Blog Assignment #1 (4th quarter) - Due Tuesday, April 20th
Choose a quote from Frankenstein and explain the significance of the quote. It can be related to characterization, theme, or literary techniques. Explanation must be at least 4 sentences in length. 10 points
"Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge and how much happpier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow." (Page 54)
ReplyDeleteThis quote from Victor directly states the theme of the book. Frankenstein uses this sentence to instruct the reader to learn from the mistakes Victor has already made and not suffer a life of similar misery. He states that if you act against the limits of nature, you will be punished for the rest of your life. This also ties to allusions to "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" in the book, in which the mariner is also punished for aspiring "to become greater than his nature will allow."
"I thought I saw Elizabeth, in the bloom of health, walking in the streets of Ingolstandt. Delighted and surprised, I embraced her; but as I imprinted the first kiss on her lips, they became livid with the hue of death; her features appeared to change, and I thought that I held the corpse of my dead mother in my arms." (Chapter 5)
ReplyDeleteThis quote is from a nightmare Frankenstein had, right after he fled in horror from the monster he created. This is a great sample of what gothic romance is. The images of beautiful Elizabeth changing into a corpse is not only gothic romantic, it's also a prime example of syntax. This nightmare could possibly be a foreshadowing of what Frankenstein's monster does when he escapes.
"My tale was not one to announce publicly; its astounding horror would be looked upon as madness by the vulgar." (chapter 7 p.81)
ReplyDeleteThis quote gives insight to Victors character. We realize Victor is not going to admit what he believes truely happened. He would rather let Justine be executed than be thought of as mad. Victor feels the need to hide the existance of the monster even though he believes it will keep killing.
"Unhappy man! Do you share my madness? Have you drunk also of the intoxicating draught? Hear me -- let me reveal my tale,and you will dash the cup from your lips!" (Letter IV p. 29)
ReplyDeleteHere Frankenstein reveals the theme of the book as a metaphor. Although quenching the thirst for knowledge outside of typical human knowledge seems desirable, too much of it is dangerous. Frankenstein believes that the more knowledge he acquired, the blinder he became to its consequences, only sobering when it was far too late. This line sets up the book as a cautionary tale against the folly of man's pride in deconstructing a world greater than him.
"Once, however, the lieutenant asked why he had come so far upon the ice in so strange a vehicle? His countenance instantly assumed an aspect of the deepest gloom; and he replied, 'To seek one who fled from me.' (pg. 27)
ReplyDeleteThis quote foreshadows the upcoming event of when Dr. Frankenstein's monster leaves the Doctor. It also spikes the reader's curiosity and makes the reader want to continue reading. Also, the quote shows how deep Dr. Frankenstein’s love for the monster is. "His countenance instantly assumed an aspect of the deepest gloom", this quote shows that the Dr. cares for the monster deeply.
"I confess that neither the structure of languages nor the the code of governments, nor the policies of various states possessed attractions for me. It was the secrets of heaven and earth that I desired to learn; and whether it was the outward substance of things, or the inner spirit of natre and the mysterious sould of man that occupied me, still my enquiries were directed to the metaphsyical, or in its highest sense, the physical secrets of the world." (pg 39)
ReplyDeleteThis is speaking of Frankenstein's childhood and the manefastation of his curiousity for the unknown. Frankenstein says that what normal things that children would wish to learn, didn't satisfy him, he wanted to understand the impossible, Frankenstein wanted to figure out the secrets of life and death, even when he was a child. And as he grew older, his curiousity for the unknown grew and made Frankenstein take his curiousity into his own hands. Because of the background on young Frankenstein, it shows the reader just how this man grew up and grew into the creator that he will become.
"I did not before remark how very ill you appear, so thin and pale, and look as if you had been watching for several nights" pg. 61
ReplyDeleteThis quote gives the reader a descriptive image of Frankenstein. It might be foreshadowing what is going to happen in future. It shows that he does not interact very much with Henry who now realizes how ill Frankenstein looks.
"So much has been done, exclaimed the soul of Frankenstein—more, far more, will I achieve; treading in the steps already marked, I will pioneer a new way, explore unknown powers, and unfold to the world the deepest mysteries of creation," (Chapter 3).
