Frankenstein - ch. 24

Well this is a depressing end. Victor spends the last month or so of his life seeking revenge. Victor chases the  creature all over the place. The whole intent of Victor's pursuit was to defeat the creature. Victor even goes to the length of asking Walton to kill the creature if he is unable to. I am not sure if Victor's speech to Walton's men was to convince them to advance for his own sake or whether he just wanted to give them deep advice before he passes. The points he makes are valid and Walton even agrees that all he was thinking was continuing forward. A parallel is created between Walton and Victor when Walton feels guilty for the death of men in his crew because of his scientific desire to reach the pole. This is similar to how Victor felt guilty for the deaths of people from the creature he created during his scientific pursuit.

The creature's appearance at the end creates more sympathy for the creature. All the creature has seen in sadness and upon seeing his creator die, he has nothing left to live for although his intentions towards his creator were evil. The creature is similar to Victor as well. The creature agrees that he should be destroyed and his remains destroyed so that no one can know that he existed. The creature does not want another creature to be created to suffer just as he has.

Frankenstein - ch. 22-23

In my opinion, these two chapters are the most emotional chapters of the book. This is most of the reason why I am in favor of Victor throughout the story. When Elizabeth sent Victor the letter saying that she suspects he loves another woman, I admittedly almost cried. I have been this whole novel for this freaking wedding to happen, and now I am learning that it may not happen. One can only imagine my temporary displeasure. Then of course the honeymoon has an abrupt ending. This is one of the many times throughout the story where I thought that Victor seems to lack common sense. Did it never occur to him that he should at least have someone keeping an eye on Elizabeth or maybe he should have protected her? Why would he think that the creature was coming for him? Victor is an intelligent man, but he lacks the common sense that makes the readers think he is an idiot. There is another parallel between Victor and the creature later in this section. Victor also feels detached from humanity even though he is not met with violence like the creature is. However, he seeks aid from the magistrate to find the creature. Of course, the magistrate politely refuses, and Victor responds with the not so polite response, "'how ignorant art thou with thy pride of wisdom (149)!'" I mean who wouldn't respond by calling the magistrate an idiot?

Frankenstein - ch. 18-21

Now the readers finally get to hear what they have been wanting to hear the entire novel; Victor and Elizabeth are getting married. However, there is no joyous tone when reading this portion of the novel. Let's remember that Victor is telling the story and he has a melancholy tone because he knows of the tragedies ahead. Victor also knows that he has a terrible act to perform before he can rest. The construction of the creature's partner seems to be going well until the creature appears during the creation process. A whole number of thoughts run through Victor's head such as the creature's procreating. Just as any sane person would react upon thinking of the hideous creature reproducing, Victor destroys the creature's partner. This may be one of the last sane acts that Victor performs. The creature scares the pants off of Victor when he says, "'I will be with you on your wedding night (123).'"

Upon Victor's arrival to Ireland, he is met with rudeness. Initially, I thought that Shelley was just trying to the say that the Irish are a rude people, and I was slightly offended until I kept reading. This time, Victor is the one on trial following the second creation process. Even though he is exonerated, Victor is  still sickly and he is paranoid. I think there are parallels between Victor's mental and physical health. Whenever Victor goes through an immensely stressful situation, he becomes deathly ill.

Frankenstein - ch. 16-17

Following the creature's failed encounter with the DeLacey's the question is posed: is humanity the true monster? Humanity continually judges the creature based on his appearance. According to the creature, he claims that he was originally a creature of love and kindness. If the creature speaks the truth, then humanity is the real monster. Humanity even sees the creature's kindness, but immediately responds with disgust. For example, the creature saved the girl from drowning and the man's response is, "...he aimed a gun, which he carried, at my body, and fired (101)." This man saw the creature's benevolent act and responded by shooting him. This scene evokes sympathy for the creature who has continually been rejected by humans. Another interesting part of the story is that the creature cannot seek medical treatment because humans are too scared of him. The creature is completely detached. These events cause readers to believe that the creature became evil because humanity only show him evil. However, there is the other side to the argument  Victor claims that the creature is inherently evil. If this is true, then the creature is most likely just using his power of persuasion to fabricate these stories to cause Victor to sympathize for him.

