Sleep of Reason and Monsters

Paper Summary:

In this article, the writer notes that it is important to note the daring and thought-provoking core of the story of Frankenstein, i.e. the aspiration of human creation, the feelings associated with this strife, particularly those of guilt and remorse, as well as the religious and philosophical implications that the act itself involves. The writer maintains that the monster created by Frankenstein is a symbol of all monsters that the sleep of reason produces. The writer believes that Frankenstein represents man's attempt to find the answers to questions related to life, death and the divine process of creation. The writer notes that Victor Frankenstein believed that by accumulating a great amount of knowledge, he could explain the mysteries of life. The writer concludes that Frankenstein's story is an allegory: he tried to access areas of knowledge that are not at the disposal of man; he was both unsuccessful, and severely punished precisely by the God he had disregarded.

From the Paper:

"The most important theme of the novel is that of knowledge. The monster created by Frankenstein is a symbol of all monsters that the sleep of reason produces. His horrendous physical appearance, as well as his size, is a hyperbola used to describe the effect of the sleep of reason. Put simply, reason is man's capacity to think. Reason is intrinsically related to the concept of "knowledge", in the sense that the former is the main method of achieving and organizing the latter. Knowledge depends upon solid reasoning, which in turn, must be systematic and clear. In the case of Frankenstein, the sleep of reason allows him to lose sight of human limitations and perceptions. His academic interests are a clear clue as to the nature of the main character; he studies chemistry - the science of the material composition of things, and philosophy, which aims at explaining mental and spiritual processes. By combining these two, Frankenstein becomes consumed with the discovery of the secret of human life. As with other products of the sleep reason, Frankenstein's monster destroys everything dear to his creator: his brother, wife and friend; indirectly even his father, who dies of pain and sadness caused by what had happened. In the end, his thirst for knowledge and creation will bring the end of Victor Frankenstein's life as well."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Bushi, Ruth. The deification of creativity in relation to 'Frankenstein'. Retrieved May 2007, from Mary Shelley and Frankenstein. <http://www.kimwoodbridge.com/maryshel/bushi.shtml>
• Gray, Paul (1979). The Man-Made Monster. Retrieved May 2007, from TIME. <http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,947086-1,00.html>
• Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein: Or the Modern Prometheus. Ed. James Reiger. Chicago: U of Chicago P, 1982

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