Assignment
Name: Virani Dhara R.
Course: M. A. English
Semester: 2
Batch: 2019
Roll no: 04
Submitted to: smt S. B. Gardi Department of English
Paper no:05
Subject: The Romantic Literature
Topic: The theme of Frankenstein
The themes of Frankenstein
The word “literature” Itself suggest a lot, but we have still some question in our corner side of mind, that what is the literature?, what is the main aim of writer to production of this type of literary works for reader? And, By reading the literary work what we are getting from that? So, these all above question may be answered by saying that the writer, who wrote the work has some particular aim to convey some message, thought or his deem through his work, or he/she also deal with some fundamental ideas or have also something to say about which is central idea in his work, which we called THEME of the literary work.
So, here I would like to mention of the work, which is the part of many academic study, the gothic novel “FRANKENSTEIN” or The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley. In this novel Mary Shelley deals with great themes or ideas, we can find out various important theme in this novel. So, before we going on theme of this novel let’s first know some basic information of this novel.
Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus
Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus is the great horror story novel ever written, by Mary Shelley was published in London on 1 January 1818, when she was only 20 year old.
Frankenstein is infused with elements of the Gothic novel and the Romantic movement. It is considered as the first science fiction novel. It has had considerable influence in literature and popular culture and spawned a complete genre of horror stories, film and plays. The narrative structure of this novel is also very complex, because the story narrated by three person of this novel, captain Walton, Victor Frankenstein, and Monster so we can read this novel by three various perspective. And also various themes revival through this novel. So, let’s deeply know what's the theme of this novel and what’s Shelley wants to convey through this novel.
Theme of the novel “Frankenstein”
When we interpret this novel, we can find various themes, which is reflect the main idea or aim of the author, in her novel highlights theme is individual responsibility as well as social responsibility, birth and creation, fear and sexuality, parental responsibility and nature, alienation, unjust society, the idea of the ‘Overreacher' which we have described here.
Theme of Birth and Creation:
We have the question that what is the meaning and the relation of The term ‘Birth' and ‘Creation’?, or who play a major role in the birth and creation, then the answer would be God and woman. This two are play major role in creating life. Then can we said that, God and woman has a power to creating life. So, here in this novel ‘Frankenstein’ reflects major theme birth and creation by creating a new life in unnatural way by the man(the scientist), who attempt to usurp the role of God in creating life as well as to eliminate the role of woman in creating life in the natural way, but here the creation of monster is a creature created by imbuing various old body parts with a new life, in unnatural way. As we know that God created Adam and Eve and Eve, is it the creation in the natural way?, No, because of course God is God, he has a power he can create anything, but still we can not said that, this is the creation of Adam and Eve is in natural way like Woman, because only woman has womb, by which woman can create a new life or, gave birth of new life, so why God also included into natural way, for creating a new life. Here of course the Scientist create a new life by unnatural way, to join various dead body parts and gave him life .If we take one another example of unnatural creation of life then of the movie Robot, in this movie can also find out the main character or hero create a Robot this is quite different from Frankenstein because he create a life by machinery elements but still it is considered as unnatural not like natural which woman create. In short here the theme reflects the birth and creation is natural thing which only created by woman and God, God's creation also considered as natural only because of Shelley deals with Biblical myth of creation. Thus, there is an apparent critique of man's attempt to violate the law of nature and also his efforts to eliminate woman from the creative act.
Dangerous of knowledge
To have a knowledge is very beneficial or important thing in everyone’s life. Without knowledge we are nothing, only a puppet by other’s hand, for a valuable life we must have some basic knowledge, but when human's thirst became over than some limits then it's became dangerous. So, same as in the ‘Frankenstein’. The pursuit of knowledge is at the heart of Frankenstein, as Victor attempts to surge beyond accepted human limits and access the secret of life. We have also one another example is that Dr. Faustus, a scholar who has too much thirst of knowledge, only because gained of knowledge he even sold his soul, here he was also against the God by doing that type of decision and after the gained of knowledge he misuse that and also became dangerous for him as well as for others.
In this novel ‘Frankenstein’ we can also find out dangerous of knowledge, as Victor attempts to surge beyond accepted human limits and access the secret of life. He was not the normal scientist, he is curious and also knowledgeable, he broken down human limits and create a artificial life by various old dead body and after creating the creature type of hideous life he neglected him. And afterward his own production( by knowledge) became dangerous for him. One another example is that Robert Wolton , who has also thirst of knowledge by willing of exploring unexplored place like the North Pole, this is ruthless pursuit of knowledge. Of the light, proves dangerous. But Walton ultimately pulls back from his treacherous mission, having learned from Victor’s example how destructive the thirst of knowledge can be.
Theme of Alienation and Isolation
The term ‘Alienation’ and ‘Isolation’ is dangerous thing, because only the person can understand who, go through it and suffering from isolation and alienation. The person who suffering from isolation definitely he was in question of company or other things by which he can live his/her life with joyful.
In this novel we can find out Alienation and Isolation as a theme, because each and every character are suffer from isolation and Alienation, from the very beginning of the novel the narrator itself became a victim of isolation and alienation because he was travelled to explore North Pole and from were he was totally disconnected with the world, of course there were crews to communicate, so he share his story or some accidental things with others, but only way, that he was connected with world through letter, which he wrote for his sister to London. Another example of isolation and alienation is that protagonist of the novel, Victor Frankenstein who was also feel isolation and alienation, because after the creating monster, he reject him, but he has still something to say but he cannot share with other, because there where nothing to with which he can share, still the end he has no company to share with. The character Frankenstein, the term ‘isolation’ and ‘alienation’ is deeply connected, he became monster only because of isolation and alienation, he was totally rejected by society as well as his creator and some time bitten up, one reason is that his ugly appearance, otherwise he was not monster.
Theme of revenge
Revenge, it is horrible as well as harmful word or thing, there is the question is there any good or satisfaction by taken revenge? Then answer may be both, same as here in this novel refer the theme of revenge by monster. The monster begins its life with a warm, open heart. But after it is abandoned and mistreated first by Victor and then by the De Lacey family, the monster turns to revenge. The monster's actions are understandable: it has been hurt by the unfair rejection of a humanity that cannot see past its own prejudices, and in turn wants to hurt those who hurt it.
Conclusion
In short, this novel refer many themes which is connect with the real life of human being’s like birth and creation, dangerous of knowledge, alienation and isolation, revenge etc. These all are connect with our real life as well.
Works Citation:
Shelley, Mary. ‘Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus', LACKIGTON, HUGHES,HARDIND,MAVOR &JONES London, 1818.
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