Frankenstein

Mary Shelley's published her pinacle novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus in 1818. That same year, Dr. James Blundell carried out the first human blood transfusion, and the British chemist Luke Howard published The Climate of London— a thesis on atmospheric electricity and the causes of precipitation (Poulter). During Shelley's lifetime, science had emerged from the shadows of the Enlightenment in order to harness the power of nature. No longer did scientists look to ancient interpreters; instead, advocates of this…...

Contrary to traditional readings of texts, which assumed that ideas were inherent to texts, modern texts recognise the role of the reader in shaping meaning through consideration of critical reading perspectives. Frankenstein (1818) by Mary Shelley is an ambiguous novel that offers the prospect for various reading practices that contrast the invited readings. Tragic hero Victor Frankenstein creates a grotesque but sapient creature in an unorthodox scientific experiment. The unnamed creature is rejected by Victor and humankind itself, seeking revenge…...

Nowadays, people enjoy going to haunted houses, watching scary movies, and paying attention to breaking news on TV. Most of those interests stem from gothic literature and the elements they present. People want to be a part of some horror without being directly harmed or involved. The novel Frankenstein, not the James Whale 1931 film, provides the involvement of horror with the reader just by words. Most modern horror directors and authors including Stephen King, are incapable of creating any…...

Over the years, humanity has made a significant effort towards removing the inequality many people experience. After many years of fighting, segregation has been banned in America and the fight for equal gender pay still perseveres. Unfortunately, discrimination is still present even when inequality is removed. Lewis R. Aiken defines discrimination as “differential treatment of people according to race, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, disabilities, and other physical or behavioral characteristics” (85). This definition of discrimination gives several examples of…...

We, as a society, often rely on others to tell us how to look or act. We desperately await the judgement of others upon our appearance and behavior, as well as our self-worth. Society’s perception of us affects how we see ourselves, but only if we allow them that power. You shouldn’t define yourself based on the judgement of your peers, but instead on what you believe in and on what you find meaningful. Chet Kurt William II allowed society…...

Dr. Philippe Rochat who is an infant and child development psychology specialist, describes that most fundamental issue in psychology from both evolutionary and developmental perspective is the self-awareness (Rochat 717). From Dr. Rochat’s description, we develop our perception very gradually from very early stages in childhood starting from birth to about four or five years of age. A child perceives through all organs of senses. Self-perception through other’s eyes is an important milestone that a child attains by visual and…...

It would seem that the man Walton rescues at the beginning of Shelley’s Frankenstein is the perfect candidate to fill the position of a friend for the lonely adventurer. Walton sets what most would call a high and noble standard for a true friend: sympathy flowing from similar taste, refined intelligence, and frank advice and encouragement (14). Frankenstein seems to excel in these and more, with a depth of feeling and understanding unmatched by Walton’s usual associates and communicated with…...

Throughout human history, prejudice and discrimination have existed. Prejudice refers to the irrational and inflexible attitudes that members of a particular group hold about members of another group (Sibley and Duckitt 248). Prejudices are either harmful or positive. Both forms of prejudice are usually preconceived by the people who hold them and are extremely difficult to alter (Stephan, Cookie and Stephan 33). The negative form of prejudices leads to discrimination- unjust behaviors that holders of negative prejudice direct against the…...

Two hundred years ago, Frankenstein, a novel about a science experiment gone horribly wrong, instilled panic in readers and perpetuated the now well-known trope of a mad scientist who will stop at nothing to achieve his experiment. Victor Frankenstein labors tirelessly for two years to create a hideous monster in order for him to “play God” and defy life and death. Mary Shelley uses Victor’s complete disregard of ethics to display to the reader how greatly scientists are willing to…...

For centuries women have been forced to be subservient to man and his demands. Their lives, jobs, personalities, traits and emotions are portrayed in stories, novels, and poems to be less admirable than those of a man. While in reality this is untrue, the period in which Mary Shelley lived treated women in that manner. The feminist movement questioned the chauvinism of man, and the rights belonging to women, a movement that later ensured female emancipation. Mary Shelley shows the…...