Category: Communication

Compare the ways in which Frankenstein’s monster and Caliban are presented as victims of circumstance in Frankenstein and the Tempest

In both Frankenstein and The Tempest the play, both authors have portrayed the fact that Frankenstein’s Monster and Caliban are victims of circumstance. This means that they have no control over what they are doing nor the situation they are in. Mary Shelley the author of “Frankenstein” has used many different language uses to distinguish that the monster is a victim of circumstance, also the play of “The tempest” describes that Caliban is also a victim of circumstance. Many features of both characters add up to their victims of circumstance which I will describe after.

Both texts are rich in historical context. With the book of Frankenstein being wrote in 1818. At this time many political, scientific and social beliefs had changed dramatically leading on to Mary Shelly writing this book. She grew up in a radical period of change which resulted into many creations and inventions both Mary Shelly’s parents where writers and radical thinkers, both had played a huge influence in Mary herself and on her novel. The change in science during this period of time is one of the main ideas of her novel being successful with Frankenstein using knowledge of science and receiving help from scientists to help him create his monster. Mary Shelly was also influenced by the gothic horror, one day when Shelly and a number of other writers were in a house being kept in because of persistent rain, these conditions lead Mary Shelly to write a gothic style to her novel with many parts being related to a gothic and horrific features

In the book “The tempest” the author William Shakespeare during the time of the 16^th century regularly visited freak shows which lead him to the character of Caliban which symbolises the freak nature and lack of control over others and his situation, also during this period slave trade between countries were at their peak. This resembles the victim that Caliban is as black people and slaves did not have control of themselves they were made to do work of others, this is the same as Caliban as he is controlled by others and his features including his appearance he has no control over he is a victim of circumstance that has no control over what happens to him

In the book “Frankenstein”, the doctor Victor decides to hunt after many dead body parts after continuous visits of scientists to help him with his creation. Victor visits a graveyard which is full of body parts that is essential to his creation. He ideally wants his creation to have the best body parts in order to make his creation successful, he takes the dead body parts home to begin to construct his creation after many hours he finishes constructing his monster and he takes his time to reflect on what he has produced, victor realises the creation has an absolutely unprepossessing appearance he says “Great God! His yellow skin scarcely covered the work of his muscles” in this quote Mary Shelly uses an exclamation mark to resemble Victors shock he refers to God as like he is desperate of in need as only God knows what it is like to create a person, Shelly uses a language feature of sibilance to emphasise the fact that his skin his not of a normal kind and also the tone of the quote is very hateful and abominable, he speaks of him in a really disgusting way. The use of “his” is a pronoun which tells me that he does not refer to him like a close person even though he has just created him it is almost like he is a stranger to him altogether Victor has a hatred for his creation. This further emphasises the victim of circumstance as he had no control over his disgusting appearance, he cannot change his appearance which makes it even worse for him. This is not the monsters fault that he is born like this, it was out of his reach. Similarly in the book of the Tempest the characters Trinculo and Stefano describe Caliban as a monster like person they also describe him as “A most poor credulous monster” in this quote both characters perceive Caliban as a monster because of his ugly appearance, Caliban has scaly skin similar to those of a crocodile he also paints half of his face white to make himself be seen as a monster they describe Caliban as poor this tells me that he is seen as an outsider and a low standard of quality this makes Caliban a victim of circumstance as he cannot control both what other people think about him and cannot control his appearance this parallels the book of Frankenstein as both characters are a victim of circumstance in terms of appearance. The word “most” emphasises the fact that Caliban is the poorest human that both characters have witnessed the author uses the language feature of the rule of three by mentioning “poor” “credulous” and “monster” this language feature is used for a great effect as it emphasises the victim of circumstance that Caliban is. This is similar to the features of Frankenstein, so both are victims of their unprepossessing appearance.

