Frankenstien can be seen as a science fiction text: plan

* Basis of the novel is science fiction e.g. the creation of the monster, although it is a Gothic act the way in which the idea comes about and the way that it is created is all through science experiments and research.

* Science fiction creates Gothic elements e.g. bringing the dead back to life, being surrounded by body parts etc. All of these events happen due to Victors passion for science but they all add to the Gothic genera and atmosphere.

* The language which Victor used is very scientifically and yet comes across very dark and Gothic e.g. 'my arms dropped the motion of every muscle and fibre was suspended i could feel the blood trickling in my veins and tingling in the extremities of my limbs.'

* Science over rights everything to Victor e.g. his religion, his relationships with other characters, sense of right and wrong, the way in which he chooses to live his life.

* The science makes the novel seem like The modern Promethean. This is because like Prometheus undermined the gods with fire Victor is undermining the gods with science.

my essay :) lol

Drawing upon at least two stories from ‘The Bloody Chamber’ explore the ways in which Carter might be considered to re-interpret gothic conventions.


Angela Carters describes her stories as being ‘gothic mode but with narratives suggested by traditional western European fairy tales.’ By mixing these two very different genres Angela manages to twist the typical gothic elements, which readers are used to, and instead make up her own structure of gothic elements.

The main gothic element which Angela uses is exotic scenes. As many of her stories are based on fairy tales the twist of adding in exotic sex scenes can make the readers feel very uncomfortable and creates the gothic atmosphere which Angela is after. This is best shown within the story ‘The Snow Child’ which is based upon the fairy tale Snow white. It is only a page long but includes a vicious murder then rape which shocks the readers. ‘Weeping, the Count got off his horse, unfastened his breeches and thrust his virile member into the dead girl.’ After showing so much love for the girl this incident comes out of nowhere and shocks the audience. During the tale the Count is very protective and acts like a father figure towards her making this seem even more perverse, like an account of incest. Just within this short sentence Angela manages to take the audience on the emotional rollercoaster that they would expect from a normal gothic story. She creates heroes and villains and also the gothic atmosphere of surprise and horror. She has therefore changed this element to make the response one of a usual gothic element reaction.

An act which Angela appears to use in many of her short stories to add a gothic effect is by adding in a scene of closeness by characters licking one another. This appears in three of her stories ‘The Tiger’s Bride’, ‘The lady of the house of love’ and ‘Wolf-Alice.’ It is not the licking itself but what it leads to which makes it give off the gothic reaction. For example, in ‘The Tiger’s Bride’, which is based upon the fairy tale beauty and the beast, the transformation from human to tiger is done by licking off her skin. ‘Until I felt the harsh velvet of his head against my hand, then a tongue, abrasive as sandpaper he will lick the skin off me!’ This turns the simple action in to one of Angela’s re-interpreted gothic elements. The way that the action is described also adds a gothic twist as she describes his tongue to be like ‘sandpaper’ which is an indication to the audience that this may be hurting her as sandpaper is very rough against the skin. This action reoccurs within the other two texts when it again symbolises the transformation of characters.

Angela regularly adds in humoristic characters in her stories to add in another side to them. This probably being her main achievement as she manages to make humour moments have a twist of gothic within them. For example, in ‘Puss’in’Boots’ the cat is regularly making sarcastic comments which lighten up the mood. However, what he is joking about is not always funny and is what makes this feature appear gothic. For example, he jokes about the death of the man who was originally married to the women his master loves.

The snow child

i reckon that maybe the reason that only the countess clothes are described could be that maybe her clothes are her identity?? some people express themselves through their clothes and this could be what the countess does. This could also explain how every time the count takes the girls side she loses an item of clothing. It is like she is being ignored and the girl is taking away parts of her, which the clothes symbolises (sorry if this sounds confusing but i no what i mean lol :D) it does seem to be a power struggle story. for example, how the count takes power over the girl by not given her a name, making her out of his desire and in the end having sex with her when she's dead. Also there is the power struggle between the girl and countess. The girl is becoming the counts prised posession pushing his wife out the way and everytime that she tries to kill her - and fails - she is trying to gain back her power and position from the girl. i think that maybe the story could be the countess dream as that would explain all the weird supernatural stuff but it would also explain why her husband has sex with the girl. it's like the countess nightmare, her worst fear, losing her place to someone else and slowly being pushed out. the girl is everything she's not but at the same time everything the count wants. this could explain why the girl melts away as she is just imagined by the countess and it could symbolise that the countess knows he is cheating on her but she is willing to turn a blind eye as long as she gets all the treats and sweet things e.g. the rose.

