Monthly Archives: September 2015

The Consequences of the Creator

One thing that I saw as a potential link between Asimov’s Robot Dreams and Shelley’s Frankenstein was the startling reluctance, or even fear, to confront the weighty mantle of responsibility that comes with creation. With Robot Dreams, the scientists were … Continue reading

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The Implications of Shelly’s “Frankenstein” on Human Nature and Government

Our author, Mary Shelley, and her mother Mary Wollstonecraft—best known for publishing one of the first feminist treatises, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman—lived during a period of incredible political transformation and thought, as some of Europe’s most powerful … Continue reading

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The Consequences of Vanity

As Frankenstein focused on the attractive nature of his creature’s appearance when he was forming him, the creature adopted the ideal of perfection in physical appearance when he noticed that others were repulsed by his physical being. Frankenstein’s own vanity … Continue reading

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The Blurred Binary of Man vs. Beast

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein delves into the dichotomies between human vs. non-human, and between man vs. beast, and underscores the instability of these binaries. As far as aesthetics are concerned, Frankenstein represents the human side of these dichotomies, while his creation … Continue reading

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Emotional Understanding: Brains vs. AI

In both Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and Isaac Asimov’s “Robot Dreams,” an unnatural being is created by scientists to simulate human intelligence and behavior. However, because the monster in Frankenstein possesses a human brain and Elvex in “Robot Dreams” possesses an … Continue reading

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Comment for Luke Chapman’s Post

I wanted to respond to Luke’s post but was having issues through the website so I am posting it here. I think this is an excellent question and one that there is no definitive answer to. The problem with this … Continue reading

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The Modern Prometheus: The Morality of Creating Life

In Hellenic tradition, Prometheus is a titan who stole fire from the Olympian Gods and gave it to mankind, beginning the ascent of man to culture. Zeus, enraged that Prometheus would dare give humanity an element exclusive to the Gods, … Continue reading

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Whom should we blame?

While cases can be made for Frankenstein and his creation both serving antagonistic roles in this novel, I believe there to be a more definitive villain. Both of these characters commit acts which may be viewed by some as disdainful, … Continue reading

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When is the taking of a life beneficial to the lives of others?

While reading Frankenstein after each death, I wonder at what point would it be completely acceptable to kill the monster. When the Monster finds Frankenstein and admits that he killed his brother William, why did Victor not just kill the … Continue reading

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Analyzing Frankenstein through secondary characters

  In analyzing Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, overemphasis is given to the relationship between Victor and his creation, while ignoring the surrounding cast of characters. This overemphasis skews moral and philosophical analysis of both Victor and his creation; as characters such … Continue reading

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