Frankenstein by Mary Shelley Analysis

Module A: Texts in Time

Wednesday, 12 June 2013

5:56 PM

• Introduction  - 4 minutes

• Through the study of texts in time it is evident that there is a realisation that the passage of time does not dissipate the reality that man has the propensity of thinking he can assume a godlike persona without giving any consideration as to the consequence of his monstrous actions

• In light of the comparative study of Frankenstein and Bladerunner, (answer and address the question)

1. The central concepts involving the dangers of unchecked scientific advancement and the blurred boundaries of monstrosity are explored in both Mary Shelley's 1812 novel 'Frankenstein' and Ridley Scott's 1992 film Bladerunner.  

• Body Paragraph 1 - Frankenstein - Concept 1 - Dangers of Unchecked Scientific Progress - 8 minutes

• (put words of the question in) is addressed in Mary Shelley's 1812 novel Frankenstein through its exploration of the concept of dangers resulting from unchecked scientific progress.

• Frankenstein is an epistolary novel which portrays the inevitable decline of the totally egotistical scientist Victor Frankenstein who oversteps man's natural boundaries in assuming a god-like persona by giving animation upon lifeless matter in the search for glory.

1. Frankenstein is characteristic of the 19th century Romantic context as it represented a culture estranged from traditional religious beliefs as nature was looked upon as the dwelling place of God.

1. The use of the itemisation expressed in 'pioneer a new way, explored and unveil the deepest mysteries of creation' in combination with the characterisation of the protagonist Victor Frankenstein - effectively highlights the dissipation of morality resulting from the ambitions of an individual assuming a god-like persona in attempting to create life.

1. The use of gothic language and dark imagery conveyed during Victor's search for glory 'a new species would bless me as its creator as, many happy and excellent natures would owe their being to me'  - strongly emphasises that the unchecked scientific progress involved in Victor's hubris attempt to create life is extremely dangerous as 'no man should play God.'

1. Shelley's employment of dark imagery and pathetic fallacy expressed 'a shattered wreck ... the shadow of a human being' -  effectively conveys that unchecked scientific progress resulting from an individual's obsession with science and vengeance will result in the ultimate betrayal of their loved ones strongly signified by the idea 'it's a filthy process' highlighting the monstrosity of Victor Frankenstein's betrayal.

1. Through the concept of the danger of unchecked scientific progress explored in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (link back to the question)

• Body Paragraph 2 - Bladerunner  - Concept 1  - Dangers of Unchecked Scientific Progress - 8 minutes

• (put words of the question in) is analogously addressed in Ridley Scott's 1992 film 'Bladerunner' through its exploration of the concept of dangers resulting from unchecked scientific progress.

• Bladerunner explores the journey and hardships of synthetically created replicants who attempt to survive in a dystopic, futuristic  society.

1. Bladerunner is a product of 20th century America within the context of escalating consumerism and the negativity of Reganism and Thatcherism which created societies that favoured the wealthy to the detriment of the lower classes, resulting in societies that experienced continuous social unrest resulting from the inequality of living standards.

1. The utilization of the panning shot from left to right of the golden pyramid like structure of Tyrell Corporation during the opening scene along with the highly haunting, mechanical synthesised music effectively -  emphasises the monumental nature and the imposing influence of the Tyrell Corporation on the environmentally degraded planet highlighting the monstrosity of the protagonist Tyrell who has exploited the dangers of unchecked scientific progress for personal profit.

1. The repetition of the word 'human' conveyed in Tyrell hubris  statement 'Commerce is our goal here at Tyrell, more human than human' with the closeup shot of the reflection on Tyrell's glasses highlights that Tyrell's moral short-sightedness has resulted in his actions of playing god through the mass production of replicants.

1. Tyrell's ultimate betrayal of Batty is expressed through the biblical allusion 'prodigal son' in 'Revel in your time … you have burned very brightly Roy. Look at you. You're the prodigal son. You're quite a prize' is analogous to Victor's betrayal of his creation, further signifying the monstrosity of individuals who attempt to play god.