ReplyDeleteThis quote explains how Frankenstein is searching to gain knowledge about the secrets of life. I don't know why, but i thought it was interesting that he referred to himself in the third person. I don't know if anyone else caught that. This quote also foreshadows Frankenstein not paying considering any of the possible negative outcomes for his actions.
"But I, the true murderer, felt the never-dying worm alive in my bosom, which allowed of no hope or consolation. Elizabeth also wept and was ungappy; but hers also was the misery of innocence.... Anguish and despair had penetrated into the core of my heart." (p. 89)
ReplyDeleteThis quote is evidence for the novel's theme, which centers around the idea that too much knowledge may be a bad thing. Frankenstein knows the true murderer, but he cannot speak about his monster for the fear of being thought to be crazy. Due to his reticence, Frankenstein is torn up inside because he had the knowledge which he could not use to clear Justine's name. Elizabeth, on the other hand, has no knowledge of the monster's guilt, so though she is upset, she isn't feeling guilty, as Frankenstein is.
"One by one the various keys were touched which formed the mechanism of my being: chord after chord was sounded, and soon my mind was filled with one thought, one conception, one purpose. So much has been done, exclaimed the soul of Frankenstein, - marked, I will pioneer a new way, explore unknown powers, and unfold to the world the deepest mysteries of creation." (p. 49)
ReplyDeleteVictor Frankenstein is ecstatic that his professor has given him hope to fulfill his purpose of creating something unknown and unheard of to science. Earlier in the story we learn that Frankenstein had been deeply interested in the Alchemists of the 1800s, but when he reaches college he is soon taught that such interests were foolish of him and wasted his time. His new enlightenment of a "secret life" brings irony to the fact that his professor was right, and that he should not have studied the unknown and looked deeper into science to create this creature, and also foreshadows to his horrible regret of creating his monster. Frankenstein then realizes this, and later in his life while sharing his story with Walton explains that, "Such were the professor's words- rather let me say such the words of fate - enounced to destroy me." (p. 49) He explains that the professor that gave him enlightenment to the idea of this magical being in a way of fate to bring him his miseries.
"The different accidents of life are not so changable as the feelings of human nature."(page 58)
ReplyDeleteThis quote represents the theme of Frankenstein excatly. Frankenstein's accident was creating the monster, there is no way for him to take that back. His feelings towards the monster changed quickly once it was brought to life. The theme that this quote represents is that too much knowlegde is bad for you.
"It was the secrets of heaven and earth that I desired to learn; and wherether it was the outward substance of things, or the inner spirit of nature and the mysterious soul of man that occupied me, still my enquiries were directed to the metaphysical, or in its highest sense, the physical of the world".
ReplyDeleteThis quote is one of many that captures how Frankenstein feels passionate about learning the secrets of life. It helps us to get a better understanding of why he was so driven to give life to a body. By better understanding Frankenstein's character, we are able to look at things from his point of view. This quote of is one that helps us get inside Frankenstein's head and discover his motives for making his "creation".
"One man's life or death were but a small price to pay for the acquirement of knowledge which I sought for the domination I should acquire and transmit over the elemental foes of our race." (Shelley 29).
ReplyDeleteThis quote from Robert Walton, in my opinion, represents an underlying theme in the book. As mentioned earlier in class, there are some things that people might wish they didn't know, and this states rather the opposite. Though, as I see it, Robert will no doubt learn from Victor Frankenstein's story of his pursuit of knowledge in the fashion of the quote above and his eventual regret towards this mindset. Possibly, this represents one side of a people that wish only for knowledge of all things, and the mindset of all humanity towards progress which can also be paralleled in Frankenstein's younger years with his pursuit of alchemy.
"A thousand times rather would I have confessed myself guilty of the crime ascribed to Justine; but I was absent when it was committed, and such a declaration would have been considered as the ravings of a madman, and would not have exculpated her who suffered through me." (83)
ReplyDeleteThis is when Victor is feeling guilty and awful about Justine being accused for William's murder. He is tormented within because he knows that it was his monster that caused the death but is unwilling to tell anybody about it. He fears more of what would happen to him if he were declared in insane rather than the execution of his sister for something she didn't do. Being alone for a long time has probably changed him to be more selfish instead of thinking about others causing his monster to stay a secret and him to feel horrible about Justine and William's deaths.
