Mary shelly Frankenstein的解析.doc

Mary shelly Frankenstein的解析Type of Work .Frankenstein is a Gothic novel with elements of science fiction. . Frankenstein as a Gothic Novel .Frankenstein is a Gothic novel, a literary genre that focuses on dark, mysterious, terrifying events. The story unfolds at one or more spooky sites, such as a dimly lit castle, an old mansion on a hilltop, a misty cemetery, a forlorn countryside, or the laboratory of a scientist conducting frightful experiments. In some Gothic novels, characters imagine that they see ghosts and monsters. In others, the ghosts and monsters are real. The weather in a Gothic novel is often dreary or foul: There may be high winds that rattle windowpanes, electrical storms with lightning strikes, and gray skies that brood over landscapes. The Gothic novel derives its name from the Gothic architectural style popular in Europe between the twelfth and sixteenth centuries. Gothic structuressuch as cathedralsfeatured cavernous interiors with deep shadows, stone walls that echoed the footsteps of worshippers, gargoyles looming on exterior ledges, and soaring spires suggestive of a supernatural presence. . Frankenstein as Science Fiction . .Frankenstein contains elements of science fiction, a literary genre focusing on a fictional story of how scientific experiments, discoveries, and technologies affect human beings for better or worse. Science fiction differs from pure fantasy in that it presents events that appear to be scientifically plausible. Traveling to another galaxy in a spaceship is scientifically plausible. Riding to the moon on a winged horse is not scientifically plausible. Publication .The London firm of Lackington, Hughes, Harding, Mavor & Jones published Frankenstein in 1818 when the author, Mary Shelley, was in her early twenties. In 1831, the London firm of Henry Colby and Richard Bentley published a revised edition with a new introduction by the author. The Title and Its Meaning .The full title of the novel is Frankenstein: or the New Prometheus. It compares the protagonist, Victor Frankenstein, to the Greek god Prometheus. Prometheus was the son of the gods Iapetus and Clymene, both Titans. The Titans, led by Cronos, were the original rulers of the universe; they were later overthrown by the Olympians, led by Zeus. .The name Prometheus was formed from the Greek pro (before) and methes (thinking); thus, his name means forethought. He is associated with the creation of man from earth and water and with the bestowal on man of gifts that made him superior to animals. After the Olympians became the supreme rulers of the universe, Prometheus continued to look out for the welfare of human beings. Thus, when the time came to sacrifice animals to the ruling Olympians, Prometheus reserved the choicest parts of animals for man and the fat and bones for the Olympians. Zeus, the king of the Olympians, eventually discovered what was going on. In retaliation, he withheld fire from man. Fire, of course, was essential for providing warmth, making tools, cooking food, and other life-sustaining activities. In turn, Prometheus stole fire from Zeus and returned it to man. Zeus then punished Prometheus by chaining him to a rock on Mount Caucasus and sending down an eagle to feed constantly on Prometheuss liver. (To access the Greek play on this subject, click here.) Because Prometheus was immortal, his liver restored itself every time the eagle ate of it. Thus, Prometheus suffered unrelenting, everlasting torture. Zeus declared, however, that he would release Prometheus if Prometheus disclosed to him knowledge he had of a plot against Zeus. But Prometheus defiantly refused to do so. .Ultimately, Hercules freed Prometheus.The comparison of Frankenstein to Prometheus is apt, for three reasons. First, like Prometheus, Frankenstein became a creator. Second, Frankenstein also defied heaven, for in making the monster he usurped power reserved for heaven alone. Third, Frankenstein suffered greatly for this defiance. Ultimately, death freed him. Settings /. .The action in the novel takes place in (1) the city of Geneva in southwestern Switzerland, as well as the surrounding countryside; (2) Ingolstadt, a city on the Danube River in south-central Germany, not far from Munich; (3) the lower slopes of Mont Blanc, part of the Alpine mountain range on the border of Italy and France; (4) cities and other locales in Germany and The Netherlands; (5) London and other English towns; (6) the Orkney Islands off the coast of Scotland; (7) the Arctic regions north of Russia; (8) a ship in the Arctic regions. . Characters . Victor Frankenstein: Young scientist consumed by a passion to discover and control the force that sustains human life. After he animates his artificial, he has a profound change of heart in which he regrets bringing his creature to life. The Monster: Grotesque eight-foot creature. In a sense, he is a manifestation of the dark side of Victor Frankensteins soul. Alphonse Frankenstein: Wealthy and generous father of Victor. Caroline Frankenstein: Kind and loving mother of victor. Elizabeth Lavenza: Adopted child of Alphonse and Caroline Frankenstein. She and Victor become playmates as children and fall in love as young adults. Henry Clerval: Loyal friend of Victor Frankenstein. Robert Walton: Ship captain who takes Victor aboard in the Arctic. He listens to and writes down Victors strange story. Mary Walton Saville: Sister to whom Robert Walton writes his letters, which include an account of Frankensteins life. The initials of the fictional Mrs. Saville, M.W.S., are the same as those of the author of Frankenstein, Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley. Justine Moritz: Frankenstein family servant falsely accused of murder. William, Ernest Frankenstein: Younger brothers of Victor. De Lacey: Blind man who lives with his son and daughter in a country