ROUSSEA Flashcards
1
Q
Rousseau
A
- Mary Shelley was influenced by philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau, particularly his ideas of ‘The Noble Savage’ and the impact of society on individuals, seen through the evolution of the Creature.
2
Q
Man in the State of Nature
A
- Rousseau posits that natural man enjoys total freedom because he is not bound by artificial needs created by civilization. These needs include companionship and the pursuit of knowledge.
- The monster in Frankenstein initially embodies this natural state.
- He wanders through the wilderness, unaccompanied but not lonely.
- His interactions with other humans are solely for reproductive purposes.
The monster’s concerns are limited to basic needs: fatigue, hunger, and thirst.
He finds nourishment from berries and roots and warmth from fire. - Oblivious to societal norms, the monster is baffled when his appearance terrifies a human occupant of a hut he encounters.
3
Q
Corruption by Society
A
- As the monster gains knowledge and experiences, he transitions from natural man to corrupted man. He becomes aware of good and evil, virtue and vice.
- Rousseau’s concept of “perfectibility” – man’s ability to improve and be shaped by the environment – applies here. The monster’s exposure to society leads to his understanding of morality.
- His hideous appearance, once irrelevant, now becomes a symbol of evil in civilized eyes.
4
Q
Irreversibility of Corruption:
A
- Once corrupted, the monster cannot return to his natural state.
- Society forever alters him.
Victor Frankenstein himself undergoes a similar transformation. - His retreat in the Chamounix valley reflects his internal struggle with the consequences of his scientific ambition.
