"He had sworn to quit the neighbourhood of man, and hide himself in deserts; but she had not; and she, who in all probability was to become a thinking and reasoning animal, might refuse to comply with a compact made before her creation." -pg. 120
Victor comes to realize that the creatures he is creating think for themselves and he has no control over them,. Realizing that he made a mistake, Victor is ready to contend with the monster. This brings up the theme of creation, and shows a similarity and separation between Victor and God. God did not give up on his creation when he saw it was capable of evil, whereas Victor did. It should be a lesson to us that it is not an easy task. Victor's decision to not create a female will certainly end badly because creature will take out his anger. If he had made her there was a chance that they would have left and never have been heard from again. But now the consequences will be personal for Victor, whereas they could have taken place many years later. It was a selfless act.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Frankenstein Blog 7
"For the first time the feelings of revenge and hatred filled my bosom, and I did not strive to control them; but allowing myself to be borne away by the stream, I bent my mind towards injury and death." -pg. 99
As a result of his dejection, creature allows himself to be overcome by negative feelings. I believe the author was trying to hint at the fact that how we treat people greatly effects them. Creature, by listening to Felix read history books, has found himself relating to Adam and therefore wants an Eve. Either Victor can ignore him or create another monster. By creating a partner for creature, Victor will be purposefully recommitting his gravest mistake. I believe that this will go badly, and Victor will find himself the cause of even greater pain. Because we know that Victor is hunting for the monster when he meets Walton, we know that creating another monster does not result in the creature retreating from mankind. When creature finishes his story, Victor has changed his mind about him.
As a result of his dejection, creature allows himself to be overcome by negative feelings. I believe the author was trying to hint at the fact that how we treat people greatly effects them. Creature, by listening to Felix read history books, has found himself relating to Adam and therefore wants an Eve. Either Victor can ignore him or create another monster. By creating a partner for creature, Victor will be purposefully recommitting his gravest mistake. I believe that this will go badly, and Victor will find himself the cause of even greater pain. Because we know that Victor is hunting for the monster when he meets Walton, we know that creating another monster does not result in the creature retreating from mankind. When creature finishes his story, Victor has changed his mind about him.
Frankenstein Blog 6
"I cannot describe to you the agony that these reflections inflicted upon me; I tried to dispel them, but sorrow only increased with knowledge. Ohm, that I had forever remained in my native wood, nor known nor felt beyond the sensations of hunger, thirst and heat." -pg. 85
Creature only has unfortunately two options- to gain knowledge in hopes of communicating with humans without promise that they will accept him, or to remain blissfully ignorant of the vices of mankind and be a being of complete solitude. His acquirement of knowledge and subsequent loss of the pleasure of innocence parallels the maturing of an infant. With each bit of knowledge, it becomes harder to find happiness in the simple things like the moon or the warmth of the fire. Creature now knows that not all men are like Agatha, Felix, and the rest of the cottagers. He has been exposed to jealousy, war, and many other vices of men. I believe that this will cause him to do an evil act himself. He may look nothing like a human, but in his learning of human emotions and actions, he will be able to imitate them in every way, including evil. I do not believe he murdered William, but the sorrowful and regretful tone he uses in recounting his story to Victor leads me to believe that he has committed a very human, very grave act.
Creature only has unfortunately two options- to gain knowledge in hopes of communicating with humans without promise that they will accept him, or to remain blissfully ignorant of the vices of mankind and be a being of complete solitude. His acquirement of knowledge and subsequent loss of the pleasure of innocence parallels the maturing of an infant. With each bit of knowledge, it becomes harder to find happiness in the simple things like the moon or the warmth of the fire. Creature now knows that not all men are like Agatha, Felix, and the rest of the cottagers. He has been exposed to jealousy, war, and many other vices of men. I believe that this will cause him to do an evil act himself. He may look nothing like a human, but in his learning of human emotions and actions, he will be able to imitate them in every way, including evil. I do not believe he murdered William, but the sorrowful and regretful tone he uses in recounting his story to Victor leads me to believe that he has committed a very human, very grave act.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Frankenstein Blog 5
" "I expected this reception," said the daemon." -pg. 68
Victor finally has to face his creation. I was surprised to find that the creature has become very articulate and intelligent. He obviously figured out a way to keep himself alive for two years without the aid of his creator. The daemon was obviously seeking out Victor in the hipes of talking to him. By introducing the daemon and having him tell his story, the author has created a frame story within a frame story. This blends and makes it harder to distinguish between the details of each character's lives. Already I was struggling to tell Victor and Walton apart, and now creature has been added. However, maybe it was the author's intention to have the characters blend because it creates a common theme, plot, etc.
