When we talk about mankind, people always think about human, which is it surface meaning, but as my point of view, we are called mankind is because we are kind, I’m not talking about as now we are all good people, but I believe that as we were born, as our life began, we are all kind-hearted. So the question is that, why we changed? Why people commit a crime? Why the number of people in prison is more and more day by day? Is it because we are educated that way as we growing up? I think the answer is negative, what changed as is what we had experienced and how we were treated. In the novel, “Frankenstein Third Edition” by Mary Shelley, the writer shows us a story to prove that what we have been through changes our life and she also use lots of literary devices like simile, foreshadow and symbol to help reader have a better understanding.

Victor Frankenstein is a nice gentleman who interested in science and looking a way to bring the life back to the dead body, he did a lot of experiment and finally find a way to make it, so he collected every part of body from dead people and combine them together, then he shock the body by electric from the thunder, and he made it, he give the dead body a new life, just as an newborn body. But victor feel terrible feel terrible about his creature, as we can read in the novel, he said:“How can I describe my emotions at this catastrophe, or how delineate the wretch whom with such infinite pains and care I had endeavoured to form? His limbs were in proportion, and I had selected his features as beautiful. Beautiful!-Great God! His yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath; his hair was of a lustrous black, and flowing; his teeth of a pearly whiteness; “(Shelley 83) We can know Victor’s feeling from the word “catastrophe”, he compare his creature as a very terrible thing ,I was really wondering about that when I was reading because in my opinion he should be really excited and happy when he saw that creature was back to life, because that is what he is working on all the time, but now when he saw the ugly appearance, he was scared and run out of the lab. From the details he shows us about the creature’s appearance, we could know that how he disgust about it. In this chapter we could know the first attitude of Victor to the creature, also the writer use simile and foreshadow to show us how victor feel and also bedding the murder later.

After that day Victor left the creature in the lab and ran away, he thought the creature as a monster and never tried to find it until his brother got murdered. He clearly know that the murderer was not the maid but he can’t save her from death, after that, Victor wants to revenge. Later when they met again, Victor try to kill the creature but the creature ask him to come with it and wants to tell Victor what he had been through after he left. In this chapter, the creature’s good deeds impress me a lot. “I discovered also another means through which I was enabled to assist their labors. I found that the youth spent a great part of each day in collecting wood for the family fire; and, during the night, I often took his tools, the use of which I quickly discovered, and brought home firing sufficient for the consumption of several days ”(Shelley 128) I had to say that when I read this chapter I was moved by what the creature did, just as a kid, who has no hate or harm or any negative feelings but kindness, they are mentally nature and clean. When the creature saw that the young couple was busy about their life day by day, he tried to help them, also he didn’t plan to let them know who did that for them, all he want is help them without disturb, this is irony because Victor treated it as a monster but in fact this creature is kindness, nobody taught him to do that but he did that by himself, that’s his nature and he is giving instead of taking.  So is the creature a real monster? I don’t think so, so why victor hate it so much, only because it is ugly? I think one more reason is because he was disappointed, not by the creature, but by himself, he means to create a beautiful, wonderful life but when he saw his work he just can’t accept it, that’s why he wants to destroy it as it has never been created, but it was not the creature’s fault, it had no choice of its appearance, we all know parents love their children more than anything else, so if Victor had a baby with his lover and once he saw his child is looks ugly, will he throw his child away immediately? I think the creature is the child of him and what victor should do is try to look after him and teach him as a normal person, if he do that at the beginning I don’t think there won’t be murder later.

From another side, in “Frankenstein’s Fallen Angel” by Joyce Carol Oates. It talks about the creature’s view when he first come to the world and also how it’s view was changed. At first, the creature thinks the world will accept him “He relates himself with Adam, except so far as Adam had come forth from God a ‘perfect creature, happy and prosperous.’ (Oates, 544) just as I said, the creature hopes it can fit the world, can get along with the people around him, he is hoping a better life, which shows as we were born, as our life began, we are all kind-hearted. But the at the end, everything changed, “Finally, of course, he identifies with Satan: ‘I am thy creature: I ought to be thy Adam; but I am rather the fallen angel, whom thou drivest from joy for no misdeed. Everywhere I see bliss, from which I alone am irrevocably excluded. I was benevolent and good; misery made me a fiend. Make me happy, and I shall again be virtuous.’ (Oates, 544-545) the creature begins to change to a monster even though he doesn’t mean to do that, but the things around him, the people around him, also it’s creator seems him as a monster, which leads him to totally becoming a monster

Questions:

What’s the reason that victor hate his creature?

