In academia, 15 years can see a variety of interpretations of even the most famous scholarly novels. Here, witness the best academia has debating the gender and sexual orientation of Dr. Victor Frankenstein, along with his motives and feelings.
Table of Contents
1. Critique one
2. Critique Two
3. Critique Three
4. Critique Four
5. Critique Five
Objectives and Topics
This work provides a collection of critical reviews analyzing Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein through various academic lenses, ranging from feminist interpretations to post-colonial critiques, to explore the underlying socio-political themes of the text.
- Feminist psychoanalytic perspectives on creation and birth.
- Miltonic parallels and the representation of gender roles.
- Post-colonial analysis of imperialism and cultural identity.
- The intersection of intellectual labor and patriarchal society.
- Literary evolution of critical theory regarding the novel between 1976 and 1990.
Excerpt from the book
Critique Two
“Mary Shelley’s Monstrous Eve,” co-written by Sandra Gilbert and Susan Gubar and published in 1979, opines that Frankenstein is a female Romantic’s interpretation of Milton’s Paradise Lost, with, “hell a dark parody of heaven” (225). Unlike Moers, Gilbert and Gubar feel the trinity of Victor, the monster, and Walton are connected in that, “all three, like Shelley herself, appear to be trying to understand their presence in a fallen world… but unlike Adam, all three characters seem to have fallen not merely from Eden, but from the earth, fallen directly into hell, like Sin, Satan, and by implication Eve” (229).
In this conception, Victor Frankenstein is an Adam figure who becomes Satan, and Walton is likewise one who ignored his father’s wishes and has satanic tendencies toward domination and glory in a Miltonic arctic hell. Victor is also at the moment of creation an Eve figure, which he then transfers to the monster. In Gilbert and Gubar’s opinion, “the monster’s bitter self-revelations are Mary Shelley’s most impressive and original achievement” (235).
Summary of Chapters
Critique one: Examines Ellen Moers' perspective on the novel as a "birth myth," highlighting the biographical parallels between Mary Shelley's life and the creation of the monster.
Critique Two: Analyzes the interpretation of Frankenstein as a female Romantic reworking of Milton's Paradise Lost, focusing on the connection between characters as fallen beings.
Critique Three: Investigates the "incidental imperialist sentiment" in the novel through the lens of colonization and the representation of "Arab" and "Turk" identities.
Critique Four: Focuses on Anne Mellor’s critique of gendered power dynamics, where Victor Frankenstein’s rejection of nature and female creation is central to his failure.
Critique Five: Explores Susan Winnett’s application of Freudian pleasure theory, arguing that Victor's scientific pursuit reflects the male-dominated standards of literature.
Keywords
Frankenstein, Mary Shelley, Female Gothic, Romanticism, Imperialism, Patriarchy, Literary Criticism, Paradise Lost, Gender Roles, Psychoanalysis, Creation, Nature, Monstrosity, Feminism, Miltonic.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this publication?
This work is a compilation of critical essays that analyze Mary Shelley's Frankenstein from diverse theoretical perspectives, focusing on gender, imperialism, and literary theory.
What are the central thematic areas discussed?
The core themes include the role of maternity and birth, patriarchal societal structures, post-colonial critiques of imperialism, and the gendered nature of intellect and emotion in the 19th century.
What is the main objective of the author's analysis?
The goal is to provide a synthesized overview of significant critical interpretations of the novel to demonstrate how academic perspectives evolved between 1976 and 1990.
Which scientific or theoretical methods are applied?
The text employs literary criticism, feminist theory, psychoanalytic theory, and Marxist-influenced post-colonial analysis.
What topics are covered in the main section?
The main section consists of five critiques that dissect the novel's depiction of the "mother," the symbolic connection to Milton's paradise, the "imperialist bent" of the characters, gendered power constructions, and Freudian pleasure principles.
How would you characterize the keywords defining this work?
The keywords are centered on literary theory, gender studies, and specific academic authors like Moers, Gilbert, Gubar, Spivak, Mellor, and Winnett.
How does the author view Victor Frankenstein's refusal to create a female monster?
The author highlights Anne Mellor's view that this refusal indicates a deep-seated fear of female power and autonomy, though the author notes that this specific claim requires further textual evidence.
Why is the role of Safie considered significant in Critique Three?
Safie is discussed as a "liberal twist" in the narrative that exposes the author's own lack of familiarity with Middle Eastern cultures, serving as a point of critique regarding imperialism.
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- Mark Schauer (Autor:in), 2012, Précis Critiques of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/230274
