Slave

I find myself forgetting as I read that Mart Shelley's Frankenstein began with Frankenstien recounting his story to Walton. He meant to teach Walton a lesson through his story, and I think this lesson really become eminent towards the end of the novel when the creature's interactions with Frankenstein become more and more frequent. The creature often refers to Frankenstein as "slave" or commands him to do his bidding. "Slave, I before reasoned with you, but you have proved yourself unworthy of my condescension. Remember that I have power; you believe yourself miserable, but j can make you so wretched that the light of day will be hateful to you. Oh are my creator, but I am your master; obey!" The creature realizes it's full power over Victor. Not only does it possess physical advantages, but these physical strengths allow him to destroy the emotional state of others. He is also very clever and knows exactly how to cause victor the most possible misery. Again, I feel no pity for Victor. He refuses time and time again to grant the creature his very reasonable request that Victor, as his creator, surely owes him. Victor shows no mercy towards the helpless creature to whom he have a miserable life. He hears the warning of the monster, and still refuses his end of the promise, apart making it hard to feel pity for him when the creature keeps his word and kills Elizabeth.

A Reasonable Request

"What I ask of you is reasonable and moderate; I demand a creature of another sex, but as hideous as myself; the gratification is small, but it is all that I can receive, ad it shall content me." The cresture's request of Victor is nothing if not reasonable. Victor has caused countless sufferings to his creature, a creature whom he gave life and is therefore responsible for. Victor's fears regarding the creation of another like the creature who has already brought so much fear and destruction to his life is understandable, but he undoubtedly owes the creature this recompense. Not only does Victor owe the creature happiness after bringing him into a world that has only showed him malice, the creature assures Vicfor that he and his mate will be of no harm to Victor or the entire human race. "'I swear,' he cried, 'by the sun, and by the blue sky of heaven, and by the fire of love that burns in my heart, that if you grant my prayer, while they exist you shall never behold me again.'" The creature's response is incredibly reasonable, and even Victor's hesitance astounds me. He is heartless to even think that he can bring this living, breathing, and feeling creature into the world to let it live in despair. Victor owes the creature happines; he owes him the creation of this mate.

Pathos

In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, the creature's unjust treatment by humankind evokes much pathos. At first, the novel portrays the creature as a ghastly evil being because this is what Victor believed it to be. However, as the cresture's true nature is revealed, his unjust circumstances evoke sympathy. I am personally on team creature. I'm not sure what Victor expected the creature to become after being raised on its own and being taught nothing but hatred for the human race that did nothing but unjustly rejected and despised him. The creature says to Victor, "Remember, that I am thy creature; I ought to be thy Adam, but I am rather the fallen angel, who thou drivest from joy  for no misdeed. Everywhere I see bliss, from which I alone am irrevocably excluded. I was benevolent and good; misery made me a fiend." The creature presents an excellent point to his creator. He was not inherently evil, but the mistreatment he received from the world, and even from his master, inspired hatred and introduced malice to his being. The creature deserves pity, though he has committed several heinous crimes. He wishes to be good and desires no more than a frien, but even this small request is time and time again denied until his good heart learns to resent those who resent him for no reason. Victor and humanity cast the monster aside and show malice towards him for no reason other than he looks quite horrid. The creature naturally learned to hate humans in return. Victor, though I pity his losses, deserves no sympathy. It is his own fault that his loved ones are dead, and his fault again for not seeing the reason in the cresture's request which eventually leads to the death of Elizabeth.

Frame Story

The creature of Mary Shelly's Frankenstein presents an excellent example of a frame story. He meets Frankenstein on a mountain while he is wallowing in despair of the recent events, William and Justine's deaths, for which he feels responsible. The creature insists that Frankenstein hear his story, which is of course the frame story in question. "Hear my tale; tibia long and strange..." The creature recounts for Victor all the events of his life from his creation to that point on the mountain. Many aspects of his story are quite amazing, like his ability to learn the human language on his own and furthermore to learn to read by eves dropping on lessons bein taught to someone else. The cresture's story also provides a lot if background information for precious events in the story as well as explanations for why the creature is the way he is. Is story explains the whole situation with William and Justine. It also allows the reader to understand the attitude and actions of the creature as they understand his past and upbringing.

Foreshadowing

Mary Shelley gives a specific instance of foreshadowing in her novel Frankenstein withered the creature's threatening of victor and his loved ones. The creature says, "It is well. I go; but remember, I shall be with you on your wedding-night". This threat by the creature could be construed many ways. Upon first reading this statement by the creature, I thought he was using Victor's as a representation of the fear Victor will feel of his creation for his entire life. I thought that the creature was warning him that even on his wedding-night, a time that should be filled with joy, Victor will be in fear of the creature. It is clear by Victor's thoughts," I should regard the threatened fate as unavoidable. But death was no evil to me, if the loss of Elizabeth were balanced with it...", that he believes that the monster's threat implies the imminent deaths of he and his soon-to-be bride. In the end, it is clear that the true meaning of the threat is to intend to cause Victor more pain than he could have guessed. The monster intends to mirror Victor's killing of his mate by returning the favor, killing Elizabeth.