What lead Frankenstein to be a real monster?

Why Frankenstein choose to die at the end?

In class we have been reading Percy Bysshe Shelley’s “Mont Blanc: Lines Written in the Vale of Chamouni.” Percy Bysshe Shelley was born on August 4th, 1792 in Sussex, England. Shelley was accepted at the University College, Oxford, in 1810. Oxford was a prestigious University where many other famous writers also attended throughout the years. Shelley was known as an English romantic writer who was published when he was only seventeen years of age, even before he had entered Oxford. He would also refer to himself as an atheist and would often state that religion was a distraction.

Percy Shelley’s five-part poem touches on many themes but the most important one is the theme of the power of nature and the scenery of a mountain in the alps. This theme is emphasized throughout the whole poem. He chooses to exclude any kind of religion or God in his poem. The poem consists of five stanzas. In the first stanza, Shelley speaks about “the everlasting universe of things” (line 1). By those “things” one could say or infer that they are thoughts in the mind of a human. He then goes to describes these things as “rapid waves’, “secret springs”, and “vast rivers”. Thoughts flow like river. They are endless and flow in many different directions. The secret springs could be a metaphor for the deep dark thoughts hidden in the back of our minds. This is why one could infer that he is using all these words as metaphors for “thoughts” that nature is flowing into the mind.

Shelley than leads us into the second stanza. The second stanza seems to be about the mountain he refers to throughout the whole poem. He describes the mountain as being majestic with all its “giant brood of pines around thee clinging” (line 20) with “…their odours, and their mighty swinging” (line 24). He is describing the huge trees in the great big mountain. The mountain and nature in it is so overtaking to him that he becomes dizzy. Although it is the literal explanation of stanza two, alternate interpretation could be that Percy Shelley is describing the thoughts in his head. They are so immense and strong, that they make him dizzy. All these thoughts and feelings become “the sublime. He cannot grasp them all at once. It also connects to the interpretation in stanza one. Shelley reflects it all on the mountain.

In stanza three, Shelley changes the tone of the poem. He starts it with “Some say that gleams of a remoter world / Visit the soul in sleep, that death is slumber, / And that its shapes the busy thoughts outnumber” (lines 51-52). He goes from talking about all these static feelings about nature to referring to darkness and death. These dark forces visit the human mind at night and haunt the mind. He also states “thoughts” in this stanza, once again making a reader believe that his words about nature are metaphors for his thoughts and mind. He ends stanza three by stating that “by all, but which the wise, and great, and good, / Interpret, or make felt, or deeply feel. (Lines 82-83). Here one can interpret that Shelley believes that only the wise can experience nature in this way; that nature can fill the mind with all this power and knowledge rather than God.

At the second to last stanza, Percy Shelley amplifies beyond the mountain he is describing. “The limits of the dead and living world, / Never to be reclaim’d. The dwelling-place / Of insects, beasts, and birds, becomes its spoil;” (Lines 113-15). Here starts talking about nature and human life and how nature has lived longer than any human in the world. He also states that we as humans will always die, we will never be immortal like nature has been throughout all these decades. Another interpretation that could take place here is that thoughts and feelings are not endless. They die with us when we are gone, but our spirits linger amongst all the nature, haunting it. The mountain is Shelley’s brain with all this inside it, and he choose to write a poem to share it with the world.

In the last stanza, Shelley leaves the darkness he has entered in stanzas three and four and goes back to describing the mountain. He ends the poem with “And what were thou, and earth, and stars, and sea, / If to the human mind’s imaginings / Silence and solitude were vacancy?” (lines 142-45) He refers to the mountain as the spirit. This is the spirit of nature itself. Nature allows him to absorb this obscure knowledge that invades him with loneliness. It sounds as if it were him dying on this mountain and he were being called by nature rather than God. A reader could even picture the spirit of Shelley descending into nature with the rest of the ghosts that inhabit it. This poem is filled with greatness and mystery. It is a great thing that there could be so many interpretations of it. Feelings, thoughts. He seemed to rely more toward the power of nature rather than a power of religion like it was accustomed back in his days.

