Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad

Heart of Darkness is a novella written during the late 19th century that tells of a man's journey deep into the interior of the Congo of Africa. Marlow, the main character tells his shipmates of his experiences working for a Belgian ivory company during the time of Imperialist expansion into Africa. His story is told in a stream of consciousness style, and most of his tale revolves around the infamous Mr. Kurtz, an agent for the ivory company deep in the wilderness. When Marlow finally meets Kurtz, he is quite confused and disappointed.

Send Me to Graves End


“The air was dark above Gravesend, and farther back still seemed condensed into a mournful gloom, brooding motionless over the biggest, and the greatest, town on earth” (3).

Gravesend is a town located on the south banks of the Thames in Kent, England. Throughout the history of the town, it has played a vital role in England’s commerce and trade industry. The close relationship between Gravesend and the river Thames has allowed the economy of the town and, in some cases, the country as well, to prosper.

Architecture Dominoes


“The Accountant had brought out already a box of dominoes, and was toying architecturally with the bones” (3).

Dominoes is a game played with small tiles traditionally made out of ivory or small bones. Originally started in China, the game traveled to Europe through the Silk Road, and the Europeans’ added their adaptations to it, modernizing the style to the way it is today. Many variations of the game can be played, but the classic game involves matching the tiles in a chain form.

Sir John Francis Drake Franklin


“It had known and served all the men of whom the nation is proud, from Sir Francis Drake to Sir John Franklin, knights all” (4).

Sir Francis Drake was a sailor from the 16th century who took a small fleet of ships on a lengthy voyage that was supposed to take them into the Nile River, but their true destination was the Pacific Ocean. After losing most of his fleet, he eventually circumnavigated the globe taking three years and accumulating approximately 36,000 miles on his ship.

Sir John Franklin led an expedition into the Arctic during the 19th century that proved to be quite dangerous. Leading his 129 men into the Arctic, he searched for a passage across the top of the North American continent. After years without word from the explorers, search expeditions were sent out to find the missing voyagers; the search crews discovered bodies of several crewmembers frozen in the ice.


Works Cited:
"The Disastrous Expedition of Sir John Franklin." ESSORTMENT. 25 Aug. 2008 http://www.essortment.com/all/sirjohnfrank_reib.htm

"The Franklin Expedition." The Victorian Web. 27 Mar. 2002. 24 Aug. 2008 http://www.victorianweb.org/history/franklin/franklin.html

Seeler, Oliver. "Francis Drake the Voyage." Sir Francis Drake. 1996. 24 Aug. 2008 http://www.mcn.org/2/oseeler/voy.htm

Terror of the Golden Erebus Hind

Golden Hind
“It had borne all the ships whose names are like jewels flashing in the night of time, from the Golden Hind returning with her round flanks full of treasure, to be visited by the Queen’s Highness and thus pass out of the gigantic tale, to the Erebus and Terror, bound on other conquests—and that never returned” (4).

The Golden Hind is the only ship of Sir Francis Drake’s that survived his three-year voyage around the globe. When it returned to England, its holds were full of treasures from every corner of the world, their value totaling an estimated £600,000 in 1580 (equivalent to around £25 million today).

The Erebus and the Terror were the two ships that Sir John Franklin commandeered when searching for the Northwest Passage. Neither ship returned to docks in England.

Works Cited:

Ward, Paul. "Erebus and Terror, Ships of the Antarctic Explorers." Cool Antartica. 17 Aug. 2008. 25 Aug. 2008 http://www.coolantarctica.com/antarctica%20fact%20file/history/antarctic_ships/erebus_terror_franklin.htm

"The Voyage." Golden Hind. 25 Aug. 2008 http://www.goldenhind.co.uk/education/worksheets/voyage.html

The Chapman Shone Strongly


“The Chapman lighthouse, a three-legged thing erect on a mud-flat, shone strongly” (4).

