"all sound of joy or complacency was torture to me; solitude wa smy only consolation--deep, dark, deathlike solitude." -pg. 61
This point of the book hits on two themes developed in the book--guilt and solitude. After Justine's death, Victor is feeling extreme guilt. He thinks because he created the monster that supposedly killed William and indirectly killed Justine that he is responsible for these deaths. I personally believe he is mildly responsible, because he left the monster to fend for himself. He can't just create something, then just let it run into the wild without knowing anything about the world. Another theme this hits on is solitude. To Victor, the only thing that can cure this extreme guilt is to be put in solitude and go on a journey. This solitude also shows up in other characters' journeys, such as the monster's and Robert's and the beginning of the book.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Frankenstein 3
"I was benevolent and good; misery made me a fiend." -pg. 69
Another important thematic aspect of this book is nature vs. nurture. When Victor created his monster, he instantly believed he was a monster by nature. By birth, he was evil and was out to hurt him. That's why he killed William and indirectly allowed Justine to die. However, in the last few chapters of the first half of the book, the monster tries to argue the nurture side of his upbringing. He says he is a fiend and is evil because of what humans have done to him and how they have treated him. The monster begins to tell his story of why he is evil now. However, he shows signs of being kind-hearted at the beginning of his life, doing good deeds for the family in the cottage he stayed next to. Nature vs. nurture continues to be a theme throughout the book as we find out the monster's true story and upbringing.
Another important thematic aspect of this book is nature vs. nurture. When Victor created his monster, he instantly believed he was a monster by nature. By birth, he was evil and was out to hurt him. That's why he killed William and indirectly allowed Justine to die. However, in the last few chapters of the first half of the book, the monster tries to argue the nurture side of his upbringing. He says he is a fiend and is evil because of what humans have done to him and how they have treated him. The monster begins to tell his story of why he is evil now. However, he shows signs of being kind-hearted at the beginning of his life, doing good deeds for the family in the cottage he stayed next to. Nature vs. nurture continues to be a theme throughout the book as we find out the monster's true story and upbringing.
Frankenstein 2
"a being which had the shape of a man, but apparently of gigantic stature, sat in the sledge, and guided the dogs." -pg. 8
Mary Shelley writes this book different from many others--she gives us the ending, and we must read on in suspense to find out the beginning and middle. This giving-away of the ending does not spoil the book, however. It gives the book its most important aspect--suspense. The suspense created by revealing where the monster and Victor ends up keeps me engaged and gives the book its eerie feeling and atmosphere. Revealing the monster on a sled near the Arctic also foreshadows what might happen in the middle. This foreshadowing lets the reader know when the ending is. As Victor is running away from the monster in chapter five, for example, we know that things will change. At the end of the book, Victor will be chasing the monster as he is in the Arctic.
Mary Shelley writes this book different from many others--she gives us the ending, and we must read on in suspense to find out the beginning and middle. This giving-away of the ending does not spoil the book, however. It gives the book its most important aspect--suspense. The suspense created by revealing where the monster and Victor ends up keeps me engaged and gives the book its eerie feeling and atmosphere. Revealing the monster on a sled near the Arctic also foreshadows what might happen in the middle. This foreshadowing lets the reader know when the ending is. As Victor is running away from the monster in chapter five, for example, we know that things will change. At the end of the book, Victor will be chasing the monster as he is in the Arctic.
Frankenstein 1
"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." -pg. 13-14
The format of this book is in letter form. The most important part to realize in the letters is the frame stories that surround the different letters. The first story is Robert and his journey, recording Victor's story. Within Victor's story we find many stories, such as the monster's story. Although this may be hard to track, it is very important to follow because the characters are often similar or reflect important qualities in each other. For example, Robert and Victor are much alike in the fact that they seek adventure. These frame stories reflect more than just characterization-- the reflect theme and plot as well. The frame stories are a very important theme and aspect of the story as a whole.
