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