Frankenstein (Discussion)
- Locked due to inactivity on Oct 15, '23 3:54am
Thread Topic: Frankenstein (Discussion)
-
Welcome. One of my favorite novels of all time is Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein." Originally published in 1818, "Frankenstein" tells the story of a young scientist who created his own creature out of parts from dead bodies. The scientist, Victor Frankenstein is quick to abandon his creation and refuses to take responsibility for it. The story explores themes of life and death, as well as many conflicts that can be applied to real life. In my opinion, the novel poses the question of what really makes someone a "monster."
I have pulled some questions from discussion pages and Socratic seminar documents for this discussion. I am going to list some questions regarding the novel. Feel free to answer however many you would like. It does not need to be in any order either. You do not have to answer any questions, you may also simply state your thoughts on the story.
Discussion Questions
In modern times, who do we, as a society, ostracize and/or alienate like the creature? Why do we do this? What steps must be taken to stop this from occurring? Do you think Mary Shelley wanted her novel to send a deeper message to society, or was it more about writing an entertaining, Gothic novel? Explain.
Discuss Victor Frankenstein’s psychological make-up. List three redeeming qualities he possesses and three to four flaws. Does he possess a tragic flaw? Explain how these are illustrated throughout the novel.
Victor Frankenstein’s ultimate pursuit of knowledge is one of the elements that eventually destroy him. How could he have achieved this knowledge without it turning disastrous? Do you believe Shelley was trying to say that there are certain pieces of knowledge that mankind is simply not supposed to know?
Give 2-3 present day examples of man’s pursuit of ultimate knowledge. Should we heed Victor’s warning about the dangers of pursuing knowledge to this extent? If we are ever successful in obtaining these pieces of knowledge, will those discoveries enhance our lives or hinder them? Explain.
Which character suffered the most throughout the novel, Victor or the creature? Explain your opinion with textual examples.
Is man inherently good? Are we born without sin and then corrupted by society and the institutions of mankind – or are we born sinners? What would Mary Shelley say about this? Use her novel (or her life) as evidence.
This thread is locked, therefore no new posts can be made.
