What an excellent book. This may be my favorite one so far, but I haven't finished it yet so I will have to wait and see. But, I am thoroughly impressed with Bram Stoker's writing style. The use of changing narrative styles is very impressive. It was a little bit confusing when the letters and other people's diaries started up, but now it is definitely necessary that it was included that way.
I'm ready to finish this book and see what happens, the suspense of Jonathon Harker and his visit to Dracula is very great. Even though him and Mina are now married and he can't seem to remember anything, will it stay that way? I doubt it, and I am curious to know if the bat that had been outside Lucy's and the hospital room is Dracula or another vampire? And the wolves? Are they werewolves? Are they associated with Dracula directly as allies or are they enemies as it might appear in the start of the book during the ride to the castle? Does Lucy come back to life? Because it seems that Dracula does not die because him feasting on blood, and she seemed to get better during blood transfusions, but died anyway. Her appearence in death seems to be a foreshadow to her being 'undead'. "Every hour seeemed to be enhancing her loveliness. It frightened and amazed me somewhat..."(176). It doesn't seem that she is really dead, but like Dracula. Jonathon Harker states that his hands were incredibly cold as if there was no life to heat them. I believe this is the same for Lucy, she appears to be dead medically, but is not. It seems to me that she will most likely return and become a vampire among the Count's other female associates.
As for the case of Dr. Seward's patient Renfield. I am greatly interested to see what he does if and when he mets up with the bat. His behavior suddenly and violently changes. "I don't want to talk to you: you don't count now; the Master is at hand"(110). Is Renfield a vampire or just someone who wants to be? "I am here to do Your bidding, Master. I am Your slave, and You will reward me, for I shall be faithful"(112). It may appear that he is after these "rewards", but why? What does Dracular, or whoever the bat is, have to offer to Renfield? His obession with spiders, birds and cats seem strange at the start, but not as strange as him worshiping a vampire when he doesn't appear to be one himself. His behavior adjustment clearly shows he is very serious about doing the work of his "Master". Even if this becomes the case and this vampire needs his assistance, what would it be that he would need?It can already fly, shape-shift, live on blood, and overpower humans for prey. What use would Dracula have for a non-vampire who is not his meal?
I am incredibly excited to find out. I've already started into the next half of this book. I should be done soon seeing as I am very interested in the outcome of this story. I will blog more about this book once I have finished.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Monday, October 5, 2009
Frankenstein
*I have a different version of this novel, the page numbers differ*
I was greatly surprised at this book. A great deal of things struck me as odd because I had never read it before and did not know the story well. I was under the mistaken impression that Frankenstein was the name of the creature. I also believed that the creature was a mindless murderer, not a being with thoughts and feelings, such as his remorse and loneliness. The creature's desire for companionship was the overwhelming theme through the book. Did he desire this because he saw it in the family he observed? Or was it simply an example of instinct that draws living things together? Mary Shelley seems to say that this was something he learned through example, but I feel differently about his motives.
"...no Eve soothed my sorrows, nor shared my thoughts; I was alone" (137). It seems as if he almost expected a comfort, in female form(at first), because that was what he saw in the family he observed. But, once Frankenstein refuses his creations demand for a female companion, the creatures need does not stop there. While the creature's following behavior is filled with anger, violence and the murder of Emily, there is more left to it. The creature drags Frankenstein on a long chase through horrific conditions, all to torture him yet more. But, at the end of the story it becomes clear the creature has another motive for doing this. He is lonely, still desiring contact, Frankenstein is his only link to the world of men.
"...still I desired love and fellowship, and I was still spurned... But it is true that I am a wretch. I have murdered the lovely and the helpless...(240-241). He claims to have wanted all these things, yet he only acted in anger. But, there is a side that explains his embitterment. He was shunned by his creator, making him feel more wretched than he already believed. All the creature seems to want at the end is for Frankenstein to forgive his wrongdoings because he is all that the creature has ever held in connection with himself. "Oh, Frankenstein! generous and self-devoted being! what does it avail that i now as thee to pardon me? I , who irretrievably destroyed thee by destroying all thou lovedst. Alas! he is cold, he cannot answer me" ( 238).
The creature does the unthinkable to Frankenstein, knows it, but still clings to his creator because it is all that he has. It seems if companionship was a learned behavior, he would understand that there needs to be a mutual connection and admiration. But, it seems that it was innate and natural. The learned part is the piece that the creature never got to understand. He never understood how to deal with others in the right manner, like not murdering and conspiring, regardless of his want for their company.
The creature is a victim of ignorance of society. His creator shunning him should not have created such a horrible outcome had he learned to want others through observation. Rather, he knew he needed contact because it was part of his nature, regardless of seeing it or not. His path of destruction was simply a unsuccessful and brutal attempt at companionship.
I was greatly surprised at this book. A great deal of things struck me as odd because I had never read it before and did not know the story well. I was under the mistaken impression that Frankenstein was the name of the creature. I also believed that the creature was a mindless murderer, not a being with thoughts and feelings, such as his remorse and loneliness. The creature's desire for companionship was the overwhelming theme through the book. Did he desire this because he saw it in the family he observed? Or was it simply an example of instinct that draws living things together? Mary Shelley seems to say that this was something he learned through example, but I feel differently about his motives.
"...no Eve soothed my sorrows, nor shared my thoughts; I was alone" (137). It seems as if he almost expected a comfort, in female form(at first), because that was what he saw in the family he observed. But, once Frankenstein refuses his creations demand for a female companion, the creatures need does not stop there. While the creature's following behavior is filled with anger, violence and the murder of Emily, there is more left to it. The creature drags Frankenstein on a long chase through horrific conditions, all to torture him yet more. But, at the end of the story it becomes clear the creature has another motive for doing this. He is lonely, still desiring contact, Frankenstein is his only link to the world of men.
"...still I desired love and fellowship, and I was still spurned... But it is true that I am a wretch. I have murdered the lovely and the helpless...(240-241). He claims to have wanted all these things, yet he only acted in anger. But, there is a side that explains his embitterment. He was shunned by his creator, making him feel more wretched than he already believed. All the creature seems to want at the end is for Frankenstein to forgive his wrongdoings because he is all that the creature has ever held in connection with himself. "Oh, Frankenstein! generous and self-devoted being! what does it avail that i now as thee to pardon me? I , who irretrievably destroyed thee by destroying all thou lovedst. Alas! he is cold, he cannot answer me" ( 238).
The creature does the unthinkable to Frankenstein, knows it, but still clings to his creator because it is all that he has. It seems if companionship was a learned behavior, he would understand that there needs to be a mutual connection and admiration. But, it seems that it was innate and natural. The learned part is the piece that the creature never got to understand. He never understood how to deal with others in the right manner, like not murdering and conspiring, regardless of his want for their company.
The creature is a victim of ignorance of society. His creator shunning him should not have created such a horrible outcome had he learned to want others through observation. Rather, he knew he needed contact because it was part of his nature, regardless of seeing it or not. His path of destruction was simply a unsuccessful and brutal attempt at companionship.
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