Douglass's Motivation

Frederick Douglass's drive is what progresses him throughout the story. He has an overwhelming desire to become more than what he is. He keeps his mind on his goals even when things look bad for him. It seems like the more he gets knocked down, the more motivated he is to get back up and keep going. Instead of getting discouraged and giving up hope, he pushes himself harder every time something tries to hold him back. Not being able to read is a slight set back for Douglass. Mr.Auld scolds Mrs.Auld for simply teaching Douglass three and four letter words and once he sees how upset Mr.Auld becomes over this, his eyes are opened to how important an education is for him. "These words sank deep into my heart, stirred up sentiments within that lay slumbering, and called into existence an entirely new train of thought... From that moment, I understood the pathway from slavery to freedom."(250-251 Douglass) This part of the story really stood out to me because I think it is a turning point for Douglass. It pushes him to the next step by showing that having an education could help create a way out for him, and once he starts educating himself by reading whatever he can get his hands on, he realizes how wrong and unjust slavery really is. "The more I read, the more I was led to abhor and detest my enslavers."(253 Douglass) Reading creates even more of a drive in him and allows him to see things that are hidden and kept away from the other slaves. Douglass's motivation is what makes him different from the others around him. His story should be an inspiration to anyone looking to overcome anything.

Fredrick Douglass

Fredrick Douglass was a renowned speaker, here in America. This is what Douglass said about his first encounter as a field hand: "I left Master Thomas's, house and went to live with Mr. Covey, on the first of January, 1833. I was now, for the first time in my life, a field hand. In my new employment, I found myself even more awkward than a country boy appeared to be in a large city. I had been at my new home but one week before Mr. Covey me a very severe whipping, cutting my back, causing the blood to run, and raising ridges on my flesh as large as my little finger" (Douglass 262). I can relate to that contrasting my own personel experience as a field hand for the first time in my life. My mother sent me to the field when i was about five years old. Mr, and Mrs taylor was my field drivers, they told me that this was Johnson grass, and that this was morning glory, and that this was her cotton. So learn the difference between them now, because if i come back here and see you chopping down her fine cotton, that she was going to introduce me to old glory. Well when she left i couldn't seem to distinguish any difference in either one, they all seem to look the same way. I was just a chopping and thinking to my self, I didn't come out here to chopp no darn cotton, but to be the water boy. Then out of no where i felt a sting like a whip or something, it was Mrs. Taylor lashing me with a belt, boy didn't i tell you that i was gonna introduce you to old glory? I scream moma, but moma wasn't no where to be found. Douglass further says,"Mr. Covey sent me, very early in the morning of one of our coldest days in the month of January, to the woods, to get a load of wood "  (Douglass 262). I will finish this blog with my opinion of what it must have been like to be made to do things that you don't really want to do. I didn't won't to chop cotton, and i was whipped for not being able to distinguish the difference between, cotton, Johnson grass ,and morning glory. Wow what a life!

"Religion-Indubitable Christianity"

 What did Frederick Douglass stand for? Frederick Douglass was a proud and strong black slave; he stood for Freedom, Truth, and indubitable Christianity. In Frederick Douglass, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, he wanted the reader to not just visualize freedom, truth, but the hypocrisy of Christianity in the south where slavery was robust.

Today most people see Christianity as the modern day religion, believing it will relieve them of their problems. In history we learn that’s not always the case. Christianity was occasionally used to control people who did not have a clear apprehension of it. Frederick Douglass begins to see and understand this as a slave. Frederic Douglass saw one of his masters beat a young black women slave and use a scripture quote to justify his action. Frederick Douglass replies, “I have seen him tie a lame young women, and whip her with a heavy cow skin upon her naked shoulders, causing the warm red blood to drip; and, in justification of the bloody deed, he would quote a Scripture” (Douglass 261). As time went on Frederick Douglass heedfulness becomes keen in the white man definition of Christianity. Fredrick Douglass believes Christianity is a faith for all people of color and not a tool to control but an inspiration to love and heal the broken boundaries of separation and slavery. He makes it plainly clear in his reply, “To be the friend of the one, is of necessity to be the enemy of the other; I love the pure, peaceable, and impartial Christianity of Christ: I therefore hate the corrupt, slaveholding, women-whipping, cradle-plundering, partial and hypocritical Christianity of this land” (Douglass 289).

As citizens of the United States we should have faith to love, respect, and unify one another no matter what color he or she is. If we are going to be a leading country of examples for others we can’t lead from behind.

