Letters:
- *How does Walton treat the person he finds on the water? What does this suggest are the characteristics of a good friend and what is required to maintain healthy social bonds? What type of friend does Walton seem to be? Does the person he meets on the water seem to reciprocate?
- What type of relationship does Walton’s seem to have with Margaret based on his letters? Is he a good brother? Why (not)?
- *Based on Walton’s isolation and longing desire for companionship, what does the text suggest about what individuals need in order to be healthy individuals and human beings?
Chapter 1:
- What examples of good and parents do we get in Chp 1? Other family members? What makes a good/bad parent or family member? What is a parent’s responsibility toward a child, based on the the text? What evidence suggests this?
- In what ways does Chapter 1 demonstrate abandonment? What figure in Chapter one seems to parallel Mary Shelley based on her biographical background? How so?
DUE: THURSDAY
Then, respond to ONE other student, extending and ADDING to the conversation.
DUE: MONDAY
Then, respond to ONE other student, extending and ADDING to the conversation.
DUE: MONDAY
1. Walton treats the person he finds in the water welcomingly, but a little bit inquisitively. He is curious who he is, and curious why he isn't more grateful to have found a ship, but he is very open and welcoming to him. He gives him food and tries to help him get healthy, and eventually comes to view him as a very close friend. The characteristics of a good friend might be kindness, support, openness. Walton seems to be a good listener, and very concerned with the man's safety and his story. The man doesn't reciprocate, but that might just be because Walter isn't sick and doesn't need help, but the stranger does treat Walton with kindness.
ReplyDelete2. Walton seems to love his sister very much. I think he is a good brother because he loves her and takes the time to write to her, however he doesn't take very much time to ask about her or talk about her life, and it isn't clear whether he took precautions to make sure she was happy when he left. (I don't know if she writes back to his letters or not, though.) Leaving her was probably very hard for him, but I still think he loves her despite the fact that he left her.
3. Individuals need to feel wanted and loved. Walton longs for someone who enjoys similar things, can help him make choices, and is courageous yet gentle. People need to feel loved and appreciated and wanted in life, and Walton wants a friend to make him feel this way.
1. In chapter 1, I see that a good parent is someone who educates their children, who loves them and supports them in their endeavors. They should be selfless and care for their children. A parents responsibility toward a child is to love them and provide for them in all aspects of their life. This is based on the fact that Victor describes his parents as indulgent people, says his dad placed an emphasis on educating him, and at the top of page 25, he explains that his family was all very supportive.
2. One place where chapter 1 demonstrates abandonment is when Elizabeth is sent away by her dad and stepmom to live with Victor's family, and Victor's dad lovingly welcomes her in. Elizabeth is a parallel to Mary Shelley, because she had a poor relationship with her stepmother after her mom died, and was similarly sent away to boarding school.
I agree with what you said about Walton being welcoming to the stranger in the water, but I didn't think about the fact that he was being so inquisitive. When I read the book, I felt as if Walton was more being respectful and not asking questions whereas all of his workers wanted to question the stranger and he said to let him be.
DeleteTo stem off what Talin is touching on, I believe that Walton was not being cordial in the way he was treating FRANKENSTEIN but desperate. He was in dire need of companionship and only accomadated to Victor because he believed him to be a possible friend.
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ReplyDelete1. Walton cares for the man they find in the water and allows him the privacy and silence he needs to recover. This suggests a good friend is one who puts the needs of the other before their own and in order to maintain a healthy bond, the other must reciprocate these feelings as well. Watson seems to be a very helpful and kind man when there is something to gain. In this instance, he was in desperate need of a companion and took the opportunity to become close with Victor. Victory seems to also reciprocate these feelings because he feels comfortable enough to share his life story with Walton.
Delete2. Walton seems to have a very close relationship with his sister because he feels comfortable sharing his innermost thoughts and feelings with her. He seems to be a good brother because he constantly wishes well for her but the main purpose of his trip is achieve something to satisfy his own desires of adventure. Walton also doesn’t seem to care much about what is going on in the life of his sister, but rather enjoys talking about himself, making him out to be selfish.
3. Humans need connections and relationships in order to function as healthy human beings.
4. Victor’s mother seems to be a prime example of a good parent because not only was she selfless in taking care of a girl who wasn’t even her own, she thought of not her own well being while she was dying but rather her son’s life after she was gone. A good parent is selfless and offers their love freely and blindly. A parent’s responsibility is to care for their child no matter the circumstance, as Victor’s mother did while she treated Elizabeth for scarlet fever.