Victor finally has to face his creation. I was surprised to find that the creature has become very articulate and intelligent. He obviously figured out a way to keep himself alive for two years without the aid of his creator. The daemon was obviously seeking out Victor in the hipes of talking to him. By introducing the daemon and having him tell his story, the author has created a frame story within a frame story. This blends and makes it harder to distinguish between the details of each character's lives. Already I was struggling to tell Victor and Walton apart, and now creature has been added. However, maybe it was the author's intention to have the characters blend because it creates a common theme, plot, etc.
Frankenstein Blog 4
"Could the daemon who had (I did not for a minute doubt) murdered my brother also in his hellish sport have betrayed the innocent to death and ignominy?" -pg. 57
Victor is finally being faced with the consequences of leaving his creature unguarded. I find it hard to believe that his creature turns up in his hometown which he had not been to for six years. My belief is that the creature specifically targeted his brother and took the picture of his mother because it is a piece of him. We do not know hardly anything about the creature, but because of Victor's reaction to him, we know that he is evil, or at least empty of an intrinsic goodness. All because of Victor's obsession, two innocent young lives have ended. In my opinion, Victor is a coward because he refuses to inform the townspeople of what he has unleashed. This can only mean that future disaster is on the way, especially when recalling the warning given to Walton when Victor began his recollection. Because the reader has prior knowledge of the fact that Victor has had an unpleasant past, the future tragedies will not be so unexpected.
Victor is finally being faced with the consequences of leaving his creature unguarded. I find it hard to believe that his creature turns up in his hometown which he had not been to for six years. My belief is that the creature specifically targeted his brother and took the picture of his mother because it is a piece of him. We do not know hardly anything about the creature, but because of Victor's reaction to him, we know that he is evil, or at least empty of an intrinsic goodness. All because of Victor's obsession, two innocent young lives have ended. In my opinion, Victor is a coward because he refuses to inform the townspeople of what he has unleashed. This can only mean that future disaster is on the way, especially when recalling the warning given to Walton when Victor began his recollection. Because the reader has prior knowledge of the fact that Victor has had an unpleasant past, the future tragedies will not be so unexpected.
Frankenstein Blog 3
"When happy, inanimate nature had the power of bestowing on me the most delightful sensations." -pg. 45
After overcoming the horror of the animate creature he had created, Victor finds great joy in the things which he did not create, nor give life to. However, he doesn't seem to put much thought into where the creature might have gone. Rather, he places it all at the back of his mind, which is probably the worst thing he could have done. It leaves the reader wondering when his happy bubble is going to pop. It also emits a sense of impending doom that when something goes bad, it is going to go very bad. I think this attitude also speaks to his character. At the beginning he was obsessed with making the creature, and now he is obsessed with forgetting it. He does not have a very good grasp on himself or coping with the events surrounding him.
After overcoming the horror of the animate creature he had created, Victor finds great joy in the things which he did not create, nor give life to. However, he doesn't seem to put much thought into where the creature might have gone. Rather, he places it all at the back of his mind, which is probably the worst thing he could have done. It leaves the reader wondering when his happy bubble is going to pop. It also emits a sense of impending doom that when something goes bad, it is going to go very bad. I think this attitude also speaks to his character. At the beginning he was obsessed with making the creature, and now he is obsessed with forgetting it. He does not have a very good grasp on himself or coping with the events surrounding him.
Frankenstein Blog 2
"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." -pg. 31
"Ignorance is bliss" no matter how overused or cliched it has become, still offers truth. If a person is not introduced to a wider world which offers new experiences, not all of them good, they see what little part of the world they occupy as all important. But most people have within them a drive to learn more and do more. This curiosity is what leads us to perilous situations. Sometimes the pursuit of something greater than ourselves leads to tragedy. Should a person ignore the inner desire to explore what is outside of their own knowledge? Without exploration, there would be less pain, but also less joy and celebration at making new discoveries. We learn from others mistakes and find ourselves better equipped to face the world.
"Ignorance is bliss" no matter how overused or cliched it has become, still offers truth. If a person is not introduced to a wider world which offers new experiences, not all of them good, they see what little part of the world they occupy as all important. But most people have within them a drive to learn more and do more. This curiosity is what leads us to perilous situations. Sometimes the pursuit of something greater than ourselves leads to tragedy. Should a person ignore the inner desire to explore what is outside of their own knowledge? Without exploration, there would be less pain, but also less joy and celebration at making new discoveries. We learn from others mistakes and find ourselves better equipped to face the world.