Discussion Questions:

• Do you agree or disagree that the power of nature is actually God in Shelley’s poem?
• How does Percy Shelley reflect his atheism in “Mont Blanc”?
• How does Percy Shelley use nature to demonstrate romanticism?

Samuel Taylor Coleridge was a poet during the Romantic Period in England during the eighteenth century.  Coleridge began writing the “Christabel” in 1797 and finished in 1800. Coleridge’s longest poem, “Christabel” has many different interpretations and feelings you get when reading it. Before reading, it is important to take into consideration that the name “Christabel” means a beautiful Christian. The poem starts off by describing a chilly, April night with crowing cocks and a massif dog sitting outside a castle. There is this beautiful young woman, Christabel, who leaves the castle and goes into the woods. The woods are a quiet place for her to pray, for what she dreams about; a husband. As she is praying, she hears a noise and goes to investigate it timidly. In the distance on the other side of the oak tree, she sees someone. Brave Christabel decides to go see, and as she approaches this person or thing, she realizes its a “damsel bright.. silken rode of white…unsandl’d…wildly glittered here and there, the gems entangled in her hair…”. After being questioned by Christabel, we find out that this women is named Geraldine and has been kidnapped from her own kingdom. Christabel, being innocent and kind, decides to bring Geraldine to her castle and allow her to sleep in her room with her because Geraldine proclaimed that the kidnappers would come back for her, Christabel promised that in the morning they can get help from Christabel’s father, Sir Baron. When headed to Christabel’s “chamber”, she convinces Geraldine to be as quiet as possible and when passing the massif, she growls when she senses Geraldine, which was abnormal to do. After they arrive in Christabel’s room, she prays to Mary, but Geraldine does not participate with her. Due to what happened in the forest to Geraldine,  she was anxious, so Christabel gives her wine that her dead mother made. As Geraldine drinks, she realizes that she owes Christabel for her kindness and claims she would do anything to repay her. Christabel then lays in bed but can not fall asleep and Geraldine’s clothes fall off her body. Geraldine than approaches Christabel and lays down beside her. The two women, one older than the other, did sexual acts in Christabel’s room. Christabel thinks about what she has done, as much as she is happy, tears form in her eyes.

The next day, Geraldine wakes up from loud bells ringing slowly. Sir Leoline has them ring everyday to mourn the loss of his wife, who died at Christabel’s birth. Christabel takes Geraldine to meet her father. After discussion, Geraldine reveals that her father is an old friend of Sir Leolines. He realizes two things, one being that Geraldine is beautiful and reminds him somewhat of his wife, and that if he helps her, he can possible regain the friendship of her father. Sir Leoline asks Bracy the bard to escort Geraldine home, which he denies because he claims he has had a dream with a snake that prevented the journey from being successful. After hearing this, Sir Leoline comforts Geraldine and she looks at Christabel. Her eyes are described like a serpents. This makes Christabel faint and go into a nervous wreck. She begs her father to take Geraldine away on her mothers soul and her father gets mad at her for being disrespectful to her guest. The poem finishes with Sir Leoline deciding to take Geraldine on the route home and asks Bracy to take care of Christabel.

When reading, there were several things that surprised me. One of the things I found very ironic is the fact that Christabel went to the woods in order to pray to find a husband, but ends up having an encounter with a woman. Also, when Geraldine asks what Christabel’s mother would think about her, Christabel describes that on her mothers death bed, she claimed that when “strike twelve upon my wedding-day” that her mother would be present. This is also ironic because Geraldine felt the spirit of Christabel’s mother that night and asks her to leave. I found these two ironic because the only reason the mother would be there is on Christabel’s wedding day, which is what she longed for. It was strange that after praying, Geraldine is found and then suspects that her mother is with them in the room as well. Another thing I found interesting is that Christabel’s name means a beautiful Christian, which I interpret as innocent and pure. This definition of her name allows a reader to understand the reason she prayed so hard, and helped Geraldine because she is seen as kind. Also, she has a room decorated with angelic lamps and other decorations that refer to her as a young girl who couldn’t do anything wrong. The reason this is ironic is how can someone so pure be lead to sin and end up not as innocent as seemed. Christabel had sexual relations with an older woman that she doesn’t know. She sinned, yet she constantly prays. Another thing that foreshadowed Geraldine being seen as something evil was when the girls were quietly coming into the castle and the massif let out an angry moan and the fireplace that was dying lit up when Geraldine passed it. This shows that the dog suspected something strange happening with this woman, and the fire symbolizes rage or jealousy. I felt that Geraldine was slightly jealous of Christabel because of the fact that she is younger and innocent. Although Christabel lost her mother, she hasn’t experienced anything like Geraldine, being kidnapped and left in the forest. Christabel is home and free, and that’s what Geraldine wants. This is shown in the repeated line “So free from danger, free from fear…”.

