 Victor Frankenstein initially agrees to create a female companion for the Creature, believing it will end the Creature’s suffering and prevent further violence. However, as he works, he becomes haunted by the possible consequences of his actions. In a moment of panic, he destroys the female, declaring, “She, who in all probability was to become a thinking and reasoning animal, might refuse to comply with a compact made before her creation” (Shelley 147). Here, Victor acknowledges that the female Creature would have agency and might reject the Creature as her mate, rendering his efforts futile. He also fears that together they might pose an even greater threat to humanity, perhaps even reproducing and creating a new race of beings beyond his control: “A race of devils would be propagated upon the earth who might make the very existence of the species of man a condition precarious and full of terror” (147).
How do Victor’s justifications for destroying the female Creature reveal his anxieties about power, control, and the natural order? An interesting activity is using a Feminist Critical Lens to critique these two sentences. Why might a female "thinking and reasoning animal [...] refuse to comply"? What is Mary Shelley suggesting when she invokes the idea of this "thinking and reasoning" creature rejecting the agreements made by others and thus producing an entire "race of devils [...] who might make the very existence of the species of man [...] precarious and full of terror"? Why is this "thinking and reasoning" creature refusing to comply to society's expectation of her role as a mate so much more monstrous than the first creature? Do you see a paradox between Victor Frankenstein's worries about this female creature and his ever-compliant love, Elizabeth? Elaborate. Primary Blog Expectations (respond to the prompt above): 200-250 words, minimal errors in grammar and usage, thoughtful and thorough writing. Please use the name you were assigned in class as your nom de plume and be sure to add word count. Due by 11:59pm Sunday night 3-9-2025!  Did I request thee, Maker, from my clay To mould me man? Did I solicit thee From darkness to promote me? -John Milton, Paradise Lost, X, 743-745 (1667) The creature reads John Milton's epic poem, Paradise Lost (1667). Milton's epic poem tells the story of how Adam and Eve live in peaceful harmony until they are seduced by Satan into eating from the Tree of Knowledge and are punished by being banished from the Garden of Eden. While reading Paradise Lost, the creature reports that he initially identifies with the character of "Adam" insofar as both are "united by no link to any other being in existence" (132). However, the creature also identifies with the character of "Satan": "Many times I considered Satan as the fitter emblem of my condition; for often, like him, when I viewed the bliss of my protectors, the bitter gall of envy rose within me" (132). Do you think the character bears a greater resemblance to Adam or Satan? Why? Primary Blog Expectations (respond to the prompt above): 150-200 words, minimal errors in grammar and usage, thoughtful and thorough writing. Please use the name you were assigned in class as your nom de plume and be sure to add word count. Due by 11:59pm Sunday night, 3/2/2025! Secondary Blog Response Expectations (read everyone's primary responses, select two that interest you, and respond to their ideas): 100-150 words EACH, minimal errors in grammar and usage, thoughtful and thorough writing. Please use the name you were assigned in class as your nom de plume and be sure to add word count. Due by 11:59pm Tuesday night, 3/4/2025! Extra Information: If you are unfamiliar with Paradise Lost by John Milton, Dr. Moore of Saint Thomas University will give you an excellent and relatively brief overview considering the complexity of this famous poem. As always, remember that this video lecture is Dr. Moore's interpretation of Milton's epic classic through the lens of sociopolitical thought. You may find that you have your own interpreation if you choose to read it. Summary: Paradise Lost, an epic poem by John Milton is arguably the greatest poem written in English. What is Paradise Lost about? Paradise Lost tells the story of the Garden of Eden, God's creation of humanity, Eve's temptation by Satan and Adam's subsequent temptation by Eve. It also tells the story of the War in Heaven, when Satan rebelled against God and fell to Hell. Paradise Lost is an extraordinary epic poem, its major themes include freedom, knowledge, justice, providence, republicanism and monarchy. This podcast provides a summary of some of Paradise Lost's major themes as well as some strategies for reading Milton's epic poem (GreatBooksProf).  What is a Lens and Artifact Analysis?  Today, I would like for you to read and respond to the article, "In the Minds of Others" by Keith Oatley. You should read and annotate the print article that I give you, but I will also include a link here. This article further develops the ideas from Independent Reading Blog #2 and will be of use later when we finish our Independent Reading Unit.  Click on the image above to go to an electronic copy of "In the Minds of Others" by Keith Oatley. "Literature’s Emotional Lessons: |
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