The Trove

Fresh air doth skip my trove this very night

Oaks halt the sand and stand against the waves

The leaves doth keep the gifts from any blight

No creatures cut the spot that sits in haze

Felicity spark in the hastening hands

Which lift the lid and find the treasure here

The opalescent bottles somehow stands

Dank oozing slugs and snakes that only jeer

Handled gently the bottles had no marks

The vile ablaze under moon's dull glow

Yet bites and scrapes spike him 'til trembling mars

His wants, his needs, and the intrepid goal

Elixir swigged 'til it rid of remorse

The poor man morph'd into a brain dead horse!

Mary Shelley (Sort of) Speaks

This blog is a revision of Journal #7: Orientalism:
 http://2013jamesa.blogspot.com/2012/10/journal-7-revision-orientalism.html



              As Frankenstein's monster continues to limn its secluded life, Orientalism begins to surface. European artists and authors are well known for amplifying the exoticism of Middle Eastern culture, and through the monster's eyes,  Mary Shelley expresses her own Orientalism views.

            One instance of this is the Turk's underlying plan to keep Safie from marrying Felix. The Turk goes along with the engagement only to appear as a man that is true to his word. Shelley also uses words such as "tyrannical" in context to the Turk. Shelley's usage of the Turk demonstrates the negative ideas that European cultures had of the Turks during the 19th century.

                    As the Turk represents the negativity, Safie represents the opposite. She is exotic to the monster, and the monster seems to show no disfavor towards her. Although she is very pleasantly mentioned, there are some implications towards her abilities that could negatively reflect the ideas that Europeans had of Oriental women. Safie's voice is described like music; there are no words and no dialogue from her in the passage. She is doted for her beauty, but she is slower in learning than the monster, which has only been alive for little over a year. The combination of exotic beauty and lack in intelligence implies that Shelley believed the women of the Middle East to be admired more as accessories than companions and contributors in their society.

             So what does all of this mean? This may just be a conjecture, but I believe that Shelley's usage of Safie and the Turk expresses gratefulness for the fact that she wasn't born in the Middle East.

Power vs. Authority in The Tempest

             In Act 1, Prospero and Antonio are revealed to have a dysfunctional relationship. Antonio has forced Prospero from the authority of the Duke of Naples. Antonio has acquired governmental authority through the betrayal, but the questions remain:

Who really has the upper hand in this relationship? Who has the authority AND the power?

        In Scene 1, Antonio is introduced to be traveling in a ship with the king of Naples. In this scene, the only proof of his position is the fact that it is mentioned by the Boatswain. Antonio curses the Boatswain just as the mariners do. This shows that Antonio is just as base as the mariners, who are considerably low on the job food chain during this era. 

        In Scene 2, as Prospero limns the story of his brother’s betrayal to Melinda,  there are implications that Prospero has magical power. Prospero has engendered the very tempest that has overthrown the ship with these powers. As he orders around Ariel, the ghost, he reveals that he has freed her from the imprisonment of magic. THrough his own disparaging words, Prospero demonstrates power that goes beyond his brother’s: the power to control the dead. 

         The wrathful Prospero throws his weight around in the way that he treats Ariel and Caliban. On the island that Prospero has been exiled to, Caliban is a physical slave to Prospero. In this scene, Ariel is presumably an indentured servant; she began the tempest in order to obtain her freedom. The dependant positions that the two are placed in demonstrated that Prospero has authority on the island. 

      Antonio has acquired great power in his betrayal, but only to a certain extent. Antonio is limited as the Duke, an underling of the King. Prospero, on the other hand, is the king of an island. Prospero has his own slaves and an heir, while Antonio only has the shifty position of the Duke and more money than the other underlings. So far, on the scoreboard, Prospero has the three points while Antonio only has two. 

        Power is, as Emily Dickinson once said, “A fickle food on a shifting plate.” In this case, Prospero has shifted the plate, and Antonio is at his mercy.
            

Frankenstein's Characters

       In Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein is the failed romantic. He tries to go into Romanticism during his early years by studying works from Agrippa and performing Alchemy. As he dives deeper into study at Ingolstadt, he actually represents Classicism.

