Thursday, December 2, 2010

Victorian Blog #1: Literary Elements: Foreshadowing

      “Eternal youth, infinite passion, pleasures subtle and secret, wild joy and wilder sins- he was to have all these things. The portrait was to bear the burden of shame:that was all”(Wilde Pg.101).
       In this quote on page 101 I fell as if the author is giving all of his readers a look into the future. Foreshadowing is an author's use of hints or clues to suggest events that will occur later in the story, and in this story it was used brilliantly. He has given us the hint that we needed to come to a concrete conclusion that something very important is coming nearer as I type. The past tense use of words even tells us that he is looking back upon the past or as if he already knows what is to happen. This foreshadow is very important to the plot of the book and to share it with you is a pleasure.

Victorian Blog #1 : Historical Context Elements

     In the book there is a section where Dorian is explaining to Lord Henry how he had come amidst his new love. He told Henry of his adventures into "a labyrinth of grimy streets and black, grassless squares" and it came to my attention that even the Victorian Era had "ghettos". Even as Dorian leaves the rigidity old theater on a different occasion he walks through the "evil looking houses". As he walks he can even hear the "hoarse voices of the women that were calling to him. there was even a drunks, doesn't this sound familiar? The Victorian Era was also the era of technological advancements, and yet they still had ghettos? one has to understand that the Victorian Era was just a less dramatic today, then; for many of the people of that time thought like many people of today. That goes into the plot of the story as well, for there is barely any differentiations from now and then.

Victorian Blog #1: Literary Elements: Pure Irony

             "Poor Sibyl!...She had often mimicked death on the stage. then Death himself had touched her, and taken her with him,"
         On  the page of one hundred any one who wishes it can see the quote themselves and evaluate its meaning there, but for now I'll tell you how I interpret it. Irony is the contrast between what is expected or what appears to be and what actually is.The irony in this statement actually jumped out at me while I was reading and I had to write it down. Sibyl is used to playing death on her day to day life, whether it be acting out the very last acts of Romeo and Juliet where she is Juliet and is kissing Romeo then dropping to the ground. But now death has come and taken her to the place of no return. It is even more ironic that she also died as Juliet died. Heartbroken and no one left to love her, she decided to leave the world with a suicide so pure that it could make a mass murder cry. She drinks the prussic acid and sacrifices her self to the world, kind of in the same way Juliet does. The coldest irony that has been set upon the world. Well at least she went out as someone she loved

Victorian Blog #1 : The relationship between Dorian Gray and Sibyl Vane

          The "love" that is shared between the beautiful Dorian Gray and his lovely lady is only shown by a few kisses and some warm embraces, and yet Dorian runs home to Lord Harry and tells him that he has saw the "loveliest thing" that he has ever seen. Dorian loves this seventeen year old with all the strength that he has in his body.He says that he loves the way she can so well play out the particular characters of many of his favorite Shakespearian plays, but wait, it seems that as soon as she no longer has those dearly loved talents his love seems to dissipate with those talents. I think that the fact that Dorian would do such a thing is a look into the future of Dorian's life. Dorian will go through his life, literally, breaking young girls hearts, and will look back into the portrait which was once beautiful, and will see a creature so horrid that it looked as if the devil had rejected him from hell.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Chapter 24 and The End

The Diary of Alphonse Frankenstein,
     I awoke on the floor to find the figures of my thought to be dead beloved, surrounded in a faint glow that looked heavenly. I saw Elizabeth, my adopted daughter, William, my beloved son, and Even my long gone wife. I watched in delight as they helped me up from the floor and sat me upon a chair made of the softest substance on Earth. But I was no longer on Earth, I was now an angel in the heavens above Victor.
         We all watched as  Victor received our desired quest and went on hot pursuit of the monster which I had once thought to be his allie but had now come to see the true relationship between Victor and his creation. We watched as he told his story but no one would hear. we saw the endless months and years of chasing. And we saw the times when he couldn't move a muscle and we had to give him strength. We loathed the monster that had brutally murdered some of us and had cost the rest a life of grief. We all had the knowledge that the monster was to die, but we all wanted it to die at the hands of its creator, a sense of revenge over-whelmed us.
      We even watched as Victor told his story to Walton and we all watched the heart-breaking scene of Victors death, but was soon over came with joy when we saw that he had came to join us. That was when we all, Elizabeth Lavenza, William Frankenstein, Mrs. Frankenstein, me myself, and my son Victor Frankenstein watched in horror and in an appalled air the burning of The Frankenstein Monster.
         But now we all live in peace and good nature, all seven of us, because even monsters can have peace.
                                                                             In a place where no one can touch, Alphonse Frankenstein