Krempe vs. Waldman

Upon arriving at the Univesity of Ingolstadt, Frankenstein meets with two professors of science to orient himself with them and their subjects.  He firsts meets with the professor of natural philosophy, M. Kempe.  The professor inquires about Frankenstein's past experience with this field of science and Frankenstein informs him of his obsession with the works of a certain few alchemists and authors. The professor replies, "'Have you,' he said, 'really spent your time in studying such nonsense?'"  Clearly professor Waldaman holds no credibility in the scientists that Frankenstein has based his scientific fascinations on.  Though Frankenstein was warned by his father before reading the apparently foolish novels that they were useless, he is disenchanted by Krempe's remarks.  On the other hand, Professor Waldman spurs the imagination and determination of Frankenstein. "But these philosophers, whose hands seem only made to dabble in dirt, and their eyes to pore over the microscope or crucible, have indeed performed miracles." Waldman's words spark a flame in Frankensteins mind to do just as other scientists have done and more.  He desires to perform "miracles" by defying the vary laws of nature and make discoveries that most people have hardly dreamed of.

Look Before You Leap

Despite all of his calculations and experiments, Frankenstein forgot a very important part of the planning for his discorvery.  He failed to prepare himself fully for the outcome of his success. He focused for so long on the sole idea of achieving his ultimate goal that he completely forgot to imagine how he would feel when he finally reached it. He states, "but now that I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart." Frankenstein loved the chase; pushing the boundaries of science is his passion. He adores the acquisition of knowledge, and he will go to any lengths in order to get this knowledge. However, Frankenstein prepared for everything besides his own feelings towards the outcome of his discovery. As soon as he had achieved success and the desire for knowledge had passed, he no longer loved his work. The result of his labors disgusted him. It is incredibly ironic that after years of effort and work building up to this point, all Frankenstein feels is disgust and hatred for his creation. 

Destiny

In the recounting of his story to Walton, Frankenstein is very set on his impending and certain destiny, "...nothing can alter my destiny; listen to my history, and you will perceive how irrevocably it is determined." For some reason, Frankenstein is certain if his eminent doom. Why he awaits a fate of misfortune, I do not know, but he is positive that the only future for him is a bleak one. He often references this destiny and the events that have made it so inescapable. He says, "Destiny was too potent, and her immutable laws had decreed my utter and terrible destruction." Furthermore, Frankenstein adds later in his narrative, "Thus ended a day memorable to me: it decided my future destiny." I think he is so certain if this destiny because he has, at least in part, chosen it for himself. I am not positive, but my assumption would be that Frankenstein himself has made a decision so concrete that it is his destiny. He feels compelled down a certain path and now is simply awaiting his future.

A Blessing and a Curse

Frankenstein decides to tell his story to Walton because he hopes to avert him from making his same mistakes of throwing caution to the wind in pursuit of knowledge and success. He states that in his youth, his throat for knowledge propelled him forward, into habits of reading and crating his own studies. He then advances to a university where he continues to obsess over his own theories and experiments. Frankenstein leaves the boundaries of science behind him as he discovered and puts to use the source of creation of life. Though all of his efforts ended in success, Frankenstein regards his gift for learning as a curse. "Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow". Frankenstein tries to warn Walton in essentially the same lesson as "curiosity killed the cat". He tells him to be wary of the information he seeks because he might not like what he finds. This is a central theme in Mary Shelly's novel Frankenstein, with the remainder of the story regarding all of the repercussions of Frankenstein's challenging the laws of nature.

Similarities between Walton and Frankenstein

I still wonder why Frankenstein decided to tell Walton his story. He stated that he wanted to share his experiences in hopes that they might serve as a warning for Walton, "You seek for knowledge and wisdom, as I once did; and I ardently hope that the gratification of your wishes may not be a serpent to sting you, as mine has been".  Why does he care for Walton in the first place? I think the answer to this question lies in the unmistakable similarities between the two men. Very early in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein we see that Walton has a close relationship with his sister. His tone and words of admiration in the letters he writes her make this very clear. When Frankenstein begins to tell his story, he also describes his more-than-sister in an affectionate and adoring manner. The two men are also both self-educated to some degree. They both took their education into their own hands to accomplish their dreams. Though Frankenstein attended a university, the science that led him to create life and his early fascination with learning in his youth were self inflicted. Walton received no former education, using the books in his Uncle's library to fuel his passion for exploration. These men share an obsession with reaching beyond the boundaries of science to benefit and make their own mark on humanity.