cottage. He befriends the monster. Felix, Agatha De Lacey: Son and daughter of the blind man. When they see the monster with their father, they drive the monster off. Professor Waldman: Victors chemistry instructor and advisor. Professor Krempe: Professor whom Victor dislikes but who gives Victor sound advice. Mr. Kirwin: Magistrate who arrests Victor as a suspect in the murder of Henry Clerval. Madame Moritz: Mother of Justine. Because she does not get along with Justine, she allows the Frankensteins to take her daughter in. Peasant Family: Italian Family that cares for Elizabeth lives before the Frankensteins adopt her. Narrative Approach Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein as both a frame tale and an epistolary narrative. Following are definitions of these terms: . Frame Tale . .A frame tale is a story with a plot structure in which an author uses two or more narrators to present the action. The first narrator sets the scene and reports to the reader the details of a story told by a character. (In some frame tales, the first narrator reports the details of several stories told by several narrators.) In Frankenstein, Captain Robert Waltona minor characteris the first narrator. He sets the scene and listens to the story told by Victor Frankenstein, the main character. All of the information Walton reports to the reader is in the form of letters written to his sister. Thus, Frankenstein is a frame tale in that it is like a framed painting: Waltons story is the frame, and Frankensteins story is the painting. .Some frame talessuch as Chaucers Canterbury Tales and Boccaccios The Decameronhave several narrators telling stories inside the frame. One famous frame talethe Arabian Nights (also called The Thousand and One Nights)has only one narrator, a sultans bride named Scheherazade, who tells many tales inside the frame, including the well-known stories of Sindbad the Sailor, Aladdin and his magic lamp, and Ali Baba and his magical command Open sesame! . Epistolary Novel . .An epistolary novel is a novel in which a character (or characters) tells the story through letters (epistles) sent to a friend, relative, etc. In Frankenstein, Captain Robert Walton writes letters to his sister to bring her up to date on his expedition in the Arctic. After his ship takes Victor Frankenstein aboard, he listens to Frankensteins story and writes it down in letter form. . Plot Summary By Michael J. Cummings. 2005 .Captain Robert Walton is on an exploration of the Arctic regions in the White Sea off the northern coast of Russia when ice temporarily halts the progress of his ship. While waiting for the ice to break up, he and his crew observe through telescopes a strange sight on Monday, July 31: A gigantic creature on a dog sled crossing solid ice about a half-mile off. Two hours later, the ice begins to release its hold on the ship. By nightfall, the ship can sail again. However, Walton delays resumption of the voyage until the next morning for fear that the ship will strike an ice floe in the dark. .At daybreak on August 1, the crewmen sight a man of normal stature and a dog sled floating toward them on a block of ice. When they take him aboard, he is half-frozen and terribly weak. Over the next several days, Walton attempts to nurse him back to health. He also writes a letter to his sister in England, Margaret Saville, in which he describes the events of July 31 and August 1 and discloses that he is writing down a story that his patient, a man named Victor Frankenstein, is telling him. This letter is to be carried to England by a ship leaving the nearest port city, Archangel (Arkhangelsk), Russia: Here is a summary of Frankensteins story: .In Geneva, Switzerland, Victor Frankenstein enjoys a happy and privileged childhood, thanks to his loving parents, the wealthy and respected Alphonse and Caroline Frankenstein. Mrs. Frankenstein is an extremely kind and gentle woman devoted to uplifting the poor and the downtrodden. .When Victor is five, the Frankensteins vacation in the Lake Como region of northern Italy. One day, while Alphonse conducts business in Milan, Mrs. Frankenstein and Victor visit the cottage of a poor peasant family with five children to offer comfort and assistance. One of the children is a fair-skinned, golden-haired little girl. She was taken in by the peasants after her German mother died in childbirth and her Italian father gave her up. Mrs. Frankenstein is quite taken with her. So is Mr. Frankenstein when he returns and sees Victor playing with the lovely creature. Her name is Elizabeth Lavenza, and she is almost the same age as Victor. The Frankensteins propose to adopt her, and the peasant family approves the proposal, realizing that their visitors can give the little girl a fine and loving home. .And so, when the Frankensteins return to Geneva, they are four. Elizabeth and Victor become inseparable companions. But Victor sees the world around him through a different lens than Elizabeth, as he explains: While my companion contemplated with a serious and satisfied spirit the magnificent appearances of things, I delighted in investigating their causes. The world was to me a secret which I desired to divine. Curiosity, earnest research to learn the hidden laws of nature, gladness akin to rapture, as they were unfolded to me, are among the earliest sensations I can remember.After Victor makes friends with a boy at school named Henry Clerval, the Frankenstein household is blessed with the company of three children who love one another. Henry is a bright boy who composes songs and writes stories of romance and chivalry. .But Victor, as noted, is more interested in science and its seemingly magical powers. He becomes an avid reader of the works of Cornelius Agrippa (1486-1535), the German physician, philosopher, and expert on occultism; Paracelsus (1493-1541), the German-Swiss