      During the Age of Enlightenment, artists and scientists tried to keep certain classical ideals alive despite the growing transition that physics and architecture had brought. Victor tries to revive the classical forms of natural science through his own growing studies at the university by studying ancient philosophers and scientists. The fact that Victor can stand for Classicism illustrates the diversity in his ideals and methods.

         By embracing both the antiquity of his ancient mentors and the novelty of his own anatomical discoveries, Victor ends up creating the monster. This creation represents the impact of science's growth on the classical society that Victor stands for. During the Age of Enlightenment, most clergyman showed disgust towards the growing power of science in society. Mary Shelley uses the relationship between the monster and Victor to demonstrate this attitude to her readers.

          Shelley also uses Henry Clerval to represent the Romantic era. Henry contrasts with Victor's Classicism largely because Henry is focused on what is already in front of him while Victor focuses on inward ideals and situations. During the Romantic era, artists painted and poets composed on environmental scenes the way that Henry relishes every detail of the countries the two visit in chapters 18-20.

         Shelley also uses the catastrophe in chapters 18-20 to predict the downfall of both eras. Henry Clerval appreciates the details of the natural settings and art of each country. Victor loves Henry because of his manner, but the monster abruptly ends the relationship by murdering Henry. After the end of the Romantic era, the Industrial Revolution (also represented by the monster) brought every person's focus to modern machinery and nearly ended the focus towards the natural world and antiquity. The Romanitc Era reflected certain ideals of the Age of Enlightenment, just as Henry was linked to Victor. So in the end, science brings down the Romantic Era and Classicism.

Image Courtesy of I Luv Cinema

        

Knowledge: Tree or Fire?

               In Frankenstein, the monster broods constantly. In Paradise Lost, Adam and Satan are the same. Their individual circumstances are different, but they're all thrown into grief that causes them to question their own creator. Why was I formed? Why am I exiled? Why can't I be higher than God?

               One instance is the monster's peripeteia after it studies Paradise Lost, Lives, and Sorrows of Werther. Like Adam, the monster bights the forbidden fruit of knowledge. Before, it just considered itself to be unlike the others; it was even pleased with the thought of having protectors that were happier than it was. The books illustrate characters that are comparable to it. Through comparison, the full situation of its abandonment by its master and the hopelessness in trying to be human hits the monster right in its stitched heart.

           Likewise, Satan is exiled. Unlike the monster, Satan has his own hubris involved. He was a top angel; his angel name, Lucifer, literally translates to his celestial work, "light-bearer".

       How did one of the most regarded and beautiful angels become estranged? He denied his creator. Much like the monster, woe changes into hatred for humanity. Unlike the monster, Satan knew exactly what he was up against beforehand, and his creator held him in high esteem. Thematically, this hubris demonstrates a large flaw in arrogance and ambition; regardless of how much he thinks one knows (which rebel angel to choose and a plan of attack), knowledge doesn't ensure success.

                Adam, one of the first humans created, was Satan's target. The forbidden fruit is bitten, and Adam and Eve are almost as woeful as Satan and the monster. Much like the monster after it is spurned by the De Lacey family, Adam questions his existence. His thought process has completely changed; before, only his environment was on his mind, but now he contemplates God, who is beyond human reach.

                 The common thread between Frankenstein's monster, Satan, and Adam is their resulting knowledge. Adam differs here because he doesn't contemplate until after he is enticed. Even then, his mold as a human isn't broken. Satan and the monster's level before their deepest inquiries afforded them a stable position in their individual lives. Between the three, knowledge completely shifted their life. Thematically, this implies that knowledge, as abstract as it is, can burn more than it can develop a person.



