"From this day natural philosophy, and particularly chemistry, in the most comprehensive sense of the term, became nearly my sole occupation. I read with ardor those works, so full of genius and discrimination, which modern inquirers have written on these subjects. I attended the lectures and cultivated the acquaintance of the men of science of the university, and I found even in M. Krempe a great deal of sound sense and real information , combined, it is true, with a repulsive physiognomy and manners, but not on that account the less valuable." pg 49
Oh and that's just the beginning folks! That whole chapter, Chapter 4 as it is so eloquently titled, is an entire chapter devoted to his motivation in making the monster. This is the whole lead-in to the creation of the monster chapter which leads to many subsequent freak-outs. But as a whole, this chapter shows Frankenstein's drive for knowledge and understanding. Additionally, it shows his great intelligence and capability for advancement which makes it more believable that he could make a persony-thing. Oddly enough, this motivation is replaced immediately after with lethargy and invalidity. Then a desire to want to destroy the monster comes after that. (Sunday comes afterwaaaarrrrddsss.) Who knows what Frankenstein wants to do after chapter 12?! Let's let our good friend Rebecca tell us more about this sequence stuff.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
My secret super power is eyebrow grooming.
"From the tortures of my own heart, I turned to contemplate the deep and voiceless grief of my Elizabeth. This also was my doing! And my father's woe, and the desolation of that late so smiling home - all was the work of my thrice-accursed hands! Ye weep, unhappy ones, but these are not your last tears! Again shall you raise the funeral wail, and the sound of your lamentations shall again and again be heard!" pg 85
And it goes on like that for a while. In fact, I wouldn't have chosen stream of consciousness if I didn't feel like Victor was freaking out about something every other page. Because this is a frame story with Victor as its narrator, we get the insight of how he felt coming straight from the character, rather than the view of an omnipotent narrator or a third party narration. It seems to me the author's main tool for characterization through the work thus far. Stream of consciousness has shown Frankenstein's cowardice, intelligence, and tenderness all through "Whine, whine, whine, monster, whine, whine." And because his thoughts are so golly gee chaotic, it lends a kind of suspenseful tone as well. Will this crazy monster I've made that I try not to think about, but totally do, come back to haunt me in a more significant way? I can only wonder...as I wander....
And it goes on like that for a while. In fact, I wouldn't have chosen stream of consciousness if I didn't feel like Victor was freaking out about something every other page. Because this is a frame story with Victor as its narrator, we get the insight of how he felt coming straight from the character, rather than the view of an omnipotent narrator or a third party narration. It seems to me the author's main tool for characterization through the work thus far. Stream of consciousness has shown Frankenstein's cowardice, intelligence, and tenderness all through "Whine, whine, whine, monster, whine, whine." And because his thoughts are so golly gee chaotic, it lends a kind of suspenseful tone as well. Will this crazy monster I've made that I try not to think about, but totally do, come back to haunt me in a more significant way? I can only wonder...as I wander....
Would you like some cheese with that whine?
No pine, no apple...just a whole lotta PINEAPPLE.
"But I consented to listen, and seating myself by the fire which my odious companion had lighted, he thus began his tale." pg 97
As if it couldn't get any better, the monster starts another frame story within a frame story. It reminds me a lot of Inception. Every new frame story is like another dream within a dream. I'm half expecting a train to come crashing through and annihilate the monster and Frankenstein. Or at the very least, Leonardo DiCaprio's wife showing up with a gun to blow their brains out. But as far as the function of frame stories, it definitely keeps my interest more. As a reader I'm constantly playing catch-up which (sometimes unwillingly) forces me to devote more effort to keeping everything straight. It's definitely a way nifty concept and it gets my stamp of approval as an effective literary technique.
Also, if you've seen Inception before, this will be tres funny.
As if it couldn't get any better, the monster starts another frame story within a frame story. It reminds me a lot of Inception. Every new frame story is like another dream within a dream. I'm half expecting a train to come crashing through and annihilate the monster and Frankenstein. Or at the very least, Leonardo DiCaprio's wife showing up with a gun to blow their brains out. But as far as the function of frame stories, it definitely keeps my interest more. As a reader I'm constantly playing catch-up which (sometimes unwillingly) forces me to devote more effort to keeping everything straight. It's definitely a way nifty concept and it gets my stamp of approval as an effective literary technique.
Also, if you've seen Inception before, this will be tres funny.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
I'm a couple sandwiches short of a pile of sandwiches!
The Blog That Deals With The End Blog
So I learned a few things from this book, Costello-jan. Afghanistan is messed-up beyond fixing probably. Human vice always makes for a compelling read. Child rape makes me feel icky and want to take a shower. I can see why it's on the work of literary merit list though. It had a highly relatable, yet thoroughly disdainable protagonist in Amir. You can feel good about yourself twice over! It made several banned book lists too which is a prereq for literary merit. I think just about all the other book choices were on a banned book list at one point too. But in the end, Amir felt better about himself and could move on with his guilt to focus his efforts on a new project, Sohrab. Yay America! Boo Taliban! Yay kabobs and naan!