In both texts “Frankenstein” and “The Tempest”, both authors explain the fact that both characters Caliban and the monster in Frankenstein are people who have no sense of belonging this is shown through the fact that the monster had been driven away from the village. This situation clearly defines that the monster is a victim of circumstance as he had only visited the village once and the citizens living their had been amazed by his looks and therefore decided to chase the monster throughout the village, the author Mary Shelly uses this quotation to further emphasise the situation that the monster is in; “some fled, some attacked me” Mary Shelly uses the language feature of repetition to further reinforce the fact that the monster is a victim of circumstance. Shelly uses the word “some” twice to emphasise that many people had chased him out, this tells me that the monster had no control over the situation has an enormous amount of people had wanted to perform physical damage on the monster. this quotation also reinforces the fact that the people had different reactions of the monster but both groups had been effected by the monster. Mary Shelly uses another quotation ” grievously bruised” Mary Shelly uses the language feature of imagery to emphasise that the monster had been physically hurt and also emotionally, so this has made the monster a definite victim of circumstance. Similarly, in the book “The Tempest” William Shakespeare has portrayed as a victim of circumstance, he shows this by Caliban’s island being taken away from him. Shakespeare uses the quotation “Which thou tak’st from me. When thou cam’st first thou strok’st me” in this quotation William Shakespeare uses the language feature of repetition by continuously repenting the word “thou” which means you. In this case Shakespeare has used this to effect to emphasise that he is truly angry that his land is taken away from him but he cannot do anything about it as he has no control over it. Caliban is essentially putting the blame on Prospero for his land being taken away from him, as Sycorax his mother had given the land to Caliban but has been taken away from him this further reinforces the that Caliban is a victim of circumstance as he cannot argue the fact that what was rightfully his cannot be claimed any more. This underlines the fact that both characters have no sense of belonging thus both being victims of circumstance. As both authors use the necessary language features to portray both characters the same way.

In both texts, the author portrays both “The monster” and “Caliban” as two characters that are underestimated in their everyday lives. In the Tempest, William Shakespeare shows this when the character Prospero does not expect Caliban to challenge him. Caliban then says to Prospero “You taught me language, and my profit on’t Is I know how to curse” this quotation is referring to when Prospero had taught the Caliban language in order to fit in with people, now Caliban has used the new skills he has been taught on Prospero thus leading Caliban to challenge him. William Shakespeare uses a personal pronoun in “I” this is used for effect because Caliban wants to separate himself from Prospero’s control and he uses it to emphasize that he is challenging his leader by saying “I”. Caliban also says “I know how to curse” this quotation is symbolizing Caliban’s new found power and threatens to challenge Prospero to curse him implying that he has been taught how to curse and will use it on his leader the one who taught him how to curse. Prospero does not expect Caliban to challenge him after he taught him new skills and had helped him out, Caliban is also a slave so does not have the authority to challenge the might of Prospero. Similarly In the book “Frankenstein” the monster is also underestimated due to the fact that he isn’t expected to learn how to read or write. However he has a desire to learn how to beacuse he wants to communicate with the De Lacey family espeacially when a attractive young women named Safie arrives, the monster is determined to learn her language in order to speak to her and pass notes. He also learns how to reads books in order to learn more about feelings of people. He is not expected to read and write due to his physical appearance and the environment he is in. The monster then leads up to writing in his journal that he wants a female mate. The monster then says “no Eve soothed my sorrows nor shared my thoughts; I was alone.”  In this quotation Mary Shelley uses the language feature of sibilance in order to further reinforce the monster need for a female mate. She also uses a personal pronoun in “I” to further emphaise that he is alone. So both authors use the necessary quotations in order to similarly describe both characters of being underestimated by people above them therefore being victims of circumstance.

Throughout both texts, both authors use a lot of language features in order to explore the fact that both characters “Caliban” and “The monster” are victims of circumstance. both authors use repetition, personal pronouns, sibilance, hyperbole and lastly the rule of three to further reinforce the fact that these characters are under ruling and cannot control what has, or is being happened to them. Both characters suffer from grotesque appearances which they cannot control thus making them apparent to the two characters of being victims of circumstance.

It was on a cold miserable day. The farm was as deserted as a decrepit house with no one in sight. It was like a horror movie, and the only person within the farm was an aged helpless man who’s dishevelled appearance looked like a worthless farmer. He had spots all over him, like someone had repeatedly poked on his ugly and witch like face. He had long dirty nails similar to those of a tramp and his hair was as messy as an unkempt bush. The farm was expansive. It was a colossal battlefield that was previously used for war.

