Comparing and Contrasting Famous Literature
Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein and Taylor Coleridge’s poem “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” are both accredited works exhibiting the romanticism style. Shelley’s Frankenstein is a renowned tale of a scientist named Victor Frankenstein. Victor’s desperate need for fame and glory leads him to create life out of dead matter in the form of a hideous creature. Victor and the creature’s relationship sends him into a terrible ruin and has everlasting effects on his life and the lives of those around him. In comparison, in Coleridge’s poem, the Mariner tells his tale to guests at a wedding of when he, set out at sea, took advantage of a good omen and killed an innocent Albatross. The sequential events
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he relays show the everlasting effects of his actions. He was punished for his sin by all his shipmates dying and having to travel land to land telling his story to other’s. Although the authors diverge into very different plots, they both express similar styles and themes in their writings. Shelley and Coleridge share a similar narrative structure in their writings and divulge in the theme of mankind’s relationship to the laws of nature. However, both authors demonstrate the effects guilt can have on an individual differently. Shelley and Coleridge both display their writing talents by using a similar narrative structure. A frame story structure is present in the novel Frankenstein and the poem “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner”. Both pieces of literature display the frame structure by containing a story within a story. For example, Frankenstein is written starting with letters by a character named Robert Walton to his sister. In these letters Walton tells the story of Victor Frankenstein. In one of the letters Walton writes, “I have resolved every night, when I am not imperatively occupied by my duties, to record, as nearly as possible in his own words, what he has related during the day” (Shelley 27). This signifies the start of Walton’s telling of Frankenstein’s life story as Frankenstein is relaying it to him. During the day Frankenstein tells his story to Walton; Walton writes down everything Frankenstein had told him as accurately as possible in his letters to his sister. As Frankenstein tells his story to Walton, he also diverts into the story of the creature. In addition, “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” exhibits a frame structure by containing the Mariner’s story at sea inside the story of a wedding. The poem starts at a wedding when the Mariner approaches guests saying, “There was a ship” (line 10). This statement signifies the start of his story beginning on a ship voyaging out to sea. By saying this the Mariner pulls in the wedding guests to hear his history. Not only do both pieces of literature contain a common frame structure, but they also both touch upon mankind’s relationship to the laws of nature. Shelley and Coleridge both place their main characters in a conflict with nature and the various laws regarding life.
In Shelley’s Frankenstein, Frankenstein broke the laws of nature by creating life from dead matter. In regards the goal of his project Frankenstein states, “…I could banish disease from the human frame and render man invulnerable to any but a violent death” (Shelley 39). This quote signifies a violation of nature by Frankenstein. Mother nature had not intended man to be indestructible for a reason. By going against the intentions of nature, Frankenstein showed a lack of respect for the natural cycle of the creation and destruction of life. Frankenstein selfishly acted and chose to overstep the laws of nature because he could, he never thought to think of the consequences and debate whether or not he should. Similarly, the Mariner in “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” disrespected life and Gods gifts to mankind. In the poem the Mariner states, “with my crossbow I shot the Albatross” (lines 81-82). The Albatross was symbolized by the Mariner’s shipmates as a good omen, bringing along luck, hope, and pleasant weather. The Mariner chose to shoot and kill the Albatross for no apparent reason. The Mariner killed an innocent, natural life, consequently breaking the laws of nature. The bird had done no harm and the Mariner chose selfishly to kill the Albatross with his crossbow because he could and he felt like it; even though he had no acceptable reason to. Although …show more content…
both works of literature compare in many different aspects, they contrast in the way the author had chosen to show the effect of guilt on an individual. The main characters in both stories suffer guilt for their sins.
However, the authors chose to show that guilt and the way the character handles it in disparate ways. Shelley choses to have her main character, Frankenstein, possess an overwhelming guilt, making him begin to appear to readers as mad or insane. Frankenstein acquired guilt by being the selfish creator of the horrible monster who murdered his beloved family and friends. Frankenstein’s guilt grows and intensifies throughout the course of the story because he refuses to tell anyone and acknowledge his mistake. For instance, Frankenstein argues his refusal to reveal his secret by saying, “How they would, each and all, abhor me and hunt me from the world did they know my unhallowed acts and the crimes which had their source in me” (Shelley 200). He was too ashamed of his egocentric actions to admit to them. Frankenstein figured if he were to confess, all would hate him as the source of the murders and tragedy. By dismissing the idea of taking ownership for his actions and confessing his mistakes, Frankenstein lost control of the situation and his sanity, letting the guilt overcome him. On the other hand, Coleridge choses to have the main character—the Mariner—deal with guilt in a responsible and mature way. The Mariner confesses, “I had done a hellish thing…I had killed the bird that made the breeze to blow” (lines 91-94). This quote represents the Mariner taking ownership for the dreadful events of the story.
