Reality Check

"... the strange system of human life was explained to me... Of my creation and creator I was absolutely ignorant, but I knew that I possessed no money, no friends, no kind of property. I was, besides, endued with a figure hideously deformed and loathsome; I was not even of the same nature as man." (pgs. 114 & 115)

Through out the monster's point of view, I think Shelley tries to convey a very important theme. This theme focuses on the way of human life and how ridiculous it actually is. Every person is born into this life so it is all they know and they take it for what it is, but we are given a reality check when an outsider sees the way we live and then proceeds to tell us how insane it appears. In the first half of the book, the monster learns about the world and hears about war and how awful it is. The monster sees how wrong it is, but since it has always been a part of life for everyone, it seems acceptable. Also, in the quote above, the monster takes another hard hit to the way of life. This new born creature realizes that humans only care about money, popularity, and property. Again, all the people see nothing wrong with it because that is just the way life works. I do think this is a very good message because it shows how our world is focused on the WRONG things. Also, it shows how we measure a human but what he/she has, not who he/she is. I love how Shelley put this hidden theme in here because sadly, she is conveying the truth about humanity.

Foil Characters

"I grasped his hand, and in a moment forgot my horror and misfortune; I felt suddenly, and for the first time during many months, calm and serene joy." (pg. 58) I know that I am going back to previous pages, but I believe that this is a very crucial point to hit. Victor and Henry are clearly foils of eachother and the reader needs to realize this. Ever since they met, they have been opposites, but I guess the cliche is true, "opposites attract." Henry is interested in ethics while Victor clearly is not. Victor pursues science without an ethical base. Also, Victor is all about moving away from his family to do his own thing and pursue his dreams. This doesn't really bother him because he is obsessed with reaching his goal. When Victor sees Henry for the first time in about two years, he says the above quotation. It is obvious that Henry represents all that Victor grew up with. Also, since Henry's presence brings Victor much joy, it it certain that Victor needs his family, but his want for his dream is still stronger.

Irony

"I closed not my eyes that night. My internal being was in a state of insurrection and turmoil; I felt that order would thence arise, but I had no power to produce it." ( pg. 47 ) Frankenstiein drove himself crazy over this goal of his. He had to find out so many things in so little time. Victor was discouraged by some but motivated by others and he became obsessed with this whole idea. One of my group's themes is health and we decided that it is quite ironic that when Victor creates a new life, he destroys his own. This obsession has literally killed the person he used to be. I believe that Victor was just so eager to do something that had never been done before, but he did not realize how it was going to affect his life. Not only was he physically ill, I think it is fair to say that he was quite mentally ill too.

American vs. Afgan

" "I see America has infused you with the optimism that has made her so great. That's very good. We're a melancholic people, we Afgans, aren't we?" " (pg. 201) One of the biggest themes in this book is the comparison between the American life and the way of life in Afganistan. The reader starts to see this comparison once Amir and Baba flee to America. First we see them compared when it comes to trust and way of life. This is when Baba freaks out because a man who has known him for two years asks for his ID when Baba tries to write a check. Baba even explains how they would carve notches in wood to represent the loaves of bread that one would owe in Afganistan. The way of life is extremely differentin the two countries. I feel that Afganistan was a place that Baba felt a part of a family and everyone there worked together to get along and they trusted their neighbor. On the other hand, the American life relfects more of a survival of the fittest theme. The quote above shows the difference of the attitudes of the Americans and the Afgans. Americans have more of a optomistic outlook on life and the Afgans believe more in flowing with the way life takes them and letting fate take the wheel. In the book we see Amir take on the American outlook of trying to control life when he tells his father that there is a way to make him better and doctors could give him treatments to help him. Baba goes along with his natural born Afgan ways and refuses treatment and lets whatever is supposed to happen to him, happen. Lastly, I feel that the Afgans are more stubborn and not subject to change on views. Baba and Rahim Khan always seem to stick to what they have always known and they seldom stray from their ways.

The Lottery

I think that this story definitely ends in a way that no reader truly expects. From this odd story, one can pull out many themes, but there is one theme that I found the most interesting. I found that people sometimes do things even when they don't see value in it and sometimes just do them to do them because it is familiar and comfortable. This story is an extreme case of this theme. I'm not extremely positive why they carry on with this lottery, but I think it is just because of tradition. Also, I believe that the story alludes to a reason why this lottery started. They used to do it because they believed it would help avoid a bad harvest. The lottery has been going on for at least 77 years because of Old Man Warner. Chances are that this community has evolved from dependence on agriculture. This means that the lottery just survives because it is all that the people know. It is so custom to them that the people are brainwashed and believe that this process is alright. Seriously? They give Mrs. Hutchinson's youngest son stones to throw at his mother to kill her. This is crossing the line of insanity.

This theme still applies to situations in the world today though. Wives stay with their abusing husbands because it is all they know and they become comfortable with it. I know that we talked about this when we studied "Eveline." Change is something in the world that is usually a difficult thing for everyone. I think this trend is universal and timeless. We shouldn't expect that to change anytime soon.

Escape

I believe the theme of "Eveline" is that of escape and the values of family in Ireland. The majority of the story is Eveline's contemplation on whether or not to escape the burden of her life in Ireland. I believe that any selfish person would take this route in Eveline's situation. It is clear that she works as hard as she can to keep her family as normal as possible even with an old, cruel father. Anyone with a brain would tell her to leave this situation because she deserves so much more. Personally, I think she would've taken Frank's hand and ran to to boat if it weren't for the importance of family in a small traditional country like hers.

Eveline knew that she could live without her crazy father and her nomad of a brother, but I think it was the younger children and the promise to her mother that held her back. This is a situation where staying home was the hardest and the best decision at the same time for her. This ending shows so much character of Eveline. She took a great sacrifice. Instead of cruising on a boat to a land of promise and paradise, she chose to support her family instead of abandoning them and chose the life of her mother.

How I Met My Husband

I was very entertained by this short story. It kept me interested and found it to be very cute (probably because I am a teenage girl). Anyways, I believe it is my favorite because of the themes it carries in the closing pages. The themes presented are when one door closes, another opens, everything happens for a reason and what it meant to be will always find a way. Even though these are trite sayings, I find truth in them especially in this story. If Edie wasn't so obsessed over receiving the letter from Chris, she would have never met the mailman. This shows how in the end, no matter what obstacles are placed in ones way, everything is placed in one's life for a reason. Alice had to experience people like Alice Kelling calling her a "filthy little rag," but in the end it all happened for a reason. What was meant to be, happened in the end. It took all of the time, pain, and events for Edie to find her true husband and finally be happy.