5. Victor loses his mother at a young age and feels a sense of abandonment and isolation soon after. He engulfs himself in his studies and neglects all ties to family and friends. This reflects the life of Mary Shelley, who also lost her mother at birth and was disliked by her stepmother. This resulted in the similar feeling of isolation, neglect, and abandonment both Mary and Victor shared.
I like how you were able to tie Victor's experience with grief to that of Mary's. I wouldn't have thought to make that connection. However, since you brought it to my attention, I wonder if Victor felt similar pressure to Mary's to create something great in order to make his parents proud.
DeleteLetters: Walton is immediately friendly and caring to the man he finds on the water. This suggests that a good friend is someone who is inherently kind, even to someone they just met (or found on the open water), and that one must have close companions in order to maintain the ability to form healthy social bonds. Walton seems to be a good friend, perhaps slightly too trusting or servile but that is understandable given that he has been so lonely and feels so desperate for a friend. Frankenstein seems to reciprocate to a point; he does also wish for a friend, but was surprised by the close nature of the relationship he develops with Walton. Walton seems to have a very close relationship with Margaret. He tells her the truth, even when it might make her worry for his sake or might seem embarrassing to share with another person. I think he is a good brother; he writes his sister as regularly as he can, and does not lie or sugarcoat his experiences in an attempt to "protect" her. The text suggests that one must have close companions with whom to interact in order to be healthy individuals and human beings.
ReplyDeleteChapter 1: Frankenstein's parents are examples of good parents. We also see Frankenstein's uncle, cousin, and close family friend. A good parent is a nurturing, guiding figure who always thinks of what is best for the child an does not limit the child's experiences for selfish reasons. Based on the text, a parent is supposed to care, raise, and love his/her child. This is suggested by the contrast between Frankenstein's parents and happy child who embody all of these qualities and Elizabeth's parents, who send her away to live with her cousins rather than care for her themselves. Chapter 1 demonstrates abandonment through Elizabeth's story. Elizabeth seems to parallel Mary Shelley, as both were sent away from their parents at a young age after their mothers died and their fathers remarried.
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ReplyDelete1) Walton treats the person he finds on the water with respect and hospitality. This suggests that one must accommodate to others' need sometimes in order to be a good friend and to maintain healthy social bonds. Walton demonstrates that he is a good friend to others as he takes the needs and overall situation of others into consideration. The person he meets on the water seems to be of good character as well as he shows his appreciation to Walton for offering him help.
ReplyDelete2) Based on the letters, it seems as if Walton and Margaret have a close relationship. Walton seems to be a good brother as he makes sure to tell Margaret about all of experiences and at the same time does not fail to remind her about how much he cares about her.
3) In order to be a healthy individual and human being, one must have a companion to share his thoughts and experience life with.
Although I do agree that Walton does seem to care very tenderly for his beloved sister, he does not ask bout her life or wellbeing as far as we know of.
DeleteWalton treats the person that he finds on the water with care and respect by helping him recover and by not allowing the other people on the ship to ask him questions about how he got there. Everybody was curious about what happened to him, even Walton, but Walton respected the person's privacy and did not ask. This shows that Walton is a friend who knows how to respect boundaries. In addition, Walton is a type of friend who comforts and supports, and the person found on the water seems to reciprocate this. Walton's relationship with his sister Margaret is unclear. He appears to have a good relationship with Margaret, as he writes to her regularly, but it is implied that they have not seen each other in years, and little mention is made of their interactions in their youth. Walton's isolation and desire for companionship implies that friendship is a basic necessity for human beings to live healthy and happy lives, and that without companionship an individual would not be healthy.
ReplyDeleteIn Chapter 1, Victor Frankenstein's parents are shown to be good parents, while Elizabeth's father is shown to be a bad parent. Elizabeth's father asks her uncle, Victor's father, to take care of her after he remarries. This abandonment parallels how Mary Shelley's own father sent her away at the age of 14 to live with strangers after he remarried a woman who was jealous of Mary. Victor's parents, on the other hand, provide for both Victor and Elizabeth, and they raise Elizabeth as if she was their own child. The text shows that Victor's parents provided their basic needs and made sure that Victor received a proper education. This implies that a parent's responsibility towards a child is to teach them and provide for them.
