"I ought to be thy Adam, but I am rather the fallen angel, whom thou drivest from joy for no misdeed." pg. 69
I thought Mary Shelley's allusion to the Bible story of Creation at this point in the story was extremely commendable. I can't think of a more applicable situation. Victor really was like the God of the creature. The way that God guided Adam and instructed him should have been the same for the way Victor guided the creature. He should have nurtured him and instructed him on how to live life, how to interact with his surroundings, and he should have helped him develop his mind. Instead, the creature was left to fend for himself. He had to discover right and wrong the hard way and it was really detrimental for his development. Though he began as a "benevolent" character, his experiences of loneliness and shunning by humans in his lifetime had transformed him into a harmful creature. He could not understand why his attempted goodness was only responded to with hatred by humans, so he turned into a monster instead. Had God left Adam in the Garden to fend for himself without any direction, man would still be a savage and selfish creature. The creature developed in exactly this way because of Victor's lack of care for him.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Frankenstein: Irony
"I could not sustain the horror of my situation, and when I perceived that the popular voice and the countenances of the judges had already condemned my unhappy victim, I rushed out of the court in agony." pg. 57
Maybe it was just me, but I thought it was kind of ironic how the character JUSTINE was treated UNJUSTLY, eh? I love little quirky aspects like that of a book! It makes it more fun, and sadly, I actually feel really accomplished when I recognize them. Like I'm some sort of detective who solved a murder mystery or something. Pathetic. Anyway, I kind of think Justine's name is also an example of the foreshadowing that Mary Shelley incorporates into her novel. Throughout the story, she includes little clues as to what will happen next in the plot. The readers should have seen Justine's conviction coming... or maybe not since it was ironic. But, if the reader could have guessed that her name was ironic, they could have definitely predicted her conviction! Maybe Justine's name was supposed to say more about her character than her sentencing. While the court perceived Justine as a murderer, in reality, she was just a normal girl and she didn't do anything wrong. However, she understood that there was nothing she could do about her conviction, so she just grinned and bore it (okay, maybe she didn't grin...). She didn't try to blame anyone for her sentencing, which sort of showed her being just. No matter what it symbolized, I'm still mad that Victor just let her die. He's turning into one of my least favorite people ever.
Maybe it was just me, but I thought it was kind of ironic how the character JUSTINE was treated UNJUSTLY, eh? I love little quirky aspects like that of a book! It makes it more fun, and sadly, I actually feel really accomplished when I recognize them. Like I'm some sort of detective who solved a murder mystery or something. Pathetic. Anyway, I kind of think Justine's name is also an example of the foreshadowing that Mary Shelley incorporates into her novel. Throughout the story, she includes little clues as to what will happen next in the plot. The readers should have seen Justine's conviction coming... or maybe not since it was ironic. But, if the reader could have guessed that her name was ironic, they could have definitely predicted her conviction! Maybe Justine's name was supposed to say more about her character than her sentencing. While the court perceived Justine as a murderer, in reality, she was just a normal girl and she didn't do anything wrong. However, she understood that there was nothing she could do about her conviction, so she just grinned and bore it (okay, maybe she didn't grin...). She didn't try to blame anyone for her sentencing, which sort of showed her being just. No matter what it symbolized, I'm still mad that Victor just let her die. He's turning into one of my least favorite people ever.
Frankenstein: Frame Story
"Let your compassion be moved, and do not disdain me. Listen to my tale: when you have heard that, abandon or commiserate me, as you shall judge that I deserve. But hear me." pg. 69
So... this story is like looking in a mirror with another mirror behind you. If you have never done this, just try it out, and you'll see what I mean. I'm pretty sure I've never heard of a story with more stories that are within the stories that are within the story (if you could keep up with that). As difficult as it is to understand at some times, it definitely adds something to the work. With the book having such a wide array of narrators, the reader really gets to form personal connections with many of the characters. It makes it possible to view the story from the emotional viewpoint and background of multiple characters, which can create either a less biased or more biased opinion on the plot of the story, depending on how one views it. It can also cause a lot of fluctuation in the reader's feelings that are attached to each character. While initially maybe a reader might have felt sympathy for one character, after hearing another character's perspective on that character, the reader's opinion can completely change. For example, in the beginning of the book, I felt a lot of sympathy for Victor. He seemed to have had a tough life, and now he was stuck in the middle of the arctic, emaciated and almost frozen to death. It didn't seem that someone could have been in a worse situation. But, when I read the story from the creature's perspective, my opinion completely changed, and Victor seemed deserving of less sympathy. He had created this creature and then left it to fend completely for itself with no guidance in life. To me, this seemed equivalent to leaving a baby in the wilderness (which is really just unacceptable if you didn't know that already). Had the novel not contained a part from the point of view of the creature, I probably would have never had this change of heart, but the part that was included from his point of view did just that.
