Frankenstein was written by Mary Shelly in 1818. During this time, scientists had been beginning to explore and experiment on the dead, and if they could be resurrected. The often-gory experiments left the public intrigued yet suspicious, so subsequently the hot topic of that time. It was this which inspired Mary Shelly to write Frankenstein whilst trapped indoors during a storm. The novel was an immediate hit due to its controversy and secrecy behind the on-going experiments. It is now recognised world wide as a classic gothic-genrered story. Monstrosity is therefore a key theme presented in the book, additional to death, revenge and the fear of the unknown.

 

The book I will be comparing to Frankenstein is Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’. This book was written in the early 1600’s, and explores the supernatural and hierarchy. It is entwines with themes of monstrosity through the characters and their lifestyles. Shakespeare was influenced to write ‘The Tempest’ to test and explore other theories other than God.  Characters in the novel perform magic and have supernatural powers. This therefore removes any idea of ‘normal life’; only where God can perform supernatural powers.

I will focus of Caliban and Frankenstein’s creation, and how similar circumstances and parallels lead them to become monstrous. Additional to that, I will analyse how neither Caliban nor the creation were born evil, but driven to it by their life circumstances and the treatment they received. I will review each factor and analyse the effect of the presentation of monstrosity in each.

 

My first paragraph is on Caliban and the creations monstrous appearance. In both, their abnormal appearance restricts the characters from a normal life.  This shows that their monstrosity isn’t just presented in representations or connotations, but physically shown and expressed.

In Frankenstein, the creation comes across a child, it feels the child won’t judge him by his appearance as he’s innocent and judgemental due to his youth. However, when he confronts the boy, he screams;

“Monster! Ugly wretch! You wish to eat me and tear me to pieces- you are an ogre” Mary shelly chose to use particular language features to express and present the monstrosity the child saw in the creation.  Firstly, the quotation uses imagery to exaggerate monstrosity and evil in the creation “you wish to eat me and tear me to pieces” this paints a picture that the creation would violently slaughter the child, despite having to intention to do so. The use of exclamatory phrases has the same effect, raising panic. To conclude, Mary shelly uses particular language features to present monstrosity within the creations appearance. Similarly, Caliban is also presented as monstrous through his appearance. In Shakespearian times, the actor of Caliban would be black (or painted black) amongst other white actors. This was purposefully done to separate him from everyone else.

“A freckled whelp hag-born not honour’d with human shape”. This quote was Prospero describing Caliban. The use of literal language and imagery in “not honour’d with human shape” directly presents his monstrous appearance. Moreover, the use of an allusion in the quote directs our thoughts towards Calibans appearance being non-humane. To conclude, Marry Shelly and Shakespeare both use particular and purposeful language features in quotations to present their monstrous appearance.

 

Secondly, another factor used to present monstrosity in the Tempest and Frankenstein is their rejection from society. This occurs to both characters in each play. Firstly, Frankenstein’s creation quotes

“Who can describe and consternation on beholding me?”. This quote describes how the creation feels are constant rejection from other humans (for example the present family in the woods). It uses the language feature of a rhetorical question to express the creations frustration and helplessness, as nobody is there (or able) to answer it. This is a key way that Mary Shelly presents the creations drive to mental monstrosity. Similarly, Calibans rejection from society also presents his mental drive to monstrosity.

“What a thrice double-ass was I, to take this drunkard for a God, and worship this dull fool”. In context; this quote is said at the end of the play, where everything is resolved and forgiven. Every character is given freedom except Caliban, who goes back to being a slave. Derogatory terminology is used on himself to lower his status, addition to a biblical reference/link; using the word ‘God’ to describe his masters truly shows Calibans lack of power, and how they are so much more superior than him. It shows how Calibans rejection from society has lead him to except being a slave unjustly, presenting his hidden fury, shown by his acts of attempted rape. Driving him to monstrosity.

