Blog 6

Blog 6 02-23-2010

Connections Between Frankenstein and R.U.R.

I would like to first note that both stories include someone trying to mess with the natural order of things, namely trying to “improve” mankind. Victor Frankenstein, out of curiosity and out of his desire to “better” mankind, used his knowledge from his studies to build a human of his own. Rossum’s Universal Robot’s manufacturing company sets out to create a perfect “human” being that will relieve humans from the pains of labor and create a “paradise on earth.” I note this first because the themes of improving mankind from both stories stood out and were very similar to each other.

Another similarity would be that the creature from Frankenstein and the Robots from R.U.R. developed into human beings. The creature grew into a being that has matured from not knowing how to communicate his thoughts and feelings to one who could eloquently give reasons for his point of view. This is what makes him human: to be able to communicate thoughts and feelings through words and actions, to have a conscience that gives him the ability to reason out choices. The Robots, through the persuasion of Helena Glory’s desire for them to be treated like normal human beings and Dr. Gall’s implementation of “feelings,” developed the power to think for themselves. This makes them more human, having opinions, on top of looking exactly like one with the exception of super strength and super memory/learning ability.

However, the Robot’s ability to make sensible decisions is not as superior as the creature’s. The creature, although hurt and emotionally abused by society, reasoned with Victor to convince him to make a companion to him happy, and gave Victor consequences if he refuses. The Robots just thought of themselves as superior, and because they read it in the books, they conquered the humans just so they could become accepted as humans themselves. Since the Robots knew that they would die out someday, they demanded that Alquist, the last human being, spill the secret of their reproduction, although it was gone for good. They kept demanding no matter how many times Alquist said they needed humans to reproduce. Not so sensible, those Robots. They acted upon rationality, in that it is in their best interest to do reproduce so that they can last longer.

At the end of R.U.R., Robot Helena and Robot Primus seem to have been flirting with each other for some time. They expressed feelings of joy, laughter, happiness, and even love for one another when they were faced with Alquist’s request for someone to dissect (this meant certain death to a robot). Both Robots offered themselves to be dissected in each other’s place, but concluded with Primus saying that Alquist cannot take either of them. This demonstrates the ability to care, one ability of which Robots cannot comprehend. With the creature, he demonstrates his ability to care by feeling guilty that he has been stealing food from the cottagers and follows up on it by cutting logs for them and not stealing anymore.

Other similarities: Adam and Eve, punishment, (isolation? VF: studies, RUR: island).

Blog 5

Blog 5 (Essay #2 Brainstorm) 02-16-10

What It Means to be Human

In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, the main protagonist, Victor Frankenstein, creates a creature that is abhorred by him and society. However, it is the creature’s outward appearance that makes him horrid. He displays some intellect in that he strategizes how to get food and where not to tread; as he knows that he is still an abhorrence to society. He has emotions and feelings, but did not understand what they were until later. He was capable of learning as well. From the desire not to be alone and shunned, he made an effort to be a part of society. It is only human to feel emotions of rejection and wanting to fit in, so the creature acted upon his feelings to do so.

In taking action to fit in, he yearns to communicate with others, just as humans do, so he “led [himself] to apply with fresh ardour to the acquiring the art of language” (91) of which his neighboring cottagers speak. He also learns “the science of letters” (95) to read books and letters in which he acquires over time. Perhaps Shelley characterizes the creature wanting to learn the basics of communication to show that he is not the monster that Victor and others in society fear him to be. Just like any other outcast, the creature wanted to fit in and enjoy life as any other human would.

Contrastingly, Victor deliberately outcasts himself from other people, and occupies himself with himself. It is first with his studies and of the making of the creature. “Winter, spring, and summer, passed away during [his] labors” (38) as he did not yet respond to his family’s letters. If he was so enraptured by his studies, why did he not share them? Is it because he is embarrassed to be in the process of making a “monster?” As the story progresses, he finds out about the murder of his little brother, William. Then he learns of the unjustly punishment of Justine Moritz for the crime. He knew that the creature murdered his brother and that Justine was innocent, yet he did not do anything but weep at their demise. He knew he was at fault, but he did not take responsibility for it. However, he did take it upon himself to bare the burden alone for his punishment. This characterization of Victor as a self-inflicted outcast can be seen in a couple of ways. He was either so absorbed in his studying that it was all that mattered, or he wanted to be alone to take on the burden of the deaths in which he was a part of. The former shows that he is a selfish monster, only wanting the joy of being able to create something amazing from the use of his studies. The latter shows that he is not that selfish and is willing to take his own punishment, but it is still selfish in the fact that he keeps it all confided and does not do much about it. This dehumanizes Victor in that it makes him feel like he is not part of society, and therefore, shuts himself out from it just as he shuts the creature out for being ugly. Although it is human for others to reject as it is to accept, a monster would reject on the basis of appearance, as it does not fit in with others. Victor takes it to an ugly level himself, rejecting his own creation from his selfish occupations.

Blog 4

Blog 4 02-02-10

Differing Perspectives and Changes of Time in Stories

In Ambrose Bierce’s “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge,” the point of view changes back and forth from an objective third person view to a more subjective third person view. From the first part of the story to next part of the story, it transitions from purely descriptive to someone narrating the story of another person. The first part is done to set the scene where the beginning of the syuzhet takes place. Assuming that the beginning of the syuzhet takes place in “current time,” it describes the scene at that moment in time. This objective point of view only offers a pure description of everything around the area, so the narrator does not give any insight to what is happening on the inside of a character. However, towards the end of the first part, from what was a completely vague description becomes an increasingly subjective description. It then goes on to describe a man in the midst of all the images.

The second part describes what is happening in that man’s head just before he gets hanged. These are flashbacks to what happened before the scene that was described previously, so this is taking place somewhere in the past. We find out his name is Peyton Farquhar, and that he has a family, and that a soldier told them that no civilians can mess with the railroad. This second part provides the reader with background information on why he is getting hanged, but it does not provide if he actually committed the crime. This subjective form of the third person perspective offers more insight into the character(s) and what they think, but it is limited to only that character (if he is the main character).

The last part of the plot changes back to the “current time,” but it is not purely descriptive anymore. It describes what Peyton is going through. It seems like he escaped the hanging to return home with only mere bruises and pains, but that is only what is still going on in his head. Peyton actually died instead of escaping. This was really surprising because one is led to think that he really escaped. The whole last part of the plot was just a big “story” happening in Peyton’s head just before he died!

I find these alternating changes in time to be interesting because they do happen in the story. The fabula’s rearrangement makes the syuzhet more intriguing because the pacing increases as you get to the end and creates anticipation, whereas if we put the first part in the middle (as it is the middle of the fabula), it’ll die out before we want to read what happens next.