Chapter 23

The Diary of Alphonse Frankenstein,
         The splendid couple has probably just arrived at their honey room. And for some disturbing reason Victor insisted on taking pistols and a dagger with him, but maybe its just for their safety, but why wouldn't Victor feel safe anymore? Ill have to ask him that when he and Elizabeth come back home. Oh my dearest Elizabeth, the closest thing to her mother and the last person in the world that gives me comfort and the ability to live, without her i would surely die. -----------------------------Two days ago
      A dream cam to me that almost killed me as I dreamed it. A premonition that a disfigured and disgusting creature, the murder of William, and the associate of Victor, strangled to death and killed my dearest Elizabeth. The horrid being stomped into the room, and before Elizabeth could do anything about it the monster had horribly strangled her. A few seconds later Victor stormed in to find her body strewed across the bed as if some one had threw her onto it.
           In sweet delight, I had woken up before the grips of death could clench his cold hands upon my neck. Waking up, I was hit with what the realization of all of this could had of meant. All these dreams started to add up and instantly I knew that Elizabeth was dead.  All the dreams that I had been having either came true or was in the process of happening. -------------------------------- One day past
       Today Victor came home with the news that i already knew. All I needed was his conformation of the fact, that was all I needed to finally say goodbye to that infested and heartless world where all of my loves pleasures were taken away. I decided to die in the one place where i felt peace, In the arms of my son.
                                                                                         
                                                                                                             Yours truly, Alphonse Frankenstein

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Chapter 22

The Diary of Alphonse Frankenstein,
       We had landed in Paris and I was trying every form of relief that would make a man jump with happiness on Victor, but none of thee seemed to work on a man that feels as if he doesn't deserve to live.After a few days in Paris we moved on to Switzerland and that was about the time that Victor received the letter from Elizabeth. I know not what it said but it had an affect on the nature of Victor's behavior. After he read and re-read the letter several times he felt even more compiled to get to her and get the union over and done with already. But those days passed and before we knew it we were once again home, Geneva, for good.
    As I hurried to get the set up and was in an anxious readiness to get everything finished, I could not but to see the discussion that commenced between Elizabeth and Victor over what seemed to be the letter which she had written to him. The discussion was simple enough and afterwards Elizabeth seemed even more calm and serene than before.
   Now I can sense the happiness which was obviously seen in the face of Victor with utter comeliness and peacefulness.
                                                                                 In the state of utter delight, Alphonse Frankenstein

Chapter 21

The Diary of Alphonse Frankenstein,
        How come all these calamities befall me, how come my family no longer knows what happiness is? What have I done oh Lord, to deserve all these maltreatments? It has come to my attention that Victor has been imprisoned for a while now.It came as a shocker to me when they had accused him of Henry's murder. How Victor had ventured to Ireland is above me, but how it could have been possible that Victor, in cold blood had murdered Henry while there is inconceivable to me.
   Victor loved Henry with as much brotherly love as he would show to his own brother who has past. I was told by the magistrate that as soon as his eyes were laid on the lifeless form that he had come to see, that Victor's held in emotions exploded outer wards in the form of psychotic rants and strong convulsions. Barely clinging on to life for a long while, I was finally allowed to see my son. As I walked into the barley hospitable place that they called a prison I vowed beneath my breath to see his released from this dark mistress.
       A few days passed and the lifeless form I now called my son was liberated from that hell hole of a prison. And in another couple of days we were off on the boat that would soon take us back to our home of Geneva; which was on the mind of Victor non-stop until we got nearer and I saw the happiness, almost relief in his face and features. That was when he again released his sorrows in a torrent of tears.
          We hadn't even gotten home yet before the nightmares started again, but it was no longer affecting me, but rather Victor.  They came so frequent that I my self could no longer get any sleep worrying about his well being.
                                                                                  Sleepless and in despair, Alphonse Frankenstein

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Chapter 19-20

The Diary of Alphonse Frankenstein
       I have asked Henry to keep me up to date on their most recent of activities, I have also asked him to keep me posted on the structural stability of Victor. He has written with excitement that he and Victor have been exploring London with a pleased sense of being. I can tell that Henry is much excited, for thats all he writes about; I can see Henry living a very gracious life. Where was I? Oh yes, Victor. He also tells me that Victor is visiting many prominent men of his field. I could already sense the recovery of his interest in life.
            I was much in high hopes until i had a dream the night before that showed horrid clips of an almost deserted island where Victor had ventured to after he had left Henry alone and vulnerable. I saw him constructing a monster from the body parts of others; this creature it self looking like the miscreant which he had been discussing with in another one of my apparitions. I in complete horror and dismay watched as he constructed the body; I also watched as he in a frantic rage tore apart what looked to be half finished.
           Just as I was about to ask him why he had done what he had done the horrible beast barged into the small cottage. I was already hidden when he turned to Victor and asked in a hoarse voice why Victor had destroyed what he had begun for him. I sat hidden in deep anticipation as they disgusted back and forth for moment (their tempers shortening with every second that passed), and then finally the monster uttered the words "I shall be there on your wedding-night", after which he eluded Victor and escaped.
        That was when I woke and for a while contemplated when it all meant. This surely was a god sent dream that was to either warn me or explain why something will happen, until then I fear that Elizabeth is no longer safe.
                                                                                                    , Alphonse Frankenstein