Rising Above

In life, people can knock you down:  Knock you down, kick you, and leave you with a smile.  That seems to be the motives behind the slave owners in Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave.  The graphic details of these people goes way beyond my level of thinking...I guess my brain just can't wrap around it.  However, Frederick Douglass gave us some valuable information about his life...a life that maybe needed to exist in order to appreciate what we have today and how we live today.  It seems as if he was given enough power to carry on through his pain in order to educate the world...an education that is so honest and pure. "Douglass casts his life as a long process of self-transformation--from an object, or an animal, to a free human being with a name" (Douglass 234).  This quote alone let us know of his inner drive to become someone...to go beyond the life he has lived and strive for something more.  We may not all like where we come from or how we live...what matters is the drive inside you to want to become more.  Douglass did not blame his life and his career as a slave, on the contrary he seemed to embrace what he went through to better himself and others.  "As in rags-to-riches stories, Douglass tells us how he makes a dramatic rise in social status and wealth through virtues such as perseverance  bravery, self-reliance, and determination" (Douglass 235)  "...self-transformation in which the illiterate and unthinking slave is prompted to recognize the injustice of his experience and to insist on his full person-hood, but Douglass reminds us many times along the way that self-transformation always involves a set of opportunities, and that under slightly different conditions, this slave might never have sought out his freedom" (Douglass 235).  This has been an encouraging story for me.  I choose not see this story as a story of hate...or black and white. I see a wonderful story or Resurrection from an old life to a new life.  That fits my life right now.  I was getting knocked down and I chose to make a change and start a new life.  And just knowing what Frederick went through as a slave and more, helps me to stay focused on what I need to do to keep my life going.

I still have hope...

I still have hope to believe that this is not my final destination in life. While reading Frederick Douglass narrative of his life this title stayed on my mind. This reading was priceless to me and very heart touching. I often wondered how Frederick Douglass kept his determination after being broken so many times. " Mr Covey succeeded in breaking me. I was broken in body, soul and spirit. My natural elasticity was crushed, my intellect languished, the disposition to read departed, the cheerful spark that lingered about my eye died; the night of slavery closed in upon me; and behold a man transformed into a brute" (Frederick Douglass 264). To me he wasn't a quote unquote normal slave in a way. Yes he had a hard life, but compared to alot of the other slaves in the beginning he was sheilded from alot of the whipping and harsh life of a slave. To be at this point on his journey he was finally pushed to the point of feeling like an animal. He was beat and whipped until he couldn't take it anymore so he decided to do something about it. To be an equal human or shall I say a freed human was all he was in search for. In this part of the story I almost felt like they had "tamed" him, but he had a turning point in the narrative that gave him hope. After all the beatings he fround the courage to stand up to Mr. Covey and show him he was a man. " This battle with Mr. Covey was the turning point in my career as a slave. It rekindled the few expiring embers of freedom, and revived within me a sense of my own manhood" (Frederick Douglass 268). This confrontation with Mr. Covey gave him the self confidence he needed to go on in search of his freedom.

The Significance of Graphic Violence in Frederick Douglass' Narrative

I believe Frederick Douglass' narrative of his life was written to move people to the point where they could not possibly condone slavery. With this goal in mind, a kind of scene that has not been present in enlightenment and romantic era texts emerges: the depiction of graphic violence. I believe that Douglass purposely details every moment so that the reader is confronted with the brutality of the slave condition. This is in direct contrast to Frankenstein, where murder is also common, yet described with little to no shock-value.

Douglass' description of his aunt's beatings at the hands Captain Anthony shock the reader as soon as the first chapter with a chilling description of his master's cruelty, "No words, no tears, no prayers, from his gory victim, seemed to move his iron heart from its bloody purpose. The louder she screamed, the harder he whipped; and where the blood ran fastest there he whipped longest. He would whip her to make her scream, and whip her to make her hush; and not until overcome by fatigue, would he cease to swing the blood-clotted cowskin"(Douglass 238). The repeated references to the blood, and the senselessness of the beatings, combine to evoke a strong emotional response in the reader. Because of this desire to impact the reader with the brutality of the slave condition, graphic violence is an important part of Douglass' narrative.

