English Coursework Ideas
masculinity is viewed more favourably than femininity
Frankenstein: most victims of the creature are women - Justine, who technically brought William up, is blamed for his death despite her love towards him - women get constantly blamed for any harm done or caused by males - quote: frankenstein talking about his guilty
Eva gets blamed for Kevin, despite her warnings about him for years and Franklin actually being the apologist for Kevin's actions -- the mum talking about it during the prison visit
Frankenstein is never directly blamed, while he does die, he dies with dignity (Walton talking about his honour and good characteristics)
contrasts with Eva who is blamed for everything and doesn't get justice despite not doing anything - again, the males who create the main issue, are spared by death
the blame felt by the two main characters: Franklin feels no guilty and often blames Eva, Frankenstein felt guilty but never acted in ways to disolute them, Eva warned them and was ignored and later blamed for it
all the women eventually die, all the women in Frankenstein are used as pawns by the characters and the author, and they only serve a purpose
Similarly, with Eva and Cecily they are used to serve Kevin's purpose and aim as well as
lack of responsibility: Frankenstein page 60, 63
DISAGREE: ELIZABETH OFTEN VIEWED IN A BETTER LIGHT PAGE 62
males undeserving of mercy as they cause the issues, however they are the only one's that get it - every other female is brutally murdered or blamed for the consequences of male actions
Grade boundaries
Poetry
A* 47
A 43
B 37
C 31
D 24
E 18
Things to think about
narrative voice
epistolary form
symbolism
setting
structure
Frankenstein critics
Madigan - "Frank lacks compassion for his creature"
Gilber and Gubar - "a blind rejection of women by misogynistic patriarchy"
Claridge - "the story demonstrates the failure of human beings to parent their offspring"
Mellor - "the novel traces out the dangerous consequences of attempting to either posses or dismiss the female"
Katsner - "Shelly identified with the abandoned child"
Richardson - "women in the novel are passive objects, made property by the male subject"
Anna Trevor - "Women in Frankenstein are domestic, selfless and useless"
Mary Jacobus - "At best, women are the bearers of a traditional ideology of love, nurturance and domesticity; at worst, passive victims"
how well they suit into stereotypical views and expectations of them:
e.g: Eva finds it difficult to venture in public yet she wants to feel the ramifications of her life
She bristles at the hypocrisy of blamers, finger-pointers and excuse-makers and their arrogant superiority of believing bad things shouldn’t happen to them. The treatment Eva endures in her new life supports both sides of her inner contradictions
Frankenstein context
Enlightenment emphasised: reason, analysis and individualism rather than following religious teachings, enlightenment thinkers turned to scientific study and practiced scepticism
18th century people were religious = playing God was scary to them
Mary Shelley was born into a world of scientific, artistic and political revolution
One of her father's main ideas was that everyone should act only for the good of mankind; otherwise, selfishness would lead to the breakdown of society. This view influenced Frankenstein in that Victor largely thinks and acts only for himself, ignoring the wishes of the Monster