Frankenstein Blog 1
"...for nothing contributes so much to tranquilize the mind as a steady purpose- a point on which the soul may fix its intellectual eye." -pg. 2
Walton is not certain about how successful he willl be on his voyage. He knows that many hardships are going to pave the way for him. However, because he set his mind to it, he knows that he will not give up. The mind is more powerful than the body in that it does not waver or weaken over time as long as it has a purpose to sustain it. Walton feels dispair and disappointment, but that solely human characteristic, determination, will keep him going long after someone without purpose would have given up. His purpose also helps him in reaching another goal which is to find a friend. His common yearning, to answer the questions about the secrets of the universe, unites him with "the stranger". Their similar interests have given them similar goals, and therefore put them on paths destined to cross.
Walton is not certain about how successful he willl be on his voyage. He knows that many hardships are going to pave the way for him. However, because he set his mind to it, he knows that he will not give up. The mind is more powerful than the body in that it does not waver or weaken over time as long as it has a purpose to sustain it. Walton feels dispair and disappointment, but that solely human characteristic, determination, will keep him going long after someone without purpose would have given up. His purpose also helps him in reaching another goal which is to find a friend. His common yearning, to answer the questions about the secrets of the universe, unites him with "the stranger". Their similar interests have given them similar goals, and therefore put them on paths destined to cross.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Kite Runner Blog 5
PERSONAL
"And that, I believe, is what true redemption is Amir jan, when guilt leads to good."
Does it matter what the means are as long as the end results is good? I don't think it does. If someone is influenced to care for the poor because they have a strong drive to do good, does that make them any more helpful than if they are rich and have a guilty conscience? Two people can do the same action for very different reasons, and both actions will be the same. However, if someone does something out of guilt, they are trying to redeem themselves not only in the eyes of others, but also to themself and to God. People struggle with the idea that doing good things for bad reasons is not just as effective as doing them for good reasons. As long as the job gets done, it's reason should not matter.
"And that, I believe, is what true redemption is Amir jan, when guilt leads to good."
Does it matter what the means are as long as the end results is good? I don't think it does. If someone is influenced to care for the poor because they have a strong drive to do good, does that make them any more helpful than if they are rich and have a guilty conscience? Two people can do the same action for very different reasons, and both actions will be the same. However, if someone does something out of guilt, they are trying to redeem themselves not only in the eyes of others, but also to themself and to God. People struggle with the idea that doing good things for bad reasons is not just as effective as doing them for good reasons. As long as the job gets done, it's reason should not matter.
Kite Runner Blog 4
PERSONAL
"If I deny him on child, he takes ten. So I let him take one and leave the judging to Allah."- pg. 257
Sometimes we are offered two choices, both of them good, making it difficult to decide. Sometimes a good and a bad choice, making it easy. But when offered two bad choices, it is hard to decipher which is worse. Morals guide us in the direction of good, but when no good can be found, we are thrown into the ocean in hopes that we can swim. Through life experiences, we gain knowledge about which is the lesser of two evils. Do we take a road with less harm but more destruction of human dignity, or do we fight for whats right at the risk of losing more than necessary? God is the only one who can judge our actions, and we can only make the decision which we think is right, hoping the God agrees. Unfortunately, there is no guide to proper moral decision making, but people can fight against whats wrong, push for what is right, and protect themselves and others in the process.
"If I deny him on child, he takes ten. So I let him take one and leave the judging to Allah."- pg. 257
Sometimes we are offered two choices, both of them good, making it difficult to decide. Sometimes a good and a bad choice, making it easy. But when offered two bad choices, it is hard to decipher which is worse. Morals guide us in the direction of good, but when no good can be found, we are thrown into the ocean in hopes that we can swim. Through life experiences, we gain knowledge about which is the lesser of two evils. Do we take a road with less harm but more destruction of human dignity, or do we fight for whats right at the risk of losing more than necessary? God is the only one who can judge our actions, and we can only make the decision which we think is right, hoping the God agrees. Unfortunately, there is no guide to proper moral decision making, but people can fight against whats wrong, push for what is right, and protect themselves and others in the process.
