Rachel Albin

11/5/23

6th Period

ENGL 1301 0.043

Socratic Circles – Analysis/Discussion Questions

Frankenstein

1. In the novel, “Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, the author implies that

“motherhood” as well as the role of women is highly crucial. Shelley introduces her

audience to a world where mothers are frequently absent; she expresses that the idea of

motherhood does not only come from childbirth, but from the capacity to love. Shelley

indicates that for humanity to further develop and thrive, “love” is required. She does this

with her character Elizabeth. Shelley portrays Elizabeth as docile and submissive to go in

debt on her own personal struggles with motherhood. Throughout the novel, Elizabeth is

considered to be a caring individual who constantly comforts Victor. For example, she

tells Victor that he must “banish [his] dark passions. [And to] remember the friends

around [him]...centre all their hopes in [him].” The male characters in “Frankenstein” are

made out to be egocentrica and ambitious, while the females are selfless and malleable.

The protagonist, Victor Frankenstein, represents patriarchal belief, and therefore is

incapable of any feminine attributes which leads to the demise of everyone he cares for,

as well ashimself.
2. In the novel, “Frankentstien”, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, the author is promoting

Victor’s final decision on not giving into his creatures demands as the superior choice. In

the story, the creature demands that Victor creates a mate for him. He states that his

monstrous and aggressive behavior is due to not having a significant other who is like

him. The creature believes that if he were to have one, he would choose to live peacefully

with her and away from Victor and the rest of humanity. Victor refuses to pursue the idea

of making his creation a female companion due to his fear of the pair reproducing, and

creating a new species that would end humanity; He states that “..one of the first results

of those sympathies for which the daemon thirsted would be children, and a race of devils

would be propagated upon the earth.” Victor concludes it would be selfish of him to

create a companion for the creature and decides not to go through with it to save his own

life.

3. In the novel, “Frankenstein,” by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, the author chooses to

utilize the idea of dreams and nightmares in her story to emphasize her protagonist Victor

Frankenstein’s character development and to foreshadow future events that will take

place in the novel. Victor’s reoccurring nightmares and dreams relate to his drastic

change of character. His dreams reflect his emotional and mental stability. In the

beginning, his dreams are filled with hope and ambition, reflecting on his yearn for

scientific greatness. However, after his creature’s upbringing, and as the story progresses

further, his dreams quickly turn into nightmares, resulting in Victor feeling guilty and

fearful and realizing the consequences of his actions. "Learn from me, if not by my

precepts, at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge and

how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who
 aspires to become greater than his nature will allow." These dreams Victor experiences

symbolize the changes in Victor's character, showing his descent into darkness and the

emotional toll of his pursuit of knowledge and power.

4. In the novel, “Frankenstein,” by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, the multiple narrators of

the story can be considered unreliable. The reliability of the narrators is questioned due to

their respective points of view. Victor's narration is subjective, and is highly influenced

by his remorse and guilt. This influences his way of retelling events throughout the story.

Similarly, the creature's perspective can be considered biased due to its inner suffering

and desire for revenge, which potentially causes him to give a false account of the story’s

plot. The creature gives an example of this by expressing that he “[is] malicious because

he [is] miserable, [and that he is] shunned and hated by all of mankind.” These subjective

factors make the narrators in Frankenstein unreliable to challenge the audience's own

interpretations of the characters and to add complexity to the story.

5. In the novels, “Frankenstein,” by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, and “The Inheritance

Games,” by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, Avery Grambs and Victor Frankenstein both represent

the theme of ambition as they are completely driven by their aspirations and achieving

their individual goals. Victor and Avery both pursue their goals with determination, but

also face the consequences of their choices and actions. They demonstrate determination

in these pursuits by never giving up despite the challenges they face. Avery and Victor's

choices have far-reaching effects on themselves and those around them. For example,

Victor Frankenstein is completely driven by his own pride, curiosity, and ambition. This

leads him into creating the creature. However, he becomes consumed by guilt, and begins

to feel remorseful for his actions; "[he] beheld the wretch-the miserable monster whom
 [he] had created". Furthermore, Avery Grambs ambition is clear as she endeavors to

figure out the truth behind the Hawthorne family fortune. Avery is determined to solve

the puzzles left behind by the late Tobias Hawthorne and is driven by her lifelong yearn

to achieve success and secure her future.

6. In the novel, “Frankenstein,” by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, the author’s purpose of

telling Justine Moritz story was to go in dept on the theme of injustice, and to shed light

on the consequences of Victor Frankenstein’s actions. Justine represents the unfairness of

society. Her character serves as an example of the many consequences Victor must face

due to his actions, and the unfair, tragic effects they had on ones who were innocent.