"We are unfashioned creatres, but half made up, if one wiser, better, dearer than ourselves-such a friend ought to be-do not lend his aid to perfectionate our weak and faulty natures."
ReplyDeletepg. 30
This quote introduces the importance of good friendship as another theme in Frankenstein. Victor is telling Robert that our friends are there to help perfect us. This theme is further shown in Robert Walton's desire for a good friend. It also comes up in Victor's story as he tells of his friendship with Henry Clerval.
"Thus spoke my prophetic soul, as, torn by remorse, horror, and despair, I beheld those I loved spend vain sorrow upon the graves of William and Justine, the first hapless victims to my unhallowed arts." (Frankenstein 90)
ReplyDeleteThis quote shows how Frankenstein feels about his creation, after it has been created, through first person point of view. It is through first person that we are able to see how regretful Frankenstein is toward creating the monster. Frankenstein is clearly vary upset that he created the monster, because it has killed two people so far. However, with the sorrow he feels for the two lives lost, he also feels a great deal of terror toward the monster itself.
"My limbs now tremble, and my eyes swim with the remerberance; but then a resistless, and almost franctic impulse, urged me forward; I seemed tohave lost all soul or sensation but for this one persuit." (55)
ReplyDeleteThis quote emphasized Frankenstein's obession with succeeding in his goal to create life. He would stop at nothing to reach his goal. His obsession cost him his health and greatly worried his family at the lack of word they heard from him. This quote changes the view of Frankenstein's quest to infuse a lifeless shell with spirit from a purely scientifically modivated one to that of an out of control lunatic, mad scientiest.
"I had worked hard for nearly two years, for the sole purpose of infusing life in an inanimate body. For this I had deprived myself of rest and health. I had desired it with an ardour that far esceeded moderation; but now that I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart" (58)
ReplyDeleteThis quote esplains the characteristics of desperation and remorse in Victor Frankenstein. It explains why Frankestein is so dead set on this one task, why he sacrifices everything for creating life. Dr. Frankestein even admits that he longs for it too much, that he wants success more than most people would. It also conveys that when he was victorious, and his creation didnt turn out the way he expected it to, he had deep regret and wishes he could take it all back.
"Oh! no mortal could support the horrors of that countenance. A Mummy again endued with animation could not be so hideous as that wretch. I had gazed on him while unfinished; he was ugly then; but when those muscles and joints were rendered capable of motion, it became a thing such as even Dante could not have conceived." Pg 59
ReplyDeleteThis quote characterizes the appearance of his creation. While he thought it was horrible when he created it, it was even worse when the everything became conjoined. Dr. Frankenstien claims that it is too much for any human to support, the evil that he created was more than he had set out for. He also compares his creation as being worse than a mummy and worse than anything Dante could have thought of. Which is pretty bad considering everything we read in Dante's Inferno.
pg. 54 "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."
ReplyDeleteIn this quote Frankenstein is basically saying, in a much more lenghly form, that ignorance is bliss. Frankenstein is saying that the power, and the ability to employ that power, that comes from knowledge is not worth having. one would be much better off simply never learning new things. Should one learn more about life they will inevitably try new things, like creating a person, that could have dire outcomes. I think we should all heed Frankenstein's warning, lets all go home and stop learning.
"Learn from me, as 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" (54).
ReplyDeleteThis quote illustrates the theme that too muck knowledge can actually hinder somebody. It's ironic that even though Frankenstein has so much power and intElligence his life would have been better off in different circumstances. Because of Frankenstein's experiments his life and his loved ones are affected in major ways. It's ironic that the idea of too much knowledge can harm people. However, it makes one wonder if people have the right to know and be able to accomplish so much.
"Although I possessed the capacity of bestowing animation, yet to prepare a frame for the reception of it, with all its intricacies of fibres, muscles, and veins, still remained a work of inconceivable difficulty and labour."
