Roxanne » Frankenstein

Echoes of Frankenstein in The Fountain

ccarter3 — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 23:57:49 +0000

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Echoes of Frankenstein in The Fountain

By: Caitlin Carter

English

10/24/08

The film, The Fountain, remediates a message in Frankenstein; that the fountain of youth or the secret of creation is possessed only by nature, and it is futile for man to try to combat the forces of Nature or God protecting the fountain. The director of The Fountain, Darren Aronofsky, uses biblical quotes, similarly to Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, to express the forbidden nature of the fountain of youth, or secrets of creation. The use of barrier imagery by the director in The Fountain parallels the metaphoric barrier, to protect the fountain of youth, in Frankenstein.

The film, The Fountain, remediates the message in Frankenstein by using specific lighting and focus techniques to emphasize the inviolability of the fountain of youth. In the opening scene of The Fountain the first image is a quote from genesis 3:24 in the Bible. The quote states: “Therefore, the Lord God banished Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden and placed a flaming sword to protect the tree of life.” The director of this film, Darren Aronofsky, chose to emphasize certain messages in this film, one specifically being that the secret to life (or the fountain of youth) is protected by God and is an unimaginable discovery for man to behold. The director focuses the light to be brighter on that sentence to emphasize its importance. The director also specifically chose to represent the quote as a phrase written with quill on old darker looking paper. This attention to detail reveals the historic influence of the bible and that this idea, that the tree of knowledge or the fountain of youth is protected by God, is a historic and age old concept. The light on the paper is also flickering, like candlelight, once again instilling the idea that this passage is very old and well known; those who try to discover the tree of knowledge or its secrets will be punished by a “flaming sword.”

The use of biblical quotes to emphasize the secrecy of the fountain of youth, was also prevalent in the Frankenstein text. The quotes were used to emphasize the severity of Victor violating the laws of God and Nature. The author of Frankenstein, Mary Shelley, references the Bible in several passages, comparing Victor to Eve. The message in Frankenstein is synonymous with that of Adam and Eve in the Bible. In Frankenstein, Victor symbolizes Eve; he took a bite of the forbidden fruit, nature’s secrets of creation. After violating the laws of nature, Nature punishes Victor by giving the creation a monstrous character. The novel, Frankenstein, expresses the forbidden nature of the fountain of youth much like The Fountain.

The film, The Fountain, continually emphasizes the sanctity of the fountain of youth through the use of imagery. In multiple scenes of the film the main character, Tom, is traveling through space with a tree in a transparent sphere. The images shown in the film reinforce the message that the fountain of youth, (secrets of creation), are unattainable. The tree symbolizes the tree of knowledge which holds the secrets of creation. The tree is located in space, which can also represent the Heavens, a divine location only reachable by God. The tree is also surrounded by a protective spherical barrier; once again showing the defensive boundary surrounding the fountain of youth, (secrets of creation). This image is shown repeatedly throughout the film and the image echoes the genesis quote presented in the opening scene of the film; that the tree is protected by a “flaming sword”, or barrier, and is forbidden to mankind.

In Frankenstein, the holy nature of the fountain of youth is shielded by the harsh results that occur when the laws of nature are violated. Through the force of God, the creature is born a volatile creature. Metaphorically the monster surrounds the secret of creation, much like the sphere in The Fountain, with his horrid nature. Victor’s violation of the laws of nature leads to disastrous consequences, including the deaths of Elizabeth, William, and Justine. Such horrible results terrify Victor and keep him from sharing this new found discovery with the world. The monster’s diabolical behavior protected the secrets of creation from mankind.

Darren Aronofsky remediates the message in Frankenstein, that the fountain of youth is forbidden and protected, and represents this message in The Fountain. The film focuses more on the literal protection of the fountain of youth, through the imaginative use of a transparent sphere surrounding the tree of knowledge, while Mary Shelley uses a metaphorical barrier in Frankenstein. I think the director interpreted the message clearly and the physical representation of a barrier surrounding the tree of knowledge was very effective in portraying the holy aspect of the tree. The director’s interpretation of the protective barrier in Frankenstein is an interesting concept that can be adapted in other films. Creating a literal translation for a metaphoric concept can be adapted well into film; for film can have much more abstract images that still make sense to the viewer. In The Fountain the director, Darren Aronofsky, creatively remediates Mary Shelley’s message, in Frankenstein, that the fountain of youth is under divine protection.

This work was completed in accordance with the honor code.

Self Evaluation: I feel that my thesis and my analysis of the film, and how it parallels to Frankenstein, is very insightful. I also feel that I was very descriptive and specific about the points I make. I am unsure if my essay is strong stylistically, and I feel that the introduction is restricted and not creative.

the fountain vs. frankenstein

ccarter3 — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 00:33:17 +0000

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Opening scene in the film. Direct quote from the bible

“Therefore, the Lord God banished Adam and Even from the garden of Eden and place a flaming sword to protect the tree of life.”