“[Justine’s] countenance, which was usually animated, became expressive of the deepest

sadness.” By portraying Justine as an innocent victim who truly deserved better, the

author emphasizes that as a society, there is a need for justice.

7. In the novel, “Frankenstein,” by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, the creature not having an

official name is significant because it symbolizes his lack of identity. With no true name,

the creature is denied a sense of belonging, which causes him to be treated like an outcast

by humanity. This sheds light on society’s rejection and judgement of the creature as well

as his inner struggle to be accepted. “...how terrified was I when I viewed myself in a

transparent pool! At first, I started back, unable to believe that it was indeed I who was

reflected in the mirror; and when I became fully convinced that I was the monster that I

am, I was filled with the bitterest sensations of despondence and mortification.” The

creature’s lack of a name is important due to its representation of his monstrous

attributes.
 8. In the novel, “Frankenstein,” by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, the real villain in the story

is the protagonist, Victor Frankenstein, due to his reckless actions throughout the novel.

Victor, wanting to be considered “godly,” creates life without considering the extreme

consequences. After he does this, however, he abandons his creation out of fear, and does

not take responsibility for the creature’s wellbeing, or accountability for his actions all

together. “[Victor] had desired it with an ardour that far exceeded moderation; but now

that [he] had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust

filled [his] heart.” Victor’s careless and selfish actions that lead up to tragic events that

take place in the story portray him as the villain in “Frankenstein.”

Wrongful Birth

9. In the novel, “Frankenstein,” by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, and the short story,

“Wrongful Birth,” by Gann, Victor’s abandonment and attempt to escape his creation is

different from Gann’s argument. Victor Frankenstein chooses to abandon his creation out

of disgust and fear. He expresses that “the beauty of [his] dream vanished, and the

breathless horror and disgust filled [his] heart” Gann’s argument revolves around the

topic of parents wanting to take legal action after giving birth to a child with disabilities,

something they cannot control. These two situations are very distinct, and they have

different circumstances and motivations.

10. In the novel, “Frankenstein” by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, and the short story

“Wrongful Birth” by Gann, if the creature were placed in our modern society, he would

be treated the same way he is treated in his story. Society would struggle to accept his

appearance and inhumane abilities even though it is out of his control. “[He] cannot

describe the agony that these reflections inflicted upon [him]; [he] tried to dispel them,
 but sorrow only increased with knowledge.” This is like Gann’s child, who is also

portrayed as innocent, is rejected by society, and grows to become lonely and resentful.

Allegory of the Cave

11. The novel, “Frankenstein,” by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, and its characters connect

to the short story “Allegory of the Cave,” by Plato due to both story’s going in dept on

the theme of knowledge. Like the prisoners inside the cave, Victor Frankenstein and his

creation have limited knowledge when it comes to information about the world. “[They]

had desired it with an ardour that far exceeded moderation.” However, through their

respective experiences and circumstances, they escape their own caves, both

metaphorical and literal, and grasp a deeper understanding of reality.

12. In the novel, “Frankenstein,” by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, and “Allegory of the

Cave,” by Plato, the creature would have found happiness “living outside of the cave,”

where he would know little of reality. Happiness is not only about gaining knowledge,

but rather how it is used and the connections with others. It comes from finding

acceptance, understanding oneself, and building long lasting meaningful relationships;

things that would defiantly bring the creature true happiness. “[He] admired virtue and

good feelings and loved the gentle manners and amiable qualities of [his] cottagers, but

[he] was shut out from intercourse with them, except through means which [he] obtained

by stealth, when [he] was unseen and unknown, and which rather increased than satisfied

the desire [he] had of becoming one of [his] fellows” The creature yearns for human

connections and acceptance. This proves that knowledge alone will not bring him the

happiness he desires.

On Being a Cripple
13. In the novel, Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, and the article, “On Being a

Cripple”, by Mairs, Nancy Maris has the most accurate view on life. In Frankenstein, the

creature has a difficult time accepting his existence, and seeks acceptance from other

people despite constantly being rejected by society. “[He has] love in [him] the likes of

which [people] would not believe.” In “On Being a Cripple”, Maris expresses that she

chooses to embrace her identity, and to challenge society’s judgement. She emphasizes

that being “cripple” does not define her in a negative manner. Furthermore, both Maris

and the creature both illustrate that the way people are treated by others greatly affects

the way they view not only themselves, but the world entirely.

14. In the article, “On Being a Cripple”, by Mairs, the author’s intended message to her

audience is to challenge society think differently, and to accept others with disabilities.

She wants to prove that being disabled does not demolish her worth as an individual, and

that people should accept, and embrace “crippled” people for who they are. She claims

that a disability should not be shown in a negative pitied light. “[She] choose a word that

seems to [her] strong enough to withstand the self-pity bound up in the term disabled”