The significance of violence's role in Frankenstein is, I believe, a foil of it's significance in Douglass' slave narrative. Several people are murdered by the bare hands of the monster, even Dr. Frankenstein's own bride is brutally killed on their wedding night. However, Shelley's description of the violent scene is very subdued in comparison to Douglass', "the deathly languor and coldness of the limbs told me, that what I now held in my arms had ceased to be the Elizabeth whom I had loved and cherished. The murderous mark of the fiend's grasp was on her neck, and the breath had ceased to issue from her lips" (Shelley 136). There are no references to blood, or even to the act itself, only the aftermath in which Frankenstein even states he "might have supposed her asleep" (Shelley 136), which is quite the contrast to the picture of violence painted by Douglass.

..A Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Waste..

       "When I went there, she was a pious, warm, and tender-hearted woman. There was no sorrow or suffering for which she had not a tear. She had bread for the hungry, clothes for the naked, and comfort for every mourner that came within her reach. Slavery soon proved its ability to divest her to these heavenly qualities (Frederick Douglass 252)." Reading this narrative brought tears to my eyes. I kept thinking, "How could this lady, whom has a son of her own bare to teach me my ABC's and later come back and attempt to take it away." Mrs. Auld did a 360 and didn't have a care in the world. The narrative says that she was a warm and tender-hearted, anyone in her presence left happy, she gave them comfort. What better feeling than for a slave to be treated like a human- being! The mind is terrible thing to waste and so is the misuse of power and authority. "If I was in a separate room any considerable length of time, I was sure to be suspected of having a book, and was at once called to give an account of myself (Frederick Douglass 252)." During slavery time African Americans didn't have the right to read and write, education was a joke. Till this day you have some people who take life and their education for granted. For example, African Americans complain about how the police or "white officers" misuse their authority by beating and killing African American males. What are you doing to be arrested? We have the priviallege to futher our education, get better paying jobs, become CEO's, own businesses, and atc. What are we doing though, we're robbing, cheating, stealing, and even killing. What's the point of complaining when we aren't doing anything bout the problem. I'm a single mother of a one year old boy, whoms father does nothing. But I can guarntee you that my child will make something of himself. I'm not settling for less. Honeslty we need more fathers to step up and be apart of their son's lives, there is only so much a mother can do. African Americans want to be treated with respect and dignity but our actions say a totally different thing. These election debates have me afraid for my sons future. you have people saying, "Who Romney is gonna have us back in the slavery days." As long as I have breath in my lungs I never want to see my son out in the fields or being beaten or even eating slop. I say all of this to say that men like Douglas, Martin Luther King Jr, and others died for our rights, diginity, and freedom. We need to pick up our community and start putting the pieces back together. We have the necessary tools to futher education, obtain good jobs and many other wonderful things. We have to start somewhere. Lets start in our community.

"Nothing Is Right or Wrong, but Thinking Makes It So"

Fredrick Douglas became a prime example, to people's "knowledge," how any human being is able to render themselves above irrational forms of society. Fredrick Douglas, as a slave, was born into a debauched society where experiences and motives create a sustained, as well as an undeveloped mind into a world. His world coming in was all that he knew. Douglas did not have the knowledge of any outside world, instead the one he has never left. His experiences of the un familiar torment to the black race's: work, wrongs or rights, punishments, and deceiving ways were not to his knowledge; they were the way of life to the providence of a more prominent white superior, as I should say. From all the way to the beginning of time; humanity perceives the society they live in from the knowledge they intrigue from the more dominate beings in it. This creates the structure, that has brought upon humanity, that brings people together through: rules, morals, beliefs, ideas, needs, communication, and the willing to create new ideas and expand other forms from consistent and a want for knowledge. Knowledge is a power that evolves into many of things. The act from a more superior culture to know what they can actually do, from their higher way of life and the knowing of diversity and others cultural ways, dehumanize themselves because of the want for greater power. Also they dehumanize a less educated and progressed culture, in their own favor, in order to strip all of the mind for notorious want to a better social status and create work to produce more money for more powerful means.  It is how you receive that knowledge and use it that enhances your true social being through a contributing human way. Douglas explains his role as a slave through the inevitable disregard of human rights. His journey from disgrace and innocence to knowledge gives him different ideologies of the world in able for him to become a major leader and generate a movement to change the way of thinking and believing. Fredrick Douglas shows the discrimination from society, when he becomes of some knowledge, through the difference in Mr. Auld and his own views. Douglas states, "What he most dreaded, that I most desired. What he most loved, that I most hated. That which to him was a great evil, to be carefully shunned, was to me a great good, to be diligently sought; and the argument which he so warmly urged, against my learning to read, only served to inspire me with a desire and determination to learn" (Douglass 250). Douglass becomes his own greatness, as he realizes this knowledge of societies disgrace and the shielded ideas to the black people, that motivates him for the purpose to show and educate the wrongs of these people, only if he becomes knowledgeable of "knowledge." He discovers how strong knowledge is when he sees it become a monster within himself from learning all the people's wrongs, they so value, in his world. He demonstrates the agony of being apart of such a world to regretting the knowledge he had learned that turns to hate, despair, cultivation, ect.. During his set back, Douglass states, "I would at times feel that learning to read had been a curse rather than a blessing. It had given me a view of my wretched condition, without the remedy. It opened my eyes to the horrible pit, but to no ladder upon which to get out. In moments of agony, I envied my fellow-slaves for their stupidity" (Douglass 254). This reminds me a lot of Frankenstein because the knowledge shows him the monster it can really be from becoming a reconciliation of the bad and hatred that can be seen and become of you that society has created. Douglass's thoughts brought him down in despair from the thinking that nothing could be done to change the social structures that have been engraved. He sees there are others who see as him which creates hope that breaks him out of his realm and as a minority/representative because of his knowledge. His pursuit for better and more will go to any length for the purpose of a change. In order to open the minds of a debauched, humiliated, and disgraced society, that has engraved the ideas of an irrational culture, needs to change the minds from ignorance to the knowledge of just "humanities being" that has created this nation social greatness!