After reading, Anya Taylor’s article called “Coleridge’s “Christabel” and the Phantom Soul, many of the ideas in the poem were made clearer and some were pointed out, that I did not realize. Taylor breaks down the psychological way that Coleridge thought about when writing this poem. For example, she claims that Coleridge wanted to provide an example of what it was like for children who didn’t have any support growing up, versus children who have that. This allowed me to realize that is exactly the problem with Christabel. She grew up without a mother, which is hard because you don’t understand what happens to your body when it changes and you have no one to relate to. Also, Christabel’s father is said to love her a lot, but doesn’t really care for her, which Taylor explains in detail. She states that Sir Leoline is self-consumed in his sorrow for the loss of his wife, and doesn’t even pay attention to Christabel. Taylor gives the example that Christabel can just leave the castle and good into the woods at midnight by herself, with not a single person stopping her. Also, this lack of relationship allows readers to understand why Sir Leoline react to Christabel’s fit at the end of the poem. He doesn’t give her time to explain or confide in him, which makes Christabel feel sorrowful and doesn’t help her sense of self and personality develop. This is also another reason that she wants to help Geraldine so badly. She never had a woman in her life that was so praising and loving of her. This new feeling made her do the things she did, because of her “hunger for love”.  When reading the poem itself, I did not think that anything that Christabel did was seen as something that was intentional, but Taylor claims that giving her the wine, she intentionally got Geraldine drunk and made it seem that was Christabel’s intention, to take advantage of her. I was so surprised by this comment because to me Christabel is not seen as someone who is deceiving. I thought because of her youth, she was not aware that anything bad would happen, even though her curiosity allowed her to sin. Another thing that Taylor claims that Coleridge did was talk about the power struggles with men and women. He does this through experience with many of his female friends and what happened to his sister. this point is understood by showing the power struggle between an older women and a younger one, and the father and the daughter.  Overall, Taylor’s article helped me understand the poem in a more effective way and was interesting.

Discussion Questions:

1. What do you think that Coleridge was trying to say about exploring your sexuality?
2. Do you think that Christabel’s intentions in her bedroom were intentional?
3. Do you think that Coleridge displays the view of psychology in a realistic manner?
4. Did Coleridge display how women are powerless to men? Or that men are weak in compared to women?

Mary Wollstonecraft was a writer who was an advocate for women and wrote one of the first feminist works. When the world was telling women they were not important, Mary Wollstonecraft wanted women to know that they are more than a wife to a man.  In 1792, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman was released. Chapter six of this book focuses on the education of women and how it affects them in many aspects later in life. Mary Wollstonecraft argued that from the start, education for a woman is very different compared to a man. This is because eighteenth century society made women feel like they had to be nothing but a pretty face. Throughout history we are supposed to believe that a man is the one with the brains, and the woman is just the beauty behind the man, almost like property. Throughout this reading we explore the differences in women’s education, how both sexes are viewed differently in society, how the individual looks at one self, and the connection to Letters written in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark.

After reading both of Mary Wollstonecraft works I learned that she was strong advocate for women’s rights and was a great model for breaking the norm. In Letters written in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark we get a look into her journal and the great travels she encountered in each country. When first reading into the book it felt like she was just talking about what she saw in her travels, but I had to really look into it with a fine-tooth comb. I realized her writing actually does have a lot of depth, and she discusses important issues we face in society.

