The End... And The End again? Frankenstein part 2- blog 5

In this final section of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein the end is near two times. The first end is the end of  Victor's story; he had chased the creature through the ice on a sledge. He had become worn down, sick, he had lost some of his dogs, and that is when Walton's ship finds him. Therefore, we see the end of Victor's frame story. It was a long journey of creation, destruction, murder, and many lessons learned. Then we are redirected to Walton's letters to his sister. Like Frankenstein, Walton found himself in a huge predicament regarding a dangerous voyage due to his love of a challenge. What he found was the his trip to the North Pole would be practically impossible, and this changed the minds of many of his shipmates. "They insisted, therefore, that I should engage with a solemn promise, that if the vessel should be freed I would instantly direct my course southward," (Shelley 159). Once the ship is clear of ice, he does as they request. Then, with a heavy heart due to the death of Victor and the encounter with the creature, he returns home to England to his sister and to his family. With this, the final theme, I would suggest would be not to bite off more than one can chew because one cannot know for certain what such dangerous desires will do!

Changes coming fast!!! Frankenstein Part 2- blog 4

The last three chapters of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein wraps things up fairly quickly. It is very confusing to readers that Victor still believe that the monster is going after him on his wedding night. From the history of the monster and his threats to Victor previously, it is obvious that his love, Elizabeth, will be the victim. This is exactly what took place. Victor left her so that he could face the demon alone, but that left Elizabeth helpless when the creature came for her. Using his same technique as the other victims, he choked her to death easily. While I believe there have been a number of events leading up to the rising action, the murder of Elizabeth is most likely the turning point. It sets in motion the rest of the events of the falling action. Upon Victor's return to Geneva, his father soon dies, leaving Victor lonely and vengeful. "The deep grief which this scene had at first excited quickly gave way to rage and despair," (Shelley 150). I am very curious to find out what will occur next. Does the creature still seek to bring suffering to Victor? Will Victor be able to suppress his feelings enough to find and stop his creation once and for all? Hopefully as I near the end, all of my concerns will be addressed.

You are not God... Frankenstein Part 2- Blog 3

    A new theme seems to have arisen in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein- or rather, I just noticed it recently. There have been various references to the Bible throughout the novel, but they were not on accident, they had a clear purpose all along. Victor Frankenstein is realizing and learning very quickly the consequences of playing God. He created a living creature out of dead human body parts- something that is an ability that humans should not have. God is the Creator, not just of the world, but also of all people; Victor Frankenstein became a partaker in the creation of life. Then, In case he did not learn the lesson from his first creature and all of it's after-effects, things were about to get even uglier as he began his second similar creation. He was very aware the second time of what he was in the process of doing. "As I sat, a train of reflection occurred to me, which led me to consider the effects of what I was now doing,"(Shelley 120). Thankfully, he realized his error and thought of the consequences of creating another being, and he quitted the project before it was too late. How much longer will the madness continue of the ramifications of such an act? As we near the end of the book, we are sure to find out!

Suspense is a Powerful Thing! Frankenstein Part 2- Blog 2

    What causes a reader to not only keep interest but keep reading and reading clinging to every new piece of information? That would be suspense. Mary Shelley does a most excellent job in incorporating this tool into Frankenstein, keeping readers on their toes and begging for more. While this is utilized in the first part of the novel, it is much more prevalent in the second part. "Sometimes I thought that the fiend followed me, and might expedite my remissness by murdering my companions," (Shelley 118). Victor is constantly worried that the creature sees everything and that he might strike again; his history would suggest that as a possibility. Victor is living in constant fear of the next attack, especially after he decides to destroy the new creature he had been working on. After the murder of Henry and the trial, readers learn of Victor's nightmares and illusions. In these nightmares he could feel, "the fiend's grasp in my neck, and could not free myself from it..." (Shelley 135). As Victor is struggling with all of this emotional distress, readers cannot stop reading, knowing that the end is near- the desire to figure everything out continues to increase.

Characterizzzzation!- Frankenstein Part 2- Blog 1

    The De Lacey's were significant in the first part of the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley because they were given the title of the creature's "protectors" which gives them importance to him. However, in the later section of the book, we learn more about there history and where they came from. The De Lacey's were an affluent French family, but in helping an innocent Turkish merchant escape from prison, things get complicated. Exiled from their hometown, they seek refuge elsewhere, which is how they ended up in the cottage that the creature found. Later on, the daughter of the merchant, who had fallen in love with Felix earlier on, joined the De Lacey's in their humble abode. This history had a huge impact on the creature. He learned of their history, learned the language, learned to read, and learned about the family and their personalities. He saw them as understanding, sympathetic, and the kind of people who accept and assist strangers the best they can. "I required kindness and sympathy,; but I did not believe myself unworthy of it," (Shelley 94). All of this, along with finally understanding the language, allowed the creature to finally gain enough confidence to encounter the old blind man one day. When the old man understands the creature, hope is given. But just as quickly as it came, it went. The family went crazy once the returned home and saw him. This rejection really hurt the creature and caused him to become the true monster that he is.