Built in 1849, the Chapman lighthouse was the last of the lighthouse to be built on the Thames River. It served as a great tool during both world wars, providing guidance to the many ships assembling forces on the river. In Heart of Darkness, the light produced by the lighthouse symbolizes civilization, as Marlow refers to the uncivilized areas as “darkness.”

Works Cited:
"London River Thames Lighthouses." 25 Aug. 2008 http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/amphiaraus1/page7.html

Old Romans

“I was thinking of very old times, when the Romans first came here, nineteen hundred years ago” (5).

In 43 A.D., the Roman Empire expanded into what is today called England. Emperor Claudius sent men into southern England, which was quickly taken over by the Romans. This invasion lends to the first ever written history of England. Around 400 A.D. the Romans withdrew to defend their homeland, leaving England to fend for itself and prosper into the country it is today.



Works Cited:
"The Romans in Britain 43-410 AD." History-UK. 26 Aug. 2008 http://www.historic-uk.com/historyuk/england-history/romanengland.htm

No Falernian, No Ashore

“No Falernian wine here, no going ashore” (5).

The grapes for Falernian wine were grown on the slopes of Mt. Falernus in ancient Rome. It was generally served to emperors, and was one of the more expensive types of wine, generally unavailable to the public. Marlow refers to the Falernian wine when he is talking about the lack of extravagance on the ship, and how there is not much for a civilized man to eat.


Works Cited:
"Falernian Wine." Wikipedia. 17 July 2008. 26 Aug. 2008 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falernian_wine

Buddha Flower


“He had the pose of a Buddha preaching in European clothes and without a lotus-flower” (6).

Guatama Buddha is the founder of the religion, Buddhism. Buddhists believe in seeking a state of enlightenment and truth. The lotus-flower is symbolic to Buddhists, representing spiritual and mental purity. If the narrator is comparing Marlow to Buddha, he could be hinting that he is not mentally or spiritually pure.
Works Cited: "Buddhist Lotus Symbol." Religion Facts. 17 Apr. 2004. 26 Aug. 2008 http://www.religionfacts.com/buddhism/symbols/lotus.htm

Steamboats!


“I thought to myself, they can’t trade without using some kind of craft on that lot of fresh water—steamboats!” (8).

Steamboats play an important role in this novel. Without the steamboat, Marlow would be unable to get his crew to Mr. Kurtz, an influential man in Marlow’s life; it provides Marlow with a reason to travel to Africa in the first place. The steamboat symbolizes trade and commerce, and civilization, too.

Channel Crossing


“I flew around like mad to get ready, and before forty-eight hours I was crossing the Channel to show myself to my employers” (9).

The English Channel is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that divides Northern France from England. Approximately 350 miles long and between 21 and 150 miles wide, it serves as an important method of transportation between France and England. It enables the two countries to trade effortlessly and provides their navies with excellent defenses. It is through the English Channel that the first Roman legions invaded England and since William of Normandy in 1066, no other forces have successfully penetrated England through its Channel.
Works Cited: "English Channel." World Atlas. 26 Aug. 2008 http://www.worldatlas.com/aatlas/infopage/englishchannel.htm

War of Man


“Once, I remember, we came upon a man-of-war anchored off the coast. There wasn’t even a shed there, and she was shelling the bush” (13).

A man-of-war is a type of warship developed in the 15th century propelled by sails instead of the then-typical oars. Henry VIII had man-of-war ships developed in England in the 16th century. Shelling the bush is a term for firing the cannons of the ship into the bushes on shore.

Desire for Ivory

“The only real feeling was a desire to get appointed to a trading-post where ivory was to be had” (24).

The demand for ivory started around 500 B.C., and continues to this day. During the 19th century, the demand was at its peak, brining many ivory companies into Africa in search of the precious material. Ivory is a symbol for affluence and luxury due to its rarity, even today.


Works Cited: Stoddard, Ed. "Ivory trade has blood-soaked history in Africa." Planet Ark. 15 Nov. 2002. 26 Aug. 2008 http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/18599/newsDate/15-nov-2002/story.htm

Mephistopheles-Mâché


“I let him run on, this papier-mâché Mephistopheles…” (26).

