Frankenstein- Foreshadowing

Frankenstein

by Mary Shelley

Letters- chap XII

Because the narrator of the story (Victor) is relating events that have already occurred, his narrative involves a lot of foreshowing, for his purpose of warning Walton.  The author of the novel employs foreshadowing to create suspense and keep the reader speeding through the chapters to find what happens next.  Victor uses foreshadowing as if to tell Walton, "You just wait, it gets much worse."  When speaking of his change in interests from almost magical science to more logical science and mathematics, Victor referred to his new inclination as "the last effort made by the spirit of preservation to avert the storm that was even then hanging in the stars, ready to envelope me" (Shelley, 23).  This foreshadowing implies that Victor will soon suffer a terrible misfortune, related to his intense focus, borderline obsession, with knowledge and the secrets of life.  He foreshadows his misery  in order to continually warn Walton, who is also very determined in his quest for knowledge.  The foreshadowing is ominous, but not specific enough for the reader to hypothesize the exact events the might occur.  This makes the reader want to continue through the story.

Victor foreshadows his misery again when he says, "Destiny was too potent, and her immutable laws had decreed my utter and terrible destruction" (Shelley, 23).

Let us read on... :}

Frankenstein- Characterization

Frankenstein

by Mary Shelley

Letters- chap XII

At the beginning of the novel, and throughout the stranger's story as the reader is introduced to new characters, the author uses extensive characterization.  Every time a new character comes into the story, the author speaks at length about the character's background, upbringing, environment, and personality traits.  Far from being boring or useless, this detailed characterization allows the reader to truly get to know the characters and feel as the speaker feels toward them- to love, even to hate, certain characters.  For example, when the reader is introduced to Elizabeth, she is described as "a child fairer than a pictured cherub- a creature who seemed to shed radiance from her looks and whose form and motions were lighter than the chamois of the hill" (Shelley, 17).  Instantly the reader has a liking for her, and even the speaker says that "everyone loved Elizabeth."  The speaker goes on to say how Elizabeth appreciates the beauty of nature and makes everyone around her smile.  The reader develops deep affection for Elizabeth, and feels her pain when she later displays grief from not hearing from her brother.  Though this is just one example, the author goes in depth with the descriptions of all important characters, pulling the reader into the action and development of the novel.  In addition, the reader can occasionally predict the reactions or outcome to a situation based on previous knowledge of the characters involved.  Characterization draws the reader in and allows them to relate toward some of the characters, while feeling intense emotions (such as love or hatred) towards others.

Frankenstein- Frame Story

Frankenstein
by Mary Shelley
Letters- chap XII

In this section, I have come across two frame stories, but I will focus on the first, because the second has barely begun at the end of this section.  The novel starts with the apparent main character, Robert Walton, who gets on a ship with a larger crew to travel through dangerous terrain in order to reach the pole.  The crew comes across a dog sledge- traveler near death and nurses him back to health.  He tells the crew that he had come so far upon the ice "To seek one who fled from me" (Shelley, 10).  He says no more.  But later in the stranger's conversations with Walton, the stranger comments that Walton saved his life, and was considerate enough not to interrogate him about his current situation or how it came to be.  The stranger appreciated Walton's manners, and discovering that they were very similar, the men became close quickly.  It was because of these similarities that the stranger decided to tall Walton the story that he had vowed never to speak of.  The stranger tells Walton he wants him to learn from the story, avoid the mistakes the stranger made in order to avoid his miserable and doomed fate.
So as the stranger's story is about to commence, the reader must keep in mind that the stranger is telling it in confidence to a friend, to help Walton understand how the stranger ended up like this, and to primarily teach Walton a moral lesson.

"Strange and harrowing must be his story, frightful the storm which embraced the gallant vessel on its course and wrecked it- thus!" (Shelley, 14)
And with this, the story within the frame begins.

"APO 96225"

"APO 96225"
by Larry Rottmann

Situational irony is displayed in this free verse poem when the son initially writes only simple and easily handled information about the war, like "sure rains a lot here," and "you ought to see the funny monkeys" (Rottmann, 846).  The mother pleads with her son to be honest, but when he does, the father admonishes him for upsetting his mother.  Its ironic that once the son was actually honest, the mother didn't want to hear it.  The speaker seems to have critical and slightly disapproving or disappointed attitude toward the parents, the mother particularly.  This can be paralleled with the speakers critical view towards the attitude of the American public toward the war in Vietnam.  Americans were hypocritical; they asked for the truth, but when they got it, they didn't want to hear it.  They only wanted to hear the positive or simple or nonviolent feedback from the war, not the truth of the horrible tragedies that were occurring every day.  Because the truth was so upsetting, American citizens, just like the mother, only decided to listen to what they could handle, and thus had a distorted view of the war.  The author uses mother as a symbol of how all Americans during war time say they want the truth, but simply can't handle it.