The format of this book is in letter form. The most important part to realize in the letters is the frame stories that surround the different letters. The first story is Robert and his journey, recording Victor's story. Within Victor's story we find many stories, such as the monster's story. Although this may be hard to track, it is very important to follow because the characters are often similar or reflect important qualities in each other. For example, Robert and Victor are much alike in the fact that they seek adventure. These frame stories reflect more than just characterization-- the reflect theme and plot as well. The frame stories are a very important theme and aspect of the story as a whole.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
A Raisin in the Sun 3
"Guys aren't going to go for the atmosphere--they're going to go for what they see." - II.ii.96
This quote is from George, the most ignorant kid I've read about in a play. He's very shallow and only expects girls to act like they're supposed to. They're only supposed to be pretty and do housework, according to him. This doesn't fit well with the dream that Beneatha has to become a doctor. The purpose of this was to create even more tension between women and men. There's already tension with race and economic status. This scene causes differences between what men excpect from women and dreams that women have for themselves--specifically Beneatha. This also causes even more tension in the family between what Beneatha wants in a man.
This quote is from George, the most ignorant kid I've read about in a play. He's very shallow and only expects girls to act like they're supposed to. They're only supposed to be pretty and do housework, according to him. This doesn't fit well with the dream that Beneatha has to become a doctor. The purpose of this was to create even more tension between women and men. There's already tension with race and economic status. This scene causes differences between what men excpect from women and dreams that women have for themselves--specifically Beneatha. This also causes even more tension in the family between what Beneatha wants in a man.
A Raisin in the Sun 2
"But Lord, child, you should know all the dreams I had 'bout buying tha thouse and fixing it up and making me a little garden in the back--And didn't none of it happen."
This quote from Mama is a perfect reference to why the book is called "A Raisin in the Sun". The title is an allusion to a poem by Langston Hughes called "A Dream Deferred". The quote from the poem that contains the title is, "What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up, like a raisin in the sun?" The importance of this is to allude to the dreams of the Younger family. Their dreams of a huge house, changing the world, an end to racism, and an end to sexism are in risk of becoming a dream deferred. The book title alludes to the fact that if they sit around and watch their dreams pass them by and not work for it, their dreams will dry up and pass them by "like a raisin in the sun". Many of their dreams, such as a house or an end to racism, have passed them by because they have sit back and let it. However, things are changing as they get a new house.
This quote from Mama is a perfect reference to why the book is called "A Raisin in the Sun". The title is an allusion to a poem by Langston Hughes called "A Dream Deferred". The quote from the poem that contains the title is, "What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up, like a raisin in the sun?" The importance of this is to allude to the dreams of the Younger family. Their dreams of a huge house, changing the world, an end to racism, and an end to sexism are in risk of becoming a dream deferred. The book title alludes to the fact that if they sit around and watch their dreams pass them by and not work for it, their dreams will dry up and pass them by "like a raisin in the sun". Many of their dreams, such as a house or an end to racism, have passed them by because they have sit back and let it. However, things are changing as they get a new house.
A Raisin in the Sun 1
"And we have decided to move into our house because my father--my father--he earned it for us brick for brick." -pg. III.i.48
In the quote above, Walter is speaking to the man from the "Welcoming Committee". This specific moment shows how Walter is a dynamic character. Walter shows that he is dynamic by his mood swings as well. As soon as he has money in his possession, he becomes an all-around happier person. During this last scene, Walter changes his beliefs on how he should be an example to his family and protect him. At the beginning, Walter was greedy and selfish, wanting only his dreams to be considered for the $10,000 check. By the end, the money didn't matter to him and he held himself with dignity, respct, and self-confidence. Although this dynamicy caused problems in the beginning, his family was happy with him in the end.
In the quote above, Walter is speaking to the man from the "Welcoming Committee". This specific moment shows how Walter is a dynamic character. Walter shows that he is dynamic by his mood swings as well. As soon as he has money in his possession, he becomes an all-around happier person. During this last scene, Walter changes his beliefs on how he should be an example to his family and protect him. At the beginning, Walter was greedy and selfish, wanting only his dreams to be considered for the $10,000 check. By the end, the money didn't matter to him and he held himself with dignity, respct, and self-confidence. Although this dynamicy caused problems in the beginning, his family was happy with him in the end.
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