Mephistopheles is one of the many names given to a representation of the devil. Mephistopheles appears in the drama Faust, in which the title character makes a deal with Mephistopheles, trading knowledge for his soul. In many ways he represents sin through greediness. Marlow calls this man a papier-mâché Mephistopheles because of his greed to be assistant-manager of the ivory company.

Works Cited:
"Mephistopheles." Wikipedia. 25 Aug. 2008 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/mephistopheles

Pocket Full of Rivets

"Rivets had rolled into the grove of death. You could fill your pockets with rivets for the trouble of stooping down—and wasn’t one rivet to be found where it was wanted” (28).

Rivets are a type of bolt used for attaching two pieces of metal together. Rivets were used before welding techniques were invented. Buildings such as the Eiffel Tower and the Sydney Harbour Bridge were built using the riveting technique. Marlow wants rivets more than anything because they are a small connection to the civilization that he left behind when he voyaged into the Congo.

Pigeon Passion


“The passion of his life was pigeon-flying” (29).

Pigeon flying is the sport of racing homing pigeons that have been trained solely for that purpose. It originated in Belgium in 1818 when the first long distance race was held. Pigeons are transported to their starting location and released; they immediately gain their whereabouts and head for their home lofts. It takes around five years for the pigeons to reach their peak flying distances and are able to fly for their entire racing career.


Works Cited:
"Pigeon-Flying." LoveToKnow Classic Encyclopedia. 22 Sept. 2006. 25 Aug. 2008

Sluggish Steamboat

“…crept the little begrimed steamboat, like a sluggish beetle crawling on the floor of a lofty portico” (35).

A portico is a type of covered porch supported by columns typically found in the southern United States, with the influence originating in Greece and Rome. Conrad uses the imagery of a small, deliberate beetle crawling across the floor of a large porch to relate the sluggishness and insignificance that the steamboat feels as it slowly works its way up the river.

Lip Bone


“…and a piece of polished bone, as big as a watch, stuck flatways through his lower lip” (36).

The placement of a piece of bone into the lower lip of a man is a tradition in many African cultures that is still practiced today. After a child was born, the mother would pierce his or her lip with a thorn, and place stalks of grass through the holes in order to cause the hole to expand. Gradually the hole became large enough to place pieces of bone or ivory into the lip hole. The size of the lip plug is often a representation of the wealth of the person, the greater the size, the wealthier the person.

Towser Towson

“Its title was, ‘An Inquiry into some Points of Seamanship,’ by a man Towser, Towson—some such name—Master in his Majesty’s Navy” (37).

The book Marlow references, An Inquiry into some Points of Seamanship, appears to be a combination of several different books: a manual on seamanship written by Alfred Henry Alston, two books by J.T. Towson filled with navigation tables, and An Inquiry Relative to Various Important Points of Seamanship, written by Nicholas Tinmouth.


Works Cited:
Tredell, Nicolas, ed. Joseph Conrad : Heart of Darkness. New York: Columbia UP, 1999. 164-65. Google Book Search. 26 Aug. 2008 . http://books.google.com/books?id=utiivlf37bsc&pg=pa165&lpg=pa165&dq=an+inquiry+relative+to+various+important+points+of+seamanship&source=web&ots=k_vtyjz5bw&sig=kj5yd0qbw3efptow1ptfpg_lwhm&hl=en&sa=x&oi=book_result&resnum=8&ct=result#ppa165,m1

Blinding Fog


“When the sun rose there was a white fog, very warm and clammy, and more blinding than the night” (39).

Here Conrad is playing on the theme of darkness by using fog as a symbol for it. Marlow’s steamboat is trapped in the fog in the middle of the river and he is unable to direct it safely out. After a few hours of laying anchor in the fog, it teases the crew by thinning for a few moments, but not long enough to allow any movement to be made. Conrad shows how life in the Congo has been distorted by Imperialism. The fog also makes it seems as though the land has a mind of its own and is preventing the steamboat from going any farther.