Frankenstein - ch.13-15

The creature continues his story in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. As Felix's lover arrives, the creature is given a fortunate circumstance to his situation. This is pretty much the only lucky thing that happens to the creature during his whole miserable life. The creature shows his intelligence through his superior advances in learning the french language faster than Safie. The creature's learning process is an important account of how the creature was able to become so articulate by the time he encountered Victor on the glacier. We also get an insight into the history of the DeLacey family. Although this seems insignificant it does help to detail that the family he is observing is a pure and caring family. This family is the creature's best hope to make friendly contact with humanity. Despite the creature's good hopes and the slightly successful initial encounter with the blind father, the creature is still rejected in a similar manner to how he had always been accepted. This shows that all of humanity has the same reaction to the creature because of his outwardly appearance. I still find it hard to believe that Felix is able to inflict damage on the creature. Shelley writes, "Felix darted forth with supernatural force and tore me from his father..." I mean come on I know the creature is not fighting back and all, but seriously the creature has got like super powers. I feel it should have been more like Felix ran into a brick wall and then the creature walked out casually.

Frankenstein - ch. 11-12

Now the creature begins telling his story. I find it interesting that the story begins with Walton telling this whole story to his story about Frankenstein telling his story to Walton now about the creature telling his story to Frankenstein. That is a frame story if I have ever seen one. The creature tells his story about his travels and how he scared everyone he ran into. The story that amused me the most was the one about the shepherd who upon seeing the creature, "ran across the fields with a speed of which his debilitated form hardly appeared capable." Then the story gets plain creepy. The creature observed every action of the family consisting of the blind father, Agatha, and Felix. As a sort of thanks for his observing them, the creature helps the family by bringing them fire wood or clearing a path of snow. The creature wants to learn to speak in order to communicate with the family. The creature is surprisingly intelligent and finds a way to vocalize some words. Obviously, the creature found some sort of way of learning to speak intelligently as shown in his conversation with Victor. The creature claims that he has a gentle demeanor and he planned to use this to win over the family. If the creature has a gentle demeanor, then why did he kill William?

Frankenstein - ch. 9-10

The death of Justine causes Victor to become remorseful because of his creation and all it has done. Upon seeing Victor depressed, Alphonse gives Victor advice, "...but is it not a duty to the survivors that we should refrain from augmenting their unhappiness by an appearance of immoderate grief?" Victor believes this advice was no good to him, but I believe it was. Alphonse tells Victor not to let this prevent him from experiencing joy. I believe the events have calloused Victor and made him incapable of experiencing joy. This is advice that is applicable to Victor, but he seems to have disregarded this, blinded by his hatred for his creation. Victor hardly sleeps, like he did during the creation process. He goes on a journey across the mountains and across a glacier. While on the glacier, Victor sees the creature in the distance. The only thing going through Victor's head is that he wants to kill the creature. Then the creature and Victor converse until the creature convinces Victor to follow him to his hut so that he can tell Victor his story. The creature can talk!? I did not really think about that at first.

Frankenstein - ch. 6-8

After the creation of the creature, Victor Frankenstein falls very ill from his physical exhaustion and emaciation. Victor finds his old friend Henry Clerval, who is now studying at Ingolstadt as well. Victor shows Henry his room and is relieved upon discovering the creature has left, which shows that Victor seriously disgusted the creature. Victor is ill and is confined to bed. Henry gives Victor a letter from Elizabeth, who's letter shows her concern for his well being. I found it interesting that his family becomes concerned for Victor  without their knowing of his illness right when Victor falls ill. Most likely due to Victor shock from the creation, he wants to return to Geneva to see his family. Before going back to Geneva, Victor learns that his youngest brother William has been murdered. I question how well Victor knew William because Victor has been gone for six years and William is not much older than that age. Regardless, anybody would be distraught upon receiving news of their brother's death. Victor travels to the site of William's murder and observes the creature in the distance. Victor says, "Nothing in human shape could have killed that fair child. He was the murderer!" I think this is an interesting scene because the word "he" is italicized to emphasize that the creature was the murderer; however, Victor later feels that he himself is the murderer because the creature was his creation. Victor also takes blame for Justine's hanging.