A New Mood- Frankenstein 5

      The mood changes significantly as we change points of view from Victor to the creature. Victor was angry and desired to kill the "monster" he had created. He was full of guilt, contempt, and hate which were all visible as he narrated the story. He wanted to kill off his creation once and for all, so that no more harm could be done. However, when the creature begins speaking with compassion and knowledge, the mood changes to one of good feelings and sympathy for the creature. For two years the creature was on its own and picked up on small parts to everyday living. Learning about humans and how they differ from him to their language. He observes it all, especially while watching the family in the hut. He feels sorry for taking their food and making them unhappy, so he constantly gets them wood for their fires. Emotionally, he also develops as well as he watches this family. "He raised her, and smiled with such kindness and affection that I felt sensations of a peculiar and overpowering nature: they were a mixture of pain and pleasure, such as I had never before experienced, either from hunger or cold, warmth or food; and I withdrew from the window, unable to bear these emotions." Now starting to understand humans, the audience begins to feel sympathy for him instead of Victor.

Themes- Frankenstein 4

     One theme that shows up in chapters 6-8 is what fear can do to person. Following Victor's brother's murder and return to Geneva, he believes he knows who really committed the murder. Spotting him on the outskirts of Geneva, he is instantly convinced that the creature he created two years ago must be the culprit. However, he does not stand up for Justine as she is on trial for the murder of William. Even though he knows she will be put to death for the crime, he chooses to keep the secret for fear of being called crazy. Once she pleads guilty, all hope is lost. Now, because of the secrets he chose to keep to himself from being called crazy, he now has the weight of the world on his shoulders. He believes he has caused the death of two members of his family, and that guilt will continue to haunt him now. "I had before experienced sensations of horror; and I have endeavored to bestow upon them adequate expressions, but words cannot convey an idea of the heart-sickening despair that I've been endured." He feared being called crazy, and he fears the creature now as well. Fear will probably cause many other actions to take place as well as the story goes on- we will have to find out as the plot thickens!

Imagery- Frankenstein 3

"His yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath; his hair was of a lustrous black, and flowing; his teeth of pearly whiteness; but these luxuriance is only formed a more horrid contrast with his watery eyes, that seemed almost of the same colour as the dun-white sockets in which they were sent, his shrivelled complexion and straight black lips." Imagery is a key component thus far in the book. Shelley's descriptions of setting as well as emotions have helped a great deal to set the tone of the book. However, imagery is even more useful when it comes to describing the creature that Victor Frankenstein has created. It make readers want to cringe- giving it a feeling of fear. Additionally, the actions of this creature create suspense that will continue throughout the rest of the novel. When Victor and Henry return to the room, suspense is created to know what they will find. Also, imagery gives a whole new meaning to Victor's sickness following the creation of the creature. Victor describes it as, "in doing this, I underwent a kind of rough usage, ill befitting the wounds that my mind had sustained." The sickness was mental as well as physical, he had gotten himself so worked up about the creature he had created that he no longer even liked natural philosophy. As the story continues, we will see how imagery continues to play a huge role in the plot.

Foreshadowing- Frankenstein 2

    In addition to the frame story having a significant impact on the plot, foreshadowing has a lot to do with it as well. Through the introduction of a frame story, we are also given a reason for the stranger to be involved. He is chasing a creature that Walton noticed and wrote about in an earlier letter. This reference causes readers to take a step back and take notice of the details of that creature. Walton describes this creature as "...a being which had the shape of a man, but apparently of gigantic stature, sat in the sledge, and guided the dogs," (Shelley 8).  This gives us foreshadowing, especially when the frame story begins. Why was the creature being chased? What importance does he hold? These questions are brought up because of the existence of a creature and because of the set up of a frame story. Clearly, the creature has significance because he was being chased and the stranger was very shaken up and not willing to share the story behind it- that is until the two became close and he realized how similar they really are. The stranger wants to protect Walton from his same fate, and in doing that he must tell the story- but what was the stranger's fate? We will soon find out!

Frame Story- Frankenstein 1

    Having only read the first letters of the book, there is already evidence of a frame story. These letters to his sister are only the beginning of the story. Walton is on an expedition to discover the North Pole and is consistently writing letters to his sister. However, the plot of the story does not thicken until the fourth letter. The stranger the Walton meets while sailing begins to tell Walton a story of his own in order to caution him for the rest of his exploration and adventure. This begins the story within a story- or a frame story- because the stranger is telling his own tale as Walton is writing letters to his sister. "Strange and harrowing must be his story, frightful the storm which embraced the gallant vessel on its course and wrecked it- thus." (Shelley 14). Therefore, there is clear evidence to a frame story, so at some point we must return to Walton's letters and find out the end of his story, in addition to the end of the stranger's story. This aspect of the novel will expand the plot and give the novel and themes great depth as they will apply to more than just one narrator.

