preview

Analysis Of The Poem ' Frankenstein ' And ' The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner '

Decent Essays
Juan Linares
Mr. Maust
English IV AP
11 September 2015
The Burden of Knowledge,
An Analysis of Gothic Elements in Frankenstein and
The Rime of The Ancient Mariner Henry Wadsworth once said: “Every man has his secret sorrows which the world knows not; and often times we call a man cold when he is only sad.” Such untold sorrows are what plague two very distinct characters in two very distinct works of literature. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein tells of Victor Frankenstein’s torment as he is plagued by his creation; Samuel Coleridge’s The Rime of The Ancient Mariner is the sinister tale told by a mariner burdened by the knowledge of his tale. Both works use strong elements of Gothic writing to express the relationship between Creator and creation. Shelley and Coleridge explore knowledge, desolation, and nature in similar ways while creating a gloomy and dark timeless tale. Shelly uses the myth of Prometheus and both she and Coleridge discuss the consequences of limited and exceeded knowledge; Victor Frankenstein desecrates the divine right to give life, whereas the mariner believes he is just to take a life. Victor Frankenstein was fascinated with knowledge from an early age. This leads to his pursuit and creation of the monster. Victor admits to himself that “destiny was too potent,”(Shelley 97) as fate drove him into a thirst for comprehension. The Promethean theme is underlined in his confession; Prometheus created man and gifted him with knowledge. Too much knowledge and
Get Access