alchemist and physician; and Albertus Magnus (1200-1280), the brilliant German priest who promoted the study of natural science at a time when it was looked on with suspicion. In these books Victor seeks clues that will unlock the secrets of life around him. .As the years pass, Victors love of science grows and at age 17 he prepares to travel to Ingolstadt to study at the university. But before he leaves, misfortune strikes. First, Elizabeth becomes dangerously ill with scarlet fever. In time, though, she recovers, thanks to the excellent care she receives from Mrs. Frankenstein. Unfortunately, the latter contracts the illness from Elizabeth and her health rapidly declines. On her deathbed, she importunes Victor to marry Elizabeth someday, for she realizes they are right for each other. It is, of course, a prospect that Victor welcomes, for he too realizes that he and Elizabeth are a matched pair. .After his mother dies, he is devastated. He remains home several weeks to recover from the terrible loss and to console Elizabeth. Like Victor, she misses Caroline terribly. .At the university two professors advise Victor to abandon his fascination with alchemy and the occult and devote himself to modern science. His chemistry instructor, Professor Waldman, is particularly helpful to young Victor. However, although Victor generally follows their advice, he continues to harbor a keen desire to penetrate the deep mysteries of science. In other studies, he says, you go as far as others have gone before you, and there is nothing more to know; but in a scientific pursuit there is continual food for discovery and wonder. .Above all, he seeks to discover what he calls “the principle of life.” What sustains life? Is it possible to restore life to a dead body? .Two years pass quickly as he searches for answers while avidly studying chemistry and anatomy. To supplement what he learns in lectures, books, and university laboratories, he visits cemeteries and houses of the dead to study corpses. In his apartment, he sets up his own laboratory and begins experimenting day and night. In time, he acquires the knowledge he desires and decides to piece together a human being from selected parts of corpses. He plans to animate the body. Because it would be difficult to work with small body parts, he says, “I resolved . . . to make the being of a gigantic stature, that is to say, about eight feet in height, and proportionably large. After having formed this determination and having spent some months in successfully collecting and arranging my materials, I began .It is long and tedious work. One November morning at about 1 a.m., after Victor has performed all the necessary steps, “I saw the dull yellow eye of the creature open,” he says.”It breathed hard, and a convulsive motion agitated its limbs.” .Confronted now with a horrid creature stirring to life, he immediately regrets what he has done. Leaving the laboratory, he goes into his bedroom and paces. Eventually, completely exhausted, he lapses into sleep and dreams of his beloved Elizabeth. When he awakens the monster is standing over him. Fearand regret for having played Godovertake him and he runs from the apartment and wanders the streets. .In the morning, Victor runs into his old friend from Geneva, Henry Clerval, who has come to join Victor at the university. After they exchange greetings, Victor takes him back to his apartment and is relieved to discover that the monster is gone. But Victors debilitating fatiguethe result of spending so much time in his laboratory while attempting to keep up with his studiesremains, and Victor falls ill for several months. All the while, Henry is there, nursing him back to health. Henry has come to the university to study Oriental languagesPersian, Arabic, and Sanskritand Victor decides to give up science and study languages also. He no longer has the stomach to continue his former pursuits. .One day, a letter from his father arrives informing him that his little brother William has been found murdered by strangulation. When Victor returns home, he learns that circumstantial evidence implicates the Frankensteins servant, Justine Moritz, as the murderer. However, Victor and Elizabeth well know that she is too gentle a person to have committed the crime. Besides, Victor has caught a brief glimpse of his monstrous creation in the vicinity and believes the monster killed William. But if he tells anyone about his creation, who would believe him? His and Elizabeths efforts to exonerate Justine fail, and Victor ends up standing by silently while Justine goes to the gallows. .The deaths of William and Justine afflict Victor with grief, sadness, shock, remorse, and guilt. When he goes on a hiking expedition to be alone with his thoughts, he encounters the monster on Mont Blanc. By this time, the monster has learned how to speak, for he has observed a family while hiding near their country home and has read several books he found: Paradise Lost, by John Milton; The Sorrows of Young Werther, by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe; The Lives, by Plutarch; and The Ruins of Empire, by Constantin-Franois de Chasseboeuf Volney. He even befriended the elderly head of the family, a blind man, while the other members of the family were away. But when the other family members returned, they reacted to his grotesque appearance by driving him away. .The monster now tells Victor what has come to pass since that fateful night in the laboratory. .Forlorn, angry that Victor had created him as a hideous creature abhorred by society, he vowed revenge on his creator. From Victors notebooks, he discovered where the Frankenstein family resided. One day he went to Geneva looking for Victor but happened upon William in the countryside not far from the Frankenstein home. William had wandered off while playing. Unaware that the boy was a Frankenstein,