 

My next point is on Caliban and Frankenstein’s creations anger from their loss and underestimation of power.  Both are perceived to be physically large. Caliban as a slave is seen frequently carrying logs and other objects requiring lots of strength, and Frankenstein’s creation is constantly described as vast and physically powerful. However, both have had this label taken away from them from Caliban being a slave and the creation being lost in life. This is seen to frustrate and present their monstrosity from the following quotations. For the creation; when confronting with somebody attacking him, he says

“I could have tore him limb from limb” showing his dominance through his choice not too. Moreover, he quotes when finally seeing his creator again;

“Slave I before reasoned with you, but you have proved yourself unworthy of my condensation. Remember I have power; you believe yourself miserable, but I can make you so wretched that the light of day will be hateful on you. You are my creator, but I am your master—Obey!” this is an extremely powerful quotation from the novel, clearly presenting the creations wrath from his loss and underestimation of power. It uses an imperative “Obey!” to highlight its anger, as well as a figure of speech to represent how he feels un-literally. This can also been seen as symbolism, the quote “I can make you so wretched that even the light of day will be hateful on you.” This could connote how Frankenstein created him to be so monstrous that even the most innocent things, like children hate the sight of him. It uses irony and powerful language to show its and monstrosity though its rage. In comparison, Calibans anger from loss and underestimation of power is shown in the following;

“This islands mine, by sycorax my mother, which thou takest from me. When thou camest first” this shows Calibans loss of power, and his rage is seen in this following quotation;

All the infections that the sun sucks up from bogs, fens, flats on prosper fall and make him by inch-meal a disease! [Thunder]” this strong quote also uses a number of language features to present Calibans monstrosity as we see in this violent quote. Firstly, there is clear use of hyperbolic language used to portray him monstrous rage. There is also clear imagery in Calibans sematic fields of punishment (another language feature).  Finally, pathetic fallacy is used (thunder) to express the mood of Caliban, thunder connotes violence and aggression, so is used whilst Caliban is talking to link with his feelings. Hinting to a build up of anger, which leads to his monstrous act of attempted rape. To conclude this point, Mary Shelly and Shakespeare used specific language features for a purposeful effect to portray monstrosity in the characters’ build up of rage from their loss and underestimation of power.

 

 

Tightly linking to the previous point, both Caliban and Frankenstein’s creation have a clear build up of rage and monstrosity through their poor treatment from masters. Caliban is a slave to Prospero, so his treatment is naturally poor. The creations treatment is also poor, he was abandoned when first created and ever since has been avoided by Frankenstein. This is proven by the quotation for the creation, said by Frankenstein;

“Devil, cease; and do not poison the air with these sounds of malice”. The use of a biblical reference in “devil” connotes the creation with pure evil and therefore strongly presents monstrosity. This quotation shows how the creation is treated by his master, he’s abandoned and ran away from. For Caliban, his poor treatment is presented by the way he’s spoken to in the following;

“Thou poisonous slave, got by the devil himself upon thy wicked dam, come forth!” Ironically, these quotes are very similar. Both characters are spoken using derogatory langue, both comparing them to the devil and both using the word ‘poison’ to describe them, expressing how they are the dregs of society, only capable of damage or death, but as we know, poisons are mostly man made for effect… these have been used to present how Prospero and Caliban feel the characters are so monstrous.

 

Finally, the creation and Calibans confusion and depression of their existence is a key factor that drives then into monstrosity in the plays.

“Cured, cursed creator! Why do I live?” Again, a rhetorical question is used, as well as alliteration, repetition and an exclamatory phrase to indicate the creations hurt from existing. This presentation of his helplessness can be the reason he is driven to monstrosity by murdering. In comparison, Caliban says in the novel;

“[…] and hiss me into madness” (On the subject of his life). The use of sibilance can be perceived as Caliban believing he is evil himself, the repetition of the ‘s’ representing the sound  of a snake, which is famous for being in the story of Adam and Eve, where the snake tricks them. He can therefore been seen to be describing himself as a wreckage to innocence. These have been used by Shakespeare and Mary Shelly to present their drive to monstrosity.

 

In conclusion, in both novels, the authors constantly use language effects in specific was to present Caliban and the creations monstrosity (and drive to it) leading to their acts of attempted rape and murder. Despite this, their actions are not justified, but we as readers still synthesize with the characters as we know through the text their lifestyle is horrific. They weren’t born monsters, but treated like them so much they eventually became them.

 

Thank you.