I wish to suture Frankenstein with a dialogue bound up with theories of trauma. It is my aim to probe the linkages of trauma inflicted upon female bodies and how these traumatic bodies are not simply rendered passive recipients, but rather how the afflicted female body becomes a site of resistance; how agency can be reclaimed through renarritivization and resistance.
The spaces and geographies of theoretical female trauma contained in Frankenstein are not merely traumas unique to Shelley’s novel, but rather signifiers emblematic of and imbricated in our dominant ideological geographies and collective psyche.
It is here that I reject both the phallocentric logics of Freud and Lacan and the anti-Oedipal structures of Deleuze and Guattari and instead put forth my own framework of a non-Oedipal, non-phallic apparatus of the Real. The separation from this non-Oedipal/non-structure, the original trauma of the severing of the child from the mother (the biological excision, psychic cleaving of the I and the non-I) is what inaugurates the formation of severalties and subjectivization, the birth of the gender binary, the masculine and the feminine (a sort of traumatic construction in and of itself.)
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Mellor's Feminist Reading of Frankenstein
- Victor's Usurpation of the Feminine
- Trauma, Resistance, and Renarrativization
- A Non-Oedipal Framework
- Conclusion (Not summarized)
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This preview analyzes the text's exploration of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein through a feminist lens and examines the concept of trauma within a non-Oedipal framework. The analysis utilizes Anne K. Mellor's interpretation of the novel's critique of the Scientific Revolution.
- Feminist critique of the Scientific Revolution in Frankenstein
- Victor Frankenstein as a representation of patriarchal science
- Trauma inflicted upon female bodies and the concept of resistance
- Development of a non-Oedipal, non-phallic theory of trauma
- Agency and resilience of femininity through renarrativization
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Introduction: This section introduces Anne K. Mellor's feminist interpretation of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, setting the stage for an examination of the novel's portrayal of women and its critique of the Scientific Revolution. It highlights the apparent contradiction of weak female characters in a work by Shelley, daughter of Mary Wollstonecraft, and sets up the central argument of the text: that these seemingly passive characters are crucial to Shelley's larger critique.
Mellor's Feminist Reading of Frankenstein: This chapter delves into Mellor's analysis of Frankenstein, focusing on how Shelley uses gendered metaphors to expose the patriarchal underpinnings of 17th-century science. Mellor argues that Victor Frankenstein embodies the aggressive male scientist who seeks to dominate and control passive female nature. This section critically engages with Mellor's interpretations and establishes them as a foundation for the subsequent arguments in the text. The chapter illustrates how scientific ambition is equated with the male desire for dominance and control over the feminine, nature.
Victor's Usurpation of the Feminine: This chapter examines Victor Frankenstein's actions as a direct reflection of the patriarchal structures of the Scientific Revolution. It analyzes how Victor’s attempts to “penetrate” and control nature mirror the male scientist's exploitation of the feminine. Victor's ambition is portrayed as a transgression of natural order, an attempt to usurp the creative and reproductive powers traditionally associated with women. The chapter explores Victor's hubris and its consequences, ultimately linking it to his failure to respect and recognize nature’s inherent value and personhood.
Trauma, Resistance, and Renarrativization: This chapter shifts the focus to the concept of trauma, arguing that the trauma inflicted upon female bodies in Frankenstein, and more broadly in society, is not simply passive acceptance, but a site of resistance and agency. The discussion lays the groundwork for the subsequent introduction of the author's non-Oedipal framework, emphasizing how women reclaim agency through the process of renarrativization. The chapter connects the trauma experienced by Shelley's characters to larger societal issues, demonstrating that their suffering is symptomatic of broader ideological patterns.
A Non-Oedipal Framework: This chapter introduces a theoretical framework that departs from the traditional psychoanalytic models of Freud and Lacan, proposing a non-Oedipal, non-phallic approach to understanding trauma. The author posits that the trauma of birth—experienced by the female and observed by the male—is a foundational event shaping gender binaries and the male psyche's anxieties and phobias concerning female trauma. This framework provides a foundation for understanding the dynamics of power and trauma within the narratives that follow.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Mary Shelley, Frankenstein, feminist criticism, Scientific Revolution, patriarchal science, trauma, resistance, renarrativization, non-Oedipal, non-phallic, female agency, gender binaries, Mellor.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Feminist Reading of Frankenstein
What is the main focus of this text preview?
This preview offers a comprehensive overview of a scholarly work analyzing Mary Shelley's Frankenstein through a feminist lens, specifically focusing on Anne K. Mellor's interpretation. It explores themes of the Scientific Revolution, patriarchal structures, trauma, resistance, and the development of a non-Oedipal theoretical framework to understand these concepts within the novel.
What are the key themes explored in the analysis of Frankenstein?
The analysis centers on several interconnected themes: a feminist critique of the Scientific Revolution as depicted in Frankenstein; Victor Frankenstein as a representation of patriarchal science and his usurpation of the feminine; trauma inflicted upon female characters and their acts of resistance; the development and application of a non-Oedipal theory of trauma; and the agency and resilience shown by female characters through renarrativization.
How does the text utilize Anne K. Mellor's work?
The text heavily relies on Anne K. Mellor's feminist reading of Frankenstein as its foundation. Mellor's interpretation, which highlights the gendered metaphors used by Shelley to expose the patriarchal underpinnings of 17th-century science, provides the framework for analyzing Victor Frankenstein's actions and the novel's critique of the Scientific Revolution.
What is the significance of Victor Frankenstein's actions within this analysis?
Victor Frankenstein's actions are interpreted as a direct reflection of the patriarchal structures of the Scientific Revolution. His attempts to "penetrate" and control nature are viewed as mirroring the male scientist's exploitation of the feminine, illustrating an ambition that transgresses natural order and attempts to usurp the creative and reproductive powers traditionally associated with women.
How is trauma addressed in this analysis of Frankenstein?
The analysis argues that the trauma inflicted upon female characters in Frankenstein represents not passive acceptance, but a site of resistance and agency. This leads to the development of a non-Oedipal framework, emphasizing how women reclaim agency through renarrativization and highlighting the connection between the characters' suffering and broader societal issues.
What is the significance of the "non-Oedipal framework" used in this analysis?
The analysis introduces a non-Oedipal, non-phallic approach to understanding trauma, departing from traditional psychoanalytic models. This framework posits that the trauma of birth, experienced by the female and observed by the male, shapes gender binaries and male anxieties concerning female trauma, providing a new lens for interpreting the power dynamics within the novel.
What are the key chapters covered in the text preview?
The preview summarizes the following chapters: Introduction, Mellor's Feminist Reading of Frankenstein, Victor's Usurpation of the Feminine, Trauma, Resistance, and Renarrativization, and A Non-Oedipal Framework. The Conclusion is mentioned but not summarized.
What are the key words associated with this analysis of Frankenstein?
Key words include: Mary Shelley, Frankenstein, feminist criticism, Scientific Revolution, patriarchal science, trauma, resistance, renarrativization, non-Oedipal, non-phallic, female agency, gender binaries, and Mellor.
- Citation du texte
- Lena Dassonville (Auteur), 2016, "Untitled". Trauma and the Feminine in Frankenstein, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/346596