Genesis 3:24

–Very similar to Frankenstein’s message that the tree of knowledge is forbidden and that its secrets of life are to remain mysterious. Adam and Eve in The Fountain are the characters Tom and Izzi who cannot experience a life of love due to nature’s hold over life. This is very similar to the plot of Frankenstein for Elizabeth and Victor cannot be together because Victor’s creation, the monster, kills Elizabeth and destroys any chance for Victor to live a life of love with Elizabeth.

Imagery used in this scene shows the tree of knowledge, also symbolizing the fountain of youth and the man’s lover. It’s protected in a transparent bubble. Imagery reveals that the tree of knowledge is protected and untouchable. Repetitive images of this in the movie. Also the tree is floating in space which is often referred to as the Heavens, another example of divine power; this makes the secret of knowledge seem even more unattainable.

go here for the view of the opening scene of the fountain.

thesis ideas

ccarter3 — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 20:45:16 +0000

Knowledge is an obsession.

Ex: devouring books

Ex: paradise lost tree of knowledge led to downfall of man

Creator-creation, bitterness, evil, envy

Thesis: Creation brings bitterness, evil, and envy amongst the creator and the creation.

Ex: adam is resentful of god—starts to look towards satan’s side.

Ex: the creature is resentful towards Victor and envious of all mankind and acts maliciously for Victor’s attention

Ex: Victor is bitter because of how his creature turned out. (it wasn’t an eloquent human, but a monster)

Passage from 117

( Hateful day when I received life!….Accursed creator! Why did you form a monster so hideous that even you turned from me in disgust? God, in pity, made man beautiful and alluring, after his own image; but my form is a filthy type of yours, more horrid even from the very resemblance.)

(I considered Satan as the fitter emblem of my condition; for often, like him, when I viewed the bliss of my protectors, the bitter gall of envy rose within me.)

(Satan had his companions, fellow-devils, to admire and encourage him; but I am solitary and abhorred.”)

First he compares himself to adam, the he is too horrid so he compares himself to satan. The monster feels so horrid and monstrous he can’t even compare himself to Satan. Then he says that even satan has companions so what does that make him? Even more wretched and evil. This could guide his behavior to do malicious evil things.

Is a passion for knowledge a consuming obsession?

Knowledge can bring about glorious creations and benefit the world, but it can also become a harmful addiction that consumes a person. Victor thrived in a scientific and intellectual environment. He was an introvert and the obsession with knowledge caused him to become physically sick and mentally ill. (insert passage about his work ethic and working days and nights without food or sleep until his project was complete)

Glog on Frankenstein up to chapter 21

ccarter3 — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 13:12:33 +0000

Frankenstein glog:

Short Summary: Frankenstein has started to come out of his depression with the help of his friend Clerval, until he sees the monster during a storm. His family has been killed, young William, and one of Frankenstein’s childhood friends has been charged guilty. This woman was hanged and once again Frankenstein feels tremendous guilt because he knows that his creation is behind the tragedy. Frankenstein goes off on his own, to explore the mountainous range when the creature finds him and tells Frankenstein the story of his life, so far. The monster describes his life, living in the countryside. He soon watches a French family, the De Laceys, with admiration and adoration. The monster desires the family’s love and attention, but he fears their reaction to his stitched, mutilated appearance. He learns French by observing them and sympathizes with their suffering. The creature experiences emotions such as pity, sorrow, and love, for he loved the family and watched them daily. He even made life for them easier, by chopping wood for them and clearing the snow in the winter. Later the monster reveals his face to the blind father hoping to show his personality and be accepted, but the family comes in and sees the dreadful creature and begin to beat him until the monster fled the home. This horrible event made the creature despise mankind, especially his creator, because he could not live alone in a world where none accepted him. The monster tells Frankenstein this story and pleads with the scientist to make him a female companion. Frankenstein fears for his life and the life of his relatives and close ones. Frankenstein begins to make the female creature, spending hours in a lab, loathing the entire process. Meanwhile Elizabeth and Frankenstein are to be engaged when Frankenstein is finished with his studies and travels, finished with the creation of the female monster. Frankenstein soon has thoughts of the terrible havoc that could come about if the female monster and the original creature spawn children, or if the female rejects the male. The threat of a new creature and even a new race was too much for Frankenstein and in the middle of creating the female he kills her, and stops his work. The monster sees this and swears to inflict unimaginable pain onto Frankenstein, as he swims from the island where Frankenstein has worked in seclusion. Frankenstein rows away from the island and arrives in Ireland, where he is charged with a horrendous crime.