There was a very interesting quote in Letter 3, Wollstonecraft said: “Still the men stand up for the dignity of man by oppressing the women.” I thought this was very challenging to think that a man will stand up for a man while putting down a woman. This shows how unequal society viewed the genders. I think this is also clear in Vindication of the Rights of Woman, men often only look for beauty in women. Men are taught that in society a woman is nothing more but his property or a “note-able housewife” (this is a term Mary Wollstonecraft used). Women are only interested in a man who is a gentleman, again not interested in knowledge. Wollstonecraft said: “..a gentleman-like man seldom fails to please them, and their thirsty ears eagerly drink the insinuation nothings of politeness..” Women are only concerned with being charmed, women are never taught that they should look at men more critically or as Wollstonecraft said: “were women more rationally educated, could they take a more comprehensive view of things they would be contented to love but once in their lives; and after marriage calmly let passion subside into friendship…”. She stresses it is important for women to look beyond the charmer, and to look at the mind that man possess.

In Letter 19, she said: “Still harping on the same subject, you will exclaim—How can I avoid it, when most of the struggles of an eventful life have been occasioned by the oppressed state of my sex?  We reason deeply when we feel forcibly.” I believe this is the moment she really expresses that society puts women in a box, they are meant to feel, act, and be a certain way. She further goes into this in A Vindication of the Rights of Woman. As stated, “Education thus only supplies the man of genius with knowledge to give variety and contrast to his associations, but there is an habitual association of ideas, that grows with our growth…” These two direct quotes showed us how society and education will not expose women to new ideas. Ideas are so important to the mind, it can make you explore yourself and the world. When you have one simple idea it can make your mind do such powerful things. For some reason women were not exposed to such, they were kept like children, unknown of the whole world around them. Could it be that society and the man was to afraid to find out what the women’s mind can do?  Were they afraid women would become superior? Women are persistent, strong minded, smart, and it seems to me the world was not ready for the great things a women’s mind can do. Only men were able to explore and learn new and enticing ideas.

It was interesting to read that many of the people Mary Wollstonecraft encountered were more interested in showing of their money rather than their knowledge, she also stated that education was not really paid attention to. I found this to be very alarming; your charm, money, wit can only take you so far in this world. It is important that all children are taught the appropriate education from a very early age. It is extremely important that women get the same education and respect that man get. I do feel like in present times we are much more equal than Mary Wollstonecraft times. But let’s be real, it is not one hundred percent. Society needs to keep moving forward and to see how important a women’s mind is to this world.

Questions:

1. In today’s society are women still treated differently than men in an education standpoint? Why or why not?
2. Does society still look at women as a “child-like” figure?
3. What was the purpose of Mary Wollstonecraft letters?

As Volume 3 starts off, Caleb has just escaped from jail, where he hides until his pursuers have passed him. He then enters a forest, and encounters a group of men. Desperate for refreshment, he asks them for help but they turn out to be thieves and one of them, Gines, wounds him and leaves him for dead after taking his outer clothing. A short time later, he is saved by a man who takes him to his residence. Caleb then discovers his rescuer is actually the captain of the group of thieves. Because Gines was so cruel and brutal, the captain, Raymond, proposes that he be kicked out of the group and it is successful and Caleb can stay and recover with them.

Later, a member of the group called Larkins brings in a notice that shows that Caleb can be turned in for a hundred guineas to the captain. The captain, now named Mr. Raymond, defends Caleb in front of the entire group. Raymond speaks about Caleb’s past and how that they would never give him up. The appearance of the wanted note causes Caleb to think about how he thought that Falkland’s persecution was unwilling because he was a man of honor, but now Falkland is not content with making him a wanted man but wanted him to be hunted even now. Sometime later, a ferocious lady who manages the residence attacks Caleb, but Caleb is able to repel her attack. She alludes that he will be captured within 24 hours, so Caleb disguises himself as a beggar and leaves the compromised residence.

Learning that the entire country seems to be looking for him, Caleb decides to leave to Ireland. Before the boat can get far, officers stop the boat and arrest Caleb. However during the trial, the officers discover that Caleb is an Englishman and too tall to be the criminal they are looking for. Caleb is still found to be suspicious, so he is to be taken to the capital, Warwick. Caleb bribes the guards with what little money he had for freedom. Taken out of the city for a bit then released, he then curses “the whole system of human existence.” Disguising himself as a farmer, he then travels to London.

Upon arriving and resting, he then changes his disguise to a Jew. Deciding to procure a lodging to permanently stay and is determined to endure his situation. Thinking about how to provide for himself, he decides to be a writer. Using a woman living on the same floor as his agent, Ms. Marney, he tries to submit poetry for money but is rejected due to their policy to give nothing for poeticial compositions. Writing a paper then a tale, then translating, he then starts to make a life for himself.