Cannibalized Civility

“ ‘Catch ‘im,’ he snapped, with a bloodshot widening of his eyes and a flash of sharp teeth—‘catch ‘im. Give ‘im to us.’ ‘To you, eh?’ I asked; ‘what would you do with them?’ ‘Eat ‘im!’ he said curtly” (41).

One of the most prominent themes of the novel, the contrast between civilized man and uncivilized man is displayed in this dialogue between Marlow and one of the cannibals working for him. The cannibals on the steamboat have refrained from eating human flesh for many months while employed by Marlow, and they jump at the chance to have a taste of meat again. To Marlow, this is repulsive, but he acknowledges the need that even uncivilized men need sustenance.

Brutal Rifle


“It contained a couch, two camp-stools, a loaded Martini-Henry leaning in one corner, a tiny table, and the steering-wheel” (44).

A Martini-Henry is a type of rifle used to by the British during their colonial expansion. It was used for approximately fifty years and any surviving today are popular items in collector’s gun cabinets. In the pilot-house the rifle symbolizes the brutality among peacefulness that Marlow encounters in the Congo.

Works Cited:
Atkin, Jason. "Martini-Henry Rifles and Carbines." The Martini-Henry. 20 Aug. 2007. 26 Aug. 2008 http://www.martinihenry.com/

Fool of Power

“Of course you may be too much of a fool to go wrong—too dull even to know you are being assaulted by the power of darkness” (49).

Darkness is a recurring symbol and theme throughout the novel. Its importance is evident, as it lends to the title, but its exact meaning is mysterious. It seems to apply to several of the places that Marlow speaks of, but the connections are vague. Here it is acts as a powerful force that restricts the mind preventing the person from realizing its effects on them. Its power is unknown, but if looking at it as a typical darkness, it would appear to hamper the sense of sight, which also thwarts communication to a certain extent.

Society of Savagery

“I learned that, most appropriately, the International Society for the Suppression of Savage Customs had intrusted him with the making of a report” (49).

The International Society for the Suppression of Savage Customs is what Conrad renamed the Berlin Conference in his novel. The conference, taking place in 1884, was designed to divide Africa among the countries of Europe. It also regulated trading to and from Africa during the Imperialism period. Part of the Congo Basin was given to the Belgian King Leopold II, whose savage ruling caused half the population to die during his reign, leading Conrad to naming the conference the International Society for the Suppression of Savage Customs.

Works Cited: Rosenberg, Matt. "Berlin Conference of 1884-1885 to Divide Africa." About.com. 26 Aug. 2008 http://geography.about.com/cs/politicalgeog/a/berlinconferenc.htm

Photo Credit: http://www.brazza.culture.fr/img/missions/iconos/conference_berlin/al_conf_berlin_99_1.jpg

Savage Deity

“He began with the argument that we whites, from the point of development we had arrived at, ‘must necessarily appear to them [savages] in the nature of supernatural beings—we approach them with the might as of a deity,’” (50).

Marlow foreshadows the relationship between Mr. Kurtz and the savages living around him when he talks of a paper Kurtz forces him to read. Kurtz explains that due to the level of advance the whites have over the savage natives, they appear to be powerful gods, and the natives are open-minded enough to believe that they are.

Idol Kurtz

“I suppose it did not occur to him Mr. Kurtz was no idol of mine” (58).

Marlow here shows that it is possible not to worship Kurtz, which seems impossible to the Russian who absolutely dotes on Kurtz. An idol is a person, object, or image that serves as the center of worship; it also refers more directly to a false god. Idolatry, the practice of worshiping an idol, is a common strand of religion found in Africa.

Photo Credit:

Jupiter's Arms


“Some of the pilgrims behind the stretcher carried his arms—two shot-guns, a heavy rifle, and a light revolver-carbine—the thunderbolts of that pitiful Jupiter” (60).

Marlow is comparing Kurtz to Jupiter, the Roman god of rain, thunder, and lightning. Jupiter was the most worshiped god and fathered Mars, making him the grandfather of Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome. Jupiter uses lightning and thunderbolts as his weapons, while Kurtz must resort to physical weapons such as guns to control his followers.