Observations: Shelley uses many repetitive images and motifs throughout the novel. Some I picked up on in these chapters were:

•    Horror
•    Murder/crime
•    Ice/Cold/Snow
•    Wet/Damp/Rain
•    Wretch
•    Heaven/Divine
•    Eyes
•    Create/Creation/Creator
•    Fiend
•    Rage/Anger/Revenge/Fire
•    Devil/Demon/Evil/Hell
•    Misery/Gloom/Mournful/Melancholy
•    Heart
•    Mind
•    Soul/Spirits
•    Black/Dark/Night
•    White
•    Lake/River/Ocean
•    Wild/Madness
•    Moon

Some of these words I wonder their significance and if they are symbolic?

Eyes -Eyes of God watching
-Eyes can also be a portal to ones soul/spirits
Wretch
-When I looked up the definition to wretch I found “a vile despicable person” but I also found an older definition to be a stranger, or person in exile”. This word directly applies to both Frankenstein and his creation, for they have both been isolated from the world and live in misery.

Fire
One thing I noticed specifically about this world was there was a detailed description of when the monster found fire (97). The word fire is repeated about 7 times on one page. I paused and tried to think of the significance of the authors intense description. In this part of the story the creature has found a burning fire left by some travelers. It amazes him for he can cook his food, and it keeps him warm. He protects the fire until he can no longer find any more food in that area and he departs. The monster describes his loss of fire – “I exceedingly lamented the loss of the fire which I had obtained through accident”. That is a strong phrase. So why would the author put so much emphasis on one object, fire? Fire can stand for hell, warmth, passion, or light. I believe that the fire represents the creature. Like a fire, for a flame can go from soft warmth to wild and dangerous, the creature is unpredictable and can go through dangerous mood swings.

Scientific Subjects

Shelley seems to be saying that having a passion for a subject can easily turn into an unhealthy and dangerous obsession. I agree with her opinion. In society today, especially in the pharmaceutical industry, people are no longer thought of as people, but as subjects. For this reason doctors and scientists, experimenting on people and animals, must obey certain procedures and take ethics classes. Everyday I hear form my mother, who works in the pharmaceutical industry, that test subjects die due to the negligence of scientists (one example I specifically remember is the death of a college student who volunteered to be a subject for an experiment). The scientists are so involved in their own agenda they stop caring about their subject. In a way this happened to the creature. Frankenstein was wrapped up in his world and did not think about the consequences of his actions. The creature suffers deeply, because his life was never accounted for. The creature was given life, but what kind of life does he have? He suffers in isolation. Frankenstein now feels horrible for what he has done, but it is too late. His feeling of regret is not even directed towards the suffering of the creature, but the suffering of himself, and the loss of his loved ones. Losing ones loved ones is a great tragedy, but if Frankenstein would stop being so self-involved then maybe a solution could be found.

Tagged: eyes, isolation, madness, Science

Intro through Ch4

ccarter3 — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 03:35:09 +0000

Few key points:

-Nature vs. Technology

-Religion vs. Technology/Science

These issues are still prevalent today (abortion, stem cell research)

As I was reading I began to notice repetitive words and I tried to unravel the meaning and significance of their mention. A lot of ideas in these first few chapters relate to science and life, but words that are repeated are divine images. Also in the introduction Shelley mentions her inspiration for Frankenstein came from Darwin’s experiments. Darwin was a man of controversy in his time, coming up with theories of natural selection and evolution, and therefore questioning many religions’ belief systems. I think Shelley brought some of that controversy into her work by constantly repeating science and religious imagery. I’m not sure if Shelley is going to make a statement about religion or science. From what I can gather, a man (the creator of the monster), reached suffering from his search for knowledge. I’m assuming that Shelley is making a statement about science and that certain limits should not be crossed, such as creating life. I wonder if Shelley was a religious woman in her time…though her publishing of Frankenstein was certainly controversial. It’s hard to hypothesize Shelley’s message at this point, but so far I think she is rejecting some of sciences’ aspirations.

Notes:

Motifs/repeated words:

· Animation/animated

· Nature

· Divine/God/Halo/Guardian

· Spirit/Soul

· Creator/Creation/Creature

· Evil/Demon/Dark

· Ice/Cold

· Fog/Mist

· Eyes (eyes are passage to soul-symbolism? Significance?)

· Melancholy/Despair/Depression/Misery

· Violence

· Noble

· Wild/Madness

· Sea/Ocean

-Some repeated words relate to the themes of Religion vs. Technology/Science and Nature vs. Technology

-Speaker became immensely fascinated with books on the sciences

-Importance of books, to be well educated…this book also brings up the idea that knowledge can bring suffering and misery (Is ignorance bliss?)

-Some mention of cycles, such as seasons, death to life and life to death