I read Ellen Moers analysis on the book Frankenstein. The title of her article is Female Gothic: The Monster’s Mother! I picked this particular analysis to write on because it is so different from how I read the book. Ellen Moers begins to explain what Gothic writings where considered in that time period. I believe that Moers wrote this to portray the relationship between a child and mother. During the time Frankenstein was written Shelly had given birth to many babies which most did not survive. Moers believes that this tragedy played a major roll in the process of writing. Ellen Moers even says in her article, “She (speaking of Shelly) brought birth to fiction not as realism, but as Gothic fantacy”. (Moers pp 217)
I definitely read Frankenstein differently in some ways. I read it in the aspect that the writer is putting a relationship above everything. If you don’t have relationships and love, what is there to live for? In some aspects I think my reasoning would be similar to Ellen Moers. If I would have known Shelly’s past I may have been able to see this, but because I didn’t I focused on the fact that I thought the writer was a person who longed for relationships. I did sense that the writer had lost someone they loved and were possibly depressed. In her writing I feel like she is just calling out for a companion and that she lacks a strong relationships in her life. I think in reading all of the articles I learned many things and probably will read the book in a different view. Moers article made me really think from a different perspective. Although I think I would definitely consider this article for my essay, I think I will read through all of them again and make sure that is what I want to do.
Picture Source:http://www.shorpy.com/migrant-mother
Works Cited: Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft. Frankenstein: the 1818 Text, Contexts, Nineteenth-century Responses, Modern Criticism. Ed. J. Paul Hunter. First ed. New York: W.W. Norton, 1996. Print.
When I read Frankenstein, I didn't know about Shelley's past or much about her life. Like you, I thought the story was about loneliness and wanting to find somewhere to belong. I can definitely see and understand how losing her children could contribute to the story, but I also believe that there was much more going on in the story that can't be understood as easily.
ReplyDeleteReanna,
ReplyDeleteI like choosing posts to respond to when I see someone use the same material I was. I really enjoyed reading this section and thought your essay does a great job at explaining in clear detail what the section is about and how you feel about it. You state the author is talking about the relationship between and mother and child. I couldn't agree more with you when it comes to this section. The whole book is based around the idea of creating something personal and having a regret for it, while at the same time the perfect friend you created is searching for approval, much like what children do with their parents. The quote you used was wonderful and painted a clear image as to why Mary may have written the story the way she did because of the pain she was feeling from the loss of one child after another. Maybe Frankenstein was an outlet for her. Good job!
Hi Reanna,
ReplyDeleteI wanted to comment on your post this week as I thought it was such a great interpretation of the text. I agree with your initial thoughts of the text when you stated that you originally thought the writer was simply longing for a relationship. I would also have to agree with your opinion of the author possibly being quite depressed while writing this story.
Good Job~ Carissa
Good post. I think we are all led to think of what emotions Mary Shelly was experiencing when Frankenstein was written. There is definitely a sense of loneliness and need of a relationship. I wonder what specifically sparked such an imagination, especially when she seems to be so depressed. Good luck on the essay.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you, I picked this article also and it's a completely different perspective on the novel than how I read it. Treachery and killing lead my perspective on the story line. But deep down there is that hidden analysis, the meaning between all the lines in the novel. The message that the author was trying to get the readings to grasp, a sense of compassion and abandonment between loved ones.
ReplyDeleteI was completely agree with analysis of how this article portrayed to the book. now that i know of how shelley had lost a child and a few afterward i can see how she might have written a book about a monster just longing for love and companionship as she might have felt about wanting a child to love. Good job on your summary very easy to follow and understand.
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