Day: January 23, 2015

New Yorkers

Do you know what America was like before this tragic accident? America was where we could live a carefree lifestyle; the busy streets, the New Yorker rushing to get work, the consistent roadworks that caused a long line of traffic. But now, waking up every morning reminiscing on the things we usually do everyday of the week. Where we traveled back and forth to different countries without worrying about any form of terrorist threats. We were able to do and commit to multiple of events and other scenarios, that we saw as a norm to everyday society. September 11th 2001 is where everything changed. The mixed emotions of fear, ostracism, guilt, pity and sorrow amongst the New Yorkers woven together. Has life rapidly come to an end? Is this the trigger of another World War? The suspense of being the next victim of this aggressive act. My T-shirt soaked like a wet sponge, the urge to find something to lethargically fan myself hoping to find the emotion of relief and safety. The air was so thick with moisture and humidity this caused the thought of is this reality?

The name is Daniel Lewis and I work at the trade centre in New York City, : waking up every morning committed to the same routine. That “Goodbye, see later for dinner” kiss to my wife and kids, the long humid journey in the car , the “Are you ready for hard work?” greeting from the Mr Magar and the constant demands being flung across. But today wasn’t a normal day, the strain to get up and travel to work. The feeling of sorrow and anger at the world. Due to the masculine role I play in my household, I have to wear a facade. I am the backbone of this family so I have to be strong. But, New York today there is something wrong. Truely tired of this dull routine, the loss of time, in shock I am awaken to a bright ray of sunshine. The struggle to read my alarm clock on my brown wooden dresser,. Where my broken dreams and thoughts are left under pressure. Reality has hit it is 8:35am! Now frustrated because work has already started, I barely have time to get dressed. The struggle to put on my T-shirt and eat, but managed to leave my house despite being distressed.

In the car and I am on my way to work and I am stuck in a long ray of traffic, I received a phone call, instantly I knew it was my boss, giving me no chance to explain myself he shouted “Where are you?” He sounded really cross. Suddenly the line gets cut off, my first instinct was that the connection was down. But all of sudden, grey smoke appears and causes many New Yorkers to frown. Seconds later, many started to realise it was coming the north trade centre. Instantly, concern grew for my family especially for my sister and remembered her work shift does not start until 12pm which was confirmed by her Mister. I witnessed many residents running towards me screaming and shouting “DANGER, DANGER, DANGER!!”

But wait, Bryan my best friend was supposed to meet me this morning in my office. As I begin to pray chanting “Please make sure Bryan forgot about our meeting, PROMISE, PROMISE, PROMISE!!” I start running towards the North Tower, whilst everyone his crying and running. I flee as fast as I could like a Cheater. My heart felt like it is beating at 100mph and my veins poking out my forehead. I step into the building and people are already being evacuated, I haven’t yet seen my best friend as a begin to push through the crowd. Sirens and New Yorkers yells became extremely loud. However, I noticed a tall, brunette and slim New Yorker, who started to scream at one of the policemen “My best friend Daniel, he is in there, I need to find him now!” My veins becoming more relaxed as I sprint toward this New Yorker. The New Yorker turns around, It is Bryan. My shoulder drops as a sign of relief, but it was Bryan I could not believe my eyes. As I thank God for my broken dreams and thoughts lasting longer than usual, Bryan says “I was late because I saw James on his way to school, who told me you were still sleeping.” Thank God for my little son James, or my soul and heart would have been bleeding.

Throughout this essay I will explain and analyse how monstrosity is presented in both Frankenstein and The Tempest. Monstrosity is presented through Victor Frankenstein’s creation. In Frankenstein the theme of monstrosity is evident in the abandonment of Frankenstein’s creation and the revenge that follows. Similarly, in The Tempest monstrosity is presented in the act of rape and murder. This essay will show how both Caliban and the creation are monstrous in the act of revenge and abandonment.

I will also discuss the authorial intent and the effect this has on the audience. Monstrosity is a thing which is outrageously evil or wrong. Mary Shelley has been influenced to write Frankenstein through various of experiences she has had. During the summer of 1816 Mary Shelley and her husband went on holiday to the Swiss alps. There was a vicious storm outside so Mary Shelley read German ghost stories to keep her husband and friends entertained, also Mary Shelley was verily fascinated by listening to Byron talk about the Dr Darwin experiment which encouraged her to have a dream about ‘a hideous phantasm of a man’. She wrote Frankenstein with a theme of the ‘romantic movement’ which emphasizes monstrosity.