With the upcoming election and the theme of our current reading, the struggle between knowledge and ignorance has been much on my mind. Who determines what is right or wrong for you? Are you told what is right or wrong or do you seek understanding for yourself and make a decision based on all the available evidence? Even if you do go out and seek to know, where are you getting your information? Is it a creditable source? In Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas, Frederick Douglas uses knowledge to attract attention to the plight of the black slave in America. This is a knowledge that he was denied because of its power. One could argue that Fredrick Douglas's story would've gone very different had he not had the opportunity to acquire the tools of expression necessary to communicate accurately the conditions under which he was raised. His graphic depictions of the way the children were fed and they savagery with which he and his peers were beaten affect the reader of his story in profound ways. By having the ability to convey such strong imagery, Frederick Douglas is able make everything very real for the reader. It is hard not to feel the emotion when he says "the dark night of slavery closed in upon me; and behold a man transformed into a brute.". The power of the language he uses demands the attention of more than the mind. Frederick Douglas was successful because his writings demand the attention of the heart. Few things are more powerful than human compassion.

"Knowledge-Freedom"

Who was Frederick Douglass? Frederick Douglass was a black slave who wanted to be free. Frederick Douglass was born a slave in Talbot County, in Maryland, around 1818. The exact year of his birth is unknown. Frederick Douglass had a mother and father, his mother he knew, but always informed by the other slaves on the plantation, his father was his owner. In the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American slave, Frederick Douglass believed if he could procure knowledge, he will have power, and gain “Freedom”.

When Frederick Douglass was young he became curious about his life as a slave. He realizes the surrounding on the plantation was not natural, whites controlling blacks with knowledge, power, and whips.  As a child, Frederick Douglass has seen a thing that terrifies him like watching an overseer beat his Aunt Hester for disobeying his instruction. The overseer beat her until her red kool-aid (blood) started dripping on the floor, Douglass replies, “I was so terrified and horror-stricken at the sight, and that I hid myself in a closet” (Douglass 239). This will ruin anyone childhood. Something happen that brought grace to Frederick Douglass. His owner, son, wife begins to teach him how to read, when her husband finds out he replies, “it is unlawful and unsafe to teach a slave to read; now he will be no keeping, and forever unfit to be a slave” (Douglass 250). Frederick Douglass knew then knowledge is very important, from here on, he begins to educate himself with the other whites he come in contact with, which gave him a sense of power. Frederick Douglass continues to go on and become an abolitionist leader for slavery and one of the most prominent black authors in history. He also gains the most important purpose in his life, to be “Free” as a black man.

 

"Innocent"

 

In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, the creature is blameless for the murders he commits to Victor friends and family. Victor creates a hideous monster out of dead body parts, with strange chemicals, and invigorated him with a mystic spark. The creature begins life as an eight feet tall monster. The creature is innocent, has an intellect of a new born, and longs for affection from his creator. It is understood in Victor’s reply, “He might have spoken, but I did not hear; one hand was stretched out, seemingly to detain me, but I escaped” (Shelley 35). Disregarded by his creator the creature becomes confused and frustrated and tries to integrate himself into human society. The creature stumbles upon some books and learns about humans’ way of life. What he learns takes away his innocence, he replies, “I read of men concerned in public affairs governing or massacring their species. I understood the signification of those terms; I applied them, to pleasure and pain alone” (Shelley 87).  Once the creature sees his reflection, he realizes his abominable features will keep him from being part of human society. The knowledge the creature obtains about human genocide sparks a conflagration of revenge toward his creator. The creature locates Victor’s younger brother and murders him, then his best friend to get his attention. Being outcated from his creator and people, he makes a proposition for his creator to create him a companion like himself, but Victor refuses, so the creature murders the closest person to him, his wife. Victor now is lonely like the creature he created.

