• N3Cr0@lemmy.world
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    1 day ago

    The “monster” is just the victim in this scene. Dr. Frankenstein was the real monster when he created it.

    • The Quuuuuill@slrpnk.net
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      1 day ago

      i think the real argument is that what makes Frankenstein the monster is that he brings a life into this world but doesn’t provide it any guidance. he refuses to be a good father. the sea captain even finds himself quite charmed by how thoughtful, gentle, and caring the unnamed creature is despite his upbringing and decides the northwest passage isn’t worth him dooming his crew based on his philosophical discussion with the creature

      • lugal@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        1 day ago

        Sounds like a pro choice reading of the novel? Or we shouldn’t overestimate the meaning of biological parents

        • The Quuuuuill@slrpnk.net
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          1 day ago

          nothing to do with abortion i don’t think. just that if you intentionally bring life into the world, you have responsibilities to that life and to the future world that life will exist within. dr frankenstein does not think in these terms but the unnamed creature does because the unnamed creature is fascinated by the humanities whereas the dr is not.

          ultimately i think Mary Shelly introducing the world to science fiction sets an extremely, almost radical, humanist/feminist tone for the genre that still resonates in science fiction today. if we find pro-choice themes in the story, i think those are themes we find on account of the humanist/feminist nature of being pro-choice, not any intentional technique on the author’s part. but the fact that we find progressivism from 1818 so resonant still today i find deeply meaningful. these are conversations we’ve been having throughout human history. i even think it’s significant she co-titled the book “The Modern Prometheus.” it ties her modern contemporary story to an ancient one and asks the reader to ponder if that old tale was also one dreamt up by a liberation seeker

          • lugal@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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            1 day ago

            To be clear: I didn’t talk about the intended meaning, I was talking about a possible reading
            #deathoftheauthor

            • The Quuuuuill@slrpnk.net
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              1 day ago

              ah okay cool. i was trying to get at that in the back half of the comment. sorry to overexplain i just deal with a lot of arrogant dismissive conservatives.