APO 96225

APO 96225 by Larry Rottmann reminds me a lot of questions that I encounter everyday. These questions usually start out with, "Tell me the truth..." And continue with a question whose truthful answer would probably result in the hurt feelings of the asker. For example, the classic, "Tell me truth, does this make me look fat?" is one of my favorites, because it is obvious that people only want to hear that they look beautiful. I am usually very honest with my friends and family when asked to be, but what kind of a person would reply with, "yes, you look huge. Go run 5 miles,"? Exactly. Sometimes I think it is not only acceptable, but necessary to bend the truth or lie in order to preserve the feelings of someone around you. When people ask these questions, they don't really want to hear that they look fat, they just want you to tell them they look good and to boost their confidence. This is exactly the case in this poem. The son is sparing his mother from the ugly truth that is war. He wants to protect her from the horrid tasks he performs each day. Eenfually he gives in to her insistence that she wants to hear everything, doubting his correct assumption that she just wars to ascertain that he is doing okay. His original assumption is reaffirmed by the father's reply. The mother didn't really want to know everything ahoy her son's daily tasks and the place where he is stationed, she wants the bossy of confidence that he is alive  and well, as any mother would. This poem very clearly shows this funny quirk of society.

Much Madness is divinest Sense

Much Madness is divinest Sense is another of Emily Dickinsons's poems that discusses the idea of sanity verses insanity. This poem states a slightly confusing paradox, that madness is actually the greatest form of sense, and sanity is really madness. According to the poem, sanity is only called "sense" because the majority of people think this way and agree upon this way of thinking, "Much Sense- the starkest Madness- 'Tis the Majority". I don't really understand how sanity could be madness, and vice versa, but her idea that if a person doesn't agree with the majority, they are considered wrong, is quite true. Dickinsons's poem states, "Assent- and you are sane-, Demur- and you're straightaway dangerous-". This idea is very profound and so true. No matter the reasoning, someone who goes against the majority of society, someone who questions the masses, is automatically frowned upon. Not only frowned upon, but "straightaway dangerous". People are really almost scared of those who are different, and yearn to be considers "sane" bu the act of fitting in and attempting to be just like everyone else.

I felt a Funeral, in my Brain

In I felt a Funeral, in my Brain, the speaker creates and extended metaphor of the loss of his/her mind. The funeral represents the end of normal functioning in the brain, as normal functioning of the body ends when a person dies. It seems that this person gradually lost their mind, as shown by the words "treading- treading" and "beating- bearing". It is possible that the loss of her mind could be a very sad realization to which the speaker has arrived because of be comparison to a funeral. The reason for we insanity is unknown, but it doesn't seem central to the overall theme of the poem anyways. Another unclear spectrum of this poem is the random capitalization of words. Sometime this can indicate important words or words with a greater meaning. For example, "As all the Heavens were a Bell". Why is "Heavens" and "Bell" capitalized? My favorite line that Emily Dickinson writes in this poem is  "and then a Plank in Reason, broke," because it very nicely, yet clearly deceives her insanity.

Miss Brill

I found this story extremely depressing, even more than Bartleby. Katherine Mansfield develops great amounts of pathos throughout Miss Brill with her character of Miss Brill, the lonely old woman whose highlight of the week consists of affirming her lovely fur and strolling down the street in order to people-watch and listen in on other's' conversations. This is probably one of my worst fears, growing old and being left all alone. Miss Brill even begins to speak to her little fur because of the lack of human interaction she has. Her lack of companionship and loneliness is further illustrated in her necessity to participate in the lives of others walking along the streets. She overhears conversations and yearns to participate, "No, nothing would please her. 'They'll always be sliding down my nose!' Miss Brill had wanted to shake her." Her excitement to "participate" in other people's lives is a further indication of desperation for human interaction because she doesn't actually participate, she watches and listens and pretends that other people's lives pertain to her own. The saddest fact is that she absolutely loves her routine of people-watching and genuinely seems to care about each of them. "Oh, how fascinating it was! How she enjoyed it! How she loved sitting here, watching it all!"

Bartleby the Scrivener

"I would prefer not to..." This is Bartleby's constant remark to the characters of Herman Melville's  Bartleby the Scrivener.  Most of the characters, particularly the narrator's three employees, Turkey, Nippers, and Ginger Nut, get wry annoyed of Bartleby's refrain very quickly. In the other hand, the speaker in the story doesn't show any anger towards Bartleby's response and is always very patient. His patience remains throughout the story, even when he is forced to love offices to escape from the stalker Bartleby. I think the reason for his putting up for Bartleby's presence and annoying tendencies is that he sees bits of himself in Bartleby. This is made especially evident at the end of the story when the narrator discovers Bartleby's backstory of having worked in a dead letter office. He sees how this depressing job has affected Bartleby and in my opinion, I think he believed he would have reacted the same way if he'd been in Bartleby's position. Throughout the story, resemblances can be seen between the speaker and Bartley such as their reserved demeanor and loneliness. This is all confirmed by the way the narrator reacts to his discovering Bartleby's story in the end.