Portrayal Of Ideal Domestic Sphere

Question 1

Key ideas: home was not merely a place, but rather ‘a sense of stability’

Answer 1

The failure of maternal domesticity- didactic novel.
Rousseau hypothesized that man is a product of his or her environment , middle-class society depicted the mother as the gateway by which a child learns to become a model human being- a female-inspired education where mothers nurture their offsprings naturally.

The monster defies the domestic conception of a maternally guided household—without this domestic influence on their lives, children turn to savageness and retribution.

The monster to the abhorrence of the romantics, lives according to a masculine conception of the world [primitive, raw and uncontrolled emotions] . Ironically the monster is not totally culpable or his behaviour - artificially created so by manipulating nature, he transgresses the need to abide to these rules- but tries to - empathy

Question 2

Intentions and context

Answer 2

Didactic tool; Shelley and romantic movement, warns 19th century dangers of a maternally void world.

Prescribed gender roles given by nature men=breadwinnners and women oversee the moral n physical development of the children. Romantics subscribed to this segregation of gender roles bc nature intended families to function in this manner.

Question 3

Frank makes domestic tranquility an unattainable level. 1

Answer 3

Labels his creation the ‘devil’— distraughtly claimed ‘I remained… catching and fearing each sound as if it were to announce the approach of the demoniacal corpse to which i had so miserably given life’ p59

• 19th cen society perceived the birth of a child as a miracle, since both the biological and emotional connections between he mother and child extended from preganancy to birth. Conversely, Frank rejects creation. Romantics would have affirmed that, even if vic actively raised and educated his creation, the mon would have lacked the morality inscribed by a feminine touch- the mother is the only figure who is strongly attached to her child that she, without reservation, sacrifices herself in order to raise her offspring as nature intends.

Vic’s biological transgression results in neglect, no paternal care of his creation.

Question 4

Since he never had a mother, the monster searches for kingship ties, but others repeatedly turn him away

Answer 4

‘I began to observe, with great accuracy, the forms that surrounded me….’
- the monster lacks maternal guidance so integral for emotional development, he finds it tough to express himself, incapable of controlling emotion that emanates his soul. Internalises ‘wretched, helpless and alone.’
-just like how a domesticated child learns of his or her own true worth from a loving mother in a sheltered, warm environment of the home. Frank’s mon learns as well, but out in the barbarous wilderness.

After reading PL the mon needs female companion
‘Remember that i am thy creature…misery made me a fiend..’
- to facilitate his personal happiness and ethical behavior- victor unwilling to comply.pathos bc up to this point, the creature constrained his emotional fluctuations until universal abandonment.

Love inspires people to act morally - Shelly’s clandestine elopement.

‘Still I desired love and fellowship’ p160

Question 5

Primary representation of the domestic sphere

Answer 5

Justine- sacrificial function to save vic unbeknownstly