Monster quotation analysis Flashcards
“I declared everlasting war against the species, and… him who had formed me”
Context:
Symbolism: The “everlasting war” symbolizes the eternal struggle between the Creature and the society that rejects him, as well as his conflict with Victor, his creator. It represents the broader themes of alienation and revenge.
Irony: It’s ironic that the Creature, originally seeking connection and understanding, resorts to declaring war on his own species and creator. This reflects the irony of Victor’s ambition to create life, only to produce a being that embodies death and conflict.
Character Development: This declaration marks a crucial moment in the Creature’s character development, transitioning from a being capable of love and kindness to one driven to hostility and revenge by unyielding rejection and suffering. It highlights the impact of societal and familial rejection on personal growth and morality.
Others:
Dialogue: This declaration is a direct expression of the Creature’s feelings and intentions, providing insight into his profound transformation from innocence to resentment.
Tone: The tone is resolute and foreboding, signaling a significant shift in the Creature’s character arc from passive suffering to active opposition.
Juxtaposition: The Creature’s declaration of war against humanity and his creator contrasts sharply with his earlier desires for companionship and acceptance, highlighting the tragic consequences of continuous rejection and loneliness.
Foreshadowing: This vow of vengeance foreshadows the tragic events that follow, underscoring the inevitable outcome of the Creature’s alienation and Victor’s failure to assume responsibility.
Allusion: This may also allude to the mythological or biblical stories of beings cursed by their creators, suggesting a timeless theme of conflict between creator and creation.
Irony: It’s ironic that the Creature, originally seeking connection and understanding, resorts to declaring war on his own species and creator. This reflects the irony of Victor’s ambition to create life, only to produce a being that embodies death and conflict.
“if you refuse, I will glut the maw of death, until it be satiated with the blood of your remaining friends.”
Context: The monster’s terrifying threat to Victor when femalke comopanion
Hyperbole: The Creature’s threat to “glut the maw of death” with the blood of Victor’s friends is an example of hyperbole, exaggerating the consequences of Victor’s refusal to emphasize the seriousness of his demand and his capacity for destruction.
Metaphor: Referring to death as having a “maw” that can be glutted is a metaphor that personifies death as a beast that can be fed, deepening the ominous tone of the Creature’s warning.
Imagery: The vivid imagery of “glutting the maw of death” conjures a graphic and morbid picture, enhancing the horror of the Creature’s threat and the potential violence he is capable of unleashing.
Others:
Diction: The choice of words like “glut,” “maw,” and “satiated” is particularly potent, contributing to the dark and threatening atmosphere of the statement. This diction underscores the Creature’s anger and his detachment from any remaining sense of compassion or restraint.
Tone: The tone of this statement is menacing and resolute, communicating the Creature’s resolve to pursue revenge against Victor and those close to him if his demands are not met.
Foreshadowing: This threat foreshadows the tragic events that follow, suggesting the depth of the Creature’s wrath and the dire consequences of Victor’s decisions.
Allusion: This could also allude to classic themes of vengeance and the tragic cycles of violence found in literature and mythology, reinforcing the timeless nature of these conflicts.
Juxtaposition: This moment juxtaposes the Creature’s initial plea for companionship with the extreme threat of violence, highlighting the tragic transformation of his desires into threats due to continuous rejection.
You can blast my other passions, but revenge remains—revenge
Context:
Repetition: The use of “revenge” twice puts a spotlight on its significance in the Creature’s life now. It shows how revenge has become his main drive after losing everything else, making it a key part of who he is.
Diction: The word “blast” suggests a violent destruction of his other emotions, leaving only revenge. This choice of words helps to show the total loss the Creature feels, with revenge as his remaining solace.
Parallel Structure: The sentence’s balance between what’s destroyed and what stays emphasizes the change in the Creature’s focus over time. It marks the move from many feelings and desires to just one: revenge.
Other:
Tone: The tone is firm and bitter, mirroring the Creature’s strong resentment and his unwavering decision to pursue revenge. It shows his actions are driven by deep anger and a sense of justice for his suffering.
Imagery: Describing passions being blasted away except for revenge creates a stark image of the Creature’s mental state, portraying revenge as the last standing piece amid his emotional wreckage.
Symbolism: Here, revenge stands as the Creature’s reaction to the world’s lack of kindness or understanding towards him. It symbolizes his journey’s dark end, where revenge is his way of responding to continuous neglect and hostility.
“none among the myriads of men who existed who would pity or assist me”
Context:
Juxtaposition: Putting “none” next to “myriads” shows a stark difference between the hope for kindness and the reality of total rejection. This contrast makes his situation seem even more tragic, emphasizing how far he is from finding any compassion.
Others:
Diction: Using words like “none,” “myriads,” and “pity or assist” sharply contrasts the large number of people who could help against the reality that nobody does. This word choice makes the Creature’s rejection feel more intense and complete, emphasizing how isolated he feels.
Imagery: The statement paints a clear picture of the Creature all alone while surrounded by countless people who don’t care about him. This image makes the reader feel the depth of his isolation, highlighting how sad and excluded he is.
Tone: The tone is sad and accepting, showing the Creature has come to terms with being totally alone. This sadness helps the reader understand how hopeless and rejected he feels, deepening our sense of his tragedy.
“I am alone and miserable: man will not associate with me”
Context: The Monster has just shared his tale with Victor, from his first nights in the wilderness to William’s murder in the cemetery
Direct Address: The use of the first person in “I am alone and miserable” directly conveys the Creature’s personal anguish, creating an intimate connection with the reader and inviting empathy for his plight.
“I am malicious because I am miserable.”
Context: This becomes incredibly significant when the Creature asks for a female companion
Cause and Effect (Implicit in the structure): The structure of the sentence itself, “I am malicious because I am miserable,” clearly outlines a cause-and-effect relationship, a logical analysis of his actions rooted in his emotional state. This not only helps in character development but also in forwarding the novel’s thematic concerns about the consequences of isolation.
Parallelism: The structure “I am malicious” parallel to “I am miserable” reinforces the connection between these two states, making the claim that one directly informs the other more persuasive and memorable.
“I am an abortion, to be spurned at, and kicked, and trampled on”
Context:
Metaphor: The Creature refers to himself as “an abortion,” a powerful metaphor that conveys his sense of being rejected from the moment of creation. This metaphor not only highlights his feelings of worthlessness but also the brutality of his rejection by society and his creator.
Imagery: The imagery of being “spurned at, and kicked, and trampled on” vividly depicts the physical and emotional violence the Creature endures. It serves to elicit empathy from the reader, painting a stark picture of his experience of cruelty and dehumanization.
Hyperbole: Describing the treatment he anticipates or has experienced as being “kicked, and trampled on” might be seen as a hyperbolic expression of societal rejection. However, it effectively underscores the severity of his plight and the extreme ostracization he faces.
the list/rule of three shows the amount of suffering