Chapter 3

In chapter 3 of Frankenstein we find out that Victor is being sent of to a University but before he gets the chance to go his mother unfortunately dies. Victor takes his mothers death very badly and sees it as the start of the rest of his misfortune 'An omen, as it were, of my future misery.' This could insinuate that his downfall mentally starts here. This point is made more strong when Victor makes the statement 'Chance - or rather the evil influence, the Angle of Destruction, which asserted omnipotent sway over me from the moment i turned my reluctant steps from my fathers door.' Victor can tell that the events at home before he left put him in the state of mind, also on the path, for his future self-destruction. It also puts the feel across that maybe he was destined to take this path maybe as a lesson for science or even humanity?

In this Chapter you also hear Victors views on what i believe is life and death and also God. After his mothers death he makes the statement 'We must continue our course with the rest and learn to think ourselves fortunate whilst one remains whom the spoiler has not seized.' By 'spoiler' i believe he is referring to God and the way in which he takes lives and 'spoils' peoples families. This shows his views on life as well as he believes they all have to follow their 'course' which portrays his believe in destiny. I also begin to believe that Victors mothers death is what made the 'bring humans to life' theory in his head as he explains 'but when the lapse of time proves the reality of evil, then the actual bitterness of grief commences!' This could once again also suggest that he is talking about God as he sees him as the 'reality of evil' which leads him to start his experiments. This is also the audiences warning that things are going to begin to happen as he explains things are going to start commencing. Furthermore, it is also a warning that what is about to happen can only be bad as he is doing it out of 'bitterness and grief' which suggests his head is cloudy out of some sort of revenge.

Another reason shown in Chapter 3 as to why he would create the monster is when he gets sent of to University he makes the statement that he 'must now form my own friends and be my own protector' which could be seen as the monsters purpose. It sounds as if Victor is actually literally trying to make his own friend and protector. On the other hand, later on in the chapter when Victor talks to his lectures about the science in which he is interested in they tell him that he has wasted his time and needs to start his research and science based knowledge all over again. Victor gets very insulted by this and revels 'It was very different when the masters of science sought immortality and power, such view, although futile, were grand.' Maybe Victor decides to try and make the monster so that he can prove to the professors that he does no alot about science and is clever enough to full fill what other could not. The professes could be seen to off pushed him on to carrying out the experiment. This also reflects on the scientific matters of the time in which Frankenstein was written and also how the views were reflected on society.

I believe chapter 3 gives the audience alot of ideas and views on why Victor takes the drastic action that he does in the following chapters. It sets them up for the rest of the story with the background. Plus, it explains other factors about the story and Victor himself e.g. his thirst for knowledge, the science at the time it was written and a view in to how people would of taken Mary Shelley's radical views on bring a human back to live.

Notes on letters

Letter 1

In this letter you here a lot about what the person - Robert - has done. The theme knowledge really seems to be in this letter as he discusses with his sister all the experience he has had and all of his future plans. You also see what he is willing to sacrifice to get the knowledge he craves, he explains that he has 'endured cold, famine, thirst and want of sleep.' These are basic human needs and to go with out them could be seen as some sort of self-torture.
This letter includes alot of prolepsis as Robert seems to be just like how Victor was at the beginning stages. They both are out for knowledge and are both leaving their families to try and succeed. Both start with accomplishing small things but are setting out to go for the big goal.
Robert also seems to have the need for love like Victor. He discusses the fact that he is missing his home and family and really wants someone to spend the journey with. He also shares the close relationship with his sister and tells her at the end 'testify my gratitude for all your love and kindness.'