  The moral to this story is Victor created the monster out of selfishness. In all his effort in creating the monster he failed to give him the most important thing to sustain his life………………………………………….love and companionship.

Jeff says , "Twenty years ago, I did not what a reduction was or even how a saute pan worked. I couldn't pronounce foie gras, and I certainly couldn't imagine that one day I'd know how to cook it to perfection" (Henderson   xi). This story is amazing to me, How this brother went from cooking cocane to cooking real food. I can relate to this brother, because i to was once incarcerated . Prison to me was like being thrown away.  Only to find your self realizing who you really are. When i was incarcerated i learned how to bake bread , and pasteries. From a brother name George Green, he was a like skin brother like myself. Not that it mattered whether he was like skin or not. But every one thought that he and i were blood brothers. He was from Hot Springs Arkansas, and i was from Littlerock Arkansas. So right from the begining of this story i can feel this brother. For i didn"t have a clue about baking nothing but a piece of toast. When i met George we was walking around the prison yard on what is call prison yard call. He said brother  Bobby, what kind of job assignment did they give you in what is call classification. I said man they put me on the demolishing crew, thats tearing down unwanted buildings. Caring very heavy cross tires that go on the rail road. George said to me do you want to learn how to bake bread and pies. Please excuse my French, but i said hell yeah! Jeff says,"It was February 2007, just weeks before my first book, Cooked, would be released, and i was getting anxious about how much my life would change. I would be a guest on the Oprah Winfry Show" (Henderson  xi). Wow i know that was very exciting, because i feel butterflys in my stomach as well. In my closing of this blog i feel compelled to write a book on my experience behind enemy line. Thank you for reading this blog.

roles in society

Mary Shelley uses the roles of females in Frankenstein to perpretrate how women have always been a minority within society. Shelley's mother was a known female activist and Shelley writes Frankenstein revolving around men and the women coming in for the support. The women in the story were more like power blankets to the men whenever there were needs for support or comfort. After the death of Victor's mother and Elizabeth's aunt; she started acted to consult the boys first hand. Victor states, "She consoled me, amused her uncle, instructed my brothers, and I never beheld her so enchanting as at this time, when she was continually endeavouring to contribute to the happiness of others, entirely forgetful of herself" (Shelley 26). Instead of showing any agony and remorse she goes to comfort the boys around her first, which in todays time it would be the other way around as time has changed society. Justine displays a girl with no voice and honor when she was accused for the death of William's murder. When she is being trialed, she confesses to the murder of her innocence because she knew that was what her role was to be and she rejects power and a voice. Elizabeth shows that she does have a vice and stands up for Justine during the trial reflecting nothing but good. Victor then says, talking of the reaction after, "A murmur of approbation was heard; but it was excited by her generous interference, and not in favour of poor Justine, on whom the public indignation was turned with renewed violence, charging her with the blackest ingratitude" (Shelley 56). Society was just developed this way through tradition and the position of supporting roles in the book were more like a back stop to when Victor or Walton to when there was moments of despair, being lost, comfort, and rewarding. Not much was heard from the women in the story and when the reader does; it is when a man promotes the need or it is to show times in the story when the mood is low or to find a new beginning.

