Holly, Abigail, Georgia & Lilyana

Mary Shelley’s representation of transgression - the crossing of the line of morality/ normality - is vitally significant in her novel, Frankenstein. The plot revolves around the initial transgression Victor undertakes by playing god and creating life itself. From then on, several subsequent transgressions unfold. In Volume One, Chapter Three, Victor mocks his professor and decides he has the intelligence capable of creating life. When Victor says, “I will pioneer a new way, explore unknown powers, and unfold to the world the deepest mysteries of creation” (p.49) he is comprehending his right to do so. He further spirals down the transgressional rabbit hole when he begins digging up graves and stealing dead body parts to sew together in order to create this being. His transgression peaks when he in fact electrifies the corpse he has pieced together and creates life. The gothic theme of transgression proceeds deeper and darker as the novel proceeds when Victor flees and abandons his creation, thus turning him in the inevitable monster. Subsequently, the murders of Will, Justine, and Elizabeth fall back on Victor’s initial transgression. The transgression continues as Victor desires to unnaturally make God’s wonder (nature) his own. This is a repeated notion throughout the novel, as Mary Shelley structures the novel in a way that Victor fixates on the sublime nature of the landscape. This idea that he wants to have power over nature could mean he wants to play the role of God. “Penetrate into the recesses of nature and show how she works in her hiding places.” (pg 49).

The theme of transgression is prominent throughout the novel 'Frankenstein', by Mary Shelley. This is reflected through the plot and the characters themselves, specifically Victor Frankenstein. This is significant, as it provides the perspective of someone with a twisted mind through the immoral actions they commit, thus emphasizing the Gothic theme. It also shows the consequences the characters suffer as a result of their actions. A major example of transgression is through the main character, Victor. Despite the warnings of those around him, he creates a monster using the body parts of several corpses. In the process he violates cemetries and burial sites for his own personal gain. Through his arrogance and self-desires he defies God by attempting to form a life of his own. His strive for greatness is showen through his creation as it reflects on his need to outsmart his generation and prove his intelligence. In the process, he also neglects his family and relationships to achieve his goals. Victor portrays the wrong-doing and twisted desires of humanity, and the monster is the product of transgression. This is how Mary Shelley uses this theme throughout the novel and the significance of doing so. (STILL ADDING QUOTES)

Mary Shelly’s representation of transgression in her novel Frankenstein is significant. Transgression is an act that goes against a law, rule, or code of conduct; in other words, an offence. The monster itself in the novel is a transgression, as a selfish act by Victor. Going against the current ideals of the time, in the lead up to the creation of the monster Victor shuts everyone out. He rejects the help and advice from fellow scientists and families in his pursuit to create the monster. Acting selfishly, he doesn’t acknowledge the repercussions of his actions, for the monster and himself. .... to be continued

Sarahh -
Mary Shelley’s representation of transgression in her novel Frankenstein is significant because she highlights this unnatural creation story as an act that has considerable consequences. She develops transgression effectively through the character Victor and the monster he creates. Essentially, Victor is obsessed with creating life from his own greatness. He discards the morals of his time, indication a rejection of cultural assumptions regarding the roles of the divine and humanity. The hyperbolic “Darkness had no effect upon my fancy; and a churchyard was to me merely the receptacle of bodies deprived of life, which, from being the seat of beauty and strength, had become food for the worm (P.52)” demonstrates to the reader his willingness to transgress – to cross the line of ethics and science by playing God. Therefore, it can be said that Victor directly represents transgression itself. The creature, however, juxtaposes, drawing on intertextual allusions to Paradise Lost, "I ought to have been thy Adam." The monster, then, is the tormenting psychological terror that comes with hidden transgression against society's beliefs in human responsibility. Victor’s drive and ambition to create the monster, to transgress, has immediate repercussions and he reflects on this as soon as his creation comes alive. “…but now that I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror filled my heart,” (p. 58). Both characters, thus, manifest society's attitudes towards transgression. The outcome for both characters – their destruction – emphasizes that transgression has inevitable consequences.

Write a paragraph about how Mary Shelley’s representation of transgression is significant in the novel. Add a line with your name before beginning.

Mary Shelley’s representation of transgression is significant because it seals the fate of the given consequences to Victor and the monster, leading to there death and drives the plot. The representation causes harm to the characters and becomes deleterious, it leads to the monster and Victors insanity. However, Victors transgression leads to the creation of the monster as he does not apply the rule of ethics and takes his use of science too far in the changing society, which leads to his insanity.

Caitlyn -
Transgression is obligatory significant in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, due to how Victor Frankenstein’s attitudes values and beliefs change throughout the novel. Transgression brings clarity into the novel after Victor creates the monster and realises the destruction that the monster brings. However, this realisation doesn’t make Victor want to destroy the monster, except he runs. His creation made him scared rather than how he was at the beginning of the novel; confident in his ideas of creation. “Darkness had no effect upon my fancy; and a churchyard was to me merely the receptacle of bodies deprived of life, which, from being the seat of beauty and strength, had become food for the worm” (pg 52). Victors ideas before his creation of the monster, can be seen as evil and destructive, and to any sane person the idea of resurrecting life would be idiotic. However, Victors beliefs quickly change after the creation has risen. He runs from his life’s work and begins to regret what he has done, but he knows what he had done was wrong. “As I sat, a train of reflection occurred to me, which led me to consider the effects of what I was now doing” (pg 170). This quote shows that Victor had started to think about what he was doing, and started to learn from his mistakes.