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FRANKENSTEIN CONTEXT
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- 1MARY SHELLEY CONTEXT - Background
- 2MARY SHELLEY CONTEXT - The Tragedy
- 3MARY SHELLEY CONTEXT - Neglectful FatherPerhaps because Shelley had a very troubled relationship with her father, Frankenstein became a novel depicting absent fathers. From Alphonse's lack of love on Victor's career choice, to Victor's neglect for the creature, to Clerval's merchant father, to Safie's father, all demonstrate that a lack of nurture leads to tremendous trouble.
- 4MARY SHELLEY CONTEXT - MotherlessPerhaps because Shelley never had a strong mother figure in her life, she wondered about eradicating death. As well as this, all women in the novel are idealised, perhaps taken from her mother's feminist stance, as demonstrated in Wollstonecraft's 'A Vindication of the Rights of Women' (1792). Thirdly, as Frankenstein usurps the role of a mother, does this demonstrate again Shelley's exploratory attitude?
- 5MARY SHELLEY CONTEXT - Wealthy and RespectedShelley came from a wealthy and respected family. Her father moved in the highest literary circles and was friends with people like Lord Byron. Shelley received a great education in literature and this is evidenced by her references to great books throughout Frankenstein.
- 6HISTORICAL CONTEXT - French RevolutionFrench Revolution - Idealism of freedom, of oppression, of the removal of classes, Romanticism, a success or failure? Refer back to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTTvKwCylFY.
- 7HISTORICAL CONTEXT - Romanticism REMEMBER F.A.I.R.SA movement in literature which originated in the late 18th century, emphasizing inspiration, subjectivity, and the primacy of the individual.
Refer back to revision notes for detail but in summary :
French Revolution
Alienation
Isolation
Romantic Hero = Dark side
Sublime and healing Nature - 8HISTORICAL CONTEXT - The Gothic REMEMBER S.P.U.D.S B.I.N.D.SGothic = Fear. In Frankenstein the spectral and monstrous are the externalised projection of complex repressed anxieties and desires. It doesn't focus on physical horror, but on psychological terror. Remember also Gothic/Romantic Hero. Refer back to notes but for characteristics:
Science
Power
Usurping
Dualisms
Sublime
Byronic heroes
Isolation
Narrators
Doppelganger
Stock characters - 9HISTORICAL CONTEXT - The EnlightenmentREMEMBER
Scientific eg Darwin, Davy, Galvani
Human Nature eg Locke, Hartley, Rousseau
Literary eg Ptheus, PLost, ROTAMariner - 10HISTORICAL CONTEXT - Human Nature JOHN LOCKELocke's Essay Concerning Human Understanding
'Tabula Rasa' = epistemological idea that all humans are born without any built in mental programming. Nurture > Nature - 11HISTORICAL CONTEXT - Human Nature DAVID HARTLEYHARTLEY
"Can an unmothered child whose formative experiences are of pain rather than pleasure ever develop a rational intellect, a healthy moral sense, or a normal personality?"
No one is innately good/evil, but experiences shape you. - 12HISTORICAL CONTEXT - Human Nature ROUSSEAUROUSSEAU
"the fatal enlightenment of civil man"
The more man deviated from his natural state, the worse off he would be.
"uncorrupted morals" would prevail in the "state of nature" - 13HISTORICAL CONTEXT - Literary Influences PROMETHEUS
- 14HISTORICAL CONTEXT - Literary Influences PROMETHEUSRelative to Frankenstein
As Prometheus stole fire from the Gods, Frankenstein stole the gift of life from God and both suffered for their 'sins'. Frankenstein is punished by God for creating OR neglecting the creature. - 15HISTORICAL CONTEXT - Literary Influences PARADISE LOST
- 16HISTORICAL CONTEXT - Literary Influences PARADISE LOSTRelative to Frankenstein
The creature's identification as Satan rather than Adam is a major turning point as he moves from benevolent and good to miserable and an evil fiend. It also further emphasises that Victor has not been very good at 'God'! - 17HISTORICAL CONTEXT - Literary Influences RIME OF THE ANCIENT MARINER
- 18HISTORICAL CONTEXT - Literary Influences RIME OF THE ANCIENT MARINERRelative to Frankenstein
The references throughout the novel about having a burden or albatross around his neck. In other words, like with Prometheus, he is made to suffer for his actions. Read above for detail. - 19NOTES ON CONTEXT - Tragic/Romantic/Gothic Heroes
- 20NOTES ON CONTEXT - NatureNature represents God or his judgement on the characters. When the character makes mistakes, the weather or setting is cold, desolate, isolated, a Gothic space, or like Gothic architecture, staring down on the character. Sublime nature as a theme of the Gothic is evident throughout and is a reminder of Romanticism and of the heavens watching.
- 21NOTES ON CONTEXT - The Creature's EducationRuins of Empire - wealth and family, power of knowledge - "why am I alone?"
Plutarch's Lives - heroism, virtue and vice
Sorrows of Werther - emotions and suicide - "who/what am I, where did I come from?"
Paradise Lost - likening to Satan, hatred for Victor - "where are you now, creator?"
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- AS level English Fichas sobre FRANKENSTEIN CONTEXT, creado por Joanna Kerr el 18/12/2017.
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