Month: March 2015

Thesis statement: both Caliban and Frankenstein’s monster are victims of circumstance that caused them to both be rejected and oppressed.

Overview

Intro: state thesis and explain how it will be explored

Para1 compare how in society they are both victims of circumstance include context on Shelley’s life, loving the married Peter Shelley and how slaves were treated use connotations language

Para2: compare how they were both oppressed based on their appearance. Include context on how the church oppressed science and how slaves were oppressed through no fault of their own, use metaphors language

Para3: compare how they were both rejected by the fatherly figure based on the circumstance of the monsters and Caliban’s birth. Include Caliban being mistreated by Prospero and the monster by Frankenstein, use sematic field to cover language and context. narrative

Para4: compare how both their one chance of acceptance was lost through no fault of their own and the circumstance of the meeting. De lacy for Frankenstein and Trinculo and Stephano for Caliban, use pathetic fallacy to cover language and context. narrative

Para5: compare the power of both the monster and Caliban have due to circumstances they had no control of. How this effect’s their dealings with the world and events in each of their texts. Use connotations of words to show their status in the relevant text. language

Para6: compare how both endings are left opening with the monster intending to commit suicide and Caliban left alone on the island because of their circumstance at the end of the novel and play. Use connotations and perfect felicity. narrative

Con: round up of points and finish any lose statements

Frankenstein quotes: ‘ I processed no money, no friends, no kind of Property’, ‘over look my deformity’, ‘I am solitary and detested’, ‘ I had selected his features as beautiful’, “Slave,I before reasoned with you, but you have proved yourself unworthy of my condescension. Remember that I have power; you believe yourself miserable, but I can make you so wretched that the light of day will be hateful to you. You are my creator, but I am your master; obey!”

tempest quotes: ‘a freckled whelp hag-born’, ‘not honour’d with a human shape’, ‘this blue-eyed hag[…] did litter here’, ‘a most ridiculous monster’, ‘his body uglier grows’, ‘slave’, ‘and seek for grace’, ‘yet my needs must curse’

Miller presents the theme of empowerment in the crucible through the character Mary Warren. Miller does this using both her language and reactions.

Miller uses Mary Warren’s language to present the theme of empowerment. For example ‘I saved her life today!’ is used to snatch power form proctor. Mary Warren uses the pronoun ‘I’ to make herself closer to the statement and increase her hold on proctor which increases her status. Mary warren also uses the pronoun ‘her’ to show she does not need to refer to Elizabeth by name as she is less powerful and a lower status then Mary Warren. Before the Salem witch trials began Mary Warren was a serving girl with little power, but the trials gave her a chance to grab main stream power, so she can now stand up to the Proctors. Another way Mary Warren is empowered is that she uses hyperbolic language of ‘saved’ to inforce the idea that Proctor needs her more than she needs him. By doing this Mary Warren shows that proctor needs her. This empowers Mary warren as she now has a strong hold on Proctor and can forcing him not to whip her.

Miller presents the theme of empowerment by showing the change in status suffered by Mary Warren. For example Mary Warren starts off empowered ‘I am an official of the court’ and then loses this new found power ‘Dissatisfied, uncertain of herself’. The word ‘official’ connotes the idea of power and a high status person. This connation is reinforced by the word ‘court’ which suggests the power giving by the word ‘official’ is backed up by the law. The law at the time of the Salem witch was ruled by theocracy. Theocracy is when religion and politics mix, this suggested that Mary Warren’s power is God giving which causes her to believe she has an absolute right to a higher status. This is a stark contrast to her fall from grace. The word ‘uncertain’ is used to show that Mary Warren is rescinded her new found power and has returned to her original status. ‘Uncertain’ also connotes the idea of confusion and a low status character not sure how to behave or respond to events in the play.  The word ‘dissatisfied’ connotes the idea that she does not like her new found power and is unsure of the implications of angering Proctor. It also suggests that Mary Warren has dreamed of the power she has obtained, but now she has the power; it does not thrill her like she thought it would.

In conclusion Miller shows that empowerment can be important in the fight for equality, but in the hands of those too young to understand its implications.

Arthur Miller uses detailed descriptions of the setting to make symbolic and religious connections between place and the traditional and religious ideologies held within it. For example, Miller describes the ‘candle’ that ‘still burns’ in the room. The image of the burning ‘candle’ gives the room a strong religious feeling. The ‘candle’ burning connotes the idea that religion was the guiding force for the people of Salem, but as it ‘still burns’ during the day suggest religious ideas are unless in some aspects of society. The burning ‘candle’ is wrongly guiding the individuals of Salem into make decisions that are not always logical, such as holding back societal change in the communities. The ‘candle’ burning almost appears symbolic of the ideology of the people of Salem. The people of Salem believed they were the burning light that would guide the rest of the new world. Salem was a theocracy which means both politics and religion were intertwined with each other. By having the ‘candle still’ burning during the day Miller is suggest that this ideology the people of Salem is becoming out dated, as religion should not rule the judiciary system.