Frankenstein - 10

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

"I, the miserable and the abandoned, am an abortion, to be spurned at, and kicked, and trampled on" (Shelley, 165).

The motif of abortion came through in a few different aspects of the novel. First, the easiest to be noted, the creature felt aborted by his creator. Much like a woman wrongly decides to abort her child, the creature felt the same way. He felt that Victor held a responsibility with his creation for the creation and is aborted and left in the dust by his creator. Likewise, the creation is an unwanted life who only wants his chance at a happy life. Next, the female creation is aborted by Victor again. Victor creates all of the abortions of the novels through his action. In the creation process, the female is aborted much like Victor's abortion of the creature. Lastly, Victor causes Walton to abort his dream and goals. The warning from Victor evokes fear in Walton's plans of his voyage. Through this, Victor causes the abortion of Walton's "baby" his dreams of passing current scientific barriers. 

Frankenstein - 9

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

"'Like Adam, I was apparently united by no link to any other being in existence, but his state was far different from mine in every other aspect'" (Shelley, 92).

The dynamic relationship between Victor and the creature is demonstrated through the events of the novel. The creature and Victor depend on each other through their relationship. When Victor wants to cross scientific barriers, the creation of the creature was a must. Likewise, the creature depended on Victor's knowledge to create a similar companion. While both Victor and the creature blame their misfortunes on one another, they also need each other for their achievements and wants. Victor hated the creature for bringing his dismay and demise of his close friends and relatives. The creature blamed Victor for making him a loner without a companion to share his life with. Although each do not like one another, they both needed to realize how much their livelihood and goals depended on one another. When Victor decided to destroy the female creature, he created his fate much like when he decided to create the creature in the first place. Furthermore, much like the creature's allusion to Adam, Eve, and their creator's story, the story of Victor and the creature could have followed a similar story. If Adam's creator refused to create his companion, Eve, misfortune could occur. 

Frankenstein - 8

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

"'Shall each man,' cried he, 'find a wife for his bosom, and each beast have his mate, and I be alone? I had feelings of affection, and they were requited by detestation and score. Man! you may hatel but beware! Your hours will pass in dread and misery, and soon the bolt will fall which must ravish from you your happiness forever'" (Shelley, 122-123).

A main irony of Frankenstein resonated in each other's want for a companion. Walton, Victor, and the creature all wanted the same thing in their life: a companion. Walton found his in Victor, Victor found his in Elizabeth, and the creature wanted one created by Victor. Through the story, Victor destroys everyone's companion through his actions. By deciding to destroy the female creature, Victor destroy's the creatures companion. The anger of the creature caused the demise of Elizabeth, Victor's companion. The despair from Elizabeth's demise cause Victor to loose his grip on life and die. Victor's death destroyed Walton's companion, Victor. Through all of this, Victor and the creature feel resentful of their actions. Victor's resonates in the creation of the creature. The creature's resonates in all of the violent and evil acts he committed. The similarities between the three frame story narrators shows how each person's actions caused a domino effect on the other's lives.

Frankenstein - 7

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

"I shall be with you on your wedding night" (Shelley, 123).

The creatures warning to Victor was obviously not taken seriously. The threat of Victor's wedding night did not seem to resonate properly in Victor. The foreshadowing of the quote is clearly that the creature will be haunting Victor's every joyous life event. From this, Victor could have waited until the creature was dead before having a wedding even though Victor thought the opposite was a better idea. The foreshadowing of the quote initially sparked the idea that the creature would be with Victor to ruin the occasion and cause agony for Victor. In reality, the creature comes to murder the love and compassion in Victor's life. Much like other foreshadowing in Frankenstein, the events were mostly clear and all of the foreshadowed events happened as they were mentioned. The fear of Victor created by the creature ended up ruining the life of Victor leading up to the wedding. Lastly, Victor's fear of the creature he created allowed for his demise especially of all of his friends. 

