Tuesday, 18 May 2010

Frankenstein comparative

Consider the gothic element and its key themes. How can they be compared to the other two texts?
Frankenstein has many gothic elements for example the use of raw and powerful emotions, '...and my passions vehement;' We are conveyed how Victor has a strong sense of ardour for his love of knowledge and the sciences. There are other moments in which raw and powerful emotions are shown for example when the creature kills William 'my heart swelled with exultation and hellish triumph' here we are illustrated how the creature thrives upon his strength. Shelley has depicted the characters to be controlled by their emotions, conveying how powerful they truly are. This is seen when Victor spends two years creating the creature for his love of knowledge, he becomes engulfed in his passion.
This feature of raw and powerful emotions can be seen in Macbeth. For example after he has killed King Duncan Shakespeare conveys how paranoid and fearful he is, 'the innocent doth sleep'. The use of 'innocent' depicts how Macbeth sees that he has committed a sin and that he regrets what he has done because of how it has affected him. Thus showing how emotionally strong he feels towards what he has committed. However this element is not as prominent in Macbeth as after he murders King Duncan he seems to become distant and is able to murder Banquo and Macduff's wife and son. Furthermore he commits these acts by abusing his power and not showing any emotions, no regret or pain at ordering Banquo killed or guilt for ordering the death of a defenceless chidl and woman.
Another gothic element that is frequently used in Frankenstein is sinister settings and atmospheres. 'the icy wall of the glacier overhung me...' The use of 'wall' has connotations of a barrier of a kind, an entrapment that Victor cannot escape. This is a key moment in which Shelley uses scenery and nature to create a gothic feel of a morbid and sinister setting that adds to the approaching climax of the initial meeting between creature and creator.
This key aspect of the gothic can also be seen in Macbeth. The use of desert heaths and 'thunder and lightning' always occurs during the weird sisters meetings. The use of this dark, dreary weather adds to the supernatural of the weird sisters as it creates an isolation in which the reader is focused just on the witches on these deserted heaths. Thus adding to the intensity of what they say as the audience is focused on the weird sisters, their language is heightened by the setting.

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