Matteo's+Essays

Matteo Reniero AP English “Gods on Earth”: Hawthorne’s //Rappaccini’s Daughter// and Shelley’s //Frankenstein//. Please respond to one of the following essay prompts with a word-processed, double-spaced, essay (5-6 pages), in which you demonstrate your ability to think critically and elaborate on a given text and its surface as well as latent meanings. Please include quotations from the text to demonstrate and support your point of view. First drafts are due May 12 (to be returned on May 19). Final drafts are due back to me by May 23.


 * 1) When reading Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, one is tempted to characterize Victor as “trying to play God”, when he fabricates the Creature in his lab. However, Victor displays character traits that may either support or be at odds with that notion. Please write an essay in which you identify those traits and explain why they either validate or not the idea of Victor as “Creator”. Please refer to specific elements in the novel as well as actions of Victor’s as “evidence” for your own opinion.
 * 2) Shelley’s novel, //Frankenstein//, is subtitled “The Modern Prometheus.” A figure from Greek mythology, Prometheus was said to have stolen fire from the gods so as to use it to create humans. In a well organized, yet relatively brief essay, explain why you would or would not agree with the idea of Victor as the modern Prometheus. Base your statements on your own knowledge and interpretation of that myth and include specific references to the novel in defense of our point of view.
 * 3) Once it is argued that Rappaccini’s garden can be seen as the Garden of Eden, we are left to ponder what role to attribute to Rappaccini himself. By successfully (and scientifically) creating a beautiful and virtuous daughter, albeit deadly at contact, one can view Rappaccini as a God, creating his own Eden with his own impure purposes. Write an essay in which you discuss any implications and meanings that the association Rappaccini/God may have, referring to specific parts of this story, as well as of others, to corroborate your point of view.
 * 4) In a well-constructed essay, analyze the figures of Victor Frankenstein and Rappaccini in relation to their specific actions and trains of thought. Whenever possible, point out parallelisms and similarities, as well as any differences, between them and between their “creations”. As always, use the text as main point of reference on which to base your remarks.