Letters:
ReplyDeleteWalton treats the person he finds in the water with sympathy and compassion. He does everything he can to make the man feel comfortable and safe. This suggests that in order to maintain healthy social bonds, friends need to be caring towards each other and show them compassion. Walton seems to emulate these qualities of a good friend through his actions with the man, such as letting him sleep in his own cabin on the ship. The person he meets on the water does not seem to reciprocate this compassion to the same extent; he is not impolite, but he does not have the same amount of compassion for Walton until he learns that he can trust Walton and begins telling him his life story. Walton seems to have a healthy relationship with his sister Margaret since he always finds time to write to her and let her know that he is safe. For example, in the third letter, he prefaces his writings with the statement that he is writing in haste because things have picked up the pace on the ship. He does not have the leisure of writing her a letter, but he still does to let her know that he cares about her. Additionally, since he knows he is on a dangerous adventure, he acknowledges the possibility of him not returning home, and makes sure to leave a loving farewell in case this happens. This makes Walton a good brother because he consistently shows his sister love and compassion even though he may not have the time to write her letters and he may never see her again. Walton’s longing for friendship suggests that individuals need a companion who cares for them and their well being in order to be a healthy human being.
Chapter 1:
Examples of good parents in chapter 1 are Frankenstein’s parents because the text emphasizes how they indulged them, centered their lives around them, kept them healthy, and made sure they had a solid education. Thus, a parent’s and other family member’s responsibility towards a child is to care for their health and well being and ensure they have a strong education; “my improvement and health were their constant care” (19). Chapter 1 demonstrates a mother’s abandonment of her child, in the form of Victor Frankenstein’s mother dying. This is parallel to how Mary Shelley’s mother died when she was a child and both she and Victor were raised by their fathers without a maternal figure.
1.Walton treats the person he find on the water with great respect, infatuation, and even love, nursing him back to life and protecting him from nuisances. We can assume he is esteeming this man so high because he has been searching for an "intellectual equal" to be friends with, and this man seems to be it.
ReplyDeleteWalton's treatment of Frankenstein suggests that healthy social bonds are characterized by service to another and a prioritization of the person's smallest needs. Walton uses the supplies on his ship and the time of his men to take care of this man and shields him from the annoying questions of those onboard, so as to not trouble him. Both men agree that friendship should involve validation and support, as well as sympathy and counsel.
Walton seems to be a very giving friend. Though ANNOYING in his letters to his sister, he seems less egotistical in person and is only seeking the approval of a friend. He is generous with his time and materials and seeks a good friendship with Frankenstein.
Frankenstein does not seem to reciprocate his friendship. He may like Walton, but Frankenstein sees his life as bleak and lost. Therefore creating a new friendship is pointless and feels as though he knows better than Walton in that a friendship is not necessary between them at that time.
2. Walton seems to have a close relationship with Margaret based on his letters, analyzing his innermost insecurities, thoughts, and motivations in the things he sends her. While I doubt he is the best listener, as he never replies to any of Margarets letters in any form, he does care about her, wanting her to "smile at the warmth of his expressions," and wanting her to remember him with affection, so I would say while self-absorbed, he is a good brother as he truly cares about his sister's opinion of him.
3. Based on Walton's isolation and longing desire for companionship, the text suggests that human beings need community and confidants in order to be healthy human beings. The bleak and barren tundra he travels in is a further device of this : cold, isolated, and unable to be lived upon. When Frankenstein comes out of his sledge and the (ice)olation, he is near death. However when he has companionship he regains his health and composure. HIs desire for human interaction shines through in his telling of his story to Walton. Though Frankenstein claims to not want friendship in his life the way Walton does, he is seeking someone to to confide in about his monster, showing a subconscious desire for friendship.
1. In Chapter one, Frankenstein's parents are the "good ones." His father is kind, and marries a destitute women based on her merit and that of her father. He cares about making the world a better place, but prioritizes his children. When the time comes to educate them, Frankenstein's father relinquishes his public roles in order to tend to his family. Frankenstein claims to have had the happiest childhood that could ever be. The "bad parents" in this chapter are Elizabeth's. Her mother dies and her father remarries, failing in his fulfillment of the role of father by giving her away to another family. His responsibility as a parent, as shown in the description of Frankenstein's family, was to educate her and partake in her enjoyments, as Frankensteins mother and father did, and he failed by giving up Elizabeth.
Delete2. Chapter one demonstrates abandonment through Elizabeth's adoption by the Frankensteins. We know that Mary Shelley was taken in by a family other than her birth one because her mother died and father remarried, just like what happened to Elizabeth. However, the text does not dwell on abandonment. While it is clearly not a positive institution, Elizabeth, and by parallel Mary Shelley, makes the best of her situation. She is a creature unlike any other and is beloved by all, even if her father didn't want her. Abandonment seems to have not held her back, like a literary "screw you, I turned out fine" to Mary Shelley's father.