Trusting true love

Time and time again we hear about true love prevailing over all obstacles. From childhood we were raised hearing the tales of Snow White, Cinderella and even the Little Mermaid. In these stories, for the most part, the leading characters were innocent and seemed not to have a "past". In the story of Du Tenth sinks the Jewel Box in Anger, Du Tenth has a past that is not widely accepted. Although Li knew of Du Tenth's past, he still fell in love with her. Du Tenth bargained with her madam to allow time for Li to collect finances to buy her from her mama. "Though the young master may be a little strapped for cash...he can raise three hundred."(Menglong 502) Knowing that Li would be too ashamed to return if he did not succeed, mama agreed. She initially only wanted him to have three days but later stated, " for your sake, then, I'll give him ten days."(Menglong502) Around day six Li had been searching and talking to his friends but no one was willing to help him. They knew he had been spending his money in the whore house and pretty much was not about to support his habit. Du Tenth realizing he had not returned, sent for him. Upon his return he told her he was still broke but had been trying. "Catching tigers cannot be considered easy, but begging favors is what's truely hard." (Menlong 504) Du Tenth gives Li her savings which equals half of what he needs. The other half is given by Liu Yuchun to whom Du Tenth promises, "On some future day I swear that we will worthily repay your kindness." (Menglong 507) Time passes and Du Tenth uses gifts given to here to provide means for transportation and survival for herself and her new husband Li. During travels, Li is offered 1000 taels in exchange for Du tenth so that he would not have to return home as an embarrassment to his father. Li realizes that Du Tenth would not be accepted by his family because of her past as a prostitute.  Li agrees with the blessings from Du Tenth. After the exchange Du Tenth ask Li to retrieve her box. In it Du Tenth reveals treasures worth 10 times as much as  Li received. The treasure was thrown into the water because she realized Li was not worthy of the treasure since he traded her for one thousand.  If Li would have trusted in the love as much as Du Tenth did he would have returned to his family with the love of his life and wealth. But because he was embarrassed he left with one thousand taels.

"Frankenstein" is a frankenstein...

...it's also a layer-cake.

                                          Uh...lets stick with the first metaphor.

Frankenstein is a creation made up of a variety of parts (excuse the pun). It's very literally a patchwork of different authors and influences. Although absolutely born of the ability of Mary Shelley, there are many ideas and phrases that she chooses to simply borrow from other books, Paradise Lost by John Milton being the most common benefactor. When you pair this with Percy Shelley's (debated or otherwise) role in editing the novel, the piece begins to take on the look of the titular character's nemesis, the monster.

                                    "Just imagine this, but like, it's a novel, bro."

Some would say that Mary's work was diluted by its patchwork of influence, and I would agree to some extent; but not to the degree where the novel would be somehow marginalized. In fact, it adds more layers to discover. And to think that somehow Percy's divine hand reached down and raised this novel up from the grave of Mary's pen, although ironic when set against the story, is simply naive. In his attempts to adjust the terminology, etc. in the book, he simply serves to disrupt its flow. As said in a critical essay, "And the scandal of Mary Shelley's fractured text may discredit the female author less than it does her masculine authorities[...]Shelley's unorthodox citational strategies[...]may expose not so much her lack of originality as the material conditions that constitute textuality as a form of grafting" (London 397). Often times there will be bits of prose done by Percy that I see as arbitrarily inserted into the text. For example, Frankenstein is climbing the mountain Montanvert, the scene is set very Romantically in the sense that the environment (read:nature) is the focus on trip to the summit, "The pines are not tall or luxuriant, but they are sombre, and add an air of severity to the scene[...]vast mists were rising from the rivers which ran through it, and curling in thick wreaths around the opposite mountains, whose summits were hid in the uniform clouds," then Percy pops in for a comment on the sensibilities of man: "Alas! why does man boast of sensibilities superior to those apparent in the brute; it only renders them more necessary beings" (Shelley 64). He then proceeds to drop an 8 line piece of poetry to support his intrusion. As the reader I just think, 'Uhhh, ok dude thanks for the tip, now I'd like to get back to the scenery." Amazingly, after the ego of Mr. Shelley is sated, the novel immediately goes back to describing the scene. Seen in practice, this "grafting" of ideas into place forms the novel as a whole, creates life out of discarded parts; and so the parallels between the book and the monster itself become even closer.

Confessions of Nat Turner

WILLIAM  STYRON

"Was born in Newport News, Virginia, William Styron was the only child of William Clark Styron, a marine engineer, and Pauline Margaret Abraham. The Styron family decends from "Stiorings" who came to Virginia as early as 1650 and includes Scottist, Scotch-Irish, Welsh, Swiss, and English forebears,"The confessions of Nat Turner" (Styron v). Its amazing that William Styron is from the same place that Nat Turner was enslave , and led a slave revolt. That shock, that State tremendously. T.R Gray wrote, "To The Public, the late insurrection in SouthHampton has greatly excited the pulic mind and led to a thousand idle, exaggerated and mischievous reports.Woe a fellow human being got tired of being treated like an animal, and decided to fight for his life and those that had been horribly torched to death. Was label a savage, what about those that kidnapped his fathers and grand fathers. What was they? I just happen to be a decended of those people who was label savages. So i find it very hard at times to find the approprioate words to use in this blog.Any way back to the story that they wrote concerning Mr. Nat Turner. My thoughts about this is that i think that he was sniched out,and couldn't help but to surrender. In my concludsion of this horrific story i feel very sad that human beings had to be treated like animals. they were in their own contry minding their own business, and were seized and kidnapped to this hell in America. Woe to those that did that!

