/20038-index.html8-index.html