Month: November 2014

Mary Shelly’s “Frankenstein” and Shakespeare “The Tempest” both explore the themes of Power and control, they do this though characterization, language and structure. Power could be seen and a physical or mental superiority it can be an object or it could be knowledge and used to control or oppress people which has been shown in these two stories. Power is the ability to do something or act in a distinct way and control is the power to influence or direct the course of someone’s behaviour. The theme of power and control has been explored through both The Tempest and Frankenstein.

When writing Frankenstein, Mary Shelley had many influences historically and socially. One of main influences of Frankenstein was the Aldine experiment which happened in 1803 when a body of a murderer was pulled from new gate prison in London and taken to the royal college of surgeons. Here Giovanni Aldini prepared to return a corpse to life. He did this by applying conducting rods to the corpse’s face which caused it to quiver. This experiment had a direct influence on Shelley novel as it is exactly what victor Frankenstein attempted to do in the story. Not only this during this period of time many people sought to think that Shelley novel seem to portray revolutionary ideas that dominated the political world at the time, since victor challenges authority (God) by creating life. The monster is much like this as it challenges it father’s authority. Yet both Victor and the monster are punished through death. Which lead people to assume that Shelley is critical the political revolution. Mary Shelley also had her own experiences that are said to influence her as she had experienced many of her own tragedies such as her two children dying in the years 1818 and 1819. However even though Frankenstein can be primarily be classified as a Gothic text there are noteworthy connections between Shelley’s language and the Romantic Movement. The Romantic Movement can be defined as a style fiction characterized by the use of desolate or remote settings and macabre, mysterious or violent.

The author of the tempest was William Shakespeare.one of theories that supposed to have inspired Shakespeare to create the tempest, was that of a true life of a shipwreck in the Bermuda islands 1609.

Chapter two of Frankenstein is a vital part of the novel as it is where victor fascination and thirst for knowledge sparked. Mary Shelley demonstrates his strong fascination for the lightning scene even by the use of her language.  “The dazzling light” and “nothing remained but a blasted stump” Mary Shelley uses these descriptions as a form of imagery. The lets the reader have a vivid image of what Victor saw and the impact it had on him that evening.

Chapter two of Frankenstein is a vital part of the novel as it is where victor fascination and thirst for knowledge sparked. This happened when he witnessed the thunder storm which is formally known as the lightening scene. Mary Shelley demonstrates his strong fascination for science in the lightning scene by the use of her language. “The thunder burst at once with frightful loudness from various quarters of the heaven. I remained, while the storm lasted, watching it progress which curiosity and delight” Mary Shelley use of the words/phases “burst” and “frightful loudness from the various quarters of the heaven” emphasises the might and intensity of the thunder strike which then captures Victor attention which is evident from the use of the adjective “curiosity and delight”. This then links to power and control because although power is the ability or capacity to do something in a particular way, and control is the power to influence or direct people’s behaviour or the course of events. It can be physical strength and force exerted by something and someone and in this case it would be the lighting and Victor seeks to control this power. This can also be linked to the social context, the Aldini experiment as victor discovers the power of electricity and the potential it has in terms of science.

In the ending of Chapter 9 continuing on to chapter 10 Victor makes a journey to the Swiss Alps. Plagued by guilt and rage of the death of his younger brother and dear family friend William and Justine, victor seeks asylum Lake Geneva. He desires to forget he sorrows in spectacular scenes nature has to offer. “These sublime and magnificent scenes afforded me the greatest consolation that I was I was capable of receiving. They elevated me from all littleness of feeling.” Mary Shelley uses the word “magnificent” to emphasise to the readers how strikingly beautiful scenes he’s currently seeing are. As well as this it is highlights the power the sublime had in helping him recuperate. The sublime is elevate to a high degree of moral or spiritual purity or excellence. This links to power and control as victor has lost control of his mental stability sought to use the power of sublimity to regain control of his mental state.

Act 1 Scene 1 of the a terrible storms casts it self upon the ship at sea. this ship carries  Alonso the King of Naples and assorted courtiers. however the power is disrupted on the ship due to the hierarchy. as the the ship is being attacked by the storm the boatswain is shouting orders to the passengers to go below the deck to ensure safety. this include the king and his courtiers“ when the sea is. Hence! what cares these roarers for the name of king?to cabin;science! trouble us not” “good yet  remember whom thou last aboard” But it obvious that Gonzalo didn’t want to allow this shift of power. moreover Sebastian and Antonio hurl insults at the boatswain, calling him a “dog” “cur” and “insolent noisemaker”.This scene shows the disruption in power on the ship as the king which would normally hold the most power, clearly didn’t have much influence in the scene and it was clear her didn’t like it

In Act 1 Scene 2 Propsero summons Ariel his servant this is evident through Ariel greeting which was “All hail great master!” then described the illusions he created of the storm which was Prospero instructions. after confirming that Ariel had followed his instructions Ariel had brought up Prospero promise to him the promise of him being freed from his subservient hood to Prospero.