Meanwhile Gines, the thief who was expelled from the thieves group, returns to a lawful profession but vowed to take revenge on Caleb upon finding out who he was. Gines tracks Caleb to London, but can not find him. Gines then visits a brother, who happens to be the head workman of a printing-office. Upon finding out that some submissions were from a mysterious man, Gines tracks Marney but she discovers him and leads him in the opposite direction of Caleb, who by then disguises himself anew.

Caleb’s new disguise was the “very picture” of the young son of Mr. Spurrel, another neighbor, and so was able to work for him to get money and live with him. Eventually a newspaper detailing Caleb’s situation and exposing his previous disguises starts to be sold in London. The public was warned to be watchful of recluse and solitary people and Marney had been sent to prison due to not reporting Caleb. Upon arriving home, he discovers that Spurrel was not home and at midnight, Spurrel brings home Gines. It is then revealed that Spurrel has sold out Caleb for the hundred guineas reward money and Caleb is forced to leave with Gines.

Spending the night in prison in Bow-street, he then discloses that the actual guilty one was Falkland and not himself, but is rejected by the magistrate and is sent back to the very jail that he escaped from a few months ago. Yet again he contemplated suicide, but resolves to die fighting. Upon the trial, no one that accused him shows up and so his case was thrown out and Caleb is released. In shock of the events, Caleb leaves the town but is then kidnapped by Gines, who blindfolds and gags him and bring him to a room in an inn where he is freed from the restraints. To Caleb’s surprise, Falkland enters the room looking haggard, looking like a skeleton instead of a lively individual.

Falkland then explains that all he was doing was to preserve Caleb’s life, and that except for the murder of Tyrell and the Hawkinses his entire life was benevolent. However due to Caleb attempted to disclose his secret murder, Falkland will never forgive Caleb. But to protect his own public reputation, he asks Caleb to sign a paper declaring his accusation against Falkland in Bow-street is false. Caleb however refuses to sacrifice himself to Falkland’s “mad and misguided love of fame” and Falkland leaves the room. Leaving the inn, no one stops Caleb until he encounters Thomas, Falkland’s servant. Thomas is firmly on Falkland’s side, but gives Caleb 20 pounds due to Falkland’s order.

Caleb then leaves for a market-town in Wales, and starts to gain hope that he could live out his life but it turns out that Falkland has employed Gines to follow Caleb around, destroying Caleb’s reputation so that he can not stay long in one place. Caleb then continues to move around from town to town and lives there, before Gines shows up and he moves on. Gines later shows up and tells him that he is not allowed to leave otherwise he will become an actual prisoner.

Caleb then details his journey and his injustices and gives them to Collins to preserve them from Falkland. Afterwards, he travels back to the town where Farkland resides and convinces the magistrate to investigate and call in Falkland. Eventually Falkland comes and Caleb tells his entire story to the magistrate. Falkland then confesses, and dies 3 days later. Caleb then explains how this entire story was so that readers could get a full picture of the story and not a half-told and mangled tale.

William Godwin’s “Essay on Sepulchres” details his proposal to use a simple white cross of wood to mark the grave of the illustrious dead. He brings up the question of who shall be marked as worthy, and says that as long as the tomb can “awaken some sentiment” and has some history associated is worthy. He is relying heavily on human nature that the truly worthy people will be remembered forever while others will eventually be forgotten to just a name.

Goodwind’s idea that truly worthy people will be remembered forever ties heavily to Caleb Williams, in that Falkland is trying his best to leave the best impression of himself to others no matter what. Upon confessing, Falkland states that his name will forever be infamous, while Caleb’s name will be forever admired.

Discussion Questions:
*Is it important to hear both sides of the story? Or can a person’s influence make it ok to only hear one side of a story?
*Should Caleb have agreed to Falkner’s proposal to ruin his own name for Falkner’s fame?
*How do you think the criteria should be set to determine if someone is worthy or not?

