Here is the synopsis of our sample research paper on The Thrill of Transgression: “Frankenstein” and “Manfred”
. Have the paper e-mailed to you 24/7/365.
Essay / Research Paper Abstract
This 6 page paper examines “Manfred” by Lord Byron and “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley and argues that they are both examples of Gothic literature; that Frankenstein is self-deceiving while Manfred is overly self-aware; and that both protagonists transgress boundaries: Frankenstein cross the line between life and death, and Manfred breaks the taboo against incest. Bibliography lists 2 sources.
Page Count:
6 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_HVvicrev.rtf
Buy This Term Paper »
Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
Perhaps this explains the popularity of novels in which the protagonist transgressed some sort of law, crossed a boundary, behaved badly-did something, in other words, that the reader would never
dare to undertake. This paper considers the way in which boundaries are crossed in two works: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and Manfred by Lord Byron. Both are considered works
of Gothic literature, a genre that uses specific components such as remote settings and supernatural happenings to create an atmosphere of terror, horror or uncertainty. It argues further that
in Frankenstein, Shelleys character crossed the boundary between life and death and between madness and sanity in his frenzy to create life. In Manfred, the boundary Byrons character crosses is
the one that condemns incest as both a biological and social taboo. Finally, the paper argues that the two characters, Dr. Frankenstein and Count Manfred, exemplify the themes of self-deception
and self-awareness. Discussion When Viktor Frankenstein sets out to create life, he is transgressing the greatest boundary of all, the one between life and death. The creation of life, to
readers in 19th century Britain, was the sole province of God, and so Frankensteins effort to "build" a human from parts of cadavers is blasphemous. Also, and certainly unknown to
himself, he is skittering along the knife edge between madness and sanity. He is a very curious character: a scientist of great skill who remains blind to his failings and
to what it might mean if he succeeds in his purpose. He is aware, at least, that what hes doing is questionable; its for this reason that he locates his
laboratory well away from others and keeps his work secret. Frankenstein proves to be a contradiction in terms: a scientist who is driven almost to a frenzy with the desire
...