Author: a.kluter

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03/27/15

Mrs. Dalloway Map of Connections (Aleksandra)

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Clarisssa Dalloway – although in a less-than-perfect marriage and feeling isolated, she is not depressed, and even at one point states that she enjoys the isolation. She likes to be the socialite entertainer of the upper class English society, but when Peter called her “the perfect hostess”, she cried about it when she was alone.
Septimus Warren Smith – essentially a mirror character of Clarissa, although they have no direct interaction in the novel. He has fought in the war, which left him shell-shocked, and is since plagued by depression and severe isolation.
Peter Walsh – philosophical in nature, unstable, ambivalent, grumpy, he often scolded Clarissa and argued with her, and she disliked the fact that everything had to be shared with him if they were to remain in a relationship. Maybe this was the ultimate reason why she chose Richard over him. However, Clarissa often thinks of him “If he were with me right now what would he say?” and treasures the distant relationship they now have.
Richard Dalloway – simple, stable, hardworking, provider, doesn’t really understand Clarrissa.
William Bradshaw – Septimus’ doctor, rich, upper-class and very attached to that, he is proud of the public respect he enjoys.
Sally Seton – a past love interest of Clarissa, reveals her uncontained, complex character. In the days when they were friends, both resented the institution of marriage and had somewhat communist ideals.
Rezia Smith – Septimus’ wife whom he tells about his desire to commit suicide, which causes her a lot of pain. She is from Italy and feels isolated in the English society; however, she still tries to support Septimus in his mental illness.
Hugh Whitbread – dislikes Peter, they might have been rivals for Clarissa’s affections in the past, conservative, pathetic, unquestioning.
Miss Kilman – has a creepy love interest in the 17-year-old Elizabeth and tries to destroy her ties with Clarissa, poor, she is jealous of and resents the wealthy people she works for and the entire upper class English society, a communist.
Elizabeth Dalloway – Clarissa and Richard’s daughter, strays away from the socialite society, enjoys nature and animals, is passive, unsurprisingly resents Miss Kilman.

03/4/15

The Creature and The Lamb: Response by A.Kluter

Many perceptions of the depiction of the monster in Mary Shelley’s iconic novel Frankenstein point to a seemingly obvious conclusion; he was an evil mutant, a sub-human degenerate, a killer with a sick mind and equally disgusting appearance. On the other side of that impression stands the image of something as pure and innocent as a lamb.

In William Blake’s poem entitled “The Lamb”, a child narrator marvels at the animal and asks it “Dost thou know who made thee”. The child then concludes the lamb’s maker must have been God (Jesus is known as a lamb in Christian tradition). A parallel can be seen between the monster and the lamb, because doctor Victor Frankenstein created the monster while himself playing god. Frankenstein’s discovery of electricity fueled his arrogance and made him feel god-like, possessing power far greater than any other human being, “Capable of bestowing animation upon lifeless matter… What had been the study and desire of the wisest men since the creation of the world was now within my grasp” (Shelley). Additionally, much like god, Frankenstein leaves his creation with free will but limited knowledge, able only to fend for itself and live lost, alone in the cruel world. At first glance, the similarities seem to end at both creatures’ makers. It appears that in any other respect the lamb and Frankenstein’s monster could not be more different; while one is described as a gentle creature with soft bright wool and a “tender voice”, the monster is ugly, repulsive and aggressive.

However, a deeper analysis reveals more parallels between the lamb and the monster, especially if one subscribes to the notion that objects are reflections of their creators. Frankenstein was motivated by his obsession with natural philosophy, delusions of grandeur, and little concern for what possible consequences might ensue. One might argue that his act of bringing the cadaver to life was cruel; it went against nature, and brought an innocent to a life of uncertainty and suffering. The creature was born not only free from guilt, he was entirely ignorant of the cruel world around him that later shaped him into becoming a monster. He was at first innocent just like a lamb, and only turned to mirror his creator’s cruel demeanor after experiencing a lot of rejection and pain.