Creative Project/Frankenstein on the state of nature and war
The problem that faces me is figuring out what to do with my life and somehow have it please and make people who care about me proud.
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein confirms Rousseau’s state of nature because Frankenstein and the monster are her examples of man controlled by the state of nature and controlled by the state of will. At one point, Rousseau focuses on the idea that the ways of nature; eating when hungry, drinking when thirsty, sleeping when tired, etc., typically controls man. But he then goes into the idea that man will continue any of nature’s tasks or ways when man wants to. Frankenstein labors day and night creating and hunting the monster, many times refusing sleep. The monster seeks happiness through a companion but is unable to find one so it goes to extremes to have Frankenstein create one for it. Rousseau’s state of nature is also confirmed by Frankenstein with Rousseau’s theory that in the animal or savage state, the state of nature, there is “simplicity and uniformity” whereas in the state of society, there is inequality. Frankenstein confirms the difference between the state of nature and society with Frankenstein’s monster wanting to be a part of society but is not allowed because he looks different.
As for Hobbes, I do not believe Shelley’s Frankenstein confirms his overall state of war. I believe that Hobbes’s point in a Covenant has truth that is displayed in Frankenstein because Frankenstein tells the monster that he will make him a companion but later chooses not to. As Hobbes points out, taking only a person’s word is not wise because all men can lie and go back on their word. When Hobbes describes man as wanting for himself and therefore for the common good, I do not believe Frankenstein proves this because both Frankenstein and the monster want only for themselves. Frankenstein wants to be rid of the monster so that he can be happy and free to live his life with his family. The monster wants a companion because that is what it believes will give him happiness. Frankenstein is only concerned for the common good when he thinks about the two monsters creating offspring of their kind and terrorizing other people. I do not believe that in Frankenstein man is always at with himself because I believe it is more about man wanting to make progress.
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein confirms Rousseau’s state of nature because Frankenstein and the monster are her examples of man controlled by the state of nature and controlled by the state of will. At one point, Rousseau focuses on the idea that the ways of nature; eating when hungry, drinking when thirsty, sleeping when tired, etc., typically controls man. But he then goes into the idea that man will continue any of nature’s tasks or ways when man wants to. Frankenstein labors day and night creating and hunting the monster, many times refusing sleep. The monster seeks happiness through a companion but is unable to find one so it goes to extremes to have Frankenstein create one for it. Rousseau’s state of nature is also confirmed by Frankenstein with Rousseau’s theory that in the animal or savage state, the state of nature, there is “simplicity and uniformity” whereas in the state of society, there is inequality. Frankenstein confirms the difference between the state of nature and society with Frankenstein’s monster wanting to be a part of society but is not allowed because he looks different.
As for Hobbes, I do not believe Shelley’s Frankenstein confirms his overall state of war. I believe that Hobbes’s point in a Covenant has truth that is displayed in Frankenstein because Frankenstein tells the monster that he will make him a companion but later chooses not to. As Hobbes points out, taking only a person’s word is not wise because all men can lie and go back on their word. When Hobbes describes man as wanting for himself and therefore for the common good, I do not believe Frankenstein proves this because both Frankenstein and the monster want only for themselves. Frankenstein wants to be rid of the monster so that he can be happy and free to live his life with his family. The monster wants a companion because that is what it believes will give him happiness. Frankenstein is only concerned for the common good when he thinks about the two monsters creating offspring of their kind and terrorizing other people. I do not believe that in Frankenstein man is always at with himself because I believe it is more about man wanting to make progress.
posted by Matthew Sakamoto at 5:40 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home