Understanding the Monster

Before the creature gives his accounts of what happened, we are only able to judge him based off of Frankenstein's feelings and the emotional suffering of his family. Anyone who hasn't heard the tragic events from the monster's perspective would condemn him based on his distasteful actions. But when he begins to go into depth about the murder of William, we see a different side of him. His first intentions were not to murder, but to have a companion so that he wouldn't be alone. "...an idea seized me that this little creature was unprejudiced, and had lived to short a time to have imbibed a horror of deformity. If, therefore, I could seize him, and educate him as my companion and friend, I should not be so desolate in this peopled earth."(100) In this passage the reader can see the creature as something more thatn a monster. He has the need to be loved and accepted just like any human being. He approached William thinking that he had finally found someone who would befriend him instead of shun him away but when he seen that even the child was terrored by him, it caused him to anger.
The creature has been neglected by Frakenstein and left alone for the world to despise him. Any creation with a heart and brain needs the company of another. "My companion must be of the same species and have the same defects. This being you must create."(101) Here again we see the need for acceptance and love. The monster was thrown into the world without a chance and without hope. Anyone that was left in these conditions would certainly not be at their best.

"Knowledge"

     In the character Victor Frankenstein, the Enlightenment idea of knowledge is evident when he replies, "My dreams were therefore undisturbed by reality; and I entered with the greatest diligence into the search of the philosopher's stone and the elixir of life" (Shelly 22). Victor was an intelligent boy who grew up in Geneva reading the works of antiquated scientists who studied alchemy. When Victor attended the college of Ingolstadt, he was divulged to modern science. He mastered his studies in just a few years with the help of his professors. Victor becomes so enthralled with the "secret of life", he discovers it and brings a hideous creature to life. His seeking of knowledge paid off. Victor creation was distorted, he replies, "I finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart" (Shelly 34). Victor feels ashamed and realize what a horrible monster he begotten from his erudition.

  In my conclusion Victor becomes so hungry for knowledge that he forgets about his family and the world he lives. His thirst for knowledge was created in selfishness. We can see knowledge sometimes can be a power to create, also a great responsibility.

Frankenstein and the human connection

In Frankenstein we see how the monster craves for human connection. He craves to understand the cottages people and the monster longs “to discover the motives and feelings of these lovely creatures:..” (shelly 77) The monster tries to fix the connection between himself and the his cottage friends by getting up late at night. While they where asleep the monster would help Felix with some of his chores and the monster would also help clear the path from snow so Agatha could go to the garden with out any troubles.He sees how his secret human connection makes a positive impact on there life.He noticed them a lot happier but the monster still sees the sadness that over takes them. He doesn't understand why they are still sad until he learns about how they have had a rough life. He wants to understand there language so he teaches himself how to speak and read by some books he finds on the path one day “..I found on th ground a leathern portmanteau, containing several articles of dress and some book.”(shelly85) He was so happy when he found this because he began learning more about the cultures and the government. He is disgusted by how people act in the form of war killing each other. They sometimes made him happy with new feeling he has never felt before but sometimes it was the total opposite  He finds a note in the pocket and he learns about how his master created him. The monster begins to feel true hatred and anger for his master. So in a way the monster does form a way of human connection by feeling emotions. Its makes him even more human with the anger that he feels towards his master.

Tough decisions

Throughout one's life many decisions have to be made. They can range from simple to the most complex. In Mary Shelly's Frankenstein Victor Frankenstein was faced with many. In the one area Victor had to decide if he should create a partner for the monster. If he created the female monster, he possibly could live his life without further influence from the monster. Which seemed a great ideal until he considered the past and possible future consequences. He would have two beings that may continue murdering humans with super human capabilities. Or he could deny the request and face destruction of those around him. In this matter victor took his chances and ended his work on the second creation which enraged the monster. In another aspect. Victor had to decide if her were going to marry Elizabeth. Victor remembered what the monster told him, "I will be with you on your wedding -night!" (Shelly 131) On one hand he knew that Elizabeth was the love of his life and they were raised to eventually marry. After the letter she sent he no longer had any doubt that she shared the same feelings for him. But he considered that their union could "... hasten my fate."(Shelly 131) Victor feared the monster would keep promise and possibly kill all those close to him. These events may give insight to modern day living. They show that sometimes there is not always a good outcome to decisions we make on a daily basis. Sometimes you have to close the lesser of two evils and hope for the best..