"Much Madness is divinest Sense"

"Much Madness is divinest Sense"
by Emily Dickinson

This poem is telling how a thought, suggestion or belief, if not shared by the majority, can be deemed insane. But if an idea is proposed and accepted by the majority, no matter how immoral and illogical, it will be deemed sane simply because more people support it.  If an individual agrees with the majority. he appears sensible, but if he dares to dispute, he could be seen as a traitor or an enemy.  This simple deviance from the accepted norm could cause an individual to be severely alienated, even jailed for his beliefs.
The author employs both paradox and satire in this poem to explain and critisize the workings of a majority group and the conformity of its members.  The paradox, the title, "Much Madness is divinest Sense,"  and another paradox, "Much Sense- the starkest Madness," (Dickinson, 830), describe how an idea can be perceived differently depending on how many people agree.  But this is not a good way  to determine the logic or morality of an idea.
In the case of the Salem Witch Trials and the persecution of saints, Christians, and Jews, the reasoning of the majority was severely flawed, but everyone else just went along.  And those who didn't were too shy to speak out or otherwise were jailed or persecuted themselves.

"I felt a Funeral, in my Brain"

"I felt a Funeral, in my Brain"
by Emily Dickinson

The imagery of a funeral is present in the title and throughout the whole poem to describe what is going on in the speakers head.  A funeral is sad and depressing, but this is not about the speaker having sad or depressing thoughts, it goes farther than that.  The speaker is losing her mind, it is dying in a sense.  "And I dropped down, and down- and hit a World, at every plunge" (Dickinson, 776).  This quote describes the speakers sharp descent into madness.  The way the allegory is told and the initial style of writing allows the speaker to in essence, describe in common terms what is happening to her while alienating her personal feelings.  Personal feeling is clearly lacking in the description of the funeral because there is no mention of crying, attempts at comfort, or even a eulogy, only the strict relating of actions and sounds.
This poem relates to Bartleby's lack of feeling or any emotion and also Miss Brill's appearance of being very isolated and alone, even when surrounded by many people.
All the imagery tells the reader that the speaker was constantly beaten down at the hands of others, and they consistently tormented her.  The author successfully uses imagery and the unique rhyme scheme to relay in detail the inner workings and despairs of the speaker's mind, and how it goes awry.

"Bartleby the Scrivener"

"Bartleby the Scrivener"
by Herman Melville

Well well, it is time to talk about a very odd and complicated character: Bartleby.  One of the obvious and most defining traits/habits of Bartleby's is his stubborn refrain: "I would prefer not to."  The majority of the story is centered around Bartleby's preferences, most his preference to do nothing.  There are many theories as to why Bartleby is like this, some personal, some medical, some work related.  In fact, there could be many different reasons for why he is why he is, some of which are symbolic.  Bartleby is clearly socially awkward and does  not pick up on suggestions or cues.  When the lawyer first tries to fire Bartleby, he tries to suggest his leaving: "After you have removed your things from the office, Bartleby, you will of course lock the door...I shall not see you again, so good-bye to you" (Melville, 662).  But even with this suggestion, Bartleby stays.  He even stays after the lawyer moves out of the building.  Through all this, he repeats his refrain calmly.
As odd as he may be, I felt empathy for Bartleby throughout the whole story.  I figured there was some sort of reason why he acted that way, whether he was disabled, awkward, scarred from his last job, or was simply emotionless.  I felt that the lawyer didn't treat the situation very well.  He wasn't stern or demanding, and he moved his office before moving Bartleby.  The lawyer wasn't too bright.  Part of me actually admired Bartleby: he never did anything he didn't want to do.  Even in prison, he made the choice not to eat.  The exact reason behind this behavior though, is unclear.
The subtitle, "A Story of Wall Street," ties in with the symbolism I mentioned earlier.  Bartleby might symbolize the common worker of the time, beaten down by the economy and a mediocre job to the point of near soullessness.  Though Bartleby tried to be stubborn, everything got to be too much for him and he simply died.  But because his death and imprisonment happened so quickly, the reader focuses more on what led up to it, the cause of the tragic end: depression caused by the previous job, a feeling of mediocrity, a general unhappiness.  This kind of thing can happen on Wall Street (but usually less dramatic).