key scenes analysis Flashcards
(6 cards)
1
Q
creation of C
A
- ‘the evil influence, the Angel of Destruction, (which) asserted omnipotent sway over me’
= shows his temptation to transgress into the realms of unknown nature through the use of his own scientific development to create life
= his ‘evil influence’ shows signs of destruction and immorality
= Shelley alludes to Abaddon who is the angel of death and oversees the destruction of the world
Victor uses retrospective narration in quotes above
= Victor is now aware of the immorality of his galvanic, life creating attempts which started from a curious temptation
= moral shift could foreshadow death of Victor
= warning the reader of the impacts surrounding scientific development and the moral complexity which may lead to a terrible fate
2
Q
isolation of C
A
- “I am an unfortunate and deserted creature; I look around and I have no relation or friend upon earth”
= “creature” emphasises how the Creature views himself as subhuman, not even being referred to by a name or identity= defined by monstrous form and unnatural existence= marked as something other or alien
= existential isolation is a powerful reflection of the human condition= what happens when one is excluded from meaningful relationships, not by choice but by circumstance
= tone is one of despair and anguish= Creature feels utterly forsaken, left to wander the earth wo a soul to connect w= emotional depth of lang highlights internal suffering caused by profound alienation
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3
Q
separation of parent
A
- “My protectors had departed and had broken the only link that held me to the world”
= metaphor of “link” emphasises fragility of a single, tenuous bond that once severed leaves him in total isolation= hints @ entrapment and dependence= he is not part of the world by choice but tethered to it, dependent on that connection for identity and meaning
4
Q
longing for connection
A
- 157 ‘my heart yearned to be known and loved by these amiable creatures’
= “Yearned” is highly emotive verb that conveys deep longing, even suffering
= suggests a desire that is unfulfilled, emphasising creature’s emotional vulnerability= implies intensity and almost physical ache for connection
= C contrasts family’s gentle nature w cruelty he has experienced= reinforcing idea that he yearns for a world of kindness - “An idea seized me that this little creature was unprejudiced” 109
= ‘seized’ personifies the idea as something that takes hold of him, Shelley shows how intensely hopeful the creature becomes= even desperately so
= evokes moment of emotional vulnerability, as he is clinging to the possibility of being accepted
= “unprejudiced” implies that most others are prejudiced, i.e., they have rejected the creature based on appearance
= creature hopes child hasn’t yet learned hatred or bias, and so might accept him
= links directly to Shelley’s theme of the social construction of monstrosity= the creature is not born evil, but made to feel like a monster by others’ prejudice
= reflects Enlightenment ideas about the innate innocence of children, a belief that prejudice is taught, not natural.
BUT was wrong= as William called him an “ugly ogre” and “monster”
= society treats him less than human, so he become less than human by “grasp[ing] his throat” and killing the child
5
Q
human nature
A
- frame narrative highlights harsh reality of HN through lens of C
- ‘some fled, some attacked’
= oxymoron of verbs referring to fight or flight mode of HN= either fight the unknown of face it with fury and violence= no rationality left - Rousseau noble savage= C is tarnished by corrupting influence of society
- initially born ‘tabula rasa’ with innate goodness and innocence by bringing firewood to DeLaceys in primitive stages
BUT - prejudice forces desire for revenge= ‘if I cannot inspire love, I will cause fear’
= imperative shows he’s forced to feel this rejection due to the chaos within social ‘order’= vicious cycle of pain
6
Q
mer de glace
A
- 98= presented as “sublime” due too “magnificent” size and power
- V’s