Monday, August 25, 2008

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Frankenstein is a gothic novel written in the 19th century. It tells the story of young Victor Frankenstein's experiments into the sciences and creation of life from bodies. Frankenstein creates a murderous monster who wants nothing more than a companion of his own. When Frankenstein refuses to create another hideous creature, the monstrosity takes his revenge on Frankenstein’s bride. Frankenstein devotes the remainder of his life to tracking down his creature and removing it from the world.

A Child’s Joy


“The joy a child feels when he embarks in a little boat, with his holiday mates on an expedition of discovery up his native river” (2).

Shelley’s diction here sets the tone for Walton’s voyage. The emotions a child experiences when embarking on a journey such as this are not of fear but excitement. Walton understands that he is setting off on a dangerous voyage, but that does not keep him from feeling giddy about what lies ahead.

As Great as Homer and Shakespeare

Homer

“I imagined that I might also obtain a niche in the temple where the names of Homer and Shakespeare are consecrated” (2).



Homer is a Greek bard best known for his two epic poems, the Iliad and the Odyssey. Both center around the Trojan war and its effect on the warriors. The two epic poems have been placed among the many classics in literature for defining Greek culture.


The author of 37 plays, and many poems and songs, William Shakespeare is considered by many to be one of the greatest playwrights of English literature. His works range from comedies to tragedies, with a few histories thrown in between.


Walton wishes to be remembered alongside the names of great poets, some of whom are remembered in the Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon. Shakespeare is buried in Holy Trinity Church.

Chance of Destruction

“Chance—or rather the evil influence, the Angel of Destruction” (31).

Victor is blaming another force for leading him to the teacher that will instill in him a dangerous desire to search for answers. Victor is foreshadowing his eventual demise due to his insatiable curiosity to find ways of "bestowing animation upon lifeless matter" (38). By placing the blame upon someone or something else, Victor does not feel as guilty as one who directly has the responsibility, though he feels remorseful later.

Valuable Dignity


“I must own I felt a little proud when my captain offered me the second dignity in the vessel and entreated me to remain with the greatest earnestness, so valuable did he consider my services” (3).

Here dignity is referring to a rank of some sort. Based on the size of the ship the rank could vary, but it most likely describes a type of second mate. The second mate’s duties include navigating the ship and looking after the sailing equipment. Walton is offered the position of second dignity because of his abilities.

Magnificent Keeping

“It is true that I have thought more and that my daydreams are more extended and magnificent, but they want (as the painters call it) keeping” (5).

Walton is referring to a sense of conformity and congruity to his daydreams, rather than preservation. In painter’s terms, keeping is to maintain the harmony of a painting, typically concerning the placement of objects in the background and the foreground.

Worn and Woeful

“I am going to unexplored regions, to ‘the land of mist and snow,’ but I shall kill no albatross; therefore do not be alarmed for my safety or if I should come back to you as worn and woeful as the ‘Ancient Mariner’” (7).


The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is a lengthy poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. It tells of a mariner whose ship is blown toward the Antarctic and then led out by an albatross. The albatross symbolizes good luck, and when the mariner kills it, he is cursed forever. This foreshadows the events that will take place in the novel.

Works Cited:
"Albatross." Wikipedia. 24 Aug. 2008. 24 Aug. 2008 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/albatross.
"The Rime of the Ancient Mariner." Wikipedia. 26 Aug. 2008. 24 Aug. 2008 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/the_rime_of_the_ancient_mariner

Photo Credit: http://www.rosssea.info/pix/big/Royal_Albatross.jpg

Enraged Slaves

“One among the schiavi ognor frementi” (20).

Schiavi ognor frementi is Italian for slaves forever in a rage. Although this appears to be a historical anachronism, meaning that the time period of the schiavi ognor frementi does not coincide with Frankenstein’s story, it refers to the Italians enraged by the Austrian rule over Italy. Elizabeth’s father is a member of the schiavi ognor frementi, struggling to regain his country’s liberty. Imprisoned by the Austrian government, his property was seized and his daughter left orphaned, eventually leading to her adoption by Victor’s family.