Letters
ReplyDelete1. Walton attempts to treat the man with respect by not invading his privacy and asking too many questions at first. He also tells the crew to “back off” and let the man rest. He treats him with sympathy and compassion and begins to find that he loves him like a brother and wants to take away his despair.
2. He seems to have a close relationship with his sister because he keeps in touch with her, making him a good brother.
3. The text suggests that humans need contact with other people in order to stay healthy and happy. Human connections seem to be deemed important by the text.
Chapter 1
Victor’s parents are examples of good parents because they show love and tenderness to him from the moment he is born. This is important in providing children with a happy childhood. Victor also is very protective of his sister and is seemingly a good brother to her. The text suggests that in order to be a good parent you must pay attention to your child and not neglect their needs of love and devotion.
Elizabeth is taken away from her true family by Victor’s mother, thus she abandons her family. Along with this Victor is abandoned when his mother dies, which parallels Mary Shelley's life because she too lost her mother and was sent away to school.
I agree with your analysis between Mary Shelley's life and both Elizabeth and Victor. I would add that Elizabeth doesn't abandon her family, so much as she is sent away by a mother that does not love her. I believe that this parallels Shelley's own life, since her father's second wife sent Shelley away to live with people she did not know in a different country at a young age.
DeleteLetters:
ReplyDelete1. Walton takes in the stranger and allows him on the boat. He helps nourish him back to health and visits him often in his room to talk to him and answer his questions. This suggests that the characteristics of a good friend include being hospitable, welcoming, compassionate, understanding, kind, and seeing the best in others. Walton seems to be a good friend to the stranger and turns into his closest companion on the ship. The person he found in the water does seem to reciprocate and is a good friend back to Walton, and Walton writes about this in his last letter to his sister.
2. Walton seems to have an extremely close relationship with his sister Margaret based on his letters. He makes sure to include lots of details about what is going on and keeps her up to date on how he’s doing. He is a good brother because he cares about her wellbeing and making sure she knows he is okay so that she doesn’t worry about him while back at home.
3. Based on Walton’s desire for companionship while in isolation, it suggests that individuals need the company of others to survive. They need someone to talk to, so that they can express how they are feeling and have someone there to reciprocate.
Chapter 1:
1. We see an example of good parents in Walton’s parents. They take in Elizabeth when her mother dies and makes sure that the kids are well educated without forcing it upon them, but that they also have fun. Victor’s father also takes care of and eventually marries Beaufort’s daughter when he becomes sick and dies. We see bad parents when we see how Elizabeth’s father sent her away to remarry after his wife died. A bad parent is selfish and only thinks about themselves, whereas, as good parents cares about the child and their wellbeing. The parent’s responsibility toward a child is to take care of and educate them. We see this in how Victor and Elizabeth are educated in Latin and English, and also had fun with friends such as Henry.
2. Chapter one demonstrates abandonment in the actions of Elizabeth’s father sending her away after her mother died and that Victor’s mom died. The death of his mother parallels the death of Mary Shelley’s mother.
While I do agree that Walton's desire for companionship is something the author is trying to present as essential to happiness and a fullness of life, I feel that the use of the word 'survive' is too extreme. Survival in this book, would be pitted against the sublime, rather than a lack of friendship. While friendship is important for humans, it is not essential to survival, and that word should be reserved for use in regards to more monumental forces.
DeleteLetters:
ReplyDeleteIn the letters we find that Walton wants a friend who can sympathize with him, guide him by approving or amending his plans, is gentle yet courageous, who shares similar likes and dislikes, and one that can be there for him to keep him company. To the person he found in the water, Walton takes him in to his own cabin, attended to his needs, and helps him as he improves his health and restorers him. Based on the letters, we see that Walton is a good brother to Margaret because of the simple fact that he is writing to her. If he was not a good brother, he would not be writing to her or letting her know how he's doing or that he's still alive and willing to talk to her. In order to be healthy individuals and human beings, people need company. Humans can survive only if they have companions and friends. They need to feel loved and wanted.