POINT-

EVIDENCE-

EXPLANATION LINK TO QUESTION AND WHAT SHELLEY IS SUGGESTING/TELLING THE READER

It has come to my attention that crime committed by youth from the age 13 and over is rising.

This could be due to many factors but I think the main factor is that young people want money and they do not get enough opportunities to earn their own money before the age of 16 and sometimes after. Young people especially teenagers are influenced by the media I terms of what the latest gadgets are or what the latest clothing brand is and this can pressure youth from low income families to be desperate for money, especially that young people are very judgemental and are constantly trying to fit in. So certain youth can be a potential victim to being ridiculed by their peer’s ad that can then be turned into a form of bully meaning young people from financially unstable families could be targeted or afraid of being targeted so they develop a desperation for a source of income not only for themselves but maybe for their families.

From looking at statistics I have found online it is evident that in the last two years university fees have been raised from two thousand pounds to an astonishing nine thousand pound. These figures show how likely someone from a low income family would be able to make those payments. This can potentially lead to debt. So the desire for young people to earn money does not only come from wanting the latest clothes, gadgets or following the latest trends it come from wanting a good job and needing good qualifications and most young people want to achieve that by going to university. However with the extremely high tuition fees to get into university how can they achieve this goal? Young people could do this by having the opportunity to work form an earlier age so they can save up for their own tuition fees or to make it easier on their parent or carer by contributing towards your family living expenses.

Although, others argue that young people are immature, irresponsible and cause trouble but if so shouldn’t we as young people get the chance to change for the better, change people’s opinions and most of all prove that negative opinion wrong. Lowering the age to work could be that chance. Work doesn’t just bring the benefit or income but it helps build character, confidence, social skills and teamwork which are all key attributes needed in the future to prepare us youth for real life. After all at the age 14 we are in our third or fourth year of secondary school so 2 years from entering college or sixth form working from that age can make teenagers less dependent and more independent. This can make teens more self-reliant which is also a good trait to develop early in life.

Not only will this make teenagers more hard working it will give us a chance to stop negative views from adults and stereotyping teenagers, to prove those stereotypes wrong. Stereotypes such as all youths are violent, lazy and criminals which is completely untrue. Working from a young age can cause these opinions to change and maybe even strengthen relationships between adults and youth which doesn’t happen a lot in communities.

In conclusion, working at a younger age such as fourteen will not only help an individual from an low income family it could help the community come together not just teens or just adults but both youth and adults.

R

As I dropped to my knees, with all the strength I could gather I clutched to her dress as I unravelled and revealed all my emotions to her. The woman of my dreams. The woman that’s has always been there for me, and the only woman I have ever loved. As I released my deepest emotions upon her she comforted me with her smooth hands and showed the greatest understanding, as she hugged me with her soft hands I felt solace as she reassured me of my worries. She is the only woman that can console me and relieve me of my stress and trauma I have endured over these past few weeks.

Never have I felt so weak in front of the one person who makes me feel so strong. Without her I wouldn’t have the courage to withstand the emotional trauma of what I just experienced. I thought I could be strong but my lips started to quiver as I looked into her eyes I knew she could see right through me. As I clung to her dress she rubbed my head softly. The touch of her soft hands put me at ease but it still couldn’t stop the tears. The look form those hazel brown eyes I saw and felt the deepest compassion and sympathy that the only woman I’ve loved had for me. Only she had seen this side of me the weak fragile side, I felt venerable but yet at ease knowing I could trust her enough to express my deepest fears and emotions and yet seeing this side of me she manages to stay calm and composed and soothe my hurt and fragile soul.

I lost one of my closest friends. Right before my very own eyes, the helplessness feeling caused me to break down. As I saw the murderers reveal their gun and those bullets fly into his body and watched as his blood flow out, I tried to stop him bleeding but there was so much blood and soon enough why shirt was crimson with his blood and soon after that he stop breathing. It should have been me. In five minutes I lost not a friend but a brother he was like family. Did he really deserve this? A mother without a son, boy without a father, a wife without a husband and me without a friend.

The only things I felt that night was softness of her silk sweater and the touch of her smooth  which I found to ameliorate myself as I crumbled like a cookies in her hands. Never have I felt so emotionally broken but so spiritually consoled. It was as if I was sick with and illness and her comfort and companionship was the remedy. The experienced nourished my soul and embellished my love and trust for the only women I have been able to open up too with my deepest fears and let go my pride and cry in front off.