Psychoanalytic Criticism Of Frankenstein - 883 Words

Brittany James Mrs.Shelley Wisener ENGL 2321: Frankenstein Analysis Essay 29 September 2017 Title Citations Unsure to keep Better way to word this? ADD INTROOOO In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein there is a strong factor of Psychoanalytic Criticism, specifically the Oedipus Complex. The Oedipus Complex is derived from a child s need for their parents attention, as they mature they realize they are not the absolute focus of their [parent s] attention (Brizee 1995). In the child s mind the reason for this conflict is because of the intimacy of the parents relationship, excluding the child (1995). In the case of Frankenstein the oedipal criticism applies to Victor and his sister Elizabeth. When Shelley wrote the original 1818†¦show more content†¦In the story of Prometheus, he was tasked with the creation of man. With all of the other biological traits used on the animals, â€Å"Prometheus decided to make man stand upright as the gods did(Hunt 2011). While producing his ideas for his creation, he was trying to determine what kind of creature he should make, he soon decided and â€Å"began the creation of a human being† (She lley 38). Both creators produced a being or beings in the shape of themselves. As a modern Prometheus, Victor â€Å"challenges the divinely ordained, natural procreative role of the female (Lehman 1992). Women are biologically ordained to create humans, Victor challenges his limits has a man, to create his creature. Another aspect that connects these two literature pieces is the consequences the authors of the creatures face. After Prometheus tricks the gods and gives man fire, he is sentenced to life punishement. Prometheus is chained to a rock and everyday he must endure a giant hawk tearing out his liver. Victor faces punishment for the creation of his creature as well. The creature, after having been abandoned and discarded, kills Victor’s brother, Henry. The Creature goes on to murder several other people close to victor, including his newly-wed Elizabeth. This is Victor’s form of punishment, along with the self-induced psychological punishment. Victor harshly bl ames himself for all the creature’s doings, and tasks himself the role of hunting him down, no matter the cost. Similar to connectionShow MoreRelatedPsychoanalytic Criticism Of Frankenstein863 Words   |  4 Pages Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, is a gothic novel about a young man named Victor Frankenstein who creates this monster that goes on to kill off all Victors loved ones, one by one. The story is quite different than the literature that was being produced in this era. The theme of a creation story is universal throughout Frankenstein, as well as the Prometheus and Genesis story. Not only is the creation story present in Frankenstein, but the use of Sigmund Freud and his idea of unconscious desires andRead MorePsychoanalytic Criticism of Relationship Between Victor Frankenstein and His Creature501 Words   |  3 PagesIn Mary Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein, the relationship between Victor Frankenstein and the creature he has given life to can be explained by applying psychoanalytic criticism. This explanation will look specifically at Victor’s Oedipal complex, the develop mental issues of the creature, and the id/ego/superego dynamics between Victor and the creature. The roots of Victor’s Oedipal complex can be traced back to his creation. Alphonse Frankenstein married his best friends’ daughter, a young womanRead MoreFrankenstein Essay1176 Words   |  5 PagesMany people know that Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein, was part of a family of famed Romantic era writers. 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Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is overflowing with emotionally based decisionsRead MorePursuit Of Knowledge In Frankenstein1866 Words   |  8 PagesIn the gothic novel, Frankenstein, written in 1818, author Mary Shelley tells a blood chilling story of Victor Frankenstein and his monstrous creation. Many of the main concepts in the Romantic literary movement are prevalent throughout the novel. Some of these concepts include nature as beauty and truth, strong personal motivation, and gothicism which inhibits intense emotion and complex psychology. Victor’s   monstrous creation can be categorized as a romantic hero because of his continuous rejectionRead MoreAnalysis Of Mary Shelley s Frankenstein Or The Modern Prometheus 1710 Words   |  7 PagesFrankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley, is one of the most iconic tales of 19th century literature. Grandly displaying a mastery of psychological depth within the characters, the author portrays a flawed society inherent within their scientific progression. As such, the enriching tale draws many criticisms from the society in which Shelley lived in, some of which encompasses appearances, feminism, and class restrictions. Retold through multiple mediums, the story is generally seenRead MorePsychoanalyzing Victor Frankenstein Essay example1619 Words   |  7 Pagesreflected on his crimes and malice, my hatred and revenge burst all bounds of moderation.† In her novel, Frankenstein, Mary Shelley creates Victor Frankenstein, as a character who becomes psychologically unable to continue his normal life after he turns lifeless mater into a living creatur e through his studies of natural anatomy. Though many years have passed between the writing of Frankenstein and the making of the Television hit, Dexter, the creator of the show, James Manos Jr., created a characterRead MoreFrankenstein, By Mary Shelley1292 Words   |  6 PagesAlthough the structure of the novel Frankenstein is focused around male protagonists, Victor Frankenstein and his progeny, the core ideals of the novel play with the way society views the female sex. Female traces in Frankenstein uncover Mary Shelley’s views of struggles with femininity and sexuality that she perceives from society. The creature of Frankenstein altered into a monster because of the absence of a motherhood role in his life. The transformation that makes the creature a â€Å"monster†Read MoreAnalysis Of Prometheus And Frankenstein By Mary Shelley Essay1996 Words   |  8 PagesPrometheus and Frankenstein both written in two different centuries I will show that our mentality hasn ’t changes much in regards to monsters. While Prometheus and Frankenstein are, both consider monsters, Prometheus deals with trying to help humanity and Frankenstein deals with trying to find an understanding of why he was created. Both are considered monsters because of their actions. In the book Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, there is an article entitled Psychoanalytic Criticism and Frankenstein. In thisRead MoreMary Shelley s Frankenstein, And A Patient s Fears Of Childbirth Essay2151 Words   |  9 PagesWritten by Mary Shelley, Frankenstein tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a scientist who creates a monster and spends the remainder of his life trying to kill it.   According to psychologist, Barbara R. Almond’s article The monster within: Mary Shelley s Frankenstein and a patient s fears of childbirth and mothering, she argues that â€Å"the ‘monster’ is an impossible child, the issue of a failed dream†¦ and must therefore be denied, rej ected and ultimately made monstrous† (Almond, 776). While