Frankenstein - 6

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

"The die is cast; I have consented to returen, if we are not destroyed. Thus are my hopes blasted by cowardice and indecision: I come back ignorant and disappointed" (Shelley, 160).

Towards the tail end of the novel, Victor's influence on Walton is finally revealed. After telling his story to Walton, Victor influences Walton's further discoveries with his warning. When Victor refuses to tell Walton of the full process of the creation of the creature, he puts fear into Walton's further plans. Walton began by stating that he was going to have no fear in their scientific endeavors. After speaking with Victor, Walton begins to doubt the courage that initially possessed him. Even though Victor tells the crew to be faithful and courageous in their scientific findings, Walton decides on his own to listen to his crew. Through this, Walton decides to not take risks for his life scientific goal. Furthermore  Walton and Victor are foil characters after the change in Walton. Where Victor went to any lengths to follow his dreams, Walton is giving his up out of fear. The fearless connection between the two characters is lost when Walton decides that it is time to pack up and go home. When Victor followed through with the design of the creature even with his professor warning him not to. Walton listens to the warnings of an individual and sacrifices the dreams and plans of his future. 

Frankenstein - Novel Set-up

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

"But I consented to listen, and seating myself by the fire which my odious companion had lighted, he thus began his tale" (Shelley, 70).

Frankenstein is set upon a continuous frame story in order to reach all of the elements of the plot. From the start of the novel with the letters, the frame story began in order to set up the events of the novel. From there, the novel sets into the events of Victor's life that was set up by the letters from Walton to his sister. The main part of the novel falls into Victor's story to Walton. In this though, the minor frame instances occur specifically with the different letters. These letters also allow for the constant realization that the story is based on the retelling of a story from Victor's point of view. From this point of view, the story could differ based on Victor's biases. Furthermore, another frame story occurs when Victor agrees to listen to the Creation's tale of what he has done since he was created. The frame story also continues to allow suspense throughout the novel from the differing events where details are left-out because of the narrator. The suspense allow for the flow of the novel into the different aspects of the story.

Frankenstein - Parallelism

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Along with foreshadowing, parallelism is a key element in the story of Frankenstein. One specific example of a parallelism is between the relationships of Ernest and William to Victor and the Creation. Although the relationship between Ernest and William was a short passage, the similarities match closely to Victor and the Creation's at the start of the novel. The passage reads, "Presently Ernest came, and enquired if we had seen his brother: he said he had ben playing with him, that William ran away to hide himself, and that he vainly sought for him, and afterwards waited for him for a long time, but he did not return" (Shelley, 46). After Victor finished his life goal of the creation, the creation arose. Victor ran to hide as soon as he saw the finished creation. The creature did search for Victor but Victor hid as long as he could to stay away from the creature. Although the fate of Victor does not end like Williams, the similar set up of the story occurred to allow parallelism between the differing relationships. Also, this parallelism continued as a part of the frame story of the novel. 

Frankenstein - Foreshadowing

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

"The guilty are allowed, by human laws, bloody as they are, to speak in their own defense before they are condemned" (Shelley, 69).

Many of the events that take place in Frankenstein foreshadow further events of the novel. The biggest one so far is in Justine's murder trial. At the point in the novel of Justine's trial, I was confused on the purpose of the trial. Sure it brought Victor back to his home. Other than that, I was not sure of the reason for the trial. Once Victor met his creation while on travels, everything clicked between the trial and the creation. The creation very carefully mentions that he needs to tell his side of the story because all accused are allowed to tell their side of the story before they are condemned. Much like Justine, the creation feels he is innocent to what he is accused of. In this foreshadowing from Justine's trial, many details can be noted for what is to come of the accusations brought against the creation. If going by Justine's trial, the creature is going to end up losing his trial because of circumstantial evidence. From there, I believe the story will meet the beginning of the novel where Victor is attempting to capture the innocent creation on the run.

