ALLUSIONS IN FRANKENSTEIN Group 11: Kie Fujii Monica Frick Julianne Scheidler

Letters I-IV and Volume I Allusions

Letter II The Rime of the Ancient Mariner (1798) Samuel Taylor Coleridge "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.""

Redemption follows sin In the Poem: Because the Mariner Shoots the albatross, everything starts to go wrong for him and his crew. He sinned and redemption came after that. In the Novel: Walton compares his situation to that of the Mariner because he knows there are consequences and he promises Margaret that he will not do something to put others in danger.

Isolation In the Poem: Because of the Mariner’s wrongdoing, his consequence is being isolated and thrown off course. In the Novel: Walton hints at this idea of isolation already when he complains to Margaret of not having a companion on his journey.

Chapter 5- The Rime of the Ancient Marnier "Like one who, on a lonely road, Doth walk in fear and dread, And, having once turned round, walks on, And turns no more his head; Because he knows a frightful fiend Doth close behind him tread."

Guilt In the Poem: The Mariner has the guilt of killing the albatross and then leading his ship to danger. In the Novel: Frankenstein has the guilt of creating the frightening creature.

Chapter 7-The Rime of the Ancient Mariner "I could not be mistaken. A flash of lightning illuminated the object and discovered its shape plainly to me; its gigantic stature, and the deformity of its aspect, more hideous than belongs to humanity, instantly armed me that it was the wretch, the filthy demon to whom I had given life."

Gothic Romanticism In the Poem: There is a lot of realistic and mysterious imagery of the Mariner’s experience at sea. In the Novel: The imagery of both the realistic and abnormal features of the creature leads to the type of genre this novel can be categorized in.

Chapter 4-Prometheus “After days and nights of incredible labor and fatigue, I succeeded in discovering the cause of generation and life; nay, more, I became myself capable of bestowing animation upon lifeless matter." This quote reflects the idea that Prometheus was a piece of “lifeless matter” after his liver was eaten at. Once Frankenstein sees the creature he created, he is not sure how it turned out to be something of what he thought was “lifeless matter.”

Chapter 2-Paracelsus and Albertus Magnus “When I returned home my first care was to procure the whole works of this author, and afterwards of Paracelsus and Albertus Magnus. I read and studied the wild fancies of these writers with delight; they appeared to me treasures known to few besides myself.” Victor reads from works of both Paracelsus and Albertus Magnus, authors known for studying natural sciences, and him reading these works leads to him being interested in learning about natural sciences which leads to the creation of the creature.

Chapter 5-The Vicar of Wakefield ‘…I believe I left him incredulous to the last, for his constant answer to my unwearied entreaties was the same as that of the Dutch schoolmaster in The Vicar of Wakefield: `I have ten thousand florins a year without Greek, I eat heartily without Greek.' But his affection for me at length overcame his dislike of learning, and he has permitted me to undertake a voyage of discovery to the land of knowledge.’

Chapter 5 (continued) In The Vicar of Wakefield, the main character carries on a happy life until something happens when someone betrays another,which foreshadows/relates to the actions in Frankenstein with the creature, Victor, and some of the other characters.

Letter I- Homer and Shakespeare “I imagined that I also might obtain a niche in the temple where the names of Homer and Shakespeare are consecrated. You are well acquainted with my failure and how heavily I bore the disappointment.” Homer and Shakespeare are known for being authors of works of tragedies which foreshadows the grief that Victor will later go through.

Chapter 5-Dante “I had gazed on him while unfinished; he was ugly then, but when those muscles and joints were rendered capable of motion, if became a thing such as even Dante could not have conceived.” Dante had a lot of thoughts on the afterlife and they were not particularly always pleasant. The looks of the creature were not what he was expecting and were not always accepted.

Volume II Allusions

Paradise Lost “Remember, that I am thy creature: I ought to be thy Adam; but I am rather the fallen angel.” (Chapter 10) Creature had hoped to be like Adam, God’s perfect creation. Instead, he was seen as the archangel, Michael.

Cont. Paradise Lost “But ‘Paradise Lost’ excited different and far deeper emotions. I read it, as I had read the other volumes which had fallen into my hands, as a true history… Like Adam, I was apparently united by no link to any other being in existence… He had come forth from the hands of God a perfect creature… Many times I considered Satan as the fitter emblem of my condition…” (Chapter 15) It is ironic that the creature finds “Paradise Lost,” when he was comparing himself to Adam four chapters prior. This book seems to point to a creation coming from a dark source such as Satan.

Cont. Paradise Lost "I will revenge my injuries; if I cannot inspire love, I will cause fear, and chiefly towards you my arch-enemy, because my creator, do I swear inextinguishable hatred. Have a care; I will work at your destruction, nor finish until I desolate your heart, so that you shall curse the hour of your birth.” (Chapter 17) From the tone of this quote the creature became more like Satan in how he envies the good and the love that others enjoy. The creature threatens as Satan does to destroy what he cannot have.

William Wordsworth “My spirits were elevated by the enchanting appearance of nature; the past was blotted from my memory, the present was tranquil, and the future gilded by bright rays of hope, and anticipations of joy.” (chapter 12) The creature is hoping to forget his painful memories and relive his innocent childhood to feel needed and loved.

Essay Concerning Human Understanding- John Locke “Of what a strange nature is knowledge! It clings to the mind, when it has once seized on it, like a lichen on the rock.” (Chapter 13) Ever since he was created, the creature constantly had negative responses from others, and this knowledge permanently damaged how he perceived himself. He could not remove the trauma of other’s reactions from his brain.

Prometheus "I had saved a human being from destruction, and as a recompense I now writhed under the miserable pain of a wound which shattered the flesh and bone.” (Chapter 16) This quote relates to Prometheus in that both tried to save a life, but then were punished for their actions. This relates to the phrase, “No good deed goes unpunished.” The creature is only trying to help someone, but because of his appearance, his good actions end up causing him pain.

The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner "Could I enter into a festival with this deadly weight yet hanging round my neck and bowing me to the ground?” (Chapter 18) Since the theme of “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” is sin, Frankenstein feels guilty for creating a monster that will harm his loved ones.

Allusions cont. Allusions in Volumes 3 and 4

Chapter 17- Paradise Lost "I will revenge my injuries; if I cannot inspire love, I will cause fear, and chiefly towards you my arch-enemy, because my creator, do I swear inextinguishable hatred. Have a care; I will work at your destruction, nor finish until I desolate your heart, so that you shall curse the hour of your birth.” What Shelley is alluding to here is Paradise Lost by John Milton. She first alludes to this in the beginning of the play to foreshadow that it is something that the new creature is going to come across. Se alludes to it here to really push the there across of, that it is not only about the making of a monster.

Chapter 18- The Rime of the Ancient Mariner “Could I enter into a festival with this deadly weight yet hanging round my neck and bowing me to the ground.” Shelley is alluding to The Rime of the Ancient Mariner again I feel like to push the theme that she created for the story. I also think that the way Walton describes his desire to travel and explore the world. He is talking in terms of physical travel and the mental exploration of intellectual discovery.

Chapter 22-Adam and Eve "Sweet and beloved Elizabeth! I read and re-read her letter, and some softened feelings stole into my heart and dared to whisper paradisiacal dreams of love and joy; but the apple was already eaten." The roles are reversed. It is Dr. Frankenstein who compares himself to Adam. The monster's desire to make Victor as miserable as he is approaching completion.