Frankenstein

1. What do you think is the author’s main point? What is he/she driving at? Explain how you arrived at this supposition/what led you to believe that this is the main point? Summarize the information in your own words. For Frankenstein: summarize the section you just read.

The author’s main point, I believed was the fact that she wanted to share her story – story that changed the view of the characters (and the readers) about the reality of life. I supposed along with the author’s deliberate purpose to share a literary piece, the principal point I would like to consider is the idea of “wanting more” – quest for something better, search for ultimate power or godhood, discontentment, and even revenge. The author is driving towards a realization that will happen in the end of the story and it aims to leave a moral among the characters and the readers as well. Aside from this, it hopes to build an understanding of the real and the “reel” world – nature and science per se. This is an allegorical literary piece that shows a natural depiction of the modern world today. This is the main point of the story because it was consistently described throughout the chronological arrangement of events that happened. Basing it from the selection, I came up with this supposition because it was clearly presented and requires an immediate response for realization and analysis of oneself. Is this really true? Is this possible? Or am I similar to Victor Frankenstein or other characters in the story? These questions are evidences for the call of self-evaluation after reading the story.

Combining his new found knowledge of natural science with that of the alchemy dreams of his old masters, Victor discovers the means by which inanimate matter can be imbued with life. With great drive and fervor, he sets about constructing a creature intended as a companion using various materials, including cadavers.

He intends the creature to be beautiful, but when the creature awakens, Victor is disgusted. It has yellow, watery eyes, rough stitching, and large size. Victor finds this revolting and although the creature expressed him no harm (in fact it grins at him and reaches his hands out innocently to his creator), Victor runs out of the room in terror whereupon the creature disappears. Overwork causes Victor to take ill for several months. After recovering, in about a year's time, he receives a letter from home informing him of the murder of his youngest brother William. He departs at once. Near Geneva, Victor catches a glimpse of the creature in a thunderstorm among the rocky boulders of the mountains, and is convinced it killed William. Upon arriving home he finds Justine, the family's beloved maid, framed for the murder. Despite Victor's feelings of overwhelming guilt, he does not tell anyone about his horrid creation and Justine is convicted and executed. To recover from the ordeal, Victor goes hiking into the mountains where he encounters his "cursed creation" again, this time atop a glacier.

The creature converses with Victor and tells him his story, speaking in strikingly eloquent language. He describes his feelings first of confusion, then rejection and hate. He explains how he learned to talk by studying a poor peasant family through a crack in the wall. He performs in secret many kind deeds for this family, but in the end, they drive him away when they see his appearance. He gets the same response from any human who sees him. The creature confesses that it was indeed he who killed William and framed Justine, and that he did so out of revenge. But now, the creature only wants one thing; he begs Victor to create a female companion for him so that he may have companionship.

2. Do you agree or disagree with the author's main point? Why or why not? For Frankenstein: what are your reflections and/or thoughts on this particular section? Use at least two quotes from this section to support your reactions.

Personally, I do agree with the author’s main point of depicting reality. Evidences from daily encounters provide facts that show how human thirst and desire for power and “wanting for more”. For example, human beings wanted to create and beat infinity and godhood by coming up with various inventions that unconsciously destroy their own existence. Frankenstein showed how creation rebels against its creator. In the advent of high technology, this is a clear message that shows irresponsible uses and their unconsidered consequences. Today, it is very unmistakable that human beings are very much inclined in quenching the thirst of superiority among each other and to the Ultimate Being.

“I had been the author of unalterable evils, and I lived in daily fear lest the monster whom I had created should perpetrate some new wickedness. I had an obscure feeling that all was not over, and that he would still commit some signal crime, which by its enormity should almost efface the recollection of the past.”

People, in the end find the consequences of their doings and we repent. Along with the quenching and the struggle for power and godhood, we often forgot to keep in mind the possible consequences – may it be good or bad for us and our existence.

3. Record a line or two (or passage) from the readings that got your attention and explain your selection.

“I am alone, and miserable; man will not associate with me; but one as deformed and horrible as myself would not deny herself to me. My companion must be of the same species, and have the same defects. This being you must create.”

To correlate with these passages, the old adage “No man is an island” is also germane. This quote made me realize how people truly relate with each other. I often see people with same interests, likes and dislikes, nor similarities and differences. We tend to look for someone who can share the same hook ups that we possess, people we can mingle very well, and people we can relate with. I was touched and empathized with the “monster” when he wished to have a companion. I imagined how hard for him to be alone and miserable for the reason that he is deformed and horrible. Discrimination came into my mind. Frankenstein made me realize that people lived with each other. Existence is interdependent with all sources of human life. Thus, no one can be alone in his/her life all the time.