So... this story is like looking in a mirror with another mirror behind you. If you have never done this, just try it out, and you'll see what I mean. I'm pretty sure I've never heard of a story with more stories that are within the stories that are within the story (if you could keep up with that). As difficult as it is to understand at some times, it definitely adds something to the work. With the book having such a wide array of narrators, the reader really gets to form personal connections with many of the characters. It makes it possible to view the story from the emotional viewpoint and background of multiple characters, which can create either a less biased or more biased opinion on the plot of the story, depending on how one views it. It can also cause a lot of fluctuation in the reader's feelings that are attached to each character. While initially maybe a reader might have felt sympathy for one character, after hearing another character's perspective on that character, the reader's opinion can completely change. For example, in the beginning of the book, I felt a lot of sympathy for Victor. He seemed to have had a tough life, and now he was stuck in the middle of the arctic, emaciated and almost frozen to death. It didn't seem that someone could have been in a worse situation. But, when I read the story from the creature's perspective, my opinion completely changed, and Victor seemed deserving of less sympathy. He had created this creature and then left it to fend completely for itself with no guidance in life. To me, this seemed equivalent to leaving a baby in the wilderness (which is really just unacceptable if you didn't know that already). Had the novel not contained a part from the point of view of the creature, I probably would have never had this change of heart, but the part that was included from his point of view did just that.
Frankenstein: Theme of Loneliness
"I said in one of my letters, my dear Margaret, that I should find no friend on the wide ocean; yet I have found a man who, before his spirit had been broken by misery, I should have been happy to have possessed as the brother of my heart." pg. 11
One evident recurring theme of Frankenstein is that of how loneliness can create relationships between total strangers. Prior to this excerpt, Walton had written to his sister of how his only struggle as he was travelling was that of pure loneliness. He had nothing in common with the sailors and could not befriend them. He seemed to have no one to share his joy with. He had been struggling with that idea for some time, thinking that he would have no one to share his triumph with if he actually did reach the North Pole. Who would even care if he told them? However, like often happens in life, Walton found a friend in the place he least expected. The stranger that they picked up while sailing happened to be just the type of man he had been looking to befriend. They shared the same interests of the heart. This particular incident is one that exemplifies the theme that loneliness creates relationships between strangers. Because Walton had been so desperate for a friend, he actually gave this man the time of day. He would sit and listen with him and take care of him, and they became quite close quite fast. Had Walton not been lonely, it would have been easy for him to dismiss this stranger and not even care to become friends with him. However, the fact that he did become friends with him shows how loneliness creates desperation for companionship. Walton sought friendship within a random stranger who most people would not have even tried to relate to.
One evident recurring theme of Frankenstein is that of how loneliness can create relationships between total strangers. Prior to this excerpt, Walton had written to his sister of how his only struggle as he was travelling was that of pure loneliness. He had nothing in common with the sailors and could not befriend them. He seemed to have no one to share his joy with. He had been struggling with that idea for some time, thinking that he would have no one to share his triumph with if he actually did reach the North Pole. Who would even care if he told them? However, like often happens in life, Walton found a friend in the place he least expected. The stranger that they picked up while sailing happened to be just the type of man he had been looking to befriend. They shared the same interests of the heart. This particular incident is one that exemplifies the theme that loneliness creates relationships between strangers. Because Walton had been so desperate for a friend, he actually gave this man the time of day. He would sit and listen with him and take care of him, and they became quite close quite fast. Had Walton not been lonely, it would have been easy for him to dismiss this stranger and not even care to become friends with him. However, the fact that he did become friends with him shows how loneliness creates desperation for companionship. Walton sought friendship within a random stranger who most people would not have even tried to relate to.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
A Raisin in the Sun: What a Sad Story
"MAMA: (Presently) Well-- (Tightly) Well-- son, I'm waiting to hear you say something... (She waits) I'm waiting to hear how you be your father's son. Be the man he was... (Pause. The silence shouts) your wife say she going to destroy your child. And I'm waiting to hear you talk like him and say we a people who give children life, not who destroys them--(She rises) I'm waiting to see you stand up and look like your daddy and say we done give up one baby to poverty and that we ain't going to give up nary another one... I'm waiting.