Frankenstein - Krempe and Waldman

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley 

"'I am happy,' said M. Waldman, 'to have gained a disciple; and if your application equals your ability, I have no doubt of your success'" (Shelley, 28).

As Frankenstein seeks out information on his goal to do what no other human has done, he reaches two professors, Krempe and Waldman. The relationship between the two professors is that they are foil characters. As Krempe pokes fun at Frankenstein's reading and interest, Waldman finds an interest. Each time Krempe explained his dismay at the stuff Victor studied, Walman would find interest and worth. Through this, Victor is able to find support and criticism that was essential for the creature to finally be made. The natural human instinct to keep going after someone tells you cannot do something seems to drive Victor each time Krempe tells him he is foolish and that his studies have no worth. When Waldman praises Victor's studies, a natural human instinct is to take the praise to keep you going and drive you to reach the goal. Furthermore, the destiny of the project and dream was apparent through all of the pieces of the puzzle that led Victor to finally completing his lifework at his young age. Krempe and Waldman's relationship acted as a piece to the puzzle. Without the criticism of Krempe, Victor would not have been directed by Krempe to chemistry which Waldman was the professor of. The piece of the puzzle for the creation of the creature was through the support of Waldman that Victor received. 

Frankenstein - Characterization

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

"You seek the 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" (Shelley, 13).

The bond between Robert Walton and Victor Frankenstein shows how both characters are similar. Through the similarity, both Walton and Frankenstein are characterized. Walton's early characterizing of wanting adventure and to discover something no other human has discovered parallels with Frankenstein's later explanation of his want and desired to do something no other human or scientist has done, understand the connection of life and death to conquer disease. Furthermore, both Walton and Frankenstein are characterized by their relationships to their families. Clearly, both distanced themselves from their families in order to reach their lifetime aspirations. Their "sisters" also showed how even their closest relationship was strained by their want and desire to leave their mark on the planet. Even though not every detail of Walton and Frankenstein is subsequently mentioned to characterize them, because of the understanding of their parallel, many assumptions can be made about both when either one of them has an experience. Through this, the understanding of both having loving families can be understood yet their father's did not approve of their yearning to follow their dreams. As Walton's father did not want him to read the books about the voyagers, Frankenstein's father did not want him to read the books about the varying scientists. 

APO 96225

"APO 96225" by Larry Rottman

The irony of the poem seems to take over the entirety of the poem. The young man knows what is going on in the war yet decides to tell his parents the good side of the story. Also, the mother very well knows what war is like. The mother asks for the real story of what is going on in the war. When he tells her, she then decides she really did not want to know it. The irony of the poem follows that although people ask for what is really going on, in reality, we do not really want to know. Like asking someone how they are, we do not really care what the question is, it is more about asking it. Sometimes when we ask for something we do not really care to know the details of, we get it by asking. The mother did that in this poem and ironically got the answer she should have expected from the beginning. Also, humor seems to follow along with the irony. The humor comes in the same sense that as soon as the young man bluntly says what he did, his mother decides she does not want to hear in. To return to that, he repeats his first statement: "Dear Mom, sure rains a lot here" (Rottman, 846).

I felt a Funeral, in my Brain

"I felt a Funeral, in my Brain" by Emily Dickinson

I feel like the title of this poem should be I am having a Funeral of my Brain. The poem seems to describe that the speaker is having something leave their brain. Also, the poem seems to correlate with someone who is growing old. As someone grows old, their memories and brain perseverance seem to diminish and sometimes they might find themselves feeling alienated. Through this, the person can feel alone when they forget something that they might think they should remember. Some of the poem such as in the third stanza seems to recognize that information was being lost yet find themselves missing information. The third stanza seems to be a break in the memory of the speaker as the speaker might remember something as they heard a "creak across my Soul" (Dickinson, 776). Following that, the speaker seems to feel alone as they notice the space in their brain where the memory previously was. The capitalizing of certain words also puts emphasis on the empty, lonely, and alienated feeling the speaker has as they are losing some of their memory. Lastly, the wording and placement of the title seems to put emphasis where the speaker might be unsure. The speaker seems to be conscious of the funeral for what they know yet pause before the statement that it is in their brain. The unsure nature of the title also seems to correlate that the person must have something similar to Dementia.