Works Cited:
http://www.english.upenn.edu/Projects/knarf/V1notes/schiavi.html

Mystical Alchemist


“In this house I chanced to find a volume of the works of Cornelius Agrippa” (24).

Cornelius Agrippa was a German alchemist in the 16th century whose theories were quite controversial. His topics ranged from everything in the natural world to what he imagined to exist in the mystical sciences. Shelley’s husband, Percy Bysshe Shelley is said to have named Agrippa among one of his favorite writers, perhaps inspiring Shelley to include Agrippa in Frankenstein.
Works Cited: "Cornelius Agrippa." 24 Aug. 2008 http://www.katinkahesselink.net/his/agrippa.html

A State of Perfection

“Under the guidance of my new preceptors I entered with the greatest diligence into the search of the philosopher’s stone and the elixir of life” (26).

The philosopher’s stone is a stone believed by many alchemists able to transmute any metal into gold. The stone was also thought to have a connection to the elixir of life. The elixir of life would provide everlasting youth to any that drank from it. Both the philosopher’s stone and the elixir of life symbolize a state of perfection.

Works Cited:
"The Philosopher's Stone." Crystalinks. 24 Aug. 2008 http://www.crystalinks.com/philosopherstone.html

Scarlet Danger

“Elizabeth had caught the scarlet fever; her illness was severe, and she was in the greatest danger” (28).

From the 17th century to the 19th century, scarlet fever was a feared disease that usually only affected children, though adults did acquire it on occasion. Due to a lack of medical development, there was no way of curing it, and often times complications arose leading to dangerous fevers. It frequently accompanies strep throat, and appears as a red rash, generally beginning on the tongue and spreading to the rest of the body; without proper treatment, rheumatic fever can occur.

Works Cited: "Scarlet Fever." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 13 Apr. 2008. 26 Aug. 2008 http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/scarletfever_g.htm

Buried With Light


"I was like the Arabian who had been buried with the dead and found a passage to life, aided only by one glimmering and seemingly ineffectual light” (39).

This is a reference to the “Fourth Voyage of Sinbad” in The Arabian Nights. Sinbad, the main character, is placed in the tomb with his dead wife, but he sees a light and follows it to the entrance of the cave. This symbolizes the guidance that Frankenstein receives when trying to learn the secrets of life. He feels that he is led to the answers, as Sinbad is lead to the entrance of the cave.

A Thing Not Conceived


“It became a thing such as even Dante could not have conceived” (44).

Dante is a famous writer known for his epic poem, The Divine Comedy. Dante fills his work with gruesome descriptions of hideous creatures as seen on a journey through Hell. Dante shows the repercussions of sinning as horrendous transfigurations according to the severity of their sins. Frankenstein is saying that his monster is beyond levels that Dante could never have imagined.
Works Cited:
"Divine Comedy." Wikipedia. 27 Aug. 2008. 23 Aug. 2008

Condemned Black Ballots

“The ballots had been thrown; they were all black, and Justine was condemned” (72).

Voting was originally done using wooden balls that were placed into a box or urn. Ivory colored balls were used in favor of the accused, while black balls were used to condemn the accused. This allowed for a secret vote, keeping those voting safe from persecution. This method of voting was used until the 19th Century.

Works Cited:
"Blackballing." Wikipedia. 5 Aug. 2008. 24 Aug. 2008
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackballing

"History of Voting Machines." Glencoe. 18 Aug. 2008 http://www.glencoe.com/sec/socialstudies/btt/election_day/history.shtml

Dying Consolation

“But I, the true murderer felt the never-dying worm live in my bosom, which allowed of no hope of consolation” (74).

Shelley is using the never-dying worm, a parasite that feeds on the host in order to survive, as a symbol for Victor's guilt. Victor realizes that it is his fault that his friends and family are dying, and his guilt is not allowing him any respite from his remorse.