Volume two of Caleb Williams opens with the aftermath of Mr. Collins’ gathered history on Falkland. Caleb begins to worry that Falkland is guilty of Tyrrel’s murder, and he begins to spying on Falkland. After an intrusive discussion and backhanded questioning, it becomes even more apparent that Falkland is Tyrrel’s murderer. But Falkland cannot dismiss Caleb from his services because it could then confirm Caleb’s suspicion even more so. After stumbling upon a letter to Falkland from Mr. Hawkins, Caleb again confronts Falkland, insinuating he knows about the murder, which pushes Falkland even closer to the edge. Falkland calls Caleb into his office, demanding Caleb speak his mind and tell Falkland what he knows. Caleb does so, and Falkland expresses how miserable he has been since the trial, making Caleb feel terrible for the accusations he has set forth. However, Caleb is still suspicious and thinks Falkland might be the murderer. Since their talk, Falkland has had more fits of insanity, further confirming Caleb’s allegations. Caleb decides to, once again, confront his master, but only when he has acquired substantial evidence. There is a fire on the premises and Caleb decides to go inside to help rather than be a bystander. He is drawn to the private apartment, and a trunk inside that he’s noticed before. Caleb breaks it open, but Falkland enters as soon as he begins to look at its contents. Falkland grabs a piston and holds it to Caleb’s head, but changes his mind immediately and discards the item. Shortly after, Falkland calls for Caleb in his office. Falkland finally admits to the murder, but forces Caleb to keep this secret to himself and continue working for Falkland.

Not too long after, Mr. Forester visits the premises, and abruptly leaves sooner than his visit had entailed. He returns a few weeks later and secretly meets with Caleb; he is concerned for Caleb’s happiness and inquires about Caleb and Falkland’s relationship. Caleb admits he is miserable, but cannot leave Falkland’s service. In return, Forester offers him a place to stay whenever Caleb is ready to leave. Suddenly, Falkland walks in on their meeting, but does not berate Caleb in front of Forester. Instead, Caleb is left with his thoughts and fear about the repercussions of his consultation. He writes a letter to Falkland, expressing his desire to quit. Naturally, Falkland refuses and states that Caleb is to be his servant forever. Caleb decides to flee the Falkland residency, and venture out into the world.

After reaching his destination and settling in an inn, Caleb notices friends of Falkland’s in the area, and worries his location will soon be discovered by Falkland himself. He is confronted by a bearer, who gives him a letter from Valentine Forester. To Caleb’s surprise, he has been asked to return to Falkland’s estate to prove his innocence. If he does not return, he will be convicted as guilty. Eager to clear his name, Caleb agrees to go with the bearer, regardless of the consequence.

Caleb meets with Forester and Falkland the next morning to discuss the charges. Falkland accuses Caleb of stealing from him on the day of the fire. He calls upon his servant Robert as a witness, and Robert lies for Falkland. The servants produce the stolen jewels and it is obvious Caleb will be convicted as guilty. Even Forester, who initially seemed to be on Caleb’s side, could not argue with the evidence shown. After Caleb states he’s innocent, and that Falkland knows he is innocent, the case against him becomes even worse. He is sent off to county jail, with no friends or allies on his side.

The excerpt from Reflections on the Revolution in France 1790 opens with the slaughter of the royal family and bishops. The author, Edmund Burke, reflects on this, and what it says about humans and humanity. It seems as if he strongly disagrees with the murders, but also knows that they were for the best. Burke even goes on to say that the king and queen were merely humans, and humans are killed everyday. What makes these two humans any more important than all the others? However, Burke clearly opposed mob rule, and preferred the rule of a singular leader, although this leader should represent the public’s wants and needs. He believed that everyone was entitled to their own prejudice, meaning their own right to determine what is right or wrong. But within that, people needed to come to a mutual consensus, led primarily by the state.

Within his writing, it seems as if Burke is conflicted on what he thinks is morally right and just. It is difficult to find the perfect balance not only in a country, but as humans living our lives everyday. We are constantly forced to make difficult decisions, and to then make the “right” decision is a matter of what we think is right, or a majority of the world thinks is right. There are many factors to take into consideration when making life decisions. This ties into our topic of Frankenstein this semester because of our focus on humanity. Being able to make choices and have opinions on subject matter is a part of humanity, and makes us who we are. Even William Godwin touches on this topic in volume two of Caleb Williams, when Caleb decides to return to the Falkland estate in order to clear his name. He could have easily continued to flee from his master, but he felt that he needed to defend himself and confront the situation.

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you think the government should strongly listen to the public’s demand? Or should there be some sort of limitation on how laws/governmental action come into existence?
2. Did Caleb make the right decision to come back and clear his name?
3. Should we make our decisions solely based on what we feel is wrong or right? Or should the outside world have some sort of influence?

