Hi! I opened Zoom for us at noon today. Enjoy our talk about the novel:
6 Responses
K. Scott · February 15, 2018 at 06:04:28 · →
Hello, Lisa and Gabby,
I liked listening to your discussion. I have a question about the epistolary novel form. Like you, Gabby, I found it a little odd to be reading the novel through the letters of characters. I know that this form was common for the time. Do you think it serves the purpose of allowing us to hear the inner thoughts of characters? Stream of conscious writing wasn’t around until much later. My other thought is that it helps legitimize the realism of the novel. The letters make the novel feel more like the nonfiction writing of the time.
Gabriela Lipson · February 19, 2018 at 19:22:24 · →
Hi K. Scott! Good question! I think it does serve the purpose, as you said of setting up the framework of the novel. Because Frankenstein is our narrator, and we are only hearing his side of the story, we have to think about if he is a trustworthy narrator or not. I honestly don’t side with his account if things as much. I actually really feel for the monster. He abandoned the monster and left him alone for almost all of the monster’s young life. Do you think the early readers of Frankenstein would have had the feel empathy for the monster as readers might feel now?
Gabriela Lipson · February 19, 2018 at 19:23:31 · →
*of events as much
* frankenstien abandoned
Sorry! I hit submit before reading it through.
Gabriela Lipson · February 19, 2018 at 19:36:02 · →
Sorry: submitting again
Hi K. Scott! Good question! I think it does serve the purpose, as you said of setting up the framework of the novel.
Because Frankenstein is our narrator, and we are only hearing his side of the story, we have to think about if he is a trustworthy narrator or not. I would like to hear your thoughts on Frankenstein’s account. Honestly, don’t side with the scientist’s account of things ] as much as I feel for the monster.Frankenstein abandoned the monster and left him alone for almost all of his young life.
Do you think the early readers of Frankenstein would have felt the same empathy for the monster as readers might today?
I didn’t know writing novels in an epistolary form was common at that time. You bring up an interesting point about stream of conciousness writing. I think that the letters could very well be setting up a way for the characters to shadow the “inner workings’’ of their minds. I also think that the letters really do serve to set up the legitimacy of the novel to make it seem like a realistic work.
I also think the letters invite the reader to draw parallels between Walton and Frankenstein. There is a lot of metaphor there and a deep message about “ hamartia” that is almost akin to the message in a Greek tragedy, Both Frankenstein and Walton are pushing the boundaries of human knowledge and venturing to go where no man has before. They both have excessive pride and seek notoriety. Will their pride be their downfall?
K. Scott · February 21, 2018 at 05:54:08 · →
I think you’re right to question his reliability as a narrator. What bothers me even more than Frankenstein’s treatment of his own creation is his ability to let an innocent person be executed for a crime he does not believe she committed. He could present very convincing evidence for her innocence.
I wonder if there are biblical parallels to be made here. Frankenstein cannot cope with the implications of playing God. Justine is locked outside of the city walls, and this is one of the major reasons she is condemned. Is there some parallel between this and being cast out of the Garden of Eden?
Which is more horrifying: a nonexistent God or an indifferent one who actively despises his creation?
Gabriela Lipson · February 21, 2018 at 06:08:51 · →
K. Scott, That bothered me alot too. Check this link out. I think there are very intentional biblical allusions in the book, as you have pointed out. Have you looked into Paradise Lost, the book the creature read. It is no coincidence I think that the creature came upon this book. This link explains why Shelley might have included it in the book.
Hello, Lisa and Gabby,
I liked listening to your discussion. I have a question about the epistolary novel form. Like you, Gabby, I found it a little odd to be reading the novel through the letters of characters. I know that this form was common for the time. Do you think it serves the purpose of allowing us to hear the inner thoughts of characters? Stream of conscious writing wasn’t around until much later. My other thought is that it helps legitimize the realism of the novel. The letters make the novel feel more like the nonfiction writing of the time.
Hi K. Scott! Good question! I think it does serve the purpose, as you said of setting up the framework of the novel. Because Frankenstein is our narrator, and we are only hearing his side of the story, we have to think about if he is a trustworthy narrator or not. I honestly don’t side with his account if things as much. I actually really feel for the monster. He abandoned the monster and left him alone for almost all of the monster’s young life. Do you think the early readers of Frankenstein would have had the feel empathy for the monster as readers might feel now?
*of events as much
* frankenstien abandoned
Sorry! I hit submit before reading it through.
Sorry: submitting again
Hi K. Scott! Good question! I think it does serve the purpose, as you said of setting up the framework of the novel.
Because Frankenstein is our narrator, and we are only hearing his side of the story, we have to think about if he is a trustworthy narrator or not. I would like to hear your thoughts on Frankenstein’s account. Honestly, don’t side with the scientist’s account of things ] as much as I feel for the monster.Frankenstein abandoned the monster and left him alone for almost all of his young life.
Do you think the early readers of Frankenstein would have felt the same empathy for the monster as readers might today?
I didn’t know writing novels in an epistolary form was common at that time. You bring up an interesting point about stream of conciousness writing. I think that the letters could very well be setting up a way for the characters to shadow the “inner workings’’ of their minds. I also think that the letters really do serve to set up the legitimacy of the novel to make it seem like a realistic work.
I also think the letters invite the reader to draw parallels between Walton and Frankenstein. There is a lot of metaphor there and a deep message about “ hamartia” that is almost akin to the message in a Greek tragedy, Both Frankenstein and Walton are pushing the boundaries of human knowledge and venturing to go where no man has before. They both have excessive pride and seek notoriety. Will their pride be their downfall?
I think you’re right to question his reliability as a narrator. What bothers me even more than Frankenstein’s treatment of his own creation is his ability to let an innocent person be executed for a crime he does not believe she committed. He could present very convincing evidence for her innocence.
I wonder if there are biblical parallels to be made here. Frankenstein cannot cope with the implications of playing God. Justine is locked outside of the city walls, and this is one of the major reasons she is condemned. Is there some parallel between this and being cast out of the Garden of Eden?
Which is more horrifying: a nonexistent God or an indifferent one who actively despises his creation?
K. Scott, That bothered me alot too. Check this link out. I think there are very intentional biblical allusions in the book, as you have pointed out. Have you looked into Paradise Lost, the book the creature read. It is no coincidence I think that the creature came upon this book. This link explains why Shelley might have included it in the book.
https://youtu.be/a6sLFt6Fro4