Chapter 1:
In Chapter 1, we see that a good friend can serve as a protector. After Caroline's father died, the speaker's father became her protector and soon after they were married. This chapter also adds that a good family is loving and caring. The speaker and his siblings share a deep connection or bond that suggests they are very close and never leave each other sides. Henry Clerval is another example of a good friend. The speaker and him met in school and the speaker and his family almost took Henry in as one of their own. The speaker adds that when Clerval was not there with them, the house was incomplete meaning that Henry was just a big part in their lives. A parent is responsible for loving, respecting, and educating their children. In the chapter, the speakers father encourages him to go to school and study natural philosophy. In chapter 1, Elizabeth is a character that is parallel to Mary Shelley. Elizabeth was abandoned by her family and luckily was taken in with the speakers family. The speakers father was asked to take care of Elizabeth and be in charge of her as an infant. They wanted him to take Elizabeth in as his own daughter and educate her.
Letters:
ReplyDelete1. Walton is initially curious by the man on the boat and tends to him in his own room, helping him recover. This suggests about the characteristics of a good friend that a good friend should be gentle, wise, and have a sophistication about their words. Walton seems to be a caring, loving friend that is curious. The person he meets on the water does seem to reciprocate this.
2. Walter seems to have a very close relationship with his sister Margaret. I think he is a good brother because he sends her letters to update her on his life and condition and sends her his love and blessings at the end of some letters. However, he could also be a careless brother due to the fact that he never inquires about how she is doing or what is happening back where she is.
3. Walton's longing for companionship suggests that to be healthy individuals we need to have the presence of friends, in order to live healthy lives.
Chapter 1:
1. We get a description of the narrator's parents as examples of good parents in Chapter 1. We get a description of Beaufort as an example of a bad parent in Ch. 1. What makes a good parent based on the text is one that serves their children's education, and involves themself in their child's enjoyments. A parent's responsibility to their children is to educate them and also care for them. The narrator states in the text that his father devoted himself to the education of his children.
2. The narrator's father's sister's husband abandons Elizabeth to give her up to the narrator's father. Elizabeth seems to parallel Mary Shelley because Mary Shelley's father also abandoned her and her mother also died.
Letters:
ReplyDeleteWalton treats the stranger very kindly. He gives the man time to recuperate before trying to interact with him. He gives the man food (food on the ship is planned out and limited) and makes sure he is comfortable. The two of them begin to get closer, as Walton is intrigued by this man and incredibly lonely. Kindness and hospitality are required to maintain healthy social bonds. Walton seems to be a good friend: he is eager to please Frankenstein and sympathizes with his misery. The person he meets on the water does not seem to reciprocate to the same degree, because he is so miserable. However, the stranger does appreciate and indulge Walton’s efforts. Walton seems to have a strong relationship with Margaret. He is not a perfect brother, but he loves his sister strongly—this is seen in how often he writes her, so she does not worry about his safety. The text suggests that individuals need to have interaction with others to be healthy and human beings.
Chapter 1:
In Chp1, we see that Frankenstein’s parents were incredibly loving. He says that they were tender and focused on his improvement and health. We also see Elizabeth, Frankenstein’s cousin, as a good family member. She treats others with kindness, including strangers and servants. A good/bad parent/family member is determined by their kindness and care for their other family members. A parent’s responsibility toward a child is to care for them, to make sure they are healthy and happy. Chapter 1 demonstrates abandonment primarily through death. Victor’s mother was abandoned by her father Beaufort when he died, and Elizabeth’s father sends her away. Elizabeth seems to parallel Mary Shelley most because both their fathers shipped them off to distant relatives after their mothers died, because the father was marrying a new woman.
Walton wears very welcoming and hospitable towards him. It suggests that. A friend should be respectful and amiable, in order to maintain a strong relationship with their friends. Walton seems to be a no critical, honest and supportive friend. Yes,the person is honest and open to developing a friendship with Walton. Based on the text, Walton seems to be a caring brother to his sister. He is a good sister because he is always inform her on his current life, what is happening and how he is feeling. He asks her about how she is doing and always says that he is longing to see her. In order to be healthy individuals, people need to make connections and interact with people to be happy and have support in their life. In chapter one, Victor's father is shown to be a good parent since he dedicates his time to educating his children. As any good parents, they should be a child's first educators since they are the first figures in their life. Another example would be Victor taking on the role of being the older brother. He has the responsibility to take care and educate his younger siblings. He is a primary role model. The idea of abandonment is shown when the Elizabeth is given to the Frankenstein to nurture her. Like Mary Shelley, Elizabeth is abandoned by her real family, feeling lonely and without a mother figure
ReplyDeleteI also agree with your statement about Walton being welcoming and hospitable towards the stranger. I would also say that he seems very curious about the stranger's life and what he has to say. That can say that a friend has to be interested in what you have to say.