WALTER: Ruth-- (He can say nothing)" pg. 75
Even though the ending is good, its pretty horrible to watch this story unfold. To think that a married woman might have to consider an abortion out of sheer inability to afford another child is awful. When you're married, you're supposed to be able to have as many children as God gives you and live happily and comfortably with them, even if they give you strife sometimes. But that is not the case in A Raisin in the Sun. Instead, the adults in the house are all expected to put up a front that nothing is that wrong when they are around Travis, but they're all living with the burdens that a lower class life imposes on its subjects. While Ruth's struggle seems the worst, Beneatha and Walter have difficult lives as well. Both of them have a dream of being successful and it just so happens that their dream would mean the demise of the dream of the other. If Mama gives the money to Beneatha for her tuition, Walter won't be able to open the liquor store. If she gives the money to Walter, Beneatha probably won't be able to afford school and her dream of becoming a doctor will never be fulfilled. This story is pretty depressing when you get down to it. It kind of goes to show you how a hard life can make even members of the same family become enemies. Before they move into the new house at the end, all of the characters are basically walking on egg shells when in the presence of the other characters. Almost all discussions turn into fights. A story like this really makes you appreciate being able to afford little inconveniences and being able to solve your problems easily because its definitely not always as easy for everyone else.
WALTER: Ruth-- (He can say nothing)" pg. 75
Even though the ending is good, its pretty horrible to watch this story unfold. To think that a married woman might have to consider an abortion out of sheer inability to afford another child is awful. When you're married, you're supposed to be able to have as many children as God gives you and live happily and comfortably with them, even if they give you strife sometimes. But that is not the case in A Raisin in the Sun. Instead, the adults in the house are all expected to put up a front that nothing is that wrong when they are around Travis, but they're all living with the burdens that a lower class life imposes on its subjects. While Ruth's struggle seems the worst, Beneatha and Walter have difficult lives as well. Both of them have a dream of being successful and it just so happens that their dream would mean the demise of the dream of the other. If Mama gives the money to Beneatha for her tuition, Walter won't be able to open the liquor store. If she gives the money to Walter, Beneatha probably won't be able to afford school and her dream of becoming a doctor will never be fulfilled. This story is pretty depressing when you get down to it. It kind of goes to show you how a hard life can make even members of the same family become enemies. Before they move into the new house at the end, all of the characters are basically walking on egg shells when in the presence of the other characters. Almost all discussions turn into fights. A story like this really makes you appreciate being able to afford little inconveniences and being able to solve your problems easily because its definitely not always as easy for everyone else.
A Raisin in the Sun: The Generation Gap
"MAMA: Now--you say after me, in my mother's house there is still God." pg. 51
This play makes it very obvious that during the late '50s and early '60s there were a lot of changes in thinking that separated the younger people from the older, especially in African American culture. The older generation had depended so heavily upon religion to get themselves through times of strife and hardship. They had rode it out of slavery and into freedom and a new world. However, in these new times of higher education, philosophy, and free thinking, the younger generation who were going to college and realizing that they could form their own opinions had found religion and freedom were old ideals. They had instead turned their focus to reviving their culture, not depending on God for their success but themselves instead, and to attaining as much wealth as possible. In one instance in the story, Beneatha is finally fed up with her mother's constant thanks and praise to God that she finally just says it. She says that she does not believe in God and she's tired of Him getting all the credit for man's hard work. At this statement, Mama is so enraged that she just slaps her. While Beneatha thought her point was valid and reasonable, Mama could not understand how she could take something that had helped her so much in her life and been so important to her and throw it all away like that. The disagreement between Walter and Mama about the money is another example of how the younger and older generations were separated. Walter is so concerned with making more money. He supposes multiple business adventures and often verbalizes his dreams of making a better life for his family and being able to afford the things they want and need. After listening to his constant theorizing about how to make himself happier, Mama finally tells him that he is basically ungrateful. In her time, the main concern was triumphing over slavery and attaining freedom. Money didn't matter as long as they were free. But, in the new world, where African Americans had achieved that feat, it was no longer satisfying to live in the lower class, even if they were free. Money had become as important to them as it had been to white people for years.