ReplyDeleteIn this quote, one can see how passionate Frankenstein is about his creation. He understands the effort he will have to put forth, and seriously considers it before moving forward. This shows how curious and uncertain Frankenstein is about manipulating the human frame. Also, he understands that it will take a miracle to achieve this, and that it may not be up to him.
"Beautiful! Great God! His yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath; his hair was of lustrous black, and flowing....straight black lips." pg 58
ReplyDeleteThis quote is important because it gives us a very good description of the monster right after Frankenstein gave him life. The imagery that Shelley puts in it is amazing, and also gives us Frankensteins reaction....more of horror than anything else
"No word, no expression could body forth the kind of relation in which she stood to me - my more than sister, since till death she was to be mine only" (Shelly 17)
ReplyDeleteThis shows an image of how Victor as fell in love at first sight of Elizabeth. When he sees Elizabeth, he right away believes that she is his soul mate and that her situation was fate. He also takes a sort of protective role over her and basically vows to be with her till death. This shows that his characterization displays a loving and caring personality which is contradicted as he begins creating the monster.
"It was already one in the morning; the rain pattered dismally against the panes, and my candle was nearly burnt out, when, by the glimmer of the half-extinguished light, I saw the dull yellow eye of the creature open."
ReplyDeleteThis quote is using various elements prominent in Gothic Romance. The candles and the dismal rain all contribute to the mood of a Gothic story, which is usually dark and gloomy. Also in this quote, we get a glimpse of Victor's first look at the "monster" he's created. While we don't see it in this exact quote, we can get a feeling that Victor is starting to regret his creation in the pursuit to help mankind overcome death.
"My country! My beloved country! Who but a native can tell the delight I took in again beholding thy streams, thy mountains, and, more than all, thy lovely lake!" (Shelly, 76).
ReplyDeleteThis shows how deep Victor's love is for his home. This romantic scene upon which he describes his homeland is patriotic and full of love. His declaration of such beauty is extremely romantic, and shows how deeply Victor feels for physical and sentimental beauty. These deep feelings show us another aspect of Victor and his emotional depth and sentimentality.
"I started from my sleep with horror; a cold dew covered my forehead, my teeth chattered, and every limb became convulsed; when, by the dim and yellow light of the moon, as it forced its way through the window shutters, I beheld the wretch - the miserable monster whom i had created" (p 59)
ReplyDeleteThis quote has a lot of imagery in it. It shows the readers the hate, fright, and complete disgust, Frankenstein feels after creating the monster. He was extremely scared and fled, and he realized the mistake and the punishment he receives throughout the story (deaths of family/rirends) because of the "miserable monster" that he created.
Cadie Engelking
ReplyDelete" Remember, I am not recording the vision of a madman." Page 53
This is ironic because Victor is not making this creation because he is mad, or for the fame, Victor Frankenstein wants to make this because he wants to be the creator of life.
Although, he deprives himself from the son and from people because he is too obsessed with his creation.
"When I found so astonishing a power placed in within my hand, I hesitated a long time concerning the manner in which I should employ it." (54)
ReplyDeleteAlthough Frankenstein has the capabilities of creating life, he's not sure whether or not he should use it. This quote relates back to one of the many themes of the book regarding the power of knowledge and whether or not it should be used. Should one act upon the knowledge they have? or keep it to themselves?
page 78
ReplyDelete"The thunder ceased, but the rain still continued,"
While it is a very basic and simple quote as it is just describing the weather, it is one of the quotes that jumped out at me the most. Mostly because it is ALWAYS raining or thunderstorming or dark in this book, ALWAYS. so to me this sets up the mood of the story, because for me I relate those things to eerie, scary, or troublesome ways. But if one also reads into the quote it is in a way a hidden explanation of the story. Something is always going wrong, someone is sick, dying, or a monster is created and so on. So for me this quote seemed to state that in the story, the big things like thunder would stop (so after someone dies or a monster is created) but it is always raining (some one is sick, or the mystery of William's death). and to me rain always causes a thunderstorm, so what is rain right now (illness or the mystery) may turn out to be a thunder later on in the story.
"i had desired it with an ardour that far exceeded moderation..." (Shelley 58).