DeleteVictor Frankenstein's parents serve as examples of good parents as they always demonstareted their love for their children. A family member that does not provide affection to another makes a bad family member. It is a parent's responsibility to make sure that a child feels of importance as a member in the family and that he is not forced to do anything he did not want to.
ReplyDelete2) Elizabeth's mother dies when Elizabeth is a baby and she is taken away from her family and placed at Victor's house. Similarly, Mary Shelley's mother died when she was an infant.
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DeleteWhen Walton finds the person on the water he immediately wants to care for him and nurse him back to health. Despite the strangers initial hesitation to leave his location Walton eventually convinces him to join him on his ship in order to regain strength. This suggests that a good friend helps their companion out no matter the situation. In order to maintain healthy social bonds one must be willing to become close and open with another. Walton is the type of friend who wants to know everything about the the other and wants them to be able to provide his life with excitement, wonder, and council. It seems to be that the stranger is able to reciprocate these things to Walton as he is very intrigued by the stranger and is able to talk with him on occasion. The stranger also seems to look for similar aspects as Walton in a friend. Walton seems to have a good relationship with Margaret based on his letters. He expresses all his emotions to her and shares his experiences with his multitude of letters that he sends her. Simply by sending letters to her he shows that he cares for her and is always thinking about her. Through this the text suggests that one needs companions in order to be healthy individuals and human beings because we require constant bonds.
ReplyDeleteWe receive the examples of good parents/family members from the description of Victor's mother and father. Victor's parents gave all their attention to him even after he was no longer an only child. Their responsibility was to love and care for him as well as make sure he is well educated. They did so by urging him to read and write, as well as having him learn different languages such as Latin and English. Through this Victor was able to understand and attend lectures and read books in those languages allowing him to heighten his level of intelligence. Victor's parents also resemble good family members because they willingly and without hesitation accepted Elizabeth, Victor's father's niece, into their family after her mother had passed away and her father remarried. They took care of her as if she was their own daughter and gave her all the same opportunities as their biological children. This character's story demonstrates abandonment shown to her by her father which parallels to the author, Mary Shelly's own background. Mary was also abandoned by her father after her mother's passing and sent away to live with a relative once he remarried.
As for your first response, I really like the idea of how you compared Walton to a nurse. Most of the time, when we think of nurses, we think of them as people who heal us but are also there to talk and create an emotional relationship. Therefore, comparing Walton to a nurse is a good analogy for an analysis of the beginning of their relationship. However, when you mention that "a friend helps their companion out no matter the situation" I do not completely understand what you are trying to say because he has just found this man on the water like you said so he has no obligation to care for him or show him compassion. What made you say this?
DeleteLetters:
ReplyDelete1) Walton treats the person very well, even loving him “like a brother”. A friend should be someone who supports you, treats you like you’re family. They must also be “wise and more experienced”, or mentally stimulating.Walton seems to be very affectionate and interested in what the stranger has to say. He take a liking to the stranger, and the stranger feels the same.
2) I feel like Walton has a pretty close relationship with his sister. I think he’s a good brother because he always makes time to write and communicate with her even though he’s traveling.
3) Individuals need a friend or someone in their life who is there to check up on them, always keep them on track, and support them.
Chapter 1:
1) A parent’s responsibility is to love and care for their child. They should put their child’s needs before their’s. They have to give up everything to care/love them. On page 24-5, Victor says “[S]uch was our domestic circle, from which care and pain seemed forever banished... [M]utual affection engaged us all to comply with and obey the slightest desire of each other.” They seemingly had no problems at all.
2) Abandonment is shown in chapter 1 when Elizabeth’s father and stepmother send her away to live with Victor and his family. This is parallel to Mary Shelley’s real life as she was sent away by her father and stepmother to a boarding school.
I disagree that the text implies that a friend must be "mentally stimulating". I believe Walton's interest in Frankenstein's words is primarily motivated by his curiosity about Frankenstein's circumstances and Walton's desire for a friend.
DeleteLetters:
ReplyDeleteWalton treats the person he finds on the water very well and nurses him back to health. This suggests that the characteristics of a good friends and maintain healthy social bonds are caring of the other person, mutual respect, trust, and accommodating to the other’s needs. Walton seems caring and trusting especially through the way he takes care of the stranger and is open to a relationship with Victor and getting to know him. Victor doesn’t really seem to reciprocate these feelings.