So I learned a few things from this book, Costello-jan. Afghanistan is messed-up beyond fixing probably. Human vice always makes for a compelling read. Child rape makes me feel icky and want to take a shower. I can see why it's on the work of literary merit list though. It had a highly relatable, yet thoroughly disdainable protagonist in Amir. You can feel good about yourself twice over! It made several banned book lists too which is a prereq for literary merit. I think just about all the other book choices were on a banned book list at one point too. But in the end, Amir felt better about himself and could move on with his guilt to focus his efforts on a new project, Sohrab. Yay America! Boo Taliban! Yay kabobs and naan!
Relevant picture....what?
Who are you calling a HoHo?!?
"'You could have told me,' Farid said later. The two of us were lying next to each other on the straw mats Wahid's wife had spread for us.
'Told you what?'
'Why you'e come to Afghanistan.' His voice had lost the rough edge I'd heard in it since the moment I had met him.
'You didn't ask.'
'You should have told me.'
'You didn't ask.'" pg 239
This whole exchange just reminds me of some cliched bonding moment that one would see in a movie. It even uses the trite "You didn't ask (how virtuous I really was)" comeback. It's like they're twelve. Or maybe they're in Rush Hour and Farid is Chris Tucker and Amir is Jackie Chan. Now that I think about it, their whole Kabul-Peshawar-Islamabad ordeal seems kind of like a gorier misadventure of Rush Hour. I never thought I'd ever compare this book to that movie, but I think it just happened. Maybe Allah will strike me down because of it, but I think I'll take my chances.
'Told you what?'
'Why you'e come to Afghanistan.' His voice had lost the rough edge I'd heard in it since the moment I had met him.
'You didn't ask.'
'You should have told me.'
'You didn't ask.'" pg 239
This whole exchange just reminds me of some cliched bonding moment that one would see in a movie. It even uses the trite "You didn't ask (how virtuous I really was)" comeback. It's like they're twelve. Or maybe they're in Rush Hour and Farid is Chris Tucker and Amir is Jackie Chan. Now that I think about it, their whole Kabul-Peshawar-Islamabad ordeal seems kind of like a gorier misadventure of Rush Hour. I never thought I'd ever compare this book to that movie, but I think it just happened. Maybe Allah will strike me down because of it, but I think I'll take my chances.
I'm utilizing a religious motif today and would like to present to you
Our Lady of Perpetual Diet Coke.
You wanted a Diet Coke? You didn't ask, my child.
Tacoh No!
"'For you a thousand times over,' I heard myself say." pg 371
D'aww! What a cute ending! Amir has finally learned the meaning of selfless! My mimicking the mantra of Hassan to Hassan's son, it kind of gives the story a full circle effect, which is sooo much better than a cliffha.... Hassan was very foiley to Amir because he gave himself fully and completely out of partly servitude, but I believe mostly out of love for his friend. Now Amir has forgiven himself and loves Sohrab much like a son and is willing to devote himself completely to him like Hassan did to Amir. It's the ciiiiiirccle of liiiiiiiiiiiife, and it moves us allllllll! Another motif that isn't really given by direct quotes is child rape. So that's pretty cool. Hassan really just had a bad luck streak in his family for that, I guess.
D'aww! What a cute ending! Amir has finally learned the meaning of selfless! My mimicking the mantra of Hassan to Hassan's son, it kind of gives the story a full circle effect, which is sooo much better than a cliffha.... Hassan was very foiley to Amir because he gave himself fully and completely out of partly servitude, but I believe mostly out of love for his friend. Now Amir has forgiven himself and loves Sohrab much like a son and is willing to devote himself completely to him like Hassan did to Amir. It's the ciiiiiirccle of liiiiiiiiiiiife, and it moves us allllllll! Another motif that isn't really given by direct quotes is child rape. So that's pretty cool. Hassan really just had a bad luck streak in his family for that, I guess.
It's Poprah.
This just made me roflcopter.
When you're on a golden sea, you don't need no memory.
"This isn't you, Amir, part of me said. You're gutless. It's how you're made. And that's not such a bad thing because your saving grace is that you've never lied to yourself about it. Not about that. Nothing wrong with cowardice as long as it comes with prudence. but when a coward stops remembering who he is...God help him." pg 275
This very statement pretty much characterized Amir for the entire story thus far. The funny thing is that he's telling himself this. This character flaw drives most of the story in the beginning. Then the cowardice of dealing with guilt drives the post-America "let's go on an Afghan safari for orphans" drives Amir to do what he does in good 'ol Kabul. Such a charming place. Anywho, he get's crazy healed shortly after and it's cool then and his motivation shifts from caring for Sohrab out of a debt he feels he owes to Hassan to a general love and concern for his half-nephew who is equally messed-up but through no fault of his own. Also, the Weezer lyrics are a shameless attempt for brownie points.
This very statement pretty much characterized Amir for the entire story thus far. The funny thing is that he's telling himself this. This character flaw drives most of the story in the beginning. Then the cowardice of dealing with guilt drives the post-America "let's go on an Afghan safari for orphans" drives Amir to do what he does in good 'ol Kabul. Such a charming place. Anywho, he get's crazy healed shortly after and it's cool then and his motivation shifts from caring for Sohrab out of a debt he feels he owes to Hassan to a general love and concern for his half-nephew who is equally messed-up but through no fault of his own. Also, the Weezer lyrics are a shameless attempt for brownie points.
I used one of her steps ;)
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