Lynn+FO

Frankenstein Outline

It may seem that life and death are complete opposites that dictate different realms of the world. However, in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, the two are intertwined so intricately to a point that they seem like the same--in fact, the monster himself is an embodiment of these two concepts combined. Behind this creation however, is the innate fear of castration that drives Frankenstein to the end of his relationship with his lover, with his monster, and eventually to his life. ___

I. Introduction
 * A. Thesis: The creation of the monster in Mary Shelly's //Frankenstein// is a reflection of Victor Frankenstein's Freudian fear of castration.

II. Point One: His mother's death has entitled him to a desire to give life without a female. "While seeming to long for a reunion of himself with both his mother and death, Victor in his usurpation of "making a baby" may be striving to "kill" the feminine powers"-"Frankenstein's Dream" by Jerrold E. Hogle
 * A. Sub point: He searches the creation of life from death--more so than his interest in natural science, his mother's death is the driving force behind his creation
 * 1. Evidence 1: Victor's quote about his mother's death
 * 2. Evidence 2 with critic


 * B. Sub point: His dream sequence shortly after falling asleep from exhaustion form creating the monster.
 * 1. Evidence: Elizabeth turns into his mother in the dream
 * 2. Analysis: His "alive" lover turned into his "dead" love (Oedipial complex? possibly as the outside book)

III. Point Two: His subsequent rejection of the monster's request to create a female counterpart is a reflection of his own castration fear.
 * A. Victor's fear about castration expressed in the denial of death of his mother
 * 1. Having no control over his mother's death became the cause of his obsession over control
 * 2. This need for control is amplifies his innate castration fear


 * B. He does not create a counterpart for the monster for this reason
 * 1. Creating a monster's counterpart will mean that he will lose control even more
 * 2. Fear about reproduction
 * 3. Quote from Victor

IV. Point Three: In fact, his relationship with Elizabeth, too represents this castration fear A: Elizabeth only communicates through letters--very submissive
 * 1. Critic: "While seeming to long for a reunion of himself with both his mother and death, Victor in his usurpation of "making a baby" may be striving to "kill" the feminine powers"-Jerrold E. Hogle
 * 2. Elizabeth is even more logical than Victor--amplifies fear