Walton seems to have a good relationship with Margaret based on his letters. He always ends his letters to Margaret with some affectionate good-bye, in the event that he never sees his sister again. He also begins his first letter by telling Margaret that the first thing he did after arriving in St. Petersburg’s was to write to his sister to update her. Based on Walton’s isolation and longing desire for companionship, the text suggests that individuals need friends to sympathize with and to communicate their feelings with in order to be healthy individual. Walton mentions that he has the option to just write but that writing is not the best way to get out all his feelings and that rather he needs someone to listen to him.
Chapter 1:
An example of a good parent that we get in Chapter 1 is Victor’s dad. His dedication to his children and his niece demonstrates how he is a good parent. Not only did he devoted himself to their education, but when his sister’s husband asked Victor’s father to take in his daughter, Victor’s father did not hesitate to take care of her as his own. A parent’s responsibility toward a child based on the text is to educate their child to the best of their ability and then encourage further education. Evidence from the text that suggests this is “[Victor’s father] relinquished many of his public employments, and devoted himself to the education of his children” (pag 19).
Elizabeth’s father demonstrates abandonment by asking the Victor’s father to take Elizabeth in after her mother passes away since Elizabeth’s father was to remarry.
Elizabeth seems to parallel Mary Shelley based on her biological background because in the same way Elizabeth was sent to live with her uncle’s family as a result of her father remarrying after her mother died, Mary Shelley was sent to live with another family as a result of her own father remarrying and her stepmother’s wishes.
I agree with the statement you made in the first paragraph that said people need to sympathize with friends and communicate. I believe that in order to be healthy individuals, people need company. Humans can survive only if they have companions and friends since they need to feel loved and wanted. In the second paragraph you mentioned one example of how Victor's dad was a good parent by encouraging his children's education. I found another example in Chapter 1. When the dad encourages Victor to go to school and study, we see that he is being a good parent as well.
DeleteLetters: When Walton finds Frankenstein in the water he is warm and kind. He also seemed really curious. He asks him lots of questions like who he is. I would say that this shows that important characteristics of a good friend are being kind, welcoming, and knowing each other. To maintain good social bonds, you must communicate and make sacrifices for each other. Walton seems to be a chipper friend, and also open about himself. The stranger does not reciprocate, but he is a still polite and kind. Walton seems to have a good relationship with his sister. They seem to be close and open with each other. He seems to be a good brother because he wants the best for her and is always honest. In order to be a healthy human, you must have companionship with other humans.
ReplyDeleteIn ch 1, Frankenstein's parents are good parents because their whole life basically revolved around their kids. They not only ensure their children's happiness, but also make sure they get an education. A good parent makes sure that their kids become good people, they take care of them and keep them safe. According to the text, a parent is supposed to care for and love their child. We see this since Frankenstein's parents truly love him, and he is a content little boy, while Elizabeth's mother abandon her and she is not as happy. Mary Shelly seems to parallel Elizabeth since both their mothers left them.
I agree that Walton is curious and asks the man in the water who is he is, but I would not say he asks him a lot of questions. Rather, he welcomes and respects him by not questioning him too much, showing his trust and respect towards this man he just met. He is a good friend towards this man because he does not pressure him too much, but instead let's him say more when he's comfortable and ready to.
DeleteLetters: Walton treats him with great care and respect from the beginning. At first, he’s shocked that he asks where they were headed, but as days pass he began to do little things like care for the man and cover him in blankets. Letter four suggests that Victor is there to listen to moments of excitement and be there to pity you but also have a personality that is gentle, and not too overly excited. He enjoys that the man is wise and smart even though as a European he doesn't speak the best. Walton seems to be a friend that treats others like family. He let the man in and fed him, clothed him, watched over him, even when he wasn’t talking that much. He treated him like a brother and didn’t expect anything in return but simply wanted to do good for him. He didn’t expect anything and still treated Victor with compassion and sympathy, and I believe that this friendship was reciprocated because while in the cabin Walton is the only person that makes Victor feel comfortable rather than uneasy.
ReplyDeleteHe seems to have a good relationship with his sister. All of the letters that he writes are addressed to her and I believe the author may have done that for a certain reason to show that he has a strong relationship with her. In addition to this, he says he has no friends, but writes her these letters and shares his experiences with her as a friend would share with another friend. Therefore, I believe that they do indeed have a good relationship and in addition to the friendly and excited tone he writes with, he always calls her beloved and dear showing his love for her. Not only does this show his love for her but in the end of each letter he is sure to make sure she feels loved and appreciated.
