CONFORMITY IN FRANKENSTEIN

Cody Blanchard

Cole Weaver

Erin Hynes

I had a step-ladder once. It was nice… but I

would’ve liked my own ladder…

*grunt*

Literal Meaning

Prompt: Write an essay about a character within a novel who appears to conform to society but secretly questions the status quo within his community.

Conformity is defined as “compliance with standards, rules, or laws” (google.com).

How it Relates to Frankenstein

This prompt relates to the novel because Frankenstein’s protagonist, Victor, questions society but outwardly conforms.

Six step

1- The tension contributes 2- Victor’s tension significantly contributes 3- In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Victor’s tension significantly

contributes to the storyline throughout the novel. 4- In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Victor’s tension, caused by the

conflicting relationship of his outward conformation and inward questioning, significantly contributes to the storyline throughout the novel.

5- In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Victor’s tension, caused by the conflicting relationship of his outward conformation and inward questioning, significantly contributes to the storyline throughout the novel as a reflection of the author’s own tension.

6- In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Victor’s tension, caused by the conflicting relationship of his outward conformation and inward questioning, significantly contributes to the storyline throughout the novel as a reflection of the author’s own tension: tension bred by societal norms colliding with her intellectual and inquisitive nature.

Examples from the Text

“No one can conceive the variety of feelings which bore me onwards, like a hurricane, in the first enthusiasm of success. Life and death appeared to me ideal bounds, which I should break through, and pour a torrent of light into our dark world… Pursuing these reflections I thought, that if I could bestow animation upon life with matter, I might in process of time (although I now found it impossible) renew life where death had apparently devoted the body to corruption.” (Shelley 32)

This quote shows how detached Victor felt from society as a whole in Frankenstein. It equally shows his growing obsession with science and how he has begun to differ from society at large. His desire to “break through” the “ideal bounds” of life and death is symbolic of his inward questioning of society.

Examples from the Text

“If, instead of this remark, my father had taken the pains to explain to me that the principles of Agrippa had been entirely exploded and that a modern system of science had been introduced which possessed much greater powers than the ancient, because the powers of the latter were chimerical, while those of the former were real and practical, under such circumstances I should certainly have thrown Agrippa aside and have contented my imagination, warmed as it was, by returning with greater ardour to my former studies.” (Shelley)

Here we see that Victor employs this conformity/questioning mindset at a young age. He basically conforms superficially, at least in his father’s eyes, to the scientific norm of the day and age. However, Victory is internally aroused and continues to question and seek out answers in his ‘newfound’ science.

Significant Moments

YE OLDE BOOK OF ALCHEMY

SCIENCE!

Significant Moments

IT’S ALIVE!!!

Literary Devices- Allusion

Shelley constantly alludes to events from Milton’s Paradise Lost in order to show relationships and changes in characters throughout the book. For example, the creature thinks he resembles Satan from Paradise Lost, but later realizes he is more like Adam.

Literary Devices- Symbolism Shelley uses symbolism through the

creature, who represents Victor’s struggle to both conform to society and his inner questions of it. The creature is an outcast in society, much like Shelley herself.

Literary Devices- Pathetic Fallacy Pathetic fallacy shows Victor’s inner

conflict throughout the novel. Sunshine, warm weather, and a still breeze represent when Victor is calm, while thunderstorms, rain, and hard, harsh winds represent Victor’s inner conflict about society.

Souwrces

http://us.123rf.com/400wm/400/400/shock77/shock771007/shock77100700013/7332917-funny-frankenstein-cartoon.jpg image slide 2

http://antiscribe.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/the-house-of-frankenstein.jpg image slide 3

www.commons.wikimedia.com image slide 4 www.alchemywebsite.com image slide 7 www.flickr.com image slide 8 http://

naperdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/lightning1.jpg image slide 11