Frankenstein

“I then thought that my father would be unjust if he ascribed my neglect to vice, or faultiness on my part; but I am now convinced that he was justified in conceiving that I should not be altogether free from blame. A human being in perfection ought always to preserve a calm and peaceful mind, and never to allow passion or a transitory desire to disturb his tranquility. I do not think that the pursuit of knowledge is an exception to this rule. If the study to which you apply yourself has a tendency to weaken your affections, and to destroy your taste for those simple pleasures in which no alloy can possible mix, then that study is certainly unlawful, that is to say, not befitting the human mind.” (Shelley, 33).
First off, I began this novel with the idea of a mad, crazed scientist who creates a monster by powering it up with lightening, like from the movie, and picture that I posted. That was not at all what the book was about. I actually really enjoyed it. My passage is from Victor Frankenstein himself as he is relaying his life to Walton on the ship. This passage is very important, I believe, because it is before the revealing of the creating of the monster and is a foreshadowing of the life that Walton could be falling into if he lets himself. Frankenstein spent all of two years night and day creating the monster and it was not until after he stepped back and could see that what he was creating was also turning him into a monster. His father would think so, and when Frankenstein looks back, he has to agree, that the consuming lifestyle led him into a state of that similar to psychosis. Frankenstein tries to give Walton advice that if you let something consume you, you will forget about the simple things that had once brought you great pleasure, like the autumn leaves falling, changing of season, and the comfort you get from human companionship. Walton has already felt the loneliness and sadness of being without a companion, as he writes to his sister in the first pages, “I have no friend, Margaret,” “…I bitterly feel the want of a friend.” (Shelley, 10). Walton does realize the importance of companionship, and he also lets it be known that he is not a very educated man, “Now I am twenty-eight, and am in reality more illiterate than many school-boys of fifteen.” (Shelley, 10). Walton is quite the opposite of Frankenstein, he seems as though he is more into adventure, while Frankenstein was always interested in learning and reading more and more, as seen in his childhood studies, and the way he approached his professor seeking other resources. This ties into the theme of “monster” Frankenstein created one, and also became one in his life, this passage is sort of a revelation of the fact that he was pulled in so deeply, that he was not even able to enjoy the simple things. Which are what make life so enjoyable.

Shelley, Mary, and J. Paul Hunter. Frankenstein: the 1818 Text, Contexts, Nineteenth-century Responses, Modern Criticism. New York: W.W. Norton, 1996. Print.

My link is to a page about Mary Shelley the author, I find it curious that she looks so gentle and created such a monstrous book, and she was only 19! http://people.brandeis.edu/~teuber/shelleybio.html


The picture is of the “crazy” scientist who created the monster http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/theatreblog/2007/nov/12/americaisnotamusedtwo