“She died calmly; and her countenance expressed affection even in death. I need not describe the feelings of those whose dearest ties are rent by that most irreparable evil, the void that presents itself to the soul, and the despair that is exhibited on the countenance. It is so long before the mind can persuade itself that she, whom we saw every day, and whose very existence appeared a part of our own, can have departed for ever- that the brightness of a beloved eye can have been extinguished, and the sound of a voice so familiar, and dear to the ear, can be hushed, never more to be heard. (Shelley, pg. 25)”
I chose this passage because of the emotion that was portrayed in it for the loss of the stranger. The stranger lost his mother and describes the grief that he and his family suffered. I feel this loss of the powerful female guidance of his mother left a lasting impact on the stranger and is evident in the story as it continues.
By saying that “her countenance expressed affection even in death,” the stranger shows that his mother was the one who gave him affection and that love and support that he needed so dearly. His father gave him monetary things and educational direction but not the affection that only a mother can provide.
The stranger also realizes in this passage that his mother is not the last one that he will lose. When he says “the sound of a voice so familiar, and dear to the ear, can be hushed, never more to be heard,” he says it with familiarity and perhaps the loss of his mother was just the beginning of who he would be grieving for and missing.
He also shows the power of persuasion and what the mind is capable of tricking itself into when he says, “it is so long before the mind can persuade itself that she, whom we saw every day… can have departed for ever.” I think this gives us a glimpse of what his mind and anyone’s mind is able to be tricked into believing, seeing, thinking or feeling.
http://www.charlestoncitypaper.com/Unscripted/archives/2008/11/04/did-mary-shelley-write-frankenstein
I really liked that you analyzed the passage and related it not only to the situation in the book, but to throughout the story as well as making it relevant in real life. Which is very successful to do in such a short passage. The last part of the quote really struck a chord with me and I can see the relevance of the passage in relation to the rest of the story. I can really follow your logic and see that the theme of loss runs throughout Frankenstein.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this passage, I can really understand why he looks for companionship and love throughout the book. When he lost his mother it took him a long time to understand, and really grasp that she was really gone. I like how you related this passage to everyday life. I think the reason that he looks for love and companionship so much is because he never fully finished grieving over his mother.
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