Illusion and Reality

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the conflict of illusion and reality as presented in Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" and Christina Rossetti's "Goblin Market." The author argues that the two stories, one of horror and the other a children's tale, are so well presented that often what the reader sees as reality, may be an illusion and it is up to the individual reader to decipher fact from fiction. Using different passages from each book, the author discusses this idea and details how we, the reader, have a difficult time discerning what is just an illusion from reality.

From the Paper:

"She created an illusion for herself while the reality was something quite different. However, the other sister saw the situation clearly and this caused her to sacrifice herself for the sisters sake. There is a close allegorical and symbolic resemblance to the story of the original sin and to which is added the redemption of the fallen one, by the sister. This should not be surprising, because the original sin also has similar connotations and insinuations. The theme of redemption has close parallel to the redemption by Christ of all his followers through suffering he underwent for the sake of mankind. Here the redeemer was another sister, who suffered for her sake but brought her back to life and the world through her love and sacrifice of her principle and her remaining steadfast and "pure.""

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