Similar to what we saw in the powerpoint, Walton’s isolation and longing for desire may be because he is not surrounded by any women. One of the texts messages is to show how life would play out without women being a part of it, or creating life without women, therefore I think that the text suggests that men need women in order to survive and thrive. The beginning of the book starts out like this with all letters being addressed to his “beloved Margret” telling her that he loves her so much and doesn't have friends, yet instead writes to her.
Chapter 1:
ReplyDeleteIn chapter one we get examples of children as good. We get the story about Victor’s mother as child caring for her father before he passed away. She was good because she uses all her time and all of the family’s money to try and save him. Not only this but she continues onto have a child of her own. Here her and her husband demonstrate good parenting, putting all of their love and affection into their child whom they view as a good innocent baby. The text suggests that a parent’s responsibility is to guide a child in the right direction because that determines how the child’s life will end up. In chapter one, when Frankenstein describes his parents’ relationship with him it is mentioned that Victor’s “future lot it was in their hands to direct to happiness or misery, according as they fulfilled their duties towards me”. This implies that the parents actions will determine the child’s future.
Chapter 1 demonstrates abandonment when Caroline’s father dies. When Caroline’s father dies he leaves her with no money and no family, forcing her to be sent away to someone she doesn't know and isn't familiar with. This relates to when Mary Shelley was sent to boarding school by force not by choice because her father sent her there. Although her father wasn't dead in Shelley’s case, both Shelley and Caroline were sent away because of their fathers’ mistakes. In addition to Caroline’s father dying, Chapter one also mentions that Caroline desperately wanted a daughter. This being said, the text shows that Caroline did not abandon Victor physically, but in a way abandoned him emotionally by the fact that he knew that she wanted more of a family, and possibly feeling like he wasn't enough. Caroline therefore is parallel to Mary Shelley herself in a way with a father whom abandoned her and a yearning for a large family.
With kindness and eagerness to please him, this suggests that a good friend is kind towards one another and that kindness is require to maintain healthy social bonds. Walton seems to be too eager, like he is always looking at him and wanting to talk, interact, and help him. The person on the water seems to reciprocate only as you would to a stranger. He seems to have a good relationship with Margaret because they used to play together and now they write each other letters to stay present I;one another lives. The text suggests that you need to make an effort to interact with others in order to be healthy individuals.
ReplyDeleteWe see the speakers parents as good parents because they immediately take Elizabeth into the family when her father wanted to give her up. A parents responsibility is to help children as seen when the speaker parents go and help Elizabeth no questions asked. Elizabeth demonstrates abandonment. Mary could be parrallel to the speaker because they both have distinguished parents in their time periods.
I agree about your point about friendship and that kindness is needed to maintain healthy social bonds. However, friendship needs to be reciprocated on the same level in order for it to be a true friendship. Even though Walton is extremely eager to have Victor as a friend and goes out of his way to please him, Victor may only be polite because he is a guest on the ship, so we can't really tell if it is a good friendship yet.
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ReplyDeleteLetters: Walton treats the man with respect, kindness, and hospitality. This suggests that a good friend is one who is kind to all people, even those he has just met, is willing to selflessly help those around him, and welcoming to any person, providing and caring for him. The text suggests that in order to maintain societal bonds, one must reciprocate the same respect and kindness towards the other. Friends must respect each other's time and boundaries in order to maintain a healthy relationship. Walton is a selfless, welcoming friend, and the man in the water seem to reciprocate that same respect and friendship towards Walton by thanking him. Based on the letters, Walton seems to have a close relationship with Margaret and be a good brother for the most part. He writes to her often, telling her about all of his experiences; however, he never asks Margaret about how she is doing, but instead is selfish and talks about himself and his own life. In order to be healthy individuals and human beings, the text suggests that people need relationships with others. Based on Walton's isolation and longing desire for companionships, we see that companions and friends allow one to be happy in his own life.
ReplyDeleteChapter 1: A good parent is one who loves his children and provides for them, like Victor's parents. His parents provide for their children in all aspects of their life, including their education. Victor says that he had the "happiest childhood," which was because of the love and support his parents showed him. It is a parent's responsibility to keep his child happy and loved. Elizabeth's father, however, is a "bad" parent because he sent Elizabeth away to live with someone else and did not care for her. Elizabeth's sending away at a young age parallels Mary Shelley's own life as she was also sent away from her father after he remarried. This shows a sense of abandonment of both Elizabeth and Mary Shelley from their fathers.