Appunti in inglese su Mary Shelley - Frankenstein, Appunti di Inglese

Scarica Appunti in inglese su Mary Shelley - Frankenstein e più Appunti in PDF di Inglese solo su Docsity! Mary Shelley 1)life: Mary Godwin, was born in 1797 in a culture lover's family, there were poets, authors, and also the philosopher Percy Shelley, who became her husband giving her Shelley's surname. Two both went living in Switzerland near to Byron's home, where there was a challenge between them 3 for the best story. 2)Frankenstein (plot): Doctor Victor Frankenstein was a scientist coming from Switzerland, he wanted to create life in lab, putting together parts of died people, creating a monster. But doctor is disgusted by monster 'cause he's ugly and wrecked. Monster is an outcast left alone by everyone ( at time, a beauty aspect mean good person, so an ugly aspect mean a bad person) but he has sensitive. Being alone, monster refuges in nature ( rousseaus's idea), he asks to frankenstein to have a wife, but doctor doesn't want to, so monster kills frankenstein's best friend and wife. After done that, monster escapes to North Pole, frankenstein runs after him but he can't meet the monster and he's rescued by Robert Walton. In story we have 3 narrators, Dr. Frankenstein, monster and Walton 2.1) Origins of novel is a nightmare had by Shelley when she was in Switzerland. The book is based also on interest for chemistry and science of Shelley, in fact this is a period of progress, there was then an interest for innovation, expecially by cultured people. This novel could be considered a gothic novel ( there's a negative hero, a gloomy atmosphere, death, terror...) 2.2)Influences: The real title of book is '' Frankenstein or the modern Prometheus'' that means a classic influence, Prometheus in fact was a giant who stole fire of knowledge to gods, for that Zeus foced him to be chained having a liver ate by birds ( crowns) and at the end, Hercules freed him. The contact between Prometheus and book is about the fire of knowledge. Another source of inspiration is Rousseau (the back in nature to make a person better, the monster's feelings, the fact that at beginning monster it's not corrupted by society, and he's left by his father makes him really sad, like every child in this situation. There's also influence of romantic hero: monster is put apart by society so it represents loneliness, while Frankenstein represents solitude and individualism, 'cause he wants to be alone. Doctor Faustus is another influence, he sold his soul to devil for 25 years of total knowledge, he's symbol of ambition of scientist, with Frankenstein he has some thinks in common, they're both overreacher, 'cause they go over the limits of science and for this reason, Frankenstein is example of titanism ( and byronic hero too). But even if he's example of titanism, he felt guilty to had created a monster so strong and negative actions maker. So, Frankenstein realizes how much irresponsible he was ( responsibility of scientist is that they can't invent something too much big to control it, they have to have ''self control'', they have to know consequences of their actions) 2.3)Narrative techniques: Story is narrated by the characters: Walton, Frankenstein and monster. So Shelley gives a male vision of story. There're only 2 girls in story, Frankenstein's future wife and his mum. Obviously they have a minor role, 'cause: 1) Shelley published book anonymously, at her time in fact women couldn't write a book, so she didn't want to be discovered. 2)In book, women are not the only ones to procreate, Frankenstein in fact ''makes'' monster in lab, so Shelley says that is possible to create life in lab, but result is bad, it's a crime against nature 2.4)The double: The book is a representation of a strange double, here we have doppelganger, a walker with you, Frankenstein is bad side, monster's good side. Frankensteins and Walton are ambitious, and at the end of book, Frankenstein warms Walton about the bad consequences to be too ambitious. 2.5) Other themes: Themes are related to science and progress, positive and negative consequences of progress ( responsibility of scientist). We have also the idea that a bad aspect means bad behaviour, but this idea will be broke with Oscar Wilde and his Dorian Gray, this idea of aspect represents the prejudices We have also the theme of education and evolutions of monster about Rousseau's idea, Monster is