Kite Runner Blog 3
"My body was broken- just how badly I wouldn't find out until later- but I felt healed. Healed at last, I laughed." -pg. 289
This is a paradox because when a body is broken, it needs healing. However, Amir found his spiritual healing by finally finishing business with Assef. Had he not stood up to him on behalf of Sohrab, and in turn Hassan, he would have never felt the release of his guilt. Up until then, his guilt over Hassan had influenced his decisions, sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse. However, now that he is "healed" and realizes that the world is bigger than himself, he begins to make selfless decisions. He wants to amend past disgressions, and sets out on a path to do so. So while it may seem silly to think that getting beat up is a healing process, it makes since when connected to all of Amir's guilt. Amir now feels that he has gotten his share of the torture that Assef had originally intended for him, but which fell on Hassan.
This is a paradox because when a body is broken, it needs healing. However, Amir found his spiritual healing by finally finishing business with Assef. Had he not stood up to him on behalf of Sohrab, and in turn Hassan, he would have never felt the release of his guilt. Up until then, his guilt over Hassan had influenced his decisions, sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse. However, now that he is "healed" and realizes that the world is bigger than himself, he begins to make selfless decisions. He wants to amend past disgressions, and sets out on a path to do so. So while it may seem silly to think that getting beat up is a healing process, it makes since when connected to all of Amir's guilt. Amir now feels that he has gotten his share of the torture that Assef had originally intended for him, but which fell on Hassan.
Kite Runner Blog 2
"His hand was cocked above his shoulder, holding the cup of the slingshot at the end of the elastic band which was pulled all the way back."- pg. 290
Hassan's use of the slingshot saved Amir once. It also was foreshadowing his son's use of it to save Amir again. It is the same person who is trying to harm him, the same strong and yet fearful voice saying stop, and the same end result. This makes a connection between Hassan and his son which is undeniable. Amir was always being saved by Hassan, even in the form of his son. But the true meaning of the book is that Amir needs to save Hassan in order to feel healed and guilt free. A bond is formed between Amir and Sohrab the minute he protects him, a bond which was necessary for Sohrab to trust him. The foreshadowing followed the overall theme that the past is never far, and it will come back.
Hassan's use of the slingshot saved Amir once. It also was foreshadowing his son's use of it to save Amir again. It is the same person who is trying to harm him, the same strong and yet fearful voice saying stop, and the same end result. This makes a connection between Hassan and his son which is undeniable. Amir was always being saved by Hassan, even in the form of his son. But the true meaning of the book is that Amir needs to save Hassan in order to feel healed and guilt free. A bond is formed between Amir and Sohrab the minute he protects him, a bond which was necessary for Sohrab to trust him. The foreshadowing followed the overall theme that the past is never far, and it will come back.
Kite Runner Blog 1
"The class laughed along with him, but I always thought cliches got a bum rap. Because, often, they're dead-on. But the aptness of the cliched saying is overshadowed by the nature of the saying as a cliche. For example, the "elephant in the room" saying. Nothing could more correctly describe the initial moments of my reunion with Rahim Khan." -pg. 197
The author makes a point of defending his use of cliches. It has become a universal thought that cliches should never be used because they have lost their meaning. However, sometimes they do perfectly describe what is happening or being felt. Rahim Khan had knowledge of Amir's past sins, and Amir knew it. It produced an awkward moment because they both felt that there was something bigger in the room, hanging over them, like an "elephant". Amir knows that eventually they will have to address it, and it makes his reunion not one of immediate joy at seeing a long lost friend, but one of awkwardness and avoidance because of his secret. For the reader, it creates a sense of wonderment as to whether or not Rahim Khan really knows his secret, and a strong suspicion that he does. By pointing out his use of a cliche, the author created a connection between himself and the reader while showing a disconnection between himself and Rahim Khan.
The author makes a point of defending his use of cliches. It has become a universal thought that cliches should never be used because they have lost their meaning. However, sometimes they do perfectly describe what is happening or being felt. Rahim Khan had knowledge of Amir's past sins, and Amir knew it. It produced an awkward moment because they both felt that there was something bigger in the room, hanging over them, like an "elephant". Amir knows that eventually they will have to address it, and it makes his reunion not one of immediate joy at seeing a long lost friend, but one of awkwardness and avoidance because of his secret. For the reader, it creates a sense of wonderment as to whether or not Rahim Khan really knows his secret, and a strong suspicion that he does. By pointing out his use of a cliche, the author created a connection between himself and the reader while showing a disconnection between himself and Rahim Khan.
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