Mary Shelley s Frankenstein - 1646 Words

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is a mishmash of stories within stories within a story, and several other texts are referenced within this amalgamation of literature. The intertextual links made in Frankenstein help to provide the reader with a greater insight into the mind of Mary Shelley and her most famous work. References to the text Paradise lost and Greek mythology in the development of characters adds depth to a tale of creation and destruction, causing the questions Shelley asks about humanity to resonate far more poignantly with the reader. Frankenstein in many ways acts as a mirror, reflecting Milton’s Paradise Lost explicitly throughout the text. Milton’s purpose in writing Paradise Lost was to â€Å"justify the way of God to man†, this†¦show more content†¦Victor, like Satan does not consider the ramifications of his actions. He â€Å"ardently desired knowledge† in an attempt to become more than his father, his creator (of sorts) even if it lead to his destruction. The word â€Å"ardently† is typically a feminine and irrational feeling conveying his recklessness and contrasting the rationality of science causing the reader to question Victor’s ability as a scientist or creator. In Milton’s works Eve never interacts with god. The women in Frankenstein, Walton’s sister and Elizabeth are kept away from the main story and the action; they are used mostly as narrative or plot devices: the sister as giving someone for Walton to write to and Elizabeth as a com panion and then catalyst for Victor and the Monster’s chase. The narrator of Paradise Lost describes Adam as created for God, and Eve as created for Adam, and that she was designed for the purpose of companionship much like Elizabeth’s depiction. Although the gender imbalances of Paradise Lost are based on the current societal ideologies and those of the bible, Shelley’s depiction (or lack thereof) can been seen to suggest their importance in the creation of life. Victor Frankenstein, through his speech and actions is constructed as a symbolic parallel to God, particularly through his creation of life. However Shelley’s God figure is