This play makes it very obvious that during the late '50s and early '60s there were a lot of changes in thinking that separated the younger people from the older, especially in African American culture. The older generation had depended so heavily upon religion to get themselves through times of strife and hardship. They had rode it out of slavery and into freedom and a new world. However, in these new times of higher education, philosophy, and free thinking, the younger generation who were going to college and realizing that they could form their own opinions had found religion and freedom were old ideals. They had instead turned their focus to reviving their culture, not depending on God for their success but themselves instead, and to attaining as much wealth as possible. In one instance in the story, Beneatha is finally fed up with her mother's constant thanks and praise to God that she finally just says it. She says that she does not believe in God and she's tired of Him getting all the credit for man's hard work. At this statement, Mama is so enraged that she just slaps her. While Beneatha thought her point was valid and reasonable, Mama could not understand how she could take something that had helped her so much in her life and been so important to her and throw it all away like that. The disagreement between Walter and Mama about the money is another example of how the younger and older generations were separated. Walter is so concerned with making more money. He supposes multiple business adventures and often verbalizes his dreams of making a better life for his family and being able to afford the things they want and need. After listening to his constant theorizing about how to make himself happier, Mama finally tells him that he is basically ungrateful. In her time, the main concern was triumphing over slavery and attaining freedom. Money didn't matter as long as they were free. But, in the new world, where African Americans had achieved that feat, it was no longer satisfying to live in the lower class, even if they were free. Money had become as important to them as it had been to white people for years.
A Raisin In the Sun: The Prospect of a Better Life
"WALTER: ...Man say to his woman: I got me a dream. His woman say: Eat your eggs." pg. 33
The main story in the play, A Raisin in the Sun centers around a family who desires nothing more than a better life. While some of them have given up on this prospect, others are going out and searching for ways to make it happen. The two characters that stand out most in this outlook are Walter and Beneatha. At the beginning of the play, Walter has a normal job. It pays a small amount of money and doesn't satisfy his ambitious spirit. In one conversation with Ruth, he tells her about his plans to open up a liquor store with his friend Willy Harris. By her response of "Oh Walter Lee...", the audience can tell that it's not the first time some business venture like this has crossed his mind. And, he seems to have real faith in it too. But, it's easy for someone who feels so trapped in a hard life to have faith in anything but what they're doing. Walter's constant urging on his wife to consider his dream is just his own attempt to attain a better life. On the other hand, Beneatha is a black woman who has some rather unrealistic dreams for herself for the time period she is living in. It is evident that everyone in the family, whether they say it aloud or not, doubts her ability to be a successful doctor. Even though she has been quite studious and successful in school, it would be easy for the family to drop the extra expense that they see as going toward such an unprofitable venture. But, through Beneatha's complaints about the house and her thankfulness to her family that provides her tuition, it is easy to recognize her dedication to school and her dreams of becoming a doctor as a possible way to escape into a better life.
The main story in the play, A Raisin in the Sun centers around a family who desires nothing more than a better life. While some of them have given up on this prospect, others are going out and searching for ways to make it happen. The two characters that stand out most in this outlook are Walter and Beneatha. At the beginning of the play, Walter has a normal job. It pays a small amount of money and doesn't satisfy his ambitious spirit. In one conversation with Ruth, he tells her about his plans to open up a liquor store with his friend Willy Harris. By her response of "Oh Walter Lee...", the audience can tell that it's not the first time some business venture like this has crossed his mind. And, he seems to have real faith in it too. But, it's easy for someone who feels so trapped in a hard life to have faith in anything but what they're doing. Walter's constant urging on his wife to consider his dream is just his own attempt to attain a better life. On the other hand, Beneatha is a black woman who has some rather unrealistic dreams for herself for the time period she is living in. It is evident that everyone in the family, whether they say it aloud or not, doubts her ability to be a successful doctor. Even though she has been quite studious and successful in school, it would be easy for the family to drop the extra expense that they see as going toward such an unprofitable venture. But, through Beneatha's complaints about the house and her thankfulness to her family that provides her tuition, it is easy to recognize her dedication to school and her dreams of becoming a doctor as a possible way to escape into a better life.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)