Pierced Arrow

“The wounded deer dragging its fainting limbs to some untrodden brake, there to gaze upon the arrow which had pierced it, and to die, was but a type of me” (81).

Victor sees himself as a deer that has been fatally injured with an arrow and has gone off to die alone in misery. Victor's use of imagery in describing his feelings as a deathly condition allows the tone of the scene to be somber. He no longer feels the same ties to his family and friends that he had before his monster started murdering them, and he imagines that he is simply waiting for his life to end.

Thy Fallen Angel


“Remember that I am thy creature; I ought to be thy Adam, but I am rather the fallen angel, whom thou drivest from joy for no misdeed” (87).

Referencing Paradise Lost, Frankenstein's monster explains to Frankenstein that as his creator he should not be eschewing him as God does with Satan. In Paradise Lost, Adam is created in God's likeness while Satan, the “fallen angel” is driven from Heaven for rebelling. Frankenstein’s monster feels more of a connection to the fallen angel than to Adam, for his creator refuses to acknowledge his existence.

Divine Hell

“It presented to me then as exquisite and divine a retreat as Pandemonium appeared to the demons of hell after their sufferings in the lake of fire” (93).

Frankenstein’s monster continuously references Paradise Lost while telling the story of the first days of his existence. Here he explains how the shelter he found is similar to Pandemonium, the safe-haven that the demons created after being chained to a lake of fire.

Paradise of Werter’s Lost Lives and Sorrow

“…they consisted of Paradise Lost, a volume of Plutarch’s Lives, and the Sorrows of Werter” (116).

Paradise Lost is an epic poem written by John Milton. Largely based around the Bible, Milton includes the story of Adam and Eve and their fall into sin, and the story of Satan and his followers. Throughout his story, Frankenstein’s creature relates himself to both Adam and Satan, substituting Frankenstein for God.

Plutarch’s Lives, also known as Parallel Lives of the Greeks and Romans, contains biographies of Greek and Roman men who had active roles in their governments or were legendary thinkers of their time. Plutarch pairs each man with another to accentuate collective parallels in their ways. Frankenstein’s creature uses several of the men in Lives as models for his actions.

The Sorrows of Werter, written by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, tell of a Werter’s infatuation with a married woman and his struggles with it that eventual lead to his suicide. Frankenstein’s creature connects with Werter’s feeling of emptiness; he is saddened by his death without realizing the bond shared.

Works Cited:
http://www.english.upenn.edu/Projects/knarf/Plutarch/plutarch.html
http://www.english.upenn.edu/Projects/knarf/Contexts/pl.html
http://www.english.upenn.edu/Projects/knarf/V2notes/werter.html

Admirable Lawgivers


Solon of Athens


“I was of course led to admire peaceable lawgivers, Numa, Solon, and Lycurgus, in preference to Romulus and Theseus” (118).

Numa was a great leader of Rome; Solon and Lycurgus were both esteemed leaders of different provinces in Greece—Athens and Sparta, respectively. These three leaders were peaceful in comparison to Romulus of Rome and Theseus of Athens. Romulus was known for slaying his brother in order to become king; he is seen as a formidable conqueror. Theseus is the one responsible for killing the Minotaur; he also founded Athens. He was not a tyrannical ruler, but he used his brute strength many times in order to defeat his enemies.

Works Cited:
Gill, N. S. "Romulus - First of the Seven Kings of Rome." About. The New York Times Company. 25 Aug. 2008 http://ancienthistory.about.com/library/weekly/aa121002a.htm
"Theseus." Encyclopedia Mythica. 3 May 1997. 24 Aug. 2008 http://www.pantheon.org/articles/t/theseus.html

The Torn Antelope


“I could have torn him limb from limb, as the lion rends the antelope” (124).

Frankenstein’s monster is showing a connection to humanity by displaying emotions. He is not pleased with a reaction from someone, and the only way he knows to react to this is through violence. However, the Creature restrains himself temporarily and does not harm the person that has caused him anger. He realizes that he his strengths rends him capable of immense brutality, but he does not wish to be aggressive like the lion.

