True Friends are Too Honest

(Frankenstein, Mary Shelley)

"Compose yourself," said Clerval, who observed my change of colour. "I will not mention it if it agitates you; but you father and cousin would be very happy if they received a letter from you in your own handwriting..." (61)

Literary Term: Foil Character

Henry is a clear foil of Victor. While both have a love of education, Henry is the student that Victor was expected to be when Victor's family sent him to school. He is faithful to his studies and learning. But Henry not only pursues an education, he makes sure to maintain other relationships, even those of Victor. This difference of value of relationships define Henry and Victor's differences. Henry writes to Victor's family as well as cares for Victor when he grows ill from his self-imposed sickness. The character of Henry is used to further display the isolation and ruin that Victor becomes. Victor appears as a selfish and crazed student through the calm and nursing hand of Henry. The character of Victor is also shown through his identical character: Robert Walton, who is also a crazy thinker striving to discover science. The characters of Henry and Robert simply reassure the character of Victor: a brillant thinker lost in his studies who rejects relationships, personal need, and failure.

Would You Light my Candle...

(Frankenstein, Mary Shelley)

"I was like the Arabian who had been buried with the dead and found a passage to life, aided only by one glimmering and seemingly ineffectual light" (51).

Literary Term: Imagery and Irony

This quote is found in a passage centered on Victor's studies and approaching success of making the creature. First and foremost, this passage uses the common imagery of light as a symbol for reason, success, and fulfillment. Victor is so close to his success in forming a living creature yearns to reach the "light" of completion and success. However, this phrase holds more purpose due to the use of irony. Victor's study and experiments have required him to become the illness he is trying to conquer: sickness and death. This phrase shows that instead of excitement and desire, Victor is a victim of duty and a prisoner to his own creations. The end is a chance to quit the work instead of a chance to bask in honor and glory. He has created life from a death matter by becoming dead himself. Around him, he grows physically ill, his relationships strain, and he is isolated; his only focus is the light.

Love for a Child

(Frankenstein, Mary Shelley)

"Wealth was inferior, but what glory would attend the discovery if I could banish disease from the human frame and render man invulnerable to any but a violent death" (41).

Literary Term: Motive

Following his mother's death, Victor does not face the common hopelessness of grief and sorrow. Rather he becomes restless and tries to seek ways to cure his grief for him, his family, and Elizabeth. As Victor grows, he claims to fall in love with science and learning; however, he has fallen in love with the idea of curing grief. It is often discussed that the immoral actions of Victor have no justified source because he comes from such a good life and family. But his family IS the motive! As a prized child, receiving a lavish life of travel loving parents and even a future wife, Victor views the world with rose-colored shades. He is fortunate to receive an education and begins learning with a naive perception of the world. The absolute freedom he had growing up transforms into endless study without morals or reason. Creating the creature is is source to fill his grief as well as a reflection of the freedom he had growing up. Freedom and grief are the motive of Victor.

Aqua - Barbie Girl

(1984, George Orwell)

"You think there's no other way of saving yourself, and you're quite ready to save yourself that way. You want it to happen to the other person. You don't give a damn what they suffer. All you care about is yourself" (292)

Following the trip to the Ministry of Love, Julia and Winston realise the true nature of their relationship: two selfish people joined only out of excitement. They claimed to love each other the entire novel, but the relationship simply wasn't deep. Both parties may have loved each other, but they loved themselves more. This is shown in Julia's nature to only care about her female needs and passion for sex and Winston's obsession with the idea of sex and advancing his ideals rather than creating a true relationship with Julia. The tortures of the Ministry did not pry the couple apart, rather it exposed the weakness of the relationship. Afterwards, the couple realise their selfish nature and know they need to break it off. As the human shells that the Ministry of Love created, they were simply not capable of mending the broken relationship. The following clip is of the song "Barbie Girl" an excellent example that not only shows selfish desire and human shells, but also offers a humorous video.

Back to the Future

(1984, George Orwell)

"The pencil felt thick and awkward in his fingers. He began to write down the thoughts that came to his head. He wrote in large clumsy letters..." (277)

This passage describes when Winston picks up pencil and paper, exactly like the beginning, and writes his new found knowledge. The context of the two written works are drastically different transforming from bashing to loving Big Brother. However, the motive of the action does not alter for Winston; he still uses the writing as a form of therapy for his changing thoughts. Honestly it doesn't seem to matter what Winston is actually believing or following, the only think important to him is having a peace of mind. While the reader may believe that Winston became a horrible mind-controlled creature at the end of the book, in reality he has not changed. Winston simply wants a fulfilling life which he seeks with Julia and then finds in the Party after the Ministry of Love. He is no different than the rest of the population, for he seeks security and protection in place of morals and personal beliefs. This passage in comparison to the beginning displays the major thought of conformity in exchange e for safety and community. Winston is not a hero or fighter in this story, he is simply an example of the Party at work.

Mind Over Matter

(1984, George Orwell)

"Their real weapon was the merciless questioning that went on and on hour after hour, tripping him up, laying traps for him, twisting everything that he said, convicting him of every step of lies and self-contradiction, until he began weeping as much from shame as from nervous fatigue" (241)

Literary term: Theme

One of the major themes of this novels concerns the difference between physical and mental acceptance. Before becoming a prisoner, Winston practiced the notion of accepting the Party strictly in a physical sense and learned to find mental freedom. The purpose of the Ministry of Love and the source of power for the Party is found in the mindless loyal party members that give both aspects to the Party. "Big Brother's" goal is simply to push the citizens to not only give physically but to release control of mentality and originality. This quote about the questioning displays this desire as well as the differing levels of pain between mental and physical torture. More prisoners, Winston, and citizens in general will refrain as long as possible and accept most physical pain before being defeated mentally. However once they are defeated mentally, the are at the mercy of the Party, as displayed by this quote as well as the shell Winston becomes after he is released from the Ministry of Love.

Back to the Future

(1984, George Orwell)

"The invention of print, however, made it easier to manipulate public opinion, and the film and the radio carried the process further. With the development of television, and the technical advance which made it possible to receive and transmit simultaneously on the same instrument, private life came to an end" (205)

Literary Term: Allusion

This passage of "the book" makes a reference to what is commonly referred to as the beginning of the Enlightenment: the invention of the printing press. In modern society, the invention of the printing press is praised and displayed as the spread of knowledge, thus allowing people to really think and make personal decisions. However, this image is tainted within this book to show a more negative light of government control and fickle populations. Ironically, instead of allowing knowledge to spread, the printing press is seen as an end of the spread of knowledge. This contrast of images not only portrays the major differences of the two societies, but also warns the future. The purpose of this book is to try to prevent the effects of government control, and this passage about technology really connects to modern society. As the world becomes more and more absorbed by technology, the chance to forget morals and lose humane values of patience and networking increases. Orwell has foreshadowed the future that won't have any resistance against a world of controlled technology.