Rebellion And Reconciliation In Frankenstein

Mary Shelley was an outstanding female writer during the English Romantic period in the late 18th century to the early 20th century. She was the wife of the influential romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. Frankenstein, known as her masterpiece, nailed her important position in the 19th century in England. Since its publication in 1818, it has been loved by the public and has attracted numerous applauses from critics. Frankenstein is a novel with lots of themes, which touches the problems of science, ethics, ecology, feminine, family and etc.Based on Foucault's power theory this thesis interprets the novel Frankenstein by close reading of the text. In terms of Foucault's power theory, the idea of break, discontinuity and gap,power relations and power resistance are essential to reveal the interplay of the dominant and the suppressed ideologies. Thus, this thesis analyses the two protagonists, namely Victor and the monster, by covering the rebellion and reconciliation reflected on them. Through detailed examination of class struggles, sex discrimination, the rebellion of human to nature, the monster's revenge on Victor, his rebellion against social injustice and his rebellion for love on the basis of power theory, this thesis fully expresses the process of conflict, namely formation, intensification and climax in the net work of power relations. By elaborating the processes of the two protagonists'rebellion and their reconciling process, conflict is finally resolved. This thesis presents individuals'appeals for harmony and equality on earth, which is just the perfect reflection of Foucault's ideas on power.This thesis is organized in five chapters. The first chapter draws a full view of Mary Shelley's life and her works. Besides, it briefly introduces the significance and main arguments of the thesis.Chapter two has two parts. The first part covers the literary review of Frankenstein at home and abroad. The second part elaborates Foucault's power theory. It emphasizes the uniqueness and availability of the theory as well.Chapter Three is composed of two parts, which discuss the rebellion of Victor and the monster respectively. The first part elaborates Victor's rebellion from three aspects, which are class conflicts, gender discrimination, and self-destructive ambition. The second part shows the monster's rebellion from three aspects, which are the monster's revenge on Victor, his rebellion against social injustice and his rebellion for love.Chapter Four discusses the reconciliation in Victor and the Monster. It consists of two parts. The first part analyses Victor's reconciliation from three perspectives, which are class assimilation, harmonic intergrowth of two genders, and Victor's return nature. The second part discusses the monster's reconciliation. It can be studied from two aspects, which are the reconciliation between the monster and Victor and the reconciliation between the monster and society. The last chapter is the conclusion of the thesis. It reaffirms Foucault's theory. Inevitably, the two protagonists must have all of the contrasts in the previous rebellion reconciled. Being the counter parts, nature, society, class and even the human beings, they will neither commit defeat without fighting nor just disappear without any external pressure. When contradiction reaches its climax, they will fight back and beat the two protagonists to death. The two protagonists are forced to cease their rebellion and finally reconcile with their rivals. That the contradiction is eventually solved and the world runs in order as well perfectly answers to Foucault's power theory.