Three letters from Robert Walton

Walton’s letters to his sister form a frame around the main narrative, Victor Frankenstein’s tragic story. Walton captains a North Pole–bound ship that gets trapped between sheets of ice. While waiting for the ice to thaw, he and his crew pick up Victor, weak and emaciated from his long chase after the monster. Victor recovers somewhat, tells Walton the story of his life, and then dies. Walton laments the death of a man with whom he felt a strong, meaningful friendship beginning to form in his letters to his sister, he explains his feelings and emotions on the matter, and from this we then see that the character of Walton and Victor are somewhat more similar than what first meets the eye. Walton functions as the conduit through which the reader hears the story of Victor and his monster. Like Victor, Walton is an explorer, chasing after that “country of eternal light”—unprocessed knowledge. Victor’s influence on him is paradoxical: one moment he exhorts Walton’s almost-mutinous men to stay the path courageously, regardless of danger; the next, he serves as an abject example of the dangers of heedless scientific ambition. In his ultimate decision to terminate his treacherous pursuit, Walton serves as a foil (someone whose traits or actions contrast with, and thereby highlight, those of another character) to Victor, either not obsessive enough to risk almost-certain death or not courageous enough to allow his passion to drive him. The significance of the letters from Walton to his sister would therefore be a narrative frame, setting up later events in the book and leads nicely to the retrospective but chronological telling of the story of Frankenstein.

What did mrs Davis do with us...

• She spent a lot of time and work helping us understand that Dr Faustus can be seen as a morality play, which were popular at the time Faustus was written, the 1400s to the 1580s. She explained how Faustus held elements of a morality play, such as about ther fate of a single individual's soul, included vice and temptation characters to attempt to corrupt the Everyman's figure. A reform or relapse pattern is repeated several times.
• Increased our knowledge of renaissance ideas; the body and soul are linked with different elements and humours. Catholicism was banned in England and the Pope was considered by antichrist by some.
• went through some more acts in more detail and undestanding ideas, from this we learnt about low comedy and why it is important or effective in plays, especially in the time Faustus was written.

Blog about performance

Dr Faustus is highly 'non-realistic' also highly symbollic, this opens the play up to a wide variety of kinds of staging. Shows of devils dancing and allegorical characters makes an interesting play with interesting effects. The way Dr Faustus is performed will vary and the props used and positioning of characters will also vary, this will form different opinions from the audiences as they are largely important in getting across key ideas during plays from the shakesperian era. It was believeed that the first performance of Dr Faustus was performed at the Rose theatre, on the 30th September 1594. It was said to be a real money-spinner for the theatre as it included many exciting special effects such as fireworks and a dragon, which was rare from a 16th centrury production. The unrealistic props such as the dragon add to the unrealistic tone of Dr Faustus. Many characters used in Dr Faustus plays will often have to play more than one charcter, this reinforces the neccesity of the chorus giving a brief introduction about the play to make a more informative audience.

There was tension between catholics and protestants in Renaissance/ Elizabeth England?

From the early sixteenth centrury Protestantism and Catholicism had never managed to gain supremecy in England. The name 'Protestant' derives from Martin Luthers protest in 1529 at the Catholic Church's opposition to the reformation; Protestant churches rejecting the authority of the Pope. At the time Dr Faustus was written, Catholicism had been banned in England as Queen Elizabeth I succeeded her half sister Mary after her death in 1558. In books, pamphlets and speeches, the pope was refered to as 'Antichrist' and the catholic church was refered to as the 'Whore of babylon'. Various laws and taxes were instituted during Elizabeths reign in an attempt to re-educate the public. War with Catholic Spain and intestified the hostility towards Catholicism. Links previously made with the Pope had been stained. By 1670 Pope Pius was gathering Catholics and asking them to overthrow Elizabeth.

Audience's first impressions of Faustus!