Do You Want To Know Or Not?- APO 96225

   Firstly, the title of the poem "APO 96225" by Larry Rottmann says a great deal about the poem- almost as much as the poem itself. This says that it is an Army Post Office address and from this alone, sympathy is evoked. People that fight for our country make a huge sacrifice, and so do the families of those who serve. Therefore, seeing the correspondence between the two already serves as pathos in the poem.
   Present as well in this poem is irony. Even though the mother asked specifically to hear of every endeavor, when he told her, she could not bear it emotionally. She probably did not realize what the implications of her request would be. " Today I killed a man. Yesterday, I helped drop napalm on women and children," (Rottmann 46).The violence and gore of war is not exactly the most light of subjects, and certainly not appropriate for a mother to imagine. However, it is reality. There is not all sunsets, funny monkeys, and rain; there is killing, there is blood, there is death. Maybe we all want to close our eyes to it, but if we keep our eyes open and aware, we see the horror that is war.

Sense is Madness- Yeah, That Makes Sense.

    "Much Madness is Divinest Sense" by Emily Dickinson is a very different spin on what we think of as normal and accepted. This poem presents a challenge to its readers. It says do not just go along with everyone else and their opinions and beliefs; question them! Who has ever discovered something great without going against what people think is possible or reasonable? This wonderful paradox definitely goes against sense in an of itself.  We see this in the line, "Much Sense- the starkest Madness" (Dickinson 830). Having sense can be madness- a contrasting idea. Yet, that contrasting idea is exactly the point she is trying to get across. People who don't think with their senses and instead think outside the box, they are not crazy, they are actually the normal ones! They inspire change and make the differences in our world that keep us improving each and every day. Where would we be today without the first person to say, "What if we could make a vehicle for transportation that has wheels and runs on an engine?" or the first person to say, "What if we could put a man on the moon?". Our world is constantly changing and if we all start thinking with the majority, then we cannot continue to prosper.

Trapped- "I Felt a Funeral, in my Brain"

    The most important part of "I Felt a Funeral, in my Brain" by Emily Dickinson is the point of view from which the poem is written. The speaker is the honorary member of the funeral- the person who has passed. She describes the funeral and burial from the vantage point of the coffin. There is also a clear tone of desperation as she is clenching to life while she begins to lose her mind. "Keep beating-beating-till I thought My Mind was going numb-" (Dickinson 776). She is fighting to hold on, to whatever is left of her. What really creates this amazing imagery, however, is the many senses the speaker uses to describe her surroundings. She feels the presence of the mourners, hears the sounds of the service and feet of the men that will take the coffin away, and feels the dropping of her coffin at the burial. We can get a much better sense of the alienation she is feeling as she knows everyone that once knew her is saying their goodbyes. Trapped inside a coffin, going crazy, all alone- what an image for the mind to ponder.

Miss Brill- Life is a Play

    The first things I noticed about Miss Brill by Katherine Mansfield was the imagery and similes. In the first paragraph alone she describes the beautiful sky, and then describes the air using a simile, "like a chill from a glas of iced water before you sip..." (Mansfield 182). This did not seem unusual as I continued reading; she is simply noticing and appreciating a beautiful day. Even when she started describing the people that she observed along the way, I thought it was normal. This illusion ended when I realized that she not only did this on a regular basis, but also that she saw it all as a play. "It was exactly like a play. Who could believe the sky at the back wasn't painted?" (Mansfield 184). To me, I believe this shows that she is somewhat disconnected with reality. These scenes she is witnessing are not scenes of a play, and it is almost as if she is living vicariously through them. In a way, she is living behind the scenes, unrealistically. Lastly, I am not sure what the significance of the fur is, but I feel that it might just be another symbol of her clash with reality.

I'd Prefer Not to Blog About It- Bartelby

    In one of the most bizarre, confusing short stories I have ever read, I still managed to find the theme in Bartelby the Scrivener by Herman Melville. The setting of this story play a huge part in it as well. This is a story of Wall Street and describes what happens to some people with that kind of continuous, repetitive, and mindless work. It can seriously take a toll on a person's life and their functioning as a social person. Clearly, the character Bartelby portrays this happening. It is considered that after working as a "subordinate clerk in the Dead Letter Office at Washington, from which he had been suddenly removed my a change in the administration..." and then as a copier at an office on Wall Street, he may have changed him in a way that his soul was never the same after that (Melville 675). However, though he is the most obvious displayer of the theme, the lawyer speaker also conveys it in a very important way. He is similar to Bartelby in his want to do the least work possible all the time. In the beginning of the novel, he says, "I am one of those unambitious lawyers who never addresses a jury or in a way draws down public applause..." (Mellville 643). Bartelby and the lawyer speaker are both proof of what mindless work can do to a person, which causes Bartelby's insane actions and the speaker's continued sympathy toward him.