“Fortunately the books were written in the language, the elements of which I had acquired at the cottage; they consisted of ‘Paradise Lost,’ a volume of ‘Plutarch’s Lives,’ and the ‘Sorrows of Werter.’” (Shelley 74).
“Paradise Lost” is a poem in ten books written by John Milton in 1667. (http://www.uoregon.edu/~rbear/lost/lost.html) It concerns the birth of Adam and Eve as well as that of the fallen angel, Satan. The monster makes many references to this (see page 90) and how it is a strong parallel to his life, with him playing the role of either Adam, created by a god-like Frankenstein, or the fallen angel, wanting to wreak havoc. (http://www.answers.com/topic/paradise-lost)
“Plutarch’s Lives,” or “Parallel Lives,” by Plutarch, is a biography of many famous people throughout history, with emphasis on their characteristic virtues or faults. This book was of use to the monster in teaching him how empires were built and lost, and how the man lives. (http://www.lycos.com/info/plutarch--parallel-lives.html)
Lastly, the “Sorrows of Werter” is by Goethe, published in 1774. It contains themes of love and death, which are undeniably connected to the themes in Frankenstein and in the monster’s life. (http://www.iblist.com/book13409.htm)
1 comment:
precise connections -- no, they are not the most developed -- but it is clear you see their signficance
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