Dr Faustus opens with the CHORUS, this includes repitition of Faustus' intelligence;
'That shortly he was Grac'd with doctors name'
'To Wertenberg he went'
Immediatly, the audience are aware that Faustus holds some of the traits of a gothic protagonist. This hints at Faustus' other traits for example, his involvement with the supernatural. Which will foreshadow what happens later in the play, when he sells his soul to the devil. He is also often in touch with the 'Good' and 'Bad' angels. Instead of the audience being directly told in the chorus that Faustus is has links with the supernatural creates a tone of suspension, and a sharp, interested focus on Faustus.

In particular the second quote is interesting as it uses past tense 'went' this linked with the previous quotation of;
'Now he is born, his parents base of stock'
This uses present tense, it gives the audience a feeling empathy towards Faustus as they get a sense of involvement in him growing up. This combined with knowing that he went to 'Wertenberg' gives the audience a more clear view of his life and him growing up.

Their is a element of sympathy from the audience towards Faustus;
'Settle my studies,Faustus, and begin'
The audience are initially are told in the chorus to hold back their judgements of Faustus, immediatly leading them to question why? If he's so intelligent, Faustus relates to himself in third person, this could suggest he is confused, not fully to grip with himself. If this is the interpretation the audience get of Faustus they could feel some what level of sympathy for Faustus.

The audience are immediatly met with Faustus' strong sense of ambition;
'Having commenc'd, be a divine in show'
Here Faustus is saying he wants to be divine and get the best he possibly can out of his intelligence, putting it to good use. Also;
'A greater subject fitteth Faustus wit'
Faustus puts forward the idea that he is better than a philosopher and can do better than that career, going on to explore other career aspirations.

With Faustus' ambition comes his arrogance;
'A greater subject fitteth Faustus' wit'
Here Faustus is explaining how he feels he is better than philosophy. Also;
'Too servile and illiberal for me'
Previously Faustus has just rejected three of the best recognised careers, he rejects law simply because he thinks he is too good for it, he wants to be free and refuses to work for anyone else, leaving the audience with a clear idea of how Fautus feels he is better than anyone or anything and will not be told what to do, wanting to be a free spirit, another element of a Gothic protagonist.

The audience are also left with the gothic side to Fautus'character, Marlowes Dr Faustus has a similarity with later published Gothic tale of terror Frannkenstein,1818. The monster created in Frankenstein has a link to the 'unhumanbeing' Faustus wishes to create of himself. This would make the audience wary of Faustus as he tries to excell all careers and be as recognisable and powerful as god, who was a very powerful figure at the time Marlowe wrote Dr Fautus. Faustus on more than one occasion disregards the bible;
'Stipendium peccati mors est. Ha!'
This would be considered as blastpheming, leaving the audience shocked. The fact Faustus dares to say this demonstrates his confidence, the audience again could take this for his arrogance.

END: Frankenstein

The themes in Frankenstein have been apparent from midway through the book. The side affect of the themes, However, are what become more apparent towards the end of Frankenstein. For example, the theme of Secrecy. Victors dangerous knowledge (also a theme) of creating a monster is well hidden from the outside world. In turn, the monster is forced into seclusion and eventual resentment, leading to his actions of killing Victors brother. This then leads to further secrecy as Victor then does his best to destroy the life he created.

END: Dr Faustus

Selling one’s soul for power and glory may be foolish and wicked, the theme of redemption becomes more apparent towards the end of the novel due to this as he starts to regret his previous decision of selling his soul. He tries everything to repent, but this is when blood symbolises power, representing the power and permanancy of the pact Faustus made with the devil. The end of the novel ties any unasnwered themes or symbols up. The final speech from Faustus brings great drama, it also has a contrast to the idea of christianity as if it was a true christian play, Fautus would have been given the chance to repent, however, as his desperacy greatens, there is no escape route,and he will be taken to hell, Marolwe interestingly twists the end of the play as you think it is fully christian right up until the end.

END: The Bloody Chamber.