Definition of Lucifer courtesy of IsraelofGod.org
The Thinker image courtesy of Auguste Rodin and Chantal Powell Artists Blog
Wildfire Image courtesy of Mindspower



                

Nostalgia Journey: A Cartoon Hell

You are in a desert. It's supposed to be a town, but only one shack occupies endless, fruitless acres. The cracked ground screams for an unlikely downpour. As you approach a nearly dilapidated house, the wind spits sand in your face. You knock at the door, and minutes drag on with no one in sight. Just as a creeeeak is heard from the other side of the door, a small lilac colored dog approaches. The color of its fur isn't what makes your eyes widen: the dog is standing and holding a gun ray to your face.

      Where do you think you are? "This is Hell" is probably what you're thinking. Well, it is, figuratively. You have just been in the town of Nowhere. Those who grew up during the 1990s probably remember the children's cartoon Courage the Cowardly Dog. The main character is the aforementioned dog. As the title suggests, it is easily afraid, but it nonetheless saves its owners from peril in nearly every episode.

        Despite the title of the show, Courage represents Cerberus, the mythological hellhound. Nowhere is arid and only the greediest and most prideful people enter. Courage guards the home of Eustace and Muriel Bagge. Instead of contending with living heros, Courage must fight off Le Quack, King Ramses, Queen of the Black Puddle, Katz, and numerous other avaricious villians who threaten the balance of the home.

        Regardless of how many times Courage saves the Bagges, his owner, Eustace, constantly yells at him. Also, Eustace usually tries to find a short cut or two in order to get rich. Why is this? Because in this cartoon Hell, Eustace is Hades. In Greek mythology, Hades is outshined by Zeus in the eyes of their parents, Cronus and Rhea; Eustace's dead brother outshines Eustace in the eyes of Ma Bagge. Like Hades, this parental preference turns Eustace into an irascible character.

    Muriel is the person that Courage adores the most in the series. She is a cheerful Scottish wife and homemaker of Eustace, and her optimism in perilous situations borders on oblivion. She is the only maternal figure that Courage has, and in this town, she represents Traditionalism. Muriel is the only woman in the show who cooks, cleans, sews, and other light tasks. She is in Nowhere because traditionalism is presumed to be dead, but not gone. For instance, every villian tries to reap something out of her by trying to cook her or sell her in some way. This suggests the idea that conventional manners are constantly on the brink of being taken advantage of by Greed (the villians).

          The show Courage the Cowardly Dog uses the characters of Courage, Eustace and Muriel in order to convey the idea that traditional methods are always in danger. Courage, the little Cerberus, guards them in the continuously advancing town.

For more information about the show feel free to visit the Courage the Cowardly Dog Wikia.   

Image of Desert courtesy of & Beyond Travel Blog
Black and White Image of Courage the Cowardly Dog courtesty of ssgba1380 at Deviantart.org.  

Journal #7 Revision: Orientalism

                          Victor Frankenstein's monster continues to evolve when the Arabian lady Safie arrives. Safie proves to be an important character. Not only does Safie teach the monster the fact that there are countries far from its hovel, but she brings a background story with her.
                   Mary Shelley uses Safie and her father, the Turk, in order to make some contrasting implications through Orientalism. One instance of this is the Turk's underlying plan to keep Safie from marrying Felix. The Turk goes along with the engagement only to appear as a man that is true to his word. Shelley also uses words such as "tyrannical" in context to the Turk. Shelley's usage of the Turk demonstrates the negative ideas that European cultures had of the Turks during her era.
                     Unlike the Turk, Safie is mostly a representation of positive Orientalism in the monster's story. She is described to have angelic beauty and a lovely singing voice. She is exotic to the monster, and the monster seems to show no disfavor towards her. Although she is very pleasantly mentioned, there are some implications towards her abilities that could negatively reflect the ideas that Europeans had of Oriental women. Safie's voice is described like music; there are no words and no dialogue from her in the passage. She is doted for her beauty, but she is slower in learning than the monster, which has only been alive for little over a year. The combination of exotic beauty and lack in intelligence implies that Oriental women are more accessories than they are humans.
                 Mary Shelley's views of the Orient are suggested in this part of the monster's story. Under her pen name, Shelley wasn't able to openly discuss it, but there are implications of her opinion towards arranged marriage. For instance, in the monster's description of Safie's situation, it describes arranged marriage as "walls of a harem" that only have "infantile amusements". This attitude suggests the negative view that European women of Shelley's era might have had towards arranged marriage.
                    

