How to Read Like a Professor: Unit 2
Published on Feb 06, 2016
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How to Read Like a Professor: Unit 2
Linda Castranova
Chapter 21: Marked for Greatness
Harry's lightning-shaped scar on his forehead has multiple implications throughout the series. For one, it serves as proof of his past relationship and encounter with Voldemort. He originally got the scar as a young child from Voldemort's attempt to kill him. The scar serves as evidence from this event and proves that Harry is truly the "chosen one" to fulfill the prophecy.
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The scar also gives the reader insight to when Harry is in times of immense stress and foreshadows danger. Harry often complains of searing, white-hot pains in his scar when He Who Shall Not be Named, or something equally as sinister, is of close proximity. Once the series comes to a conclusion, the scar marks Harry as a hero for other witches and wizards that come after him. It makes him easily recognizable for the heroic deeds he accomplished.
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The creature in Frankenstein is clearly marked by his grotesque, non-uniform figure. He is built from a plethora of parts from a medley of different people. The implications of such a figure is that he struggles to find his place and purpose within this world. The randomness and lack of cohesion in his physical construction transfers to the randomness and lack of cohesion in his relationship with the world he was "born" into.
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Chapter 22: He's Blind for a Reason, You Know
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In Frankenstein, De Lacey's blindness emphasized his ability to perceive the world and people through actual characteristics, rather than physical qualities. His lack of capacity to see tangible creation actually enhanced his capacity to see the disposition within a person. This is exemplified through his initial acceptance and understanding of the creature, contrasted with his relatives negative reaction to seeing the creature.
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De Lacey's receptiveness versus his children's rejection adds to the theme of Frankenstein by highlighting how much of a misfit the creature is solely because of its physical appearance. It clarifies how nearly impossible it will be for the creature to find relationship, community, or human interaction in this world.
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Chapter 23: It’s Never Just Heart Disease...
Chapter 24: ...And Rarely Just Illness
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In Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein’s mother dies of scarlet fever early on in the novel. The randomness, unfortunate nature and harshness of the fever itself made the fate of death upon such an innocent victim even more horrific. Although the origin of the disease is unknown to the characters, modern day medicine tells us that contraction of scarlet fever happens when caring for a person with the disease. This exhibits the literary principal of “mysterious” and highlights the serving, generous, and compassionate nature of the mother, which makes her demise even more unfortunate.
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Scarlet fever is “picturesque” through the imagery of the mother being frail and bedridden for an extended period of time. Compared to other diseases which cause extreme and painful deterioration over time, scarlet fever is relatively quick to take its course and substantially less painful. The principal of “not all diseases being created equal” within literature is at play in order to not enact an even more horrific outcome on such an innocent character so early in the work. The death of Victor Frankenstein’s mother furthers the plot because of her final plea for Victor and Elizabeth to marry. Her request foreshadows an eventual union of the two, which becomes a pivotal moment at the conclusion of the novel.
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Chapter 25: Don’t Read With Your Eyes
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Throughout the entire novel, the female characters are relatively passive. Elizabeth, in particular, is seen more of a gem of beauty, rather than an intellectual human that does not need male support to thrive within society. This notion begins when Elizabeth initially is introduced into Victor’s life. "'I have a pretty present for my Victor-tomorrow he shall have it.' And when, on the morrow, she presented Elizabeth to me as her promised gift" (Shelley 21). Elizabeth, even from the beginning, is given to Frankenstein as a “gift”, which essentially gives the idea that she is an object, prize, or entity of some sort.
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A reader contemporary to the work would have viewed this as socially normal and acceptable. In the early 1800’s, when the novel was released, women struggled to have a voice, be successful, and make a place for themselves in society without the support of men. Women were perceived to be rather inferior to men. A reader from the twenty-first century, however, might take this idea with more shock or offense. With the increase of feminism and basic standards of women having worth in society and being capable of independence, a modern day reader might view Elizabeth’s character differently. The idea of Elizabeth being simply a gem of beauty would not be as accepted.
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