Unlike Frankenstein in Shelley’s novel, the Mariner admits to his wrong doing and acknowledges his mistake. Not only does the Mariner take ownership and responsibility over his sins, he also accepts the penance that follows. As the cause of the death for the Albatross and shipmen, the Mariner is punished by having to travel across the land retelling his story. By retelling his story and accepting the consequences, the Mariner begins to come to terms with the situation, subsequently making the guilt theoretically lesson. Each time he admits his story to a stranger he is brought closer to peace. Frankenstein and “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” both stand as prime examples of frame structure stories and mankind’s lack of respect for nature and other forms of life. Both authors use a similar narrative structure and create their character to have a selfish mindset when in contact with nature. Even though there are many similarities present, the literature and authors writing styles differ in the way they chose to have their characters deal with the effects of guilt. All in all, Shelley and Coleridge created wonderful pieces of literature containing advanced writing strategies and life lessons.
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein concludes with a series of speeches from Victor Frankenstein and the Creature to Captain Walton, including one where Frankenstein expends his physical strength to persuade Walton’s crew to complete their mission. This speech is striking considering Frankenstein’s previous dangerously ambitious and irresponsible actions. His speech is one of heroics and sublimity, two major values of the Romantic poet. Reading Frankenstein as a reflection of the Romantic poets who surrounded Mary Shelley while she wrote the novel, Frankenstein’s speech is one of a failed Romantic poet – one who takes Shelley’s contemporaries’ ideals too far. Shelley highlights the irony of Frankenstein’s speech through his uncharacteristic use of
Since the original novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, to the multiple movie adaptations, the monster is almost always predicted as the monster of the story. It may be his physical appearance, from his tall, broad frame, to the signature screws in his neck. It may also be his unnatural upbringing and interpreted evil characteristics. We have grown to fear the monster, which ultimately, has masked the true monster, Dr. Frankenstein. With each coming movie, the good side of the monster is brought to light, while the real monster shows his true colors.
The creature’s moral ambiguity characteristic was a vile ingredient to the construction of this novel Frankenstein because it made the reader 's sympathies with him even after the audience knows he had committed murder because the readers had seen the truth this creature had to face. That he had tried everything within his power to peacefully live with them, to interact, communicate, and befriend them “these thoughts exhilarated me and led me to apply with fresh ardour to the acquiring the art of language”, that even though he was seen as a monster because of the looks he was created with, something he had no control over, he still had hope to be seen as equals, ”My organs were indeed harsh, but supple; and although my voice was very unlike the soft music of their tones, yet I pronounced such words as I understood with tolerable ease. It was as the ass and the lap-dog; yet surely the gentle ass whose intentions were affectionate, although his manners were rude, deserved better treatment than blows and execration;” this hope of his was utterly crushed, and can only set him up for utter disappointment(12.18). Because in the end he only received hates, scorns, violence, and prejudice from his good will. So in the end of the story, Mary Shelley’s forces the readers to see within the creature’s heart and for
Mary Shelley, in her novel Frankenstein mentions Coleridge’s poem, “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” in several instances, undoubtedly connecting her character, Victor Frankenstein, to the character of the Ancient Mariner. There are several critics, such as Michelle Levy and Sarah Goodwin, who support the idea that Frankenstein and the Mariner share a common background. Enough so, that Shelley’s mention of the Mariner in her novel is acceptable. This is true in some ways regarding their tragic backgrounds and how both characters end up confessing their actions to others. However, Frankenstein and the Mariner have many differences when it comes down to how they ended up in their tragic situations and even what means to an end they hope to achieve by sharing their tragic stories. The biggest differences being, knowledge of what could come from their actions, and how they accept the responsibility of the deaths they caused. Shelley was undoubtedly influenced by Coleridge’s poem and while her use of the poem in her novel is interesting, and the notion of comparing the action of confession and equal lack of social “belongingness” between Frankenstein and the Mariner are comparable, the two characters run the risk of being too different to compare when thought about in depth.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll both have similarities with The Odyssey by Homer. All three books tell the story through a journey archetype where the characters go though different events and face many challenges as the story progresses. One of the problems which the characters face is integration into another society with different inner workings and rules being in conflict with the character alongside with how human nature rejecting the any unnatural things.