The farmer had detected some eerie objects around the farm which consisted of debris lost from the perilous battle. He saw broken fingers and a piece of a shoulder, but that wasn’t all. In his peripheral vision, the farmer saw a grave just innocently lying there in the open. He decided to open it up carefully, but in shock he saw that a number of hideous looking dead bodies were lying there all together, arm in arm. Their socketed heads tilted back at an angle and their jaws, those that had them, dropped open as if they were screaming. Little did the farmer know that they were not just gruesome dead bodies; they had suddenly made minuscule movements with their eyes and mouth. Ultimately, the monstrous, unprepossessing bodies had regained consciousness. While the farmer had continued going on with his usual business, these creatures had muscled their way out of the tight and compact grave. They made their way out like a pack of wolves hunting down their prey. They were going at such speed that even the leaves on the ground were swirling beneath them.

Their desired target was the farmer, who was the only human being around this farm. What made it even more troubling for him, was that the dead bodies freakishly loved the blood of a human. It was similar to those of vampires. The pack of bodies were assembled like an army; three at the front and three at the back. They had used their miraculous sense of smell to hunt down the farmer. The zombies continued their approach to the farmer and with them came the horrible stench of death which struck fear into him. As the zombies drew nearer to the farmer he became more wary of his surroundings. As one of the zombies grabbed him, he gave off a ghastly noise. It was a sound no living soul can make. As the ghoulish sounds echoed through the farmland, the farmer instantaneously spun around, and was now face to face with the zombies. The atmosphere froze as the farmer stood shocked in horror with the spectacle he was witnessing. The farmer, coming to his senses, began to run to the safety of his farmhouse. As he ran, he turned to see where the zombies were and was amazed by the athleticism of the broken bodies which were closing in on him very fast. It was pitch black and the zombies merged with the

The meley of bones, had rapidly caught up to the farmer. They grabbed him and pulled him to the floor. those that were spare clambered on top of him, relentlessly ravaged the farmer like a pack of hungry lions. Limbs were torn, bones broken, and flesh was devoured. The farmer screamed in agony. Each zombie picked up a piece of the remains and began marching towards their grave.

Every piece of human flesh had been devoured. They lifted the bones that remained and placed them delicately into the grave beside them. Linked arm in arm, the zombies had turned to their slumber they had claimed another life for their collection. For now they would sleep and await their next victim.

Im Lennie small me and my freind george are best of friends we travel a lotta places together me and george were resting in the brush we wanted to  look for a job to get a little stake together to get our ranch so I can tend those soft nice rabbits I love soft things oh do I.Me and george saw this real purty girl who had a soft dress I wanted to feel it but the girl wouldnt let me touch it, I was so scared and apart from george the only thing that gotta keep me going is finding that ranch of ours.

The next day me and george finally arrived at the ranch I was so happy and excited that I was gonna finally tend the rabbits when we went in the bunkhouse we saw all the other people they look at us like we’re mad don’t they see two guys travelling together we saw the boss he looked big and old  george did alla talking because I did no how to speak properly. I saw one of the workers had baby pups I begged george PLEASE PLEASE George lemme have those pups George said awright then the nice worker

gave it to the imma keep it for the rest of my life thank a lot George.

I was In the bunkouse with george and the other that curley guy sure doesnt like me I was sitting down on a chair then curley gave me a right punch it hurt me so bad I was on the floor bleedin and cryin I got back up and curley was still punchin me then George said GET HIM LENNIE! I heard my freind and I caught his hand I was gonna hurt him so bad he gonna start bleedin I saw him bleed I didn’t wanna hurt him I didn’t wanna hurt him I said to george

Everyone went into town so I was all on my own I found this room that belong to a nigger I started to talk to him he seemed nice but he started to talk about George not coming back I said yes he will come back he got me scared I hate that nigger stable buck he sure to stay quite me and old man candy start to talk bout the plan but the nigger kept on listening.

George told me not to talk to that purty girl but i had to she was right in fronta’ me she told me i could touch her hair it was so soft I tapped it again and again she started to shout I told her to stop george wont let me tend the rabbits STOP SHOUTING!! she was lying on the floor I did something very bad. George gonna get mad at me im never gonna tend those soft rabbits George was right i shoulda never got my self involved with that girl.I told George that i accidently killed that girl he got mad at me I was so sorry George he told me that it’ll be awright we ran to the brush but I knew that curley guy would hunt me down I was so scared. When we got here george told me the story that we gonna get a house of are own an I get to tend the rabbits and have a large patch of alfafa I knew that curley and his gang would be here any minute and then i heard a loud BANG.