ReplyDeleteThis quote helps characterize Victor himself. It shows how he is a determined and hardworking person. The words desired that exceeded moderation shows how bad he wanted to get things done. From this quote you can tell that Victor would never just give up when he starts something and will always put a large amount of effort into it.
"My tale was not one to announce publicly; its astounding horror would be looked upon as madness by the vulgar." (chapter 7 p.81)
ReplyDeleteThis gives forshadowing to the fact that the tale that he is about to tell isn't going to be a happy story. It forshadows that the story is either goping to get scary, shameful, or disgusting.
Duncan G
ReplyDeleteIt was the secrets of heaven and earth that I desired to learn.
(chpt 2)
Victor has big dreams to do what other's haven't done and he is very optimistic that he can do it. His goal led him to create the monster
"I, the miserable and the abandoned, am an abortion, to be spurned at, and kicked, and trampled on. Even now my blood boils at the recollection of this injustice."
ReplyDeleteThis quote is important to the book because it reveals the monster's negative feelings for himself. More so than his feelings about himself this quote shows his resentment towards humans and thier veiw of him. This quote may have been included because it restores our sympathy. (well it restored mine to a certain extent)
"When i found so astonishing a power placed within my hands, I hesitated a long time concerning the manner in which I should employ it" -pg 54
ReplyDeleteThis quote is Victor realzing that he has the power of creation. He is unsure how he should use it, in order to avoid creating a monster. Victor seems to understand that he needs to use his new found power wisely. Victor tries to keep this thought in mind while creating the monster, but unfortunately fails and is horrified of his creation.
" He then pronounced a few sounds, and the fair creature, leaving her work, knelt at his feet. He reaised her, and smiled with such kindness and affection that I felt sensations of a peculiar and overpowering natur: they were a mixture of pain and pleasure, such as I had never experianced, either from hunger or cold, warmth or food, and I withdrew from the window, unable to bear these emotions."
ReplyDeletepg 111
This quote is pretty much explaining how the monster is feeling things for the very first time. And how like an infant he doesn't know how to handle them quite yet. Shelly uses imagery and the knowledge of the reader to create a sorry feeling for the monster. The feelings he is experianceing is obviously love and that warm fuzzy feeling you get when you watch lovey movies. Even though he is a monster, he might be more of a man than victor is.
"From this day natural philosophy, and particularly chemistry, in the most comprehensive sense of the term, became nearly my sole occupation." Chapter 4.
ReplyDeleteI chose this quote because it foreshadows what is to become of Victor's life. It also is a marked turning point where one can see Victor becoming extremely engrossed in science and forgetting the rest of his life. Later on in the book this becomes almost a theme, with Victor hurting himself in his quest to gain knowledge and to create the creature. I think this quote really shows Victor admitting that he is becoming completely obsessed with the creation of the creature, without realizing the negative impacts that this will have on his life.
"It was the secrets of heaven and earth that I desired to learn; and wherether it was the outward substance of things, or the inner spirit of nature and the mysterious soul of man that occupied me, still my enquiries were directed to the metaphysical, or in its highest sense, the physical of the world". (from chapter 2)
ReplyDeleteThis quote gives us an insight on Victor's curiousity, and his was to explore. He was bound and determined to create life from death, and his determination led him to that. It gives us his point of view, and sort of a reasoning behind why he wanted to do what he did. He was not concerned of it being right or wrong, but the fact that he posessed the power to create his "creation" and that he would not pass that up. This quote alone gives us an idea of what Victor was like, and why he was doing what he was.
"My tale was not one to announce publicly; its astounding horror would be looked upon as madness by the vulgar." (chapter 7 p.81)
ReplyDeleteThis shows the reality of what Victor is as a human. Even though he believes that his creature will keep on killing, he is not willing to give that up for the fear of being deamed mad. This leaves Justine to face the punishments of aq murderer and leaves Victor with a guilty contious and a killing creation.
“I am alone, and miserable; man will not associate with me, but one as deformed and horrible as myself would not deny herself to me.” (p 171)
ReplyDeleteThis quote is the monster's request for Victor to create a mate for him. It shows that although he's a monster, he wants to be able to care for and love another being, just like everyone else. He's seen as a crude creature on the outside, but on the inside he's just trying to be normal. It shows him in a different light.