The Support System

Support can be a wonderful thing.  Our parents start to support us as soon as we are born:  from physically to emotionally to financially.  From that moment we enter a world of uncertainty, but with the support of our family we thrive. For the monster in Frankenstein, this beginning to a normal life is lacking. God gave us a family to support, love, and help educate us.  The monster's god, Victor Frankenstein, left out the importance of the nurturing family:  the support system...the touch of another...the sense of belonging.  The monster sets out on a journey to complete the search for that connection:  communication, love, safety, and hopes to find his identity. 

 "Like Adam, I was created apparently united by no link to any other being in existence; but his state was far less different from mine in every other respect" (Shelley, 87).  Here the monster compares his being to that of God's creation of Adam, however, he realizes that they were far different.  "He came forth from the hands of God a perfect creature...guarded by the especial care of his Creator" (Shelley, 87).  Adam's God did not fail to realize the importance of a support, a touch, a companion.  After creating the monster, Frankenstein comes to terms with the fact that his quest to surpass the world with his knowledge has been misconceived; and escapes his blunder:  leaves him high and dry. The monster makes every attempt to find the missing puzzle piece in his life.  It seems to be hopeless for him because of his stature.  The people he encounters find him to be a wretch; a hideous monster whom they refuse to befriend.  "I am alone, and miserable; man will not associate with me" (Shelley, 97).  I can't imagine having the mind of a child, not knowing what to do or how to do it, and being completely passed over by the world.  Our bodies are wired for the need to be accepted, loved, touched, and supported.  It seems to me Frankenstein, as brilliant as he is, missed the mark.

Frankenstein: A family concern

As a parent, you wonder about your children. You start wondering where your children are, what they are doing, are they safe and many more questions come to your mind as a parent. More questions and concerns come to mind as they get older. This is how Victor's father felt when he had not heard from him in months. "I cannot describe to you the uneasiness we have all felt concerning your health" (Shelley 39). Elizabeth wrote Victor a letter explaining the sadness and concerns that not only his father had but his whole family was worried about him. Victor had gotten sick and overcame that illness but his family did not know if he was better or if it got worse over time that they have not talked to him. "Relieve us from this fear, and we shall be the happiest creatures in the world" (Shelly 39). At this point, Victor's family just wants to hear from him. After Victor's mother died, they family especially his father seemed very worried that something else bad that was going to happen, very on edge. So, they did not care if the letter just said I was ok, the family just wanted a response for Victor to say somthing back. As much as our parents get on our nerves or we feel like we do not want to be bothered with them because we are older and we do not have time for them anymore, does not mean they are going stop being parents and stop worrying about their children. Your parents are your parents for the rest of your life.  

The shadow of Frankenstein

Victor Frankenstein becomes lost in his endeavors to greater knowlege. Frankenstein's non -complacent demeanor blinds him of his own self, the dependents of his family, and the world around him. During an era that knowledge immensely created power to find answers to the world, provoked Frankensteins evasive actions to steer him away from the main importance of life. Frankenstein's greed to success becomes a part of him in which his own desire becomes his worst enemy. Frankenstein realizes what he has become when he goes home, away from his infectious work, into reality. Frankenstein blames himself for the deaths of William and Justine as he mourns in despair, "I had begun life with benevolent intentions and thirsted for the moment when I should put them in practice, and make myself useful to my fellow-beings" (Shelley 61). Frankenstein acknowledges that he let his thirst to become of power interfere with his social structure, the love they share, and his true duties. Frankenstein goes on to say, "Now all was blasted: instead of that serenity of conscience, which would allowed me to look back upon the past with self-satisfaction, and from thence to gather promises of new hopes, I was seized by remorse and the sense of guilt, which hurried me away to hell of intense tortures, such as no language can describe" (Shelley 61). He sees that his ambitions became for all the wrong and left behind all that was cared for through his obssessions that only brought him lonliness, madness, and bitterness. Frankenstein sought out nature, away from society and all thoughts, which kept him at peace with himself. Talking of the scenery he states, "They elevated me from all littleness of feeling and although they did not remove my grief, they subdued and tranquillized it" (Shelley 65). Even though his greed overpowered him to lead to misfortunes; Frankenstein is able to let go of all his desires and hatred of his monster self to subdue himself of nature and life's main wanders and love.