Gone Frankenstein

I can't decide if I like the ending or not. Everyone in the story dies. Poor Victor died before he could chase the monster on his sled. I felt bad when the monster killed Elizabeth on their wedding night. Your wedding is supposed to be one of the happiest days of your life, and his wife died that day. However, he kind of had it coming to him. It wasn't a very scary story. Did Shelley win this scary story writing contest they had? I'd hate to see the other entries....

Blog 9

I feel bad for Victor. I don't know what I would do if I were in his situation. The monster is causing a lot of trouble. Since he created the monster, he feels as though he is responsible. He does not ever take the blame for the monster, and I can't say that I would either. He keeps getting sick because of the whole ordeal, which makes me sympathize with him. He put himself in a difficult situation and doesn't know how to get out of it, which happens a lot in life.

Poor Monster

When the monster starts to tell the story, it evokes pathos from the reader. The audience finally gets to see/hear the monster's side of the story. He was created and immediately hated by his creator. He was forced into a life of lonliness. He had to learn to survive on his own. The monster finaly gets hope when Victor agrees to make a companion for the monster. However, that hope is destroyed too when Victor does not finish the female companion. The monster is left alone yet again.

Blog 7...Irony

Its ironic how the family that the monster "creeps" on has a blind man. The monster is so concerned with his appearance and getting people to like him. It's a big coincidence that the first man he appears to is blind and can't see. That doesn't just happen in real life. Out of all the people the monster could have chosen to hide with, he happens to pick probably the only blind person within the area. Convenient how that worked out wasn't it???

Blog 6...Simile and Theme...2 in 1 =)

"Of what a strange nature is knowledge! It clings to the mind, when it has once seized on it, like a lichen on the rock.” (p 85)

The simile enforcese one of the themes of the novel. Lichens cling to rock and do not let go. This is a good comparison for the theme of knowledge. Knowledge can be very powerful and dangerous. Frankenstein had the knowledge to make the monster, yet he should have thought about all the consequences. The monster also went crazy when he had knowledge. Its like a bad addiction, or a lichen on a rock.

Blog 5...

Victor and his (remaining) family take a trip to their family home in Belrive. This begins to feel like there might be some happiness to this novel. The scenery is beautiful and starts to cheer Victor up. However, this is shortlived. The monster appears again and brings Victor down. It seems like he can't ever get a break from this horrible creation of his.

Blog 4

As Victor was telling his story, I felt bad for him. He did not create this monster to be a monster. And now, it has killed people that he loves. He does not know what to do. Justine is blamed for the murder, and is killed because of it. Victor does not know if he should stand up for Justine. He is to blame because he is the creator of this monster, yet he does not do anything. I dont know if I would have the guts to take the blame for the deaths either.

Blog 3...Foil Characters

Foil characters also play a role in the novel. Henry Clerval, a friend of Victor who is also studying at the university, serves as a foil to Victor. Henry is a reminder of Victor's past-of his family and friends back at Geneva. Unlike Victor, Henry is not filled with secrecy. Henry's good health has to nurse Victor back to health after he falls ill. Henry shows that Victor Frankenstein is not a normal man.

Foreshadowing...Blog 2

Foreshadowing plays a major role in Frankenstein. From the beginning of the novel, the reader is able to see that this is not a happy story. Walton's letters foreshadow the impending doom that Frankenstein's story will tell. This adds and detracts from the suspense. The reader is interested in what will happen but at the same time knows that it doesn't end well.

Frame Story...

The story of Frankenstein is a frame story. The outer story is Walton relaying the events to his sister. He writes these letters to tell of his journey to the North Pole. The inner story is Frankenstein himself, the visitor on the ship, telling his story to Walton. Frankenstein has lived a hard and confusing life. Walton enjoys hearing his story, hoping that the two will become friends.

LaSt OnE!!!!

Although I did not like Darcy at first, I have come to change my perspective of him, like Elizabeth did. In the beginning, he was rude and arrogant. Throughout the course of the novel, he slowly overcame his pride and changed into a new person. Elizabeth also looked past her prejudice toward him and came to truly love him. It took awhile for her to see this, as she rejected his first marriage proposal. In the end, she came full circle and the two were married. It was a good ending to show that two people really can change and overcome their obstacles. Love is a powerful thing and can bring out the best in people.

Elopements-Vegas Style

The fact that Wickham was the one with whom Lydia chose to marry was a surprise. The fact that she was even talking to him came out of left field. Elizabeth and Jane knew that she was obsessed with the soldiers, but neither believed that Wickham would be the one who Lydia chose. It was also surprisng to find out that Darcy was the one who paid Wickham off. This truly shows that he does love Elizabeth. He was wiling to spend a lot of money so that shame would not be brought upon the Bennet family. Again this shows that his pride is slowly being overcome.

