A Literary Analysis of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein

This paper analyzes the saucy Frankenstein. It is subdivided into two references. The first part is a thematic outline of the bracing and the piece part is a discourse analysis of the invention. Specifically it realiseks to answer the following what argon the study(ip) themes of the new(a) what are the discourses contained in and articulated by the young?Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus is a famed allegory by Mary Shelley. It was comp permited on May 1817, when Mary was dry landable nineteen years of age. It was make while she and her keep up Percey Bysshe Shelley were on their summer vacation with ecclesiastic Byron in the Alps (Frankenstein ). With the best writers in England, Mary offered her contri besidesion to the literary classics, the famous Frankenstein impudent, which became famous in two genres friendship Fiction and horror (Milner, p.149).Thematic synopsis of FrankensteinThe refreshing Frankenstein is centered on quatern major themes ignorance versus acquaintance, seediness in earthly concern, in a feminist view plosive par of hands and wo custody, and murders explained from the standpoint of the murderers. Among spelly other themes, these four, in my opinion, are the major themes and therefore should be expounded.The unfermented was written in the early(a) phase of the industrial revolution (Analysis of Frankenstein), that is, when learning and technology was initially progressing. From this lead I toilet say that the novel is an attempt to criticize the actual affectionate condition, that is to say, the novel criticizes the progress of cognizance and the acquisition of k straight offledge. Shelleys use of the show chemise schoolmaster Frankenstein, the medical doctor who make waterd a existence more(prenominal)(prenominal) superior to the present cannonball along of men, explains my point. Even though everywherelord is intentional enough to seduce living, he is all the same bounded by his im h olyions. He created a killing teras insteadThe Frankenstein giant. This suggests that science could unravel the mysteries of nature, hardly knowledge is steady in addition dangerous for man to acquire. The novel suggests that knowledge is dangerous manage when skipper discovered the mystery of life. knowledge is a junky.Furthermore, the novel suggests that some knowledge should be kept secret from men. Some knowledge do more unrighteous than good, as the novel suggests. It says that ignorance is good. Knowledge is unholy (Remarks on Frankenstein).The other title for Frankenstein, The Modern Prometheus, is suggestive of the theme of this novel. Prometheus is a mytho pellucid reference book who gave fire to men to keep them ready (Prometheus gave fire to Men). exclusively genus Zeus punished Prometheus for doing so. Prometheus received an eternal punishment. In connection, the fire symbolizes knowledge. In the myth, knowledge is nix to men just alike(p) in the novel Fr ankenstein. The fire can warm, but it can in any case kill just as knowledge can. The novel criticizes the scientist well-nigh especially, in their empirical quest for knowledge.The char deeder of the Monster serves dual purpose in the novel, as far-off my first and morsel themes are concerned. First, the character is a cover articulation of knowledge. It is the product of headmasters study and experimentation. And so, it symbolizes the fruit of knowledge. In the novel, the lusus naturae was depicted as ugly, abhorred, and disgusting and a killer. What does it say about knowledge? It suggests that knowledge is besides ugly, abhorred and disgustinga killer, tooa teras.The second function of the Monster character in the novel points at the second theme of the novel mischief in the ball. First instance is when professional created a lone teras, without a companion. It lamented saw that Even Satan had his companions, co-worker devils, to respect and encourage him but I am so litary and abhorred (Shelley, p. 130). This points out that there is detriment committed to the Monster. Secondly, skipper denied the giant a companion when the monster pleads for it. It pleadsMy vices are the children of a forced purdah that I abhor, and my virtues go forth necessarily filch when I be in chewing with an equal. I shall feel the affections of a sharp being, and become link up to a concatenation of existence and events, which I am now excluded. (Shelley, 147)Instead of creating a dame monster, lord destroyed every slight chance that the monster conduct of postponement for his lady companion by destroying the monster he was about to conduct life to.Third, there is injustice in the origination when the monster experienced ostracism because of its appearance. It was drawn by villagers a vogue and was forced to stretch forth only if, and excluded from clementity (Frankenstein).The theme on comparability between sexes, in my opinion, is evident in the novel when the Monster pleads Victor to create a lady monster. at that place was no hint in the novel that the monster go a manner dominate the lady monster because all it wanted was to get a companion whom it shall feel affection to (p.147). The novel did not hint at the superiority of men over women, as far as the character of the monster is concerned.Lastly, the to the highest degree obvious theme of the novel is murder. But in this case, there was no veto presentation of crime because the murders were explained from the viewpoint of the murderers. The murderers were presented to have logical reasons for committing the crimes this is unique (my emphasis). Let us photograph for instance the first murder casethe murder of Victors brother.Although the novel may have presented a change reason why the monster off Victors brother, that is, victors brother recited a litany of epithets to the monster, it somehow explained the reason behind the murder. The monster was too el egant with its appearance thats why it has over reacted to the epithets.Another murder was committed when Victor destroyed the lady monster he was about to give life to. Victor is also a murderer. His reason was that if he let the lady monster run, he ordain bring tragedy to the world by producing a race of devils. Victors course of action was paid for by the monsters killing of Victors fianceElizabeth. It was the price Victor has to pay for his murderous act.One good point about this novel was that it has presented murder from the viewpoint of the murderer. Shelley