Journal #6: The Monster's Hierarchy of Needs and Multiple Intelligences

                     In comparison to a human child, Frankenstein's monster can be described as more of a "marvel" than a "monster". Sure, it is different due its sickly skin and black lips, but mentally the monster has a rapid growth throughout chapters 13 and 14. Within what I infer is a year after it has been created, the monster has developed multiple intelligences and has most of his survival needs met. Compared to the average human infant, this monster could be considered a prodigy.
                 One instance that demonstrates the monster's developmental speed is demonstrated when it finds food and water from the forest and from the leftover homeless camp, and a temporary homeostasis in the forest. It also forms logical-mathematical intelligence by figuring out that fire and wet lumber don't mix in order to build a sustainable fire.
                 As the monster moves from the forest, it satisfies a certain level of safety by moving into a hovel when snow begins. Before the monster moves, it displays spatial intelligence by understanding that the snow around him makes the forest less viable. In the hovel, the monster  demonstrates its bodily-kinesthetic intelligence by noting that it can only sit to be comfortable.
                As it observes the villagers, the monster also achieves a fair level of esteem by sympathyzing with the emotions that the villagers have. When it sees the young woman cry, it begins to feel emotions that it doesn't understand at first. The observation of the De Lacey family also contributes, because the monster empathizes with every emotion that the family members have, and later holds the family in high esteem by calling the members its protectors. Its reactions are signs of interpersonal intelligence growth.
                      The whole situation in chapters 13 and 14 doesn't just demonstrate how rapidly the monster develops. There is an underlying theme in this portion that anyone who is different still has very similar characteristics to the normal majority. The monster shows very human characteristics by satisfying its needs and developing intelligence. Also, Victor pieced together every part of the monster intricately in order for him to be a living human.  In other words, the monster is very human.

Journal #5: Victor Frankenstein vs. The Ancient Mariner

 

             Victor Frankenstein and the Ancient Mariner are punished for different acts of hubris. Victor's bestowal of life breaches the level amount of power a human has against Death. The Ancient Mariner's impulsive killing of the Albatross breaches the tolerable level of cruelty in the Natural World. This difference emphasizes each person's differing attitudes towards what is naturally set. Victor loathes death, while the Mariner doesn't at first value the creatures that are under humans.
            There is also a difference between the situation of Victor and the Ancient Mariner. Victor's isolation results in his act, while the Ancient Mariner is punished with the isolation that he has to to go through on the rotting ship. This suggests two differing themes of isolation. In Victor's case, isolation leads to unfavorable consequences such as the death of William. In the Mariner's case, isolation is a worthy punishment for random cruelty.
                Although their circumstances differ, Victor and the Mariner have to deal with the same long enduring punishment. The Mariner is cursed with an immortality that lasts until he has fully repaid his debt by warning others of his folly. Victor also has to warn others. As he continues to go after his creature, a symbol of Victor's pride, he is compelled to tell Robert Walton the whole ordeal in order to warn Walton. This similarity demonstrates that the theme of sin, guilt, and redemption can happen to anyone.

Journal #4 Rationalizations in Frankenstein

    

            Soon after the monster is created, Henry Clerval arrives and changes Victor's outlook away from natural science. This perepiteia occurs when Clerval influences Victor by getting Victor away from his previous apartment, university mentors, and solitude. This influence emphasizes how much of a foil Clerval is for Victor and demonstrates how deeply obsessed and solitary Victor's previous life was in comparison to the pleasant times that Victor has with Clerval.
                Victor's family does a lot of rationalizing in the event of William's death. This is evident in the letter that is writeen to Victor by his father. Towards the end of the letter, Alphonse says that everyone shouldn't spend time focusing on vengeance towards the William's murderer. There is also the rationalization that Elizabeth engages in upon seeing William's corpse. She exclaims that she is the unintentional murderer because she didn't let William wear an article of clothing that belonged to his mother. These rationalizations demonstrate how far the family is willing to go to avoid the most gruesome feelings and truths. Also, there is a suggestion of who Victor's own dismal rationalizations of his creature began.
              