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Chapter 18

The Diary of Alphonse Frankenstein 6
         Victor has finally came home and i am elated to see the improvement in his character. He has changed from his sad and melancholy state into this character that glows bright with an inner light of spirit and delight, and still, deep in side his inner core i can sense the gloom that still lingers from the previous circumstances. I thought that telling him my future plans of him and Elizabeth would kick him back into that continuous circle of happiness that he seemed to be on before the horrible deaths of William and Justine.
        I resisted from jumping with joy when i heard that he new well of my plans and expected the engagement of him to Elizabeth. I also tried to reassure him that if it were what he was worried about that there should not be a worry in his head.
        He said that he wants to go to England first, before the wedding, which i was quickly induced into complying with. He said that he will be gone for at least some several months, maybe a year, but on the month of his arrival we will have him married to Elizabeth and happy for the rest of his life.
      He left on the latter end of September and by now should be at Strasburgh waiting for his friend Clerval who is also accompanying him. With all the love a father could give to his son
                                                                                                   Sincerely, Alphonse Frankenstein

Chapter 17

The Diary of Alphonse Frankenstein 5
   Tonights dream was more horrid than all of the last. I conjured up a dream that Victor, my son, a Frankenstein, was making deals with the murder of his own brother, William. It felt so real, as if i were a third person that no one could see, just listening to and taking in everything that the said and did. After the murder's heart felt plea and threats, I saw Victor finally give in, not daring to look at the monsters hideous face. What they talked of I could not tell, but as soon as Victor agreed and the monster had left I ran up to Victor and asked him what he had a greed to. Victor having finally seen me simply said that he had "just made a deal with the devil".
         That is about the time that i wake up in a cold sweat and a fiesta of utter bewilderment in my head. Has Victor actually done what my dream insists? Could Victor be feasting with my sons murder? Did Victor have something to do with Williams death? NO, no, no, there is no way the Victor could a thing; I know my Victor and his heart is not in any sense as black as I conjecture.He loved William and would first kill William's Murderer than talk with him, nonetheless make agreements with him. I prey that I wake in the morning, for i am much too weak to be putting myself in such internal turmoil. I go back to sleep preying that my thoughts are correct.
                                                                                              Alphonse Frankenstein

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Chapters 15-16

The Diary of Alphonse Frankenstein 4
      Days have passed since I have set eyes on my son Victor. I fear that something bad has happened to him. A felling of utter dismal has completely engulfed me into a spiraling dark hole. I fear that the worst has happened, because Victor was supposed to be home by now and his absence gives me reason to suspicion. My fears have reached even into the darkest depths of my dreams, with the God forsaken  monsters stalking me, waiting for me to turn around before they obtain my neck in a strangle-hold. That's about when i woke; soaked in my sweat from head to toe, shivering until I can't anymore and fall back in to the turmoil I called sleep. The worst part of the nightmares are that my son, Victor, is at the head of the monsters, as if he is the one that is telling them to attack us and torment me so.
    As soon as a nightmare so horrid as this comes by, I start to conjecture that maybe Victor had a part in these horrible afflictions that have plagued our family, but by the morning all my condemnation has effaced from my mind with the night.
                                                                                          Alphonse Frankenstein

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Chapters 13-14

The Diary of Alphonse Frankenstein 3
      Victor has been gone for a while now and it seems that with every minute that passes, my anxiety mounts higher and higher. I conjecture that he has tried to run away from the emotions has felt from his brother's, my son's passing. He has ventured to near Alpine Valleys in search of solitude and a change of scenery; something, anything that will give him the ability to focus on another subject that he has seemed to forget in all the unspeakable tragedies that he and this family has endured; himself. I sure wish that he comes back in higher spirits, for my heart cannot take any more misery.
                                                                                                   Alphonse Frankenstein.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Chapters 11-12

The Diary of Alphonse Frankenstein 2
            This Earth is a very cruel mistress; first my wife, my son, and now an innocent girl that had nothing to do with anything. Our family loved her sincerely and now she is gone, to live with William and the other angels.This false execution has hit everyone extremely hard, but i feel that Elizabeth and Victor are the only ones that have taken it to heart. I fear for their safety. I feel as though i can not trust Victor in the kitchen by his self. Elizabeth, poor, poor Elizabeth; it seems that she wants to make friends with death. i am hoping that an excursion to the family home at Belrive will can their thoughts of gloom and melancholy. A trip shall be the turning points of or gloom, for a more inviting and committable family is want we shall  become, till that date come i bid you a due, yours truly, Alphonse Frankenstein.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Chapters 7-10

The Diary of Alphonse Frankenstein 1
I remember those days when sorrow wasn't a daily attribute; when happiness was the as easy to come by as a mountain. I remember when my wife was still alive, when William was still alive; when i could embrace them in my arms and know that everything was alright, but now a day filled with rejoice comes seldom. Oh!!!!!! To make it even worst a poor girl has been dragged into the murder of my dear William; Justine has nothing to do with William, but hopefully our courts will find the truth, until then, your dearest Alphonse Frankenstein.