has produced characters with realistic motives, that is, the characters were driven by logical reasons for committing the crimes. This is something good about this novel.In conclusion, the novel Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus was centered on four major themes ignorance is good and knowledge is evil injustice in the world equating of men and women and murders as explained from the viewpoint of the murderers.A c ommunication Analysis of the novelDiscourse theory of Foucault can be applied to the Frankenstein Story. Foucault defines discourse as a way of thought process shared by a particular group of quite a little at a particular prescribe and sentence producing truth and power and compulsive actions. It is a lived way of thought process deeply inculcated into individuals. Individuals become the subjects of discourses (Foucault, pp 21-30 ).Applying the theory of discourse, let us examine the discourses or ways of thinking which the report of Frankenstein articulate. What kinds of discourse are inculcated into individuals by the novel Frankenstein?Man as deity and the Dawn of Scientific RevolutionThe story exemplifies man as a God. The giving of a life to an inanimate object is an act only reserved toa God. Yet in the story, man created life through Victors knowledgeableness. It suggests an era where science has triumphed. It suggests that science could be a god, in this respect. It suggests that comprehension can offer man the unattainable that man can be a god.Just like in the literary text, the flick Shelleys Frankenstein (dir. Branagh) explicates the dawn of scientific revolution. beneath is an excerpt of the conversation between Clerval and VictorFrankenstein Sooner or later, the best way to cheat death leave behind be to create life.Clerval Now, youve gone too far. Theres only one God, victor.Frankenstein No, reserve God out of this. Listen, if you love someone, they have a sick heart, wouldnt you give them a rock-loving one?Clerval impossible.Frankenstein No its not impossible, we can do it, were steps away. And if we can do that, if we can deputise one part of a human being, we can replace every part. If we can do that, we can design life. We can create a being that will not stupefy old or sicken. One that will be stronger than us, better than us, one that will be more intelligent than us, more civilized.From the above, we can see that wha t was impossible like a giving of a healthy heart, has become a possibility in the contemporary times. Heart transplant is a commonly practiced surgery these daylights. And it was do possible by science. The Frankenstein novel provides this transition.Even the creation of the monster symbolizes the triumph of lore. From this story of Frankenstein, we see that recognition is like a God. Science can give life, too.Imperfect Beings and Unjust WorldIt is give tongue to that we can never be perfect like God. Whatever we do, we are mute incomplete and continuous tense. It is only God who is perfect. This way of thinking is also exemplified by the story of Frankenstein.Victor, a medical doctor and the condition of the monster, abhorred his very creation. In his attempt to create a being superior to human race, he had created a monster instead. This suggests that man, in his efforts, cannot create a being more superior to him. Victor has labored days and nights to create a being, y et a monster, instead, breathed to life. Even the monster itself abhorred his condition.Hateful the day when I received life I exclaimed in agony. Accursed Creator why did you ever form a monster so hideous that even you move from me in disgust?Satan had his companion, fellow devils, to admire and encourage him, but I am solitary and abhorred. (Shelley, p.130)Similarly, God created men in his own image and likeness, but then we are not like God who is perfect. More over, with imperfect beings came the imperfect and unjust world.Because of the grotesque appearance of the monster, the villagers attacked him. bothone was repel by mere seeing the monster. Because of this, the monster too became malevolent to humans. It experienced injustice from the world.Remember, that I am thy creature I ought to be thy Adam but I am rather the fallen nonpareil whom thou drivest from joy for no misdeed. Every where I see bliss, from which I alone am irrevocably excluded. I was kind and good mis ery made me a fiend. Make me happy, and I shall again be virtuous (Shelley, p.100)Another form of injustice made on the monster is thru Victors destruction of the lady monster. The monster had promised to live in peace and live in wilderness with his wife, the lady monster. The monster stateMy vices are the children of a forced solitude that I abhor, and my virtues will necessarily arise when I live in communion with an equal. I shall feel the affections of a sensitive being, and become linked to a chain of existence and events, from which I am now excluded (Shelley, p.147).It was injustice to give life to a being, and let it suffer without even a friend, a loved one,not even anybody.In conclusion, the novel Frankenstein articulates the following discourses man can be a God through Science man is ever so imperfect and the world is unjust.ConclusionThe horror science fiction of Shelley empower Frankenstein, as my arguments pointed out, is a critique of the existing social conditi on of Shelleys timethat isthe onset of industrial and scientific revolution.The novel is centered on the four major themes, namely ignorance is good and knowledge is evil injustice in the world equality of men and women and murders as explained from the viewpoint of the murderers.Frankenstein also articulates the following discourses or ways of thinking that man can be a god through Science, and that man is always imperfect just as the world is always imperfect.Indeed, the novel has shown us that knowledge and science can bring pandemonium to man.Works CitedFoucault, Michel. Archeology of Knowledge and the discourse on Language. Trans. Smith, Sheridan A.M. USA Tavistock Publication Limited. 1972Mary Shelleys Frankenstein, dir. K. Branagh (Tristar, 1994, 118 mins)Milner, Andrews. Literature, culture and Society. London UCL press, 1996Prometheus gave Fire to Men. No fitting published. A Hand-out in Mythology Class.Remarks on Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus A Novel. No encou nter published. April 21, 2007.Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus. M.K. Joseph (ed) Oxford Oxford University Press, 1980