Frankenstein - ch. 1-5

Following the opening letters of Frankenstein, Victor begins to tell his unfortunate tale at great length. Victor starts with the story of his parents. His father was much older than his mother, who was the daughter of Victor's father's best friend. Caroline's father was a failed merchant who found himself struggling to survive. Caroline was occupied with caring for her dying father. Upon her father's death, Alphonse chooses to take Caroline as his wife. Victor continues about his childhood in Geneva saying, "No human being could have passed a happier childhood than myself (19)." Caroline adopted a beautiful young girl named Elizabeth, whom Caroline seems to intend to become Victor's wife. Victor is protective of Elizabeth referring to her as "my Elizabeth." Victor's best friend was a boy named Henry Clerval, who was the son of a merchant. This point is interesting because Victor's father's best friend was a merchant.

Victor became absorbed in studying the hokus pokus studies made by Agrippa, Paraclesus, and Magnus. When Victor goes on to attend the university at Ingolstadt, two professors, M. Krempe and M. Waldman, explain how those author's have little merit. However, these studies give Victor a background in the supernatural. Victor goes on to succeed in college, and he eventually learns the secret to animating life. He gathers body parts from graves and butcher's to construct the gigantic, eight-foot frame. Upon bringing life to the creature, Victor is terrified. In his sleep, the creature comes to his bedroom where he seems to reach out to Victor like a baby would. Though the creature gets the hint that he is not wanted by his creator.

Frankenstein - opening letters

These letters that open the Mary Shelley's Frankenstein are written from a man named Robert Walton. The letters are written to Walton's sister named Margaret. Walton ends every letter telling Margaret how much he loves her, which shows the good relations he has with his sister. However, it appears Walton has trouble relating to others. He writes to his sister saying, "You may deem me a romantic, my dear sister, but I bitterly feel the want of a friend (4)." The goal of Walton's journey is to reach the north pole and "discover the secret of the magnet." This lengthy journey seems to necessitate a friend through the perilous journey. Lucky for Walton (or possibly unlucky), the crew finds a man in the water, who's name is later revealed to be Victor Frankenstein. Victor and Walton immediately form a bond. They relate well to each other. The letters end with Victor agreeing to tell Walton the story of his misfortunes and how he was found in the arctic waters. Victor says he chose to tell Walton the story because he notices that they are both men who desire wisdom, and Victor does not want Walton to end up like he did. This is an example of the theme of duty during this story because Victor feels the duty to tell his story to Walton in order to prevent similar horrors from occurring.

APO 96225

The evident irony of APO 96225 develops the point of the horrors of war. I think Larry Rottman wrote this poem to tell readers that war is hell, and we should never have been in Vietnam or even any war for that matter. The title of this poem makes it sound like an alien abduction (since we're on the topic of alienation, i guess that came to mind), but this definitely is a poem of alienation. The son at war is alienated from the rest of society back home because he has seen and done far horrible things than people want to imagine. The son just writes to his mom some irrelevant topic which concerns his curious mother. After her pleadings, the son does tell his mother what is happening only to see his father write him back saying "don't say such things that upset your mother." At this point, the son knows his is completely separated from his family knowing that he cannot talk to them about what actually happens so he decides to go back to his original tactic of hiding his real actions. It is ironic that his mother would ask for the truth then complain about hearing it. Also, I found it interesting that the father was the one who wrote the son back not the mother because she was so distressed.