The Bloody Chamber is written in a first person narrative, this is helpful when empathising with the character. There is an interesting use of short sentences;
'Dead as his wives'
These draw our attention to these sentences, perhaps they have a message behind them and extra attention is required.
Imagery is also used;
'Pool of blood'
This creates a picture in the readers head, combined with a first person narrative increasing suspension for the reader.
The repetition of;
'I was only a little girl'
is irony combined with foreshadowing as she is saved by her mum at the end.
Effects such as these all combined keep the readers attention to the short story making it more interesting to read.

HALF WAY THROUGH:Bloody Chamber

The use of foreshadowing is used often in Bloody chamber early on in the book, which is a give away of the ending of the story;
'The lilies i always associate with him;that are white. And stain you.'
The white symbolising purity, and staining foreshadows the man taking her virginity, The interesting word choice 'stain' introduces the idea it isn't a good thing and adds the idea of men ruining womens purity, perhaps this is a theme that will become more apparent towards the end of the book.

HALF WAY THROUGH: Dr Faustus

It becomes apparent that Dr Faustus is a christian play. There are quite a few symbols which become apparent early on in the book, for example; blood, when Faustus signs away his soul, he signs in blood, symbolising power and permanancy of the pact he made with the devil. There are many contrasts in the play which can be used as symbols too, Angels appear with Faustus early on in the play,the good angel urging him to repent and serve God, the evil angel pushing him to follow his Lust for power to serve Lucifer. Symbolising his divided will, the part of which he means good, but the other side that represtents a theme of the play; Sin.

HALF WAY THROUGH: Frankenstein

Whilst reading Frankenstein i have found that the book is a lot more detailed than the film. Through reading the book it is easier to pick up on the themes and symbols. For example light is used to represent an opportunity, discovery and knowledge. Fire is used to symbolise danger and foreshadows misfortunes, this is supported by the example of Elizabeth setting herself on fire, things do not get better from that point, only worse.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: The Bloody Chamber

I know from what we have been told in class, that this book will be another gothic, and from the title 'bloody' symboling danger, also foreshadowing danger and death this also hints at what the book as in store. The front cover is black, which is dark and bold, the picture on the front is red which again symbols blood and fear,two colours together are contrasting and eye catching drawing our attention to the bold font 'THE BLOODY CHAMBER'. The 'chamber' makes me think of being trapped in a dungeon and so my first impression of the book is that it is gothic or horrific.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Frankenstein

Although I have watched the film Frankenstein, I am still not sure of what to expect. I think it will just be longer and a more detailed version of the film. The black front cover hints at it being gothic.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Dr Faustus

The front cover is like an optical illusion which makes it seem interesting to read or know what it is about, I assume like the others it will be gothic, however, this isn't as apparent as the others immediately were! It seems short and it is a play. The mini biography about Dr Faustus himself gives you a idea about the play.

BIOGRAPHY: Christopher Marlowe's

Born: February 1564

Christened: 26th February 1564

Died: 30th May 1593, aged 29.

Father: John Marlowe (Shoemaker in Canterbury)

Mother: Catherine Arthur

Sir Christopher Marlowe was baptised at the Church of St George the Martyr on 26 Feb 1564, came from a family, he was one of nine children of John Marlowe from Ospringe, known to be a quarrelsome cobbler working as a shoemaker, and actor mothered by Catherine Arthur from Dover. Of Marlowe personally little is known, however, rumours suggest he was a

fiery homosexual; atheist; murdered during a pub brawl at Deptford taking a dagger to the head; Marlowe was recognised as influencial to Sir William Shakespeare.

On 14th February 1578 he attended Kings school for two years. At seveneteed he entered Corpus Chrisiti College, leading to his eventual BA in 1854 then admitted for an MA in 1854.

Marlowe fought in wars in the Low country after graduation.

Marlowe performed his first play, Tamburlaine in 1857, London. He continued to write and perform plays.

Appartently, Marlowe was the kibd of man that could not help maing enemies, said to have lived dangerously, these two combined could explain his early death, aged 29.

Marlowes plays:

The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus

Tamburlaine

The Jew of Malta

Edward II

Dido

Queen of Carthage