1. Through the concept of the dangers of unchecked scientific progress explored in Ridley Scott's Bladerunner (link back to the question)

• Body Paragraph 3 - Frankenstein - Concept 2 - Blurred boundaries of monstrosity - 8 minutes

• (put words of the question in) is addressed in Mary Shelley's 1812 novel Frankenstein through its exploration of the concept of the blurred boundaries of monstrosity.

• Shelley's employment of dark and death-like imagery in 'eliminate his miserable frame with the sole motivation of preventing future generations to create such another as I have been' along with the use of biblical allusion when the monster is regarded as 'the fallen angel' highlights that the monster struggles with the reality that he has transgressed as he considers suicide the only methodology by which he can appease his misdemeanours.

1. The use of a frustrated and angry tone in 'Accused creator why did you form a monster so hideous that even you turned from me in disgust' highlights the monster's  extreme internal confusion at the pointlessness of his creation which successfully conveys the irony that the monster behaves more humane than his creator.

1. The use of rhetoric and the repetition of 'pity' 'I was the benevolent one … why should I pity man more than man pities me' effectively shows that the artificial creation of the monster is justified in his actions of retaliation against an immoral, discriminatory society which is less humane than the monster exploring the concept of the blurred boundaries of monstrosity.

1. The monster's gothic language employed in 'the miserable and the abandoned on abortion to be spurned, and kicked and trampled on' is characteristic of Mary Shelley's 19th century Romantic context in which people believed in supernatural phenomenon also conveys that the monster was justified in his murderous actions as he was simply retaliating against the abuse of an inhumane society.

1. Through the concept of the blurred boundaries of monstrosity explored in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (link back to the question)

• Body Paragraph 4  - Bladerunner  - Concept 2 - Blurred boundaries of monstrosity - 8 minutes

• (put words of the question in) is address in Ridley Scott's 1992 film Bladerunner through its exploration of the concept of the blurred boundaries of monstrosity.

• The concept of the blurred boundaries of monstrosity is explored in Bladerunner through Ridley Scott's use of the eye motif where the eye is the window to the soul -  in the violence of Tyrell's killing along with the close up shot of Batty gouging out his eyes depicts a soulless society where the eye is utilized as a methodology to discriminate between the replicants and Bladerunners which is indicative of a dystopic society relevant to the time frame of Reaganism and Thatcherism.
• The employment of the character Chew conveys the irony showing that Chew still has eyes but he cannot see the immorality of humans that Roy Batty sees highlighted by the significance of Batty's moral struggle 'Chew if you could only see what I've seen with your eyes. I've seen things you people wouldn't believe.'

1. In Bladerunner the blurred boundaries of monstrosity are explored in the character Deckard through his confrontation with chief officer Bryant 'I was quit when I came in here. I'm twice as quit now' highlights Deckard's humanity in an inhumane world as he no longer wishes to continue killing for no definitive purpose, signified by the close up shot of the killing of Zhora and an instantaneous image of Deckard seeking refuge in alcohol which reinforces the idea the possibility that he may be a replicant.
2. The greatest example of Deckard's humanity is the reality that he is ordered to kill Rachel but he simply cannot 'air her out' as he has developed feelings for her signified by the final shot of Rachel and Deckard entering the lift successfully highlighting the concept of the blurred boundaries of monstrosity.

1. Through the concept of the blurred boundaries of monstrosity explored in Ridley Scott's Bladerunner (link back to the question)

• Conclusion  - 4 minutes

• Through the study of texts in time it is evident that there is a realisation that the passage of time does not dissipate the reality that man has the propensity of thinking he can assume a godlike persona without giving any consideration as to the consequence of his monstrous actions

• In conclusion, both Mary Shelley's 1812 novel Frankenstein and Ridley Scott's 1992 film Bladerunner explore the idea that (put the wording of the question) through the examination of the key concepts involving the dangers of unchecked science and the blurred boundaries of monstrosity.