Mars Shelley's "Frankenstein". A Representation of the Dichotomy of Nature versus Civilization

Hausarbeit (Hauptseminar) , 2014 , 19 Seiten , Note: 1,0

Anglistik - Literatur

Civilization is hideously fragile […] there’s not much between us and the Horrors underneath, just about a coat of varnish.
(C.P Snow qtd. in Bhimeswara 178).

What does it mean to be human and what does it mean to become civilized? Questions of origin and purpose constitute strong themes in Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein. In the following chapters the seeming interdependence between civilization, its scientific pursuits and nature will be examined and illustrated by appropriate examples.
Before exploring how the dichotomy of nature versus civilization is represented in the story and which motifs and themes are incorporated in order to create such contrast, two philosophical approaches thought to have inspired the author will be introduced and put into context. After a theoretical frame is established, ‘nature’ and ‘civilization’ as major themes of the novel will be analyzed and compared. It is hoped to illustrate how each theme is represented and what effect it has on the overall reception and interpretation.


2. Nature versus Civilization – Philosophical Approaches and Theories
Mary Shelley’s scientific gothic novel can be interpreted as a representation of a Victorian woman’s reaction to experiments in natural science and galvanic electricity. To what extend her sophisticated and critical reflection on contemporary societal issues draws from theories of much cited social analysts like Jean Jacques Rousseau and John Locke will be explored in the following chapters.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. Nature versus Civilization – Philosophical Approaches and Theories
2.1 The Noble Savage and Emile
2.2 Some Thoughts Concerning Education and Theory of the Blank Sheet

3. Representation of the Dichotomy of Nature versus Civilization in Frankenstein
3.1 Nature
3.1.1 Nature and Science
3.1.2 Motifs and Themes of Nature
3.1.3 The Challenge of Understanding Nature
3.2 Civilization
3.2.1 The Monster’s Civilization
3.2.2 Educational Differences between Victor and His Creation

4. Conclusion

Bibliographic References

• Hochschule: Universität Koblenz-Landau (Anglistik)
• Veranstaltung: Interpreting Literature
• Note: 1,0
• Autor: Janine Lacombe (Autor:in)
• Erscheinungsjahr: 2014
• Seiten: 19
• Katalognummer: V278801
• ISBN (eBook): 9783656715863
• ISBN (Buch): 9783656716006
• Sprache: Englisch
• Schlagworte: Frankenstein, Mary Shelley, nature, science, civilization, monster, Noble savage, Emile, rousseau, blank sheet, John Locke, sound body, sound mind, education, Victor Frankenstein, motif, iddentity, gothic novel, scientific novel, creating life, human, creature, romanticism, enlightenment, woman