A. Introduction
Thesis: Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein depicts Socrates’ ideas and beliefs presented in The Allegory of the Cave. Victor Frankenstein, the escapee of the “cave”, is brought to the light of truth, where hunger for knowledge acts as a catalyst for ultimate peril. He encounters one of the prisoners of the cave, Walton, and shares his enlightenment about the falsehood of the images casted by the shadow, which they have been blinded by throughout their lives. Mary Shelley recounts this incident by describing Victor’s experiences as he breaks free from the bondage of superficiality and steps into the world of excruciating truth.
B. Victor as a prisoner: blinded by the shadow
Victor’s obsession with knowledge (alchemy and chemistry) Include Quote
- Make a parallel connection to Socrate’s philosophy and beliefs about human judgement
His idea that he can seek truth through knowledge - find the elements of life by creating one Include Quote
His belief that he can form a perfect human being (act like God in way) Include Quote
He perceives knowledge as the direct road to the idealism/pefection.
C. Victor is awakened/enlightened
The creation of the monster Include Quote
Refer to the sunlight which blinds the released caveman in the allegory. The ugliness of the monster blinds Victor and forces him to run away to never see his face again.
Later he gets used to the monster’s face
The death of his family and friends
His crave for knowledge does not lead to perfection but rather destruction
Education, therefore distorts the mind of an individual into performing the unthinkable
Victor realizes that he has neglected his own family and morality
The more you know, the more responsibility you have to bear.
D. Victor goes back to the cave Victor’s line when he meets Walton
Tells the "truth" to Walton: desire to achieve the impossible is absolute madness. do not be fooled.
The idealism of education
Walton believes him; yet, he mentions a bit of madness in Victor's story Include Quote
A. Introduction
Thesis: Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein depicts Socrates’ ideas and beliefs presented in The Allegory of the Cave. Victor Frankenstein, the escapee of the “cave”, is brought to the light of truth, where hunger for knowledge acts as a catalyst for ultimate peril. He encounters one of the prisoners of the cave, Walton, and shares his enlightenment about the falsehood of the images casted by the shadow, which they have been blinded by throughout their lives. Mary Shelley recounts this incident by describing Victor’s experiences as he breaks free from the bondage of superficiality and steps into the world of excruciating truth.
B. Victor as a prisoner: blinded by the shadow
Victor’s obsession with knowledge (alchemy and chemistry)
Include Quote
- Make a parallel connection to Socrate’s philosophy and beliefs about human judgement
His idea that he can seek truth through knowledge - find the elements of life by creating one
Include Quote
His belief that he can form a perfect human being (act like God in way)
Include Quote
He perceives knowledge as the direct road to the idealism/pefection.
C. Victor is awakened/enlightened
The creation of the monster
Include Quote
Refer to the sunlight which blinds the released caveman in the allegory. The ugliness of the monster blinds Victor and forces him to run away to never see his face again.
Later he gets used to the monster’s face
The death of his family and friends
His crave for knowledge does not lead to perfection but rather destruction
Education, therefore distorts the mind of an individual into performing the unthinkable
Victor realizes that he has neglected his own family and morality
The more you know, the more responsibility you have to bear.
D. Victor goes back to the cave
Victor’s line when he meets Walton
Tells the "truth" to Walton: desire to achieve the impossible is absolute madness. do not be fooled.
The idealism of education
Walton believes him; yet, he mentions a bit of madness in Victor's story
Include Quote
E. Conclusion
Sum up the points above. :)