Cain |2

Dominique Cain

Mrs. Carter

AP Literature

10 December 2014

Frankenstein Album Analysis

In Mary Shelleys gothic novel, Frankenstein, the question of man vs. monster is explored. Numerous scenes throughout the novel are symbolic of melancholy tones that can be produced into a soundtrack. When choosing songs that match the scenery or the depiction of characters, one must think of the eerie romanticism occurring throughout the novel the role of nature, and the boundaries and limitations placed on the monster, or even the quest for a scientifically ideal perfect and seamless human. Black Beauty, Seven Devils, and Oats in the Water are song choices that match seamlessly with the eerie, beautiful quality of the novel.

In chapter 17, the monster begs Victor to make him a companion, someone whom he can whom he can interchange love and sympathies with (Shelley, 174). The monster often states that throughout the novel that if any being felt emotions of benevolence towards [him] , [he would] return them an hundred and an hundred fold; for that one creature's sake, [he] would make peace with the whole kind!" (Shelley, 130). This is symbolic of the love the monster longs for. In the song Black Beauty by Lana Del Rey, she sings a lullaby of pain, reflecting on how she wishes her lover would understand that there is beauty in the world, and he mustnt bask in the ugly, hence, this is why he has never seen anything beautiful. In the lines I paint my nails black, I dye my hair a dark shade of brown [] I paint the sky black, you said if you could have your way, youd make a night time what a day, she sings of how she would mold herself for her lover to reciprocate love as well. As no one in the novel recognizes the inner beauty of the monster, the singers lover doesnt as well.

In Seven Devils by Florence + the Machine, she sings of vengeance and destruction. The lines holy water cannot help you now, a thousand armies cannot keep me out [] see I have to burn your kingdom down [...] 'til I tear the walls, til I save your heart, and take your soul. The song is about Mary Magdalene and reckoning - Mary was born with the seven deadly sins, and for years was symbolized as a harlot but turned to Christ, he whom removed the seven deadly sins and made her pure, hence, Apostles and the Beloved of Jesus. This song is a song of vengeance and change, the eminent destruction of another person and in turn the destruction of oneself in the process. In the novel Victor makes a promise to the Monster to create a companion, yet breaks his promise in fear that the Monster's companion won't want to live in seclusion, consequently Victor punishes the Monster by not creating his companion. In turn, his punishing of the Monster, turns on him, as the Monster declares vengeance Remember that I have power [...] You are my creator, but I am your master; obey!' [...] Your=hours will pass in dread and misery, and soon the bolt will fall which must ravish from you your happiness forever [...]" (Shelley 204-205). Like the song, nothing will be left un-scathed and in the end, the other would be changed. Yet they would be forever scorned, deadened by whatever the other has done. Hence, the ending of the novel in which Victor dies and the monster believes he too can die then.

In the song Oats in the Water by Ben Howard he sings the lines go your way, Ill take the long way round [] and hold your gates, as I croak in the midas touch, a joke in the way we rust, and breathe again [] therell be things you never asked her, oh how they tear at you now. Coke is a high carbon material derived from coal and used in the process of smelting iron ore to make steel. In a Greek mythology tale, Midas was a king who turned things to gold by his touch which of course was a curse, not a blessing because even his food and drink turned to gold, eventually killing him of hunger despite his wealth. In gold smelting, coke is not normally used as it would be an impurity in the gold. "Coke in the midas touch" is a metaphor possibly meaning that there is a cost to comfort and riches. This metallurgical metaphor is consistent with the next line which says "a joke in the way we rust." Again, rust destroys, just as coke would ruin the purity of gold. Hence, the purity of Elizabeth in the novel. When Elizabeth dies she is ruined as gold would be; Victor states why am I here to relate the destruction of the best and the purest creature on earth? (Shelly, 241-242) Victor and the monster ruined Elizabeths purity.

Black Beauty, Seven Devils, and Oats in the Water are pure reflections of Shellys complex and sophisticated novel and the eerie quality of absent tones. Like the hidden meaning behind the novel, each song has a deeper and a more complex meaning. Works Cited

Hollar, Lisa M. "Jezri's Nightmares: Frankenstein's Castle." Jezri's Nightmares: Frankenstein's Castle. Blogger, 3 Aug. 2012. Web. 10 Dec. 2014.

Howard, Benjamin J. Oats in the Water. Ben Howard. 2012. MP3.

Rey, Lana D. By Rick Nowels. Black Beauty. Lana Del Rey. Paul Epworth, 2013. MP3.

Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft, and Maurice Hindle. Frankenstein, Or, The Modern Prometheus. London: Penguin, 2003. Print.

Welch, Florence. Seven Devils. Florence + the Machine. Paul Epworth, 2011. MP3.