Frankenstein Annotated Bibliography Essay

Annotated Bibliography

Pretext (prebibliography): In my research paper I am going to explore the roots of the creation of evil.

Source 1:

Theodore Ziolkowski, Science, Frankenstein, and Myth,

Sewanee Review, 89:1 (Winter 1981), 34-56

This article studies themes, widely represented in the postwar German drama, such as pursue for scientific discovery without any attention focused on the potential outcome, the balance between the discovery of natures’ secrets and ethics, threat of the misusing of scientific achievements. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is considered as a perfect analogue to the above mentioned dramas and their main themes. The article reveals Mary Shelly’s understandings that scientific creation is progressive in its nature.

It’s not evil in itself.

It has been turned into something destructive by society. Behind the ugly appearance of Frankenstein’s creature a vast capacity and potential is hidden. Though ugly, he is awesomely strong. He can cross distance at superhuman speed. His intellectual abilities are great – without any help and within a couple of months he learns to speak. He even studies literature. This is a creature made to be an angel but turned into a devil because of human society. The article shows that the main reason for the above mentioned transformation is Victor Frankenstein – the young scientist obsessed by the idea to dig into nature’s secrets, without paying attention to the possible consequences. Victor Frankenstein can’t overcome his disgust so he refuses to take any responsibility for any newly “born” creature and shows no love or understanding towards the lonely creation. The article provides us with Mary’s Shelly remarkable understanding that the quest for deep knowledge can result in a discovery with an extraordinary

potential for good. However the irresponsibility of its creator can cause it to evolve into a tool of evil. The information in this article is useful for my paperwork because it traces some of the reasons why good sometimes turns into evil.

Source 2:
David Soyka, Frankenstein and the Miltonic Creation of Evil
Extrapolation, 33:2 (Summer 1992), 166-77
This article seeks reasons which generate evil in creations by making a parallel between Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein and Milton’s Paradise Lost.

In both novels the act of creation and the following rejection by the creator are some of the main reasons evil to be “born”. Victor Frankenstein is considered as a version of God however he is a flawed creator. His irresponsibility and rejection towards his creature are the first reasons the creation to become wicked. According to the article the subtitle of Mary Shelly’s novel (The Modern Prometheus) reveals another cause of an evil creation. The Greek mythology Prometheus is the humankind creator, but not only this. He takes care of the people. He commits a “crime” in order to protect them. Prometheus means “forethought”. However the Modern Prometheus, Victor Frankenstein pursues the act of creation with no thought about outcome and social implication of the creation. The article reveals that Frankenstein’s creature is innocent and morally neutral by his nature. Human society and prejudices are the things that turn the creature into a Monster. The Monster’s self-education in the De Lacey family is considered on purpose. Here the Monster becomes familiar with human follies. The people of the De Lacey family are those who reject him. The act of being excluded from the basic unit of social society is considered as the Monster’s turning point into evil. Mary Shelly’s piece of work is unique because it represents evil as a part of

creation. Providing this information the article is useful for my paper so that I can trace the roots of the creation of evil.
Source 3:
Phillip Wade ,Shelley and the Miltonic Element in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
Milton and the Romantics, 2 (December 1976), 23-25
The article studies the Miltonic elements in Mary’s Shelly Frankenstein. It’s well documented that Mary Shelly admires John Milton’s work, in particular – Paradise Lost. In view of this she consciously makes series of parallels between her novel characters and Milton’s poem events. The main theme of the novel is the monster evolution from a newly-born Adam to a Satan. The monster himself describes his degeneration that the fallen angel turns into a malignant devil. The main reason for this transformation is not only the act of rejection but something even more disruptive - if a man is treated ill he definitely becomes wicked – the direct moral which Mary’s Shelly novel contains. This article is useful for my paper because it traces other roots for the creation of evil.

Source 4:
Dominik J. Balestra, Technology in a Free Society: The New Frankenstein
Thought, 65:257 (June 1990), 155-168
The article makes a review of scientific achievements which have provided humankind with freedom and power. At the same time it considers the threat our world to become artificial and the fear that man can’t control scientific and technical progress. The article considers Mary Shelly’s vision, that technology might become autonomous. After abandoning the monster Mary Shelly consciously makes the first meeting between Frankenstein and the creature in two years. During this time the artificially “born” creation has become an independent entity. Another vision of the author is presented as well – that the problem of technology turns for its solution back to technology. The article also reveals the arrogance of Victor Frankenstein. He dares to pursue pure knowledge and to become a Creator. He irresponsibly abandons his creation because of its imperfection. However he agrees to make a second creature. During the process he changes his mind and dooms it to death before it even comes to life. Thus he makes in life the arrogant maxim that what man can do can also undo. Mary’s Shelly novel raises questions that are valid even today – the sciences’ responsibility and ethics, the balance between revealing the secrets of nature and the consequences. This article helps me to find another aspect of the reasons leading to the creation of evil.