Act 5 Journal Notes

Act 5 Scene 1

Act 5 opens with what could be described as the downfall of Lady Macbeth. The reason being for this, is that this is the scene where you see that she to is going crazy and letting everything get on top of her. She starts to sleepwalk and during this she talks about the murders and how their hands will never be clean of the blood 'What, will these hands ne'er be clean?' The doctor and gentlewomen are there to witness Lady Macbeth's paranoia. The doctor who in those times would of had to deal with a lot of funny situations describes what he sees as ' This disease is beyond my practice.' Both of them are shocked at what they see and even more shocked at what they here when Lady Macbeth actually speaks Banquos name and admits to what they did 'Banquo's buried; he cannot come out on's grave.' The witnesses are very scared and know that they can not say anything about what they saw as they know the consequences they would face 'i think, but dare not speak.'

Act 5 scene 2

This is a rather short scene and is just put in to explain to the audience what is happening elsewhere e.g. the army coming to kill Macbeth. This is setting the audience up so that they know who is coming and so that they can start to put everything together and guess at what is going to happen.

Act 5 Scene 3

In this scene Macbeth is talking to the Doctor about his wife but only refers to her as the doctors 'patient' which seems a little disrespectful to his wife and also makes the audience believe that he doesn't really seem to care about her as he isn't even with her in her time of need. Furthermore, when talking to the doctor about what is wrong with Lady Macbeth he seems to be discussing more his problem and slyly seeing if there is anything the doctor can do to him. 'canst thou not minister to a mind diseased.' He's referring to himself to see if the doctor can take away his pain not his wives which makes him sound once again very selfish and makes the audience wonder if he really cares about Lady Macbeth.

Act 5 Scene 4

This scene is once again letting you have a sneak peek at the other characters and what they are doing. It also shows the audience how close they are to coming and how close Macbeth's downfall is. I think Macbeth put in these scenes to tease the audience as they know they are getting closer and closer but they don't know when it is going to happen. Scenes such as this one keep the audience on the edge of their seats waiting for the big finish.

Act 5 Scene 5

This is the scene where Lady Macbeth dies and we see Macbeth's reaction. I believe that Macbeth shows a very selfish negative response to Lady Macbeth's death. when told he doesn't seem to show any real compassion. Even though when you look in detail to his words it does seem like he cares it may - and probably is - just an act for the people around him. There is no real feeling behind the speech to make it seem real which is why i doubt he really means it. .

Act 5 Scene 6

this scene puts everything together for the audience. As the witches told Macbeth that he could not be brought down until woods come to the castle the solders then explain that they are going to cut down the trees and disguise themselves as the woods. The audience can then realise that this is the moment they have been waiting for as they go to kill Macbeth, this will be his ultimate downfall.

Act 5 Scene 7

This is the last scene in the play and sees everyone come together to kill Macbeth. This is the scene the audience have been waiting for. At the beginning when Macbeth is told that the woods is moving he starts to realise that he is in trouble and may not be as safe as he first thought. he then holds on to the only hope that he has which is that he can not be killed by any man women born. he still believes this strongly and convinces himself that this means he will survive that is until Macduff explains that he was born by Cesarean.

Why are the witches in Macbeth?

Like what has been said in lesson i believe that the witches are all part of the bigger destiny. Before they came along Macbeth had just come out of the war as a hero and his future was looking bright but then as soon as he saw the witches and they told him what his future could be he completely changed. He, with the help of lady Macbeth, turnt a little crazy and started killing everyone i believe that if the witches had never of planted those seeds in his mind then none of the murders would of happened. He was very loyal to the king and Banquo was a good friend so he wouldn't of had any reason to kill them. However, it shows that from the beginning Macbeth must have been a little power hungry or he wouldn't have jumped at their every word. If i met 3 mad women on my way home one night who started telling me that i would become queen i wouldn't break into the royal palace and kill her (i no he killed Duncan in his home its just an example) this just shows that he must of already be plotting out for these things.

When they showed Macbeth the three ghosts i think they were secretly setting him up as they did tell him the truth but they also spoke in riddles which confused Macbeth and lead him to other conclusions. I think after the higher witch Hecate came in during Act 3 scene 5 to tell them off for getting involved they had to think of a way to stop him before he got to powerful and killed to many people. to me it was like they realised their mistake and was now trying to stop him and they did this by tricking him in to thinking that he was unstoppable.