Discuss how 1-2 significant Romantic-era themes are represented in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Romantic-Era Themes in Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein”
Mary Shelley’s novel “Frankenstein” is a seminal work of the Romantic era, a literary movement that emphasized the power of emotions, the beauty of nature, and the individual’s pursuit of freedom and self-expression. Within the pages of “Frankenstein,” Shelley expertly incorporates two significant themes of the Romantic era: the sublime and the quest for knowledge.
The Sublime
One prominent theme in “Frankenstein” is the concept of the sublime, which refers to the overwhelming experience of awe and terror in the face of nature’s grandeur. The Romantic writers believed that encounters with the sublime could evoke strong emotions and reveal the depths of human existence.
Shelley skillfully employs the sublime throughout her novel, particularly through vivid descriptions of the natural world. For example, when Victor Frankenstein first beholds the majestic Swiss Alps, he experiences a sense of awe and reverence, stating, “A tingling long-lost sense of pleasure often came across me during this journey.” These encounters with nature reflect the Romantic belief in the power of the natural world to elicit profound emotional responses.
Furthermore, Shelley harnesses the sublime in her depiction of the monster itself. The creature’s grotesque appearance and immense strength evoke both fear and fascination, creating a sense of awe in the reader. Through this representation, Shelley explores the idea that even in the darkest and most terrifying aspects of life, there can exist a kind of beauty and power that transcends conventional understanding.
The Quest for Knowledge
Another significant theme in “Frankenstein” is the pursuit of knowledge, a central preoccupation during the Romantic era. The Romantics were fascinated by the potential of scientific discovery and its ability to uncover profound truths about nature and humanity. However, they also recognized the dangers that could arise from unchecked ambition and the thirst for knowledge.
In “Frankenstein,” Victor Frankenstein embodies this theme as he becomes consumed by his desire to unlock the secrets of life. Driven by his ambition, he delves into forbidden scientific practices, ultimately leading to his creation of the monster. Victor’s relentless pursuit of knowledge demonstrates both the Romantic fascination with scientific exploration and its potential consequences.
Furthermore, Shelley explores the moral implications of Victor’s quest for knowledge. Through his creation, she raises questions about the responsibility that comes with scientific discovery and the potential dangers of playing god. The novel serves as a cautionary tale, warning against the unchecked pursuit of knowledge without ethical considerations.
Conclusion
Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” masterfully incorporates significant themes of the Romantic era: the sublime and the quest for knowledge. Through her vivid descriptions of nature and the creature, Shelley evokes powerful emotions in her readers, tapping into their sense of awe and wonder. Additionally, she explores the consequences of unchecked ambition and scientific exploration, cautioning against the potential dangers that can arise from a relentless pursuit of knowledge. By incorporating these themes, Shelley’s novel becomes a profound exploration of human nature and a reflection on the complexities of life during the Romantic era.
