Frankestein and tragedy
Essay Topic: Tragedy in Frankenstein To some people Frankenstein might be considered a tragedy while for others it might not. For Aristotle, tragedy was a word to describe a certain situation, especially in plays and literature. According to Aristotle, in order for a poetic work to be considered a tragedy it had to have several requirements. For Frankenstein, only four parts will be mentioned as the other parts applied more to plays rather than literature.
First, it should have a plot where the outcome depends almost entirely on a cause and effect set of reactions. Each action unavoidably leading to the next action without any outside intervention. In Frankenstein, the very first cause would most likely be that Victor loved natural philosophy. Therefore, the very first event that set the whole chain of cause and effect off is when Victor first found a book concerning the works of Cornelius Agrippa at an inn near Thonon. Since Victor loved studying natural philosophy, he did not listen to his father and instead read the book that started him on his spiral of misfortune. Even Victor believes that this point might have been where his descent started. “I should certainly have thrown Agrippa aside…It is even possible that the train of my ideas would never have received the fatal impulse that lead to my ruin.” (pg. 40) Throughout the rest of the tale the story says many times that because of something another thing happened, specifically to Victor. Such as when he first entered the university. Because he had a professor that he did not like he went to another professor that he did like. Because he went to the professor he did like he got back into his old studies of Agrippa and Paracelsus. Because he got back into his old studies he thought about reanimating the dead, etc.
Second, speech should reveal character. Throughout the story, Victor reveals himself as he tells his tale. Though he seems like a good man he does have some bad qualities. One such
First, it should have a plot where the outcome depends almost entirely on a cause and effect set of reactions. Each action unavoidably leading to the next action without any outside intervention. In Frankenstein, the very first cause would most likely be that Victor loved natural philosophy. Therefore, the very first event that set the whole chain of cause and effect off is when Victor first found a book concerning the works of Cornelius Agrippa at an inn near Thonon. Since Victor loved studying natural philosophy, he did not listen to his father and instead read the book that started him on his spiral of misfortune. Even Victor believes that this point might have been where his descent started. “I should certainly have thrown Agrippa aside…It is even possible that the train of my ideas would never have received the fatal impulse that lead to my ruin.” (pg. 40) Throughout the rest of the tale the story says many times that because of something another thing happened, specifically to Victor. Such as when he first entered the university. Because he had a professor that he did not like he went to another professor that he did like. Because he went to the professor he did like he got back into his old studies of Agrippa and Paracelsus. Because he got back into his old studies he thought about reanimating the dead, etc.
Second, speech should reveal character. Throughout the story, Victor reveals himself as he tells his tale. Though he seems like a good man he does have some bad qualities. One such