Race, Gender, Class

FRANKENSTEIN PRESENTATION

Mrs. Munoz – AP English IV6th period – Gemma Campos, Pierce Lam, Jenny Tran,

Jenny Yang, Fatima Zaidi

RACE• noun. any of the different varieties or

populations of human beings distinguished by: • a) physical traits such as hair, eyes, skin

color, body shape, etc.

• b) blood types

• c) genetic code patterns

• d) all their inherited characteristics which are unique to their isolated breeding population.

The Marriage of Felix & Safie•“

Almighty God created the races of White, Black, Yellow, Malay, and Red, and He placed them on separate continents." • "And but for the interference with His arrangement there would be no cause

for such marriages." • "The fact that He separated the races shows that he did not intend for the

races to mix.” (http://academic.udayton.edu/race/04needs/s98alouis.htm)

•“[De Lacey] was descended from a good family in France, where he had lived for many years in affluence, respected by his superiors and beloved by his equals”(Shelley 109).

•“Felix seemed peculiarly happy, and with smiles of delight welcomed his Arabian”(Shelley 105).

•“The Turk quickly perceived the impression that his daughter had made on the heart of Felix, and endeavoured to secure him more entirely in his interests by the promise of her hand in marriage..”(Shelley 110).

A New Race•“

…one of the first results of those sympathies for which the daemon thirsted would be children, and a race of devils would be propagated upon the earth, who might make the very existence of the species of man a condition precarious and full of terror.” (Shelley 121).• Suggests that a new race of monsters could be created with

the creation of a female monster• One of the factors that pushes Frankenstein to destroy his

work

Sexual identity, especially in relation to society or culture. The condition of being female or male.

Male vs. Female (of late 18th century)•Women’s were not allowed to get a higher level education.

•They didn’t have much freedom.

•They took a more supportive role, in caring and loving the family.

•They were subordinate.

•The society was more male dominate.

•Men can go get education, do whatever they please.

GENDER

Gender Roles within the Household

•The women in Frankenstein all have the submissive (obedient), supportive role.– The women are describe as a ‘passive woman, a gentle creature who

submits to the demands of the active, powerful men around her’ (Hale).

– Throughout this novel it emphasize the obviousness of the strong male and weak female roles.

•In the past, Mary Shelley was forced to ask her husband to claim to be the author of the novel, as women were not accepted as writers at the time. Shelley's writings focus on the role of the family in society and women's role within that family. The issues of gender portrayed in Mary Shelley’s novel have significance in the larger social and cultural context of the 19th century. This may have been caused by the time period in which she wrote that females were considered inferior to males.– In the novel, by applying the male and female roles, she had shown us

that men alone cannot create (children). Because I think despite the submissive women in the novel, there is an underlying theme that men, need women to encourage, to love, and care for them. – EX. The loneliness that the monster feels can be filled by a female companion.

– EX. Caroline (Victor’s mother) is a perfect parent . Victor on the other hand is an irresponsible one for abandoning the creature.

– Including that when Caroline had died, Alphonse was to take care of the family, however he was incapable of doing that, in which his children died.

•In the novel, Safie, is describe as a stronger character than the other women, as she defies her father in escaping to join Felix. Her spirit for independence was inflicted on her by her mother.– “ The young girl spoke in high and enthusiastic terms of her mother,

who, born in freedom, spurned the bondage to which she was now reduced. She instructed her daughter in the tenets of her religion and taught her to aspire to higher powers of intellect and an independence of spirit forbidden to the female followers of Mahomet. ” (Shelly, 88)

The Creature’s Proposal to Have a Female Created

•Out of loneliness and rejection from the events the creature experienced within the past year, he requested Frankenstein to create for him a female.• “ ‘At length [the creature] wandered…consumed by a burning passion

which [Victor Frankenstein] alone can gratify….man will not associate [the creature], but one as horrible as [himself] would not deny herself….This being [Frankenstein] must create.” (Shelley, pg. 103-104)

• “You must create a female for me, with whom I can live in the interchange of those sympathies necessary for my being. This you alone can do…” (Shelley pg. 104)

• The Creature’s arguments:• Gender Factor:• “If any being felt emotions of benevolence towards me, I should return

them an hundred and an hundredfold; for that creature’s sake, I would make peace with the whole kind!” (Shelley, pg. 105)