The Illustrious Patriot


“We visited the tomb of the illustrious Hampden and the field on which that patriot fell” (150).

John Hampden was an English patriot central to the English Revolution. The field on which he “fell” is Chalgrove Field, where he and his forces ambushed a small army. Hampden was mortally wounded during the battle and died a few days later, coincidentally on his wedding anniversary.
Works Cited:
"John Hampden." Wikipedia. 18 July 2008. 23 Aug. 2008 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/john_hampden
Photo Credit:

Guardian-Angel Father

“But the appearance of my father was to me like that of my guardian angel” (171).

Believed to be sent by God to guard someone, a guardian angel is a symbolic figure to many people. A guardian angel can take various forms, such as a person, a dog, and its purpose it to protect someone from whatever dangers they may find themselves in. Frankenstein’s father seems to be his guardian angel because of the paternal bond between the two; he knows, or at least hopes, that his father will be able to protect him from his monster.

The Fever of Laudanum

“Ever since my recovery from the fever I had been in the custom of taking every night a small quantity of laudanum” (174).

Laudanum is a form of medicine made from a tincture of opium. Its creation can be credited to Paracelsus, one of Frankenstein’s inspirers. Laudanum has the ability to relieve pain, insomnia, and diarrhea. Frankenstein uses it to put himself to sleep after the death of his friend Clerval.


Works Cited:
Harding, Stephen, Lee Ann Olivier, and Olivera Jokic. "Victorians and Laudanum." Victorians' Secret. 2000. 23 Aug. 2008 .

The Eaten Apple


“…but the apple was already eaten…” (179).

This is another reference to Milton’s Paradise Lost, in which Eve is tempted to eat from the Tree of Knowledge, which she has been strictly forbidden not to do. After she eats the fruit from the tree, there is no way that she is able to reverse her actions, and she and Adam must pay for them dearly. Victor is feeling like Eve, knowing he has committed wrongful deeds, and he knows that his fateful actions are beyond repair.

Remembered Armada


“We saw Tilbury Fort and remembered the Spanish Armada, Gravesend, Woolwich, and Greenwich—places which I had heard of even in my country” (146).

Tilbury Fort is located on the banks of the Thames; it was built to defend London from any water attacks. It was very useful during the invasion of the Spanish Armada, one of the most important events in English history. The Spanish were the most powerful country at the time, and when Elizabeth I took the throne, invaded England with a fleet of ships. The Armada was defeated, and the new queen was looked upon with reverence. Gravesend, Woolwich, and Greenwich are cities located on the south bank of the Thames.
Works Cited: Thomas, Heather. "The Spanish Armada." Elizabeth I. 26 Aug. 2008 http://www.elizabethi.org/us/armada/
"Place to visit in Essex." History House. 23 Aug. 2008 http://www.historyhouse.co.uk/listings/tilburyfort.html

Forces Collected


“It was here that Charles I collected his forces” (149).

During the English Civil War, Charles I used Oxford as a base for his court; his Parliament no longer supported his actions, and he left London to retreat to a place where he received more cooperation. Oxford University supported King Charles during the Civil War, but after the war when Oliver Cromwell became Chancellor of the University, Oxford suffers for assisting Charles I.
Works Cited:
Ross, David. "Oxford History - Tudor and English Civil War." Britain Express. 2004. 26 Aug. 2008 http://www.britainexpress.com/cities/oxford/stuart.htm
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The Thunder of Sea

“A ground sea was heard; the thunder of its progress, as the waters rolled and swelled beneath me, became every moment more ominous and terrific” (198).

A ground sea is a sea with large rolling waves with no evident origin. Here it takes place under the thick layers of ice that Victor is traveling on, causing damage similar to an earthquake or tsunami. The ground sea ruins Victor’s chances of pursuing his creature into the vast wastelands of the Arctic.

Works Cited: http://www.english.upenn.edu/Projects/knarf/V3notes/ground2.html