Enquirer Concerning Political Justice by William Godwin, vol 1 is composed of 4 books, in which Godwin outlines his revolutionary ideas that make a “distinction between society and government.” His works had a monumental impact on the world of literature and politics during the French Revolution and highly influential on the first and second generation romantics. Godwin, the father of Mary Shelly, was one of the first political philosophers and considered the first modern proponent of anarchism. In his work, Godwin states that justice supersedes freedom between government and society in order to keep the good of the mankind. For Godwin, justice from the government does not exist for ordinary individuals and the rich are the one who controls the poor. Life is extremely important and should not be given preferential treatment to individuals based solely on his or her socioeconomic status or ideology. As he states “we should love our neighbor as ourselves.”

For William, the nature of innate morality and rationality is to put aside “any moral duties” as “mercy, gratitude, temperance,” or any other duty that contradicts the meaning of justice. Godwin, also mentions that “the imperfection of human nature” make us prefer one man to another by not discerning “the comparative worth of different men”. Two people should be treated equally but in real life, one individual has more “worth and importance” than the other. For him, Individuals and government are not working together. In contrast, He believes that society is capable of change and can counteract their beliefs for the welfare of moral justice and political truth.  In his work, Godwin is constantly calling for justice equality but at the same time, he finds himself guilty of being an imperfect human being, since he has the assumption of preferring one of his relatives rather than another person.

“Equality of mankind is either physical or moral.” William Godwin states that between two individuals there is always the weak and the strong, and educated and uneducated. However, these aspects should not be obstacles for humans to be governed and manipulated by others. “It follows therefore that all men are essentially independent – So much for the physical equality.” Freedom will give us a better understanding of life, and correct what it is wrong in society.  Political Society is founded on “the principle of morality and justice”. Justice is a moral obligation, a duty that all individuals should adhere to. For him, justice does not have a philosophical accuracy because society has self-interests that are violating the principles of reason and existence.

Things as They Are or The Adventures of Caleb Williams, written in 1794, tells the story of a young man who was hired as Mr. Falkland’s personal secretary. By the end of volume 1, Caleb Williams suspects that Mr. Falkland is likely to murder Mr. Tyrell. Caleb is a curious individual and will stop at nothing until his curiosity is satisfied. Mr. Hawkins and his son, tenants of Mr. Tyrell were found guilty of his murder and then executed. Mr. Falkland falls in love with Mr. Tyrell’s cousin, who died drastically after she was put in jail by Tyrell. Godwin’s moral philosophy and ideology are also reflected in his book. Caleb Williams focuses on political and psychological aspects in which injustice prevails. Godwin wrote  Things as They Are or The Adventures of Caleb Williams just a year after of Political Justice written in 1793. Through his work, the author tries to speak out and alert society about having equality which should benefit society as a whole. It seems like Godwin identifies himself as the society and Mr. Farkland as the Government in his book. Godwin’s moral beliefs are shown in his novel to indicate there is a moral problem. Godwin thinks that government is the cause of all tragedy and misery and that government should not exist. This statement is a little contradictory because a healthy government is an organism that will take society to prosperity in all aspects or at least will try to fight for it. After the book Things as They Are or The Adventures of Caleb Williams,  William Godwin was criticized and considered by the government as a political propagandist and a threat. Godwin did not have any self-interest other than justice and equality. He writes with passion and believes that a world will be better through literature, justice, and education. He also thinks that “reason” will help us to discipline ourselves. “Reason cannot excite us to action; it is calculated to regulated our conduct.”

The relation that is found between Godwin’s text and other texts is the identification of values and virtues that are represented in his works such as benevolence, political justice, and impartiality. These values approach the representation of Utopia because he looks for improvement in the quality of life. Through his ideological texts, Godwin approaches a utopian socialism in which he manifests with “rational impartiality” that “justice in property” is voluntary to give up on something to give it to the one who needs it the most but this has to be without the use of any force. The act of generosity is to relinquish a personal possession. This might be seen as a part of the representation of Utopia.

Questions:

Do you think we need “reason” for improvement of society?

If there is an abolition of all government in the present life, do you think individuals are going to be able to take justice by themselves without coercion?

If governments would not exist, do you think society would work better by not being controlled?