• Social Factor:• “I am malicious because I am miserable. Am I not shunned and hated by all

mankind?” (Shelley, pg. 103)

• “If I have no ties and no affection, hatred and vice must be my portion; the love of another will destroy the cause of my crimes and I shall become a thing of whose existence every one will be ignorant….I shall feel the affections of a sensitive being, and become linked to the chain of existence…” (Shelley, pg. 106)

• Feminist approach:• “I learned from your papers that you were my father, my creator; and to

whom I could apply with more fitness than to him who had given me life?” (Shelley, pg. 99-100)

• “Oh! My creator, make me happy; let me feel gratitude towards you for one benefit!” (Shelley pg. 105)

• Other creation comparisons• Frankenstein: • “It was the secrets of heaven and earth I desired to learn…or the inner

spirit of nature and the mysterious soul of man, still my enquiries were directed to…the physical secrets of the world.” (Shelley, pg. 19)

• On a November night when Frankenstein hoped to “infuse a spark of life into the lifeless thing that lay at [his] feet,” and saw his creation come to life, he was horrified to see “the wretch” that took him “such infinite pains and care.” (Shelley, pg. 35)

• Biblical:• “Like Adam, I was apparently united by no link to any other being in

existence; but his state was far different from mine in every other respect. He had come forth from the hands of God a perfect creature, happy and prosperous, guarded by the especial care of his Creator…but I was wretches, helpless and alone.” (Shelley, Pg. 92)

• “ ‘Accursed creator! Why did you form a monster so hideous that even you turned from me in disgust? God, in pit, made man beautiful and alluring, after his own image; my form is a filthy type of yours, more horrid even from the very resemblance. Satan had his companions, fellow-devils, to admire and encourage him; but I am solitary and abhorred.’ ” (Shelley, Pg. 93)

• “…sometimes I allowed my thoughts…to ramble in the fields of Paradise….But it was all a dream; no eve soothed my sorrows nor shared my thoughts; I was alone. I remembered Adam’s supplication to his Creator. But where was mine? He had abandoned me, and in the bitterness of my heart I cursed him.” (Shelley, pg. 93-94)

• “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” (Bible, Genesis 2:07)

• “And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.” (Bible, Genesis 2:22)

CLASS• A number of persons or things

regarded as forming a group by reason of common attributes, characteristics, qualities, or traits; kind; sort

Frankenstein’s creature can be considered a different class.

Wealth played a major role in defining the boundary between

classes.

Caroline Beaufort•D

aughter of M. Frankenstein’s friend• Eventually becomes M. Frankenstein’s wife

•Rich → Poor → Rich

•“Caroline Beaufort possessed a mind of an uncommon mould, and her courage rose to support her in her adversity.” (Shelley 15).• Uncommon characteristic in women during that period• It reflects Shelley’s feminist upbringing • Those around Shelley supported women’s rights, especially her husband

and father

•“[Caroline] procured plain work; she plaited straw…” (Shelley 15).• She still conducted “women’s work”• Had no education; held household jobs

Monster’s social status•I

can hardly describe to you the effect of these books. They produced in me an infinity of new images and feelings, that sometimes raised me to ecstasy, but more frequently sunk me into the lowest dejection.” (Shelly, 91)

•He felt that he didn’t belong to this society. He had a lonely feeling, and he questioned himself a lot. • “As I read, however. I applied much personally to my own

feelings and condition. I found myself similar, yet at the same time strangely unlike to the beings concerning whom I read, and to whose conversation I was a listener.” (Shelly, 91)

• Hale, Jessica. Constructing Connectedness. 16 09 2011 <http://www.urop.uci.edu/journal/journal01/02_JessicaHale/Jessica_Hale.pdf>.

• Shelly, Mary. Frankenstein. New York: Dover Publications, Inc., 1994.

• Definition of Class: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/class

• Image of Frankenstein’s creature: http://www.aschoonerofscience.com/just-for-fun/frankensteins-monster/

• Image of Money: http://www.freeclipartnow.com/money-business/money-bags.jpg.html

• "Interracial Marriages and the Effects on Children." Race, Racism, and the Law!. Web. 1997. 18 Sept. 2011. <http://academic.udayton.edu/race/04needs/s98alouis.htm>.

SOURCES

• The Bible. King James Version. Bible Resources.org. Sept. 18, 2011. <BibleResources.org>

SOURCES