              

Journal #3 Revision: The Hubris of Victor Frankenstein

            During his time at Ingolstadt, Victo Frankenstein's drive to improve human life grows due to his growing pride. As his progress improves, he becomes more bold. This is evident when Victor actually discovers ways to improve "some chemical instruments" after two years of augmenting growth at the university. As his reputation and comprehension grows, he decides to study independently.
           By studying independently, Victor also demonstrates that he is past authoritative advice. This is much like the greek Titan Prometheus's theft of fire for human use, because the hope for human kind surpasses the figure of authority. Prometheus disregarded Zeus when he stole the fire; Vicot disregarded society when he began to construct a human being. Victor overlooks society at first when he visits a church in order to analyze the "corruption of the human body". He even considers the place to be only a "receptacle", which is contrary to the belief system of the era.
             His pride grows during his pursuits, and even feeds him as he constructs a person from dead parts. As he works, this growth in pride ends up turning into a huge mistake. After he has completed his creation, he considers it to be a monster. The despair that he shows as the creature animates emphasizes how distorted Victor has become because of his pride. His philosopher's stone has changed from providing humans with immortality to proving that he can bestow life. The hubris that occurs leads Victor down a whole new path of disappointment, and demonstrates that pride is one of his largest flaws.

Journal #2 Revision: (Chapters 1-2) Victor as a Romantic

                   As he becomes more deeply interested in natural science, Victor Frankenstein's passion increases. It is particularly evident when he compares himself to his cousin, Elizabeth Lavenza. While she fancies the surface, he is intrigued in how things work. This contrast of the two emphasizes the growth in passion towards natural science that leads Victor to have an ambitious attitude towards his university work.
                 The alchemy that Victor engages in also emphasizes his growing passion. For instance, he studies the works of ancient philosophers and search for his "philosopher's stone" and "elixir of life". He even tries incantations in order to conjure up "ghosts and devils".
            

Caged by Jamesa Brown

You're free!
You're flimsy bike tires touch the gravel.
You're hair has wind to rush through.
My car is nerveless, blank, and cold.
My senses are numbed in this thing.
Be proud that you're warm,
While I'm moving in a cage.

Journal #1 Revisal: Robert Walton & Victor Frankenstein

        Robert Walton is a very aspirational character. This is more prominently seen when he remembers his younger years. He tells that he has been self-educated in naval information before he became a seaman. Also, during his time on the ship, he notes that when he wasn't involved in crew work, Walton studies several branches of study in order to gain the "greatest advantage".
            The fact that he aspires to know so much about several subjects emphasizes the size of Victor Frankenstein's high aspirations. Walton is not only useful as a framing devise, but one could understand more clearly the mindset of Victor with what Walton writes to his sister. In fact, Walton and Victor are very similar in family life. Walton is far away from his relatives and engrossed in his educational goals; Victor is far from home and obsessed with his studies and human creation. Walton has a close relationship with his sister; Victor is very close to Elizabeth, who is much like a sister (aside from the dream in which Victor almost kisses her). This is revealed with the interactions between the two.
              Through his interaction with Victor, Walton's wish for a friend seems to come true. They have a lot in common, but there seems to be restlessness in Victor that suggests that there is something very troublesome in his life. This passion is especially prominent when Victor shows anguish during a conversation with Walton. Such intense emotion emphasizes how large the issue is to Victor. He can't even hold back when he is in pleasant company.

She Walks in Beauty Reflection

As Lord Byron states, "all that's best of dark and bright", he suggests that the woman he describes has contrasting characteristics. Although there is contrast, they seem to have a perfect balance. Byron also describes a subtle conflict with his contrasting transitional words:

"So soft, so calm, yet eloquent"

"The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
But tell of days in goodness spent"

The fact that he notes her conflicting characteristics shows how deeply he desires this woman. He is so entranced, that even the parts of her that seem to conflict have a certain shine to them.