A Story of Wall Street

Bartleby the Scrivener by Herman Melville

The subtitle of the short story seems to correlate with Bartleby and the narrator. Bartleby obviously seemed to serve as an example of what can happen to someone on Wall Street after time. As Bartleby slowly diminished while working, people on Wall Street must be similar to Bartleby. Likewise, the lawyer seems to find sympathy in Bartleby otherwise he would have fired him when Bartleby was responsive before. With no mention of his family or anything besides work, the lawyer must be another example of how Wall Street can ruin or effect someone directly.   The similarities between Bartleby and the lawyer also characterize the effects of Wall Street. Both are passive and okay with mediocracy. The lawyer does not seem to care that two of his employees are only sufficient half of the work day. Obviously he does not seem to care that they are not as productive as they could be. Likewise, Bartleby does not seem to pursue anything more than he is given or has. He is passive in his responses and does not care what his boss thinks of him when he says "I would prefer not to" (Melville, 654). Herman Melville obviously saw fault in the Wall Street system and wrote this to express his unhappiness on how the system must ruin people to their end like Bartleby.

Bartleby

Bartleby the Scrivener by Herman Melville

"The report was this: that Bartleby had been a subordinate clerk in the Dead Letter Office at Washington, from which he had suddenly removed by a change in the administration" (Melville, 675)

At the conclusion of the story when Bartleby's past job was announced, I connected that Bartleby's job must of been the reason for his behavior at the law office. The author does not disclose any other information about Bartleby's past besides his job so obviously it has some significance. Sure some autistic disease could be it or that he was emotionally drained. Although all of that can be supported with other evidence, the author obviously included Bartleby's past job for a reason and not just to say it. Because of that, I believe that his job seems to describe his attitude and character at the law office. After burning mail that was initially intended for someone has to have some sort of effect on someone after a while. Bartleby obviously had a negative experience as he seemed to lessen his work as time went on. From his previous job, Bartleby must have been emotionally drained from realizing that letters he burned were important to that person at some point yet they did not have a chance to even receive them before they passed. Bartleby's unresponsive nature toward work seems to correlate with the unreceiveable letters that he burned. Likewise, I believe that Bartleby did not want to become emotionally attached to anyone or anything because like the letters that could have been filled with love or emotional messages, they can quickly be broken and burned. Such a job must have been depressing and put him into a state where he could not function emotionally like other people could. 

Miss Brill

Miss Brill by Katherine Mansfield

"But even the band seemed to know what she was feeling and played more softly, played tenderly, and the drub beat" (Mansfield, 184).

Miss Brill seems to find loneliness in her life as she tries to find someone to relate with. Starting off, Miss Brill sets herself up for failure just by getting out the fur and putting it on. Based on the description, the fur seems to be creepy and seems to characterize Miss Brill to resemble the fur. Personally, if I saw someone walking around with fur that had eyes, I would be creeped out. Similarly  Miss Brill finds herself becoming alienated because of her tendency to eavesdrop on other people's conversations. Again, if someone with creepy fur was also creeping on my conversation  I would probably outcast them as well. Furthermore, the music in the background seems to follow everything Miss Brill is feeling. She even notes it herself that the music seemed to know what she was feeling. All of these traits of the short story characterize Miss Brill. The surroundings of Miss Brill reflect her character. She seems lonely and finds comfort in the fur that she wears. The music displays the different feelings of Miss Brill. Indirectly, a lot is learned about Miss Brill just by her surroundings rather than a direct description of her motives.