Foreshadowing

When the soldiers leave for Brighton, Lydia is allowed to follow them. Although Lydia will be staying with the Colonel, the fact that she leaves to follow them foreshadows that something bad will happen. It is unclear at first, but her plan is eventually revealed to the family. The news of her elopement sends everyone into an uproar. The fact that she ran away with Wickham of all people is enough to send Elizabeth and Jane over the edge. Elizabeth feels responsible because she did not reveal Wickham's true character to anyone but Jane. Eventually Lydia and Wickham are found and Wickham is paid off, allowing the two to get married without bringing shame to the family.

Foil Characters

Elizabeth Bennet and Charlotte Lucas are foil characters. They both start off equal in the novel. Their families are in about the same standings in society. However, Charlotte then marries Mr. Collins. This marriage diminishes Charlotte. The only reason Mr. Collins proposed was because Elizabeth rejected his proposal. The Collinses put on a front of being happy. Elizabeth, however, knows the truth. The marriage has changed Charlotte for the worse, making Elizabeth and Charlotte foil characters.

Symbolism

There are not many symbols in Pride and Prejudice. However, the letter from Darcy to Elizabeth is a symbol of his change from the beginning of the novel. In the letter, Darcy explains the situation between himself and Wickham. He also says that he broke up Jane and Bingley because he thought it was in the best interest of both of them-however he now sees that he was wrong. Darcy admitting this shows that his pride is starting to subside. He is learning to be a new and better person. It also shows that Darcy truly does care for Elizabeth and was completely serious in his original marriage proposal to her.

Evil Sisters

When Mrs. Gardiner first invited Jane to come stay with them, I thought it was a good idea. She was going to get away from her current society and just get to breathe for awhile. However, after realizing that she would be moving to where Bingley was, my thoughts changed. She wants to see him and his sisters, which is a bad idea. The two sisters are evil schemers. They plot ways to get what they want without letting others know that they are being manipulated. Then when she meets them in the street, my suspicions were confirmed. They go on and on about how Bingley is falling for Miss Darcy, which is plain out rude. They know that Jane Bennet was falling in love with their brother, yet they are rubbing it in her face that he is falling in love with another woman. They are rude and need to be straightened out. They remind me of the evil stepsisters in Cinderella, always plotting to get what they want.

Numero Cuatro

I was really surprised by the fact that Wickham was not who he said he was. When he was first introduced, he seemed like he was a very nice man. Elizabeth was falling for him and it seemed as though he were nice and Darcy was the villain. So to hear that the opposite was true was kind of a shock. I was also surprised that Mr. Collins stayed with the Bennets his second time back. It seemed rude for him to stay there after he was engaged to Charlotte. It were almost as though he was attempting to rub it in their faces that he could be happy without them and that he was going to inherit Mr. Bennets estate without marrying one of his daughters.

Situational Irony

The search for love by many people in the novel accounts for situational irony. Mr. Collins comes to Longbourn in search of a wife. He also would like to clear up the air between his family and the Bennets. However, it comes as a complete surprise that he would propose to two different women in a three-day time span. After Elizabeth Bennet rejects his offer, Collins swoops in on Miss Lucas and proposes to her. When she accepts, it is a shock to all, especially Elizabeth. Charlotte Lucas and Elizabeth were very close friends, and it surprises Elizabeth that Charlotte would do this. However, she cannot stay mad a Charlotte long because of their close friendship, which is something that many people today would not be able to do. Grudges would be held and friendships destroyed by this kind of behavior today, illustrating the difference between that society and the one we live in today.

Imagery

Imagery also prevail through the novel. On page 27, Austen creates the image of Elizabeth walking the 3 miles to Netherfield to stay with her sister. Her "weary ankles, dirty stockings, and a face glowing with the warmth of exercise" "was almost incredible to Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley...". Her appearance at Netherfield caused quite a commontion between Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley. They were shocked that a lady would put forth all of that effort. In those times, that was a man's job. The image of Elizabeth arriving there is a bit of comic relief in the story at this time. Jane is sick and Elizabeth does not care for Mrs. Hurst or Miss Bingley, but is obliged to deal with them because of her love for Jane.

First Impressions & Theme

The opening line of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen says "It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife." This opening statement reveals that a prevalent theme throughout the novel will be the theme of love. Mrs. Bennet is completely concerned with finding men for her daughters to marry. She is overjoyed when Jane and Mr. Bingley become very well aquainted. However, the main love conflict is between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. Although neither have admitted it yet, the two are falling for each other. Both are curious about the other, yet avoid each other many times. The deceit of Mr. Wickham also fools Elizabeth. She was very eager to become aquainted with him but soon finds out of his lies. The situation between Darcy and Elizabeth is compelling and it will be interesting to see where everything goes.