In the 17th century close to the year of 1609, the white Europeans were sailing towards the Americans with 500 colonist on board, unexpectedly the Europeans experienced a vicious storm which struck their ship which changed the direction they did not attend to go. Due to the change of course they ended up on a island in the bermuda’s, this island was named as the Devil’s island. In the Tempest Ariel mentioned this island whilst telling Prospero what happened to the ship. The new world and old world was a big thing in the 17th century. The new world was a metaphor given to the Americas, the new world is full of uncivilized people who haven’t gone the the industrial revolution.The old world was the complete opposite, the old world was full of civilized people who made a lot of discoveries. The old world is presented through Prospero and the new world is presented through Caliban.

In chapter 8 we witness Victor Frankenstein’s creation murder William, who is a brother to Victor Frankenstein. This is being presented when Frankenstein’s creation is trying to murder William ‘the child still struggled and loaded me with epithets which carried despair to my heart: i grasped his throat to silence him, and in a moment he lay dead at my feet’. In this quote abandonment and revenge is being explored. ‘which carried despair to my heart’ the reason why the creation carries despair in his heart is because Victor Frankenstein never gave his creation the chance to be nurtured and this has led him to act in a monstrous way by killing his brother. Therefore monstrosity is presented through the act of revenge and abandonment.

In act 3, scene 2 Caliban potray’s himself as a monster through begging for Trinculo and Stephano’s assistance in killing Prospero. He arranged this through the act of revenge making him react in comparison to a monster. This is being seen when Caliban is listing the things he pre-planned to do to Prosperso ‘batter his skull, or paunch him with a steak, or cut his wezand with thy knife’. This quote instantly makes the reader think of Caliban as a monstrous person. Shakespeare uses the verb ‘batter’ to specify how evil and wrong injuring someone’s skull is. ‘batter’ is when you strike someone or something repeatedly with hard blows. Also having no sympathy for Prospero having no sympathy for Prospero Caliban chooses his skull knowing this is wold kill him. Therefore, Caliban was so anxious for revenge his actions were subconscious and were similarly evil and wrong to a monster.

In Chapter 8 Victor Frankenstein meets his creation. Monstrosity is presented through the act of reckless behavior from the creature and the reaction of the Victor Frankenstein whilst conversing with his creation. ‘i suddenly beheld the figure of a man,at some distance, advancing towards me with superhuman speed’ in this quote Shakespeare uses the adjective ‘super human’ to describe how powerful the creature can be and how being unnatural an having exceptional ability can relate to being a monstrous person. Also monstrosity is being shown through Victor Frankenstein whilst he is cursing his creation about his appearance.’begone, vile insect’ this exemplifies the theme of abandonment. Also this quote indicates that Victor has a lot of hatred for his creation after he killed most of his close friends and family. Shakespeare’s authorial intent of using the adjective ‘vile’ is to get the reader to understand how the creature’s appearance made Victor Frankenstein say such horrible words towards his own creation. Therefore the creature was so filled with so much vengeance he acted in a way a monster would react.

In act 1, scene 2 the audience and reader is first introduced to Caliban as a slave and the son of the Devil. Also Prospero is recognized as a monstrous person after threatening Caliban with horrendous curses. ‘ thou poisonous slave, got by the devil himself’ Prospero introduces Caliban by calling him a ‘poisonous slave’. ‘poisonous’ is someone who is capable of causing death or illness. Prospero calls Caliban this because his is the son of the Devil. However, Shakespeare uses this adjective because he wants to emphasize how Caliban is automatically an evil person and a monstrous person. On the other hand Prospero could also be a hypocrite because he could be a cause of illness or death. This is being explored whilst Caliban and Prospero are cursing each other  ‘for this, to-night thou shal have cramps side stitches that shall pen thy breath’. This quote indicates that Prospero is a evil and wrong for cursing Caliban with ‘cramps’ and ‘stitches’ this also should that he can be  cause of illness.For this reason Caliban and Prospero are both presented as a monster in this script.

In chapter 5 Victor Frankenstein creates the creature and the creatures physical appearances is being introduce but in a negative way and is described as a monstrous person. ‘i saw the dull yellow eyes of the creature open’ this quote indicates that as soon as the creature was brought to life he automatically had the features of a monster also Shakespeare uses the adjective ‘dull’ to to give the reader a precise idea of how alike the features of the creature is to a monster also the fact the Victor Frankenstein only rejected and abandoned the creature because his appearance. therefore monstrosity is presented through the physical appearance of the creature.