Much Madness is divinest Sense

Much Madness is divinest Sense, well honestly that title had me a little lost at first. However, Dickinson gets an important point across. Dickinson says that Madness is good sense and good sense is madness. Pretty much, Dickinson is saying being a hipster and be different. Dickinson writes,  "To a discerning Eye- Much Sense- the starkest Madness." Dickinson says that madness is appealing to the people that desire to learn. and understand.

In essence, Dickinson says that those who society deems as mad are the ones who are truly living. Madness is just a different way of thinking that provides effective modes to one's goal. However, society does not think so. People are dubbed as mad because they are different, and society just cannot deal with different people. In addition, Dickinson wants to make the point that good sense, or going with the flow, is madness because one who has "good sense" is a robot of life. These people with "good sense" do not question why things are done the  way they are and they just do it. Those who think differently are alienated and dubbed "mad."

I felt a funeral, in my Brain

The first line of the poem itself gives a clue to the poem being figurative. The line "I felt a funeral, in my brain" indicates that this funeral is not one of a person on earth. The reader can infer that the funeral has to do with the speaker when the speaker says, "and I dropped down, and down." This funeral of the speaker's brain most likely indicates some sort of developing madness in the speaker. The speaker is losing his or her mind. Throughout the poem, the speaker never sees anything. Most of the details come from other senses, mostly sound. This is another indicator that this is not a literal funeral because the speaker cannot hear anything if he is dead. I think I have developed a crazy theory myself: I believe that the speaker is creating this funeral because he is dead to his friends. The speaker may have lost his mind to the point where he does not appear to be the same person anymore. Because of this, his friends have chosen to ignore this mad person and preserve their memory of the speaker before he went mad.

Miss Brill

In Miss Brill, readers get to know the account of a delusional elderly woman who makes a routine of people watching every Sunday. It becomes clear that Miss Brill has been doing her Sunday routine when she notices that this is no ordinary Sunday since the band is playing more enthusiastically for the bigger than usual crowd. The music from the band seems to always match what is happening. At some points, the music softens for an emotional situation like the ermine toque's rejection, or the music disappears altogether when Miss Brill watches in suspense. Miss Brill is most likely delusional because she talks to her fur accessory  A defining example of Miss Brill's delusion is the last sentence that reads, "...and she swore she heard someone cry." Miss Brill does not even acknowledge her own crying since it had to have been Miss Brill who cried considering she was the only one in the room. Also, Miss Brill fails to recognize how she relates to the ermine toque. The ermine toque and Miss Brill are already related considering they wear the same sort of fur clothing. The ermine toque was rejected by a man similar to how Miss Brill was rejected by society when the young couple feels uncomfortable around her. Miss Brill is an English teacher in what appears to be a town in France. This detail further contributes to Miss Brill's alienation from society.

Bartleby the Scrivener

The story  of Bartleby the Scrivener is of a clash between the stubborn Bartleby and the passive Lawyer. This is not exactly a conflict though because the lawyer feels bad for Bartleby and the only problem is that Bartleby stops working and just lives in the office. At first, I thought Bartleby would be a symbol for the robotic worker who just does whatever his employer says, but then Bartleby said "I would prefer not." for the first of many times. The lawyer puts up with this for a surprisingly long time. The lawyer had some sort of a respect or showed concern for Bartleby. The lawyer makes many attempts to reach out to the alienated Bartleby; the lawyer even tries to help him financially. Eventually, Bartleby goes to prison. The lawyer still shows his care for Bartleby by suggesting that he gets the best food in prison, but Bartleby refuses to eat. When Bartleby finally dies, Melville creates sympathy for Bartleby. The lawyer reveals in the end that he discovered that Bartleby used to destroy letters that were intended for dead people. I can see how this would cause some psychological damage to a person leading to Bartleby's refusal to relate to any living person. I think the moral of the story is not to judge anyone until one knows that person's story.