Mary Shelley’s life is filled with ups and downs. Through those times Shelley wrote the novel Frankenstein. Although Frankenstein is a fiction novel, it is similar to Mary Shelley’s real life.
This essay has argued that both works, Frankenstein and The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, have similarities in terms of themes and narrative structure. Shelley and Coleridge used various narrators to tell their stories, and by doing that,14 Furthermore, both works are structured in the same form, with the frame narration, a story within a story, which provides a frame of verisimilitude to an improbable tale. In brief, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is a constant presence in the novel Frankenstein.
Although fictional, the story Frankenstein makes frightening parallels to modern day science and simultaneously questions the morality of its usage within present society. Mankind’s infamy for desiring power and dominance has seeped into every aspect of civilization. Frankenstein illustrates this phenomena in an extreme manner: controlling life and death. Playing with faculties that are incomprehensible results in peril and involves warping morals that are held dearly.
middle of paper ... ... Generally in the novel, most readers tend to sympathize with Frankenstein because of the way in which he is mentally and physically harmed by his creation. However, one must also realize that while Frankenstein is a victim in the novel, he also exhibits features that make him a monster. These monstrous qualities, however, stem from his passion for science and his desire to create life. Not only does the reader criticize and pity Frankenstein, but the reader also empathizes with Frankenstein’s creation.
Romantic examples flood this novel and make it intriguing for scholars even today because of its remarkable ability to give subtle nods to things that strike our inner most emotions. Mary Shelley managed to take our sympathy and pour it onto the Creature and tell the story in a truly Romantic fashion.
Ever since the earliest scientists, including the likes of Aristotle and Plato, the question of the morality of man's meddling in nature has been a prevalent issue. While science can provide boundless amounts of invaluable contributions to mankind, ultimately some scientific endeavors should never have been pursued. In Frankenstein, Mary Shelly explores the ethics involved in this query through the creation of a wonder of science, and its inevitable consequences.
Mary Shelley, with her brilliant tale of mankind's obsession with two opposing forces: creation and science, continues to draw readers with Frankenstein's many meanings and effect on society. Frankenstein has had a major influence across literature and pop culture and was one of the major contributors to a completely new genre of horror. Frankenstein is most famous for being arguably considered the first fully-realized science fiction novel. In Frankenstein, some of the main concepts behind the literary movement of Romanticism can be found. Mary Shelley was a colleague of many Romantic poets such as her husband Percy Shelley, and their friends William Wordsworth and Samuel Coleridge, even though the themes within Frankenstein are darker than their brighter subjects and poems. Still, she was very influenced by Romantics and the Romantic Period, and readers can find many examples of Romanticism in this book. Some people actually argue that Frankenstein “initiates a rethinking of romantic rhetoric”1, or is a more cultured novel than the writings of other Romantics. Shelley questions and interacts with the classic Romantic tropes, causing this rethink of a novel that goes deeper into societal history than it appears. For example, the introduction of Gothic ideas to Frankenstein challenges the typical stereotyped assumptions of Romanticism, giving new meaning and context to the novel. Mary Shelley challenges Romanticism by highlighting certain aspects of the movement while questioning and interacting with the Romantic movement through her writing.
In 1818, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein was published. Mary Shelley has been compared to her characters since her book was published. While reading Frankenstein, multiple similarities between Mary Shelley and numerous characters in her story can be made. Similarities such as the way she grew up, her interactions with people in her life, and people she lost in her life. All of the similarities she included are negative occurrences.
Often times an author’s background shapes their writing thus instilling a sense of curiosity in the audience. In her work, Frankenstein, Mary Shelley exposes the grotesque aspects of life as it resonates with her past. Considered a Gothic novel, and one of the first Science Fictions, Frankenstein also contains several components of the Romantic Movement. The Romantic Movement was a period in British history when people felt a deep connection to nature, science, and their emotions. Shelley uses the foundation of a Romantic novel to construct a work unlike any other of its time period. Several factors including tone, setting, and mood validate Frankenstein as a Gothic horror novel. Even though Frankenstein is frequently considered
While immersed in its beauty, Victor and his creation escaped worldly problems and entered a supernatural bliss. In short, Shelley presents nature as very powerful. It has the power to put the humanity back into man when the unnatural world has stripped him of his moral fiber. In comparison to the pure beauty of nature, the unnatural acts of man are far more emphasized; therefore, the reader is clearly aware of man’s faults and their repercussions. Unfortunately, not even the power of nature could balance the work of man: “the cup of life was poisoned forever.”