Allen Smith’s essay does pose an interesting view on the historical racial influences on Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein. He explains to his reader the connection between the time’s West Indian and American Slaves and the concepts of master and slave. Smith also delves quickly into the ideas of sexuality denial and revenge. However, does leave out quite a view other views of our recent times. He picks and chooses from works that were publish in the mid twentieth century and forward, creating his own explanation of the creature and his creator.
One view that I found was not factored into Smith’s essay was the literary concept of education. How does our education shape our views and make us the people (or creatures) that we are today? Smith lightly touches upon this by comparing the way the creature learns from the De Lacey family to the way West Indian and American slaves who “were forced to find their covert education as they might” (553). I had never thought about the creature like a slave trying to learn denied knowledge in secret, instead I viewed the creature as more of a blank sleight who was starting fresh. In my mind I missed the fact that there were people in world history who aged to adulthood having no education. However, my issue with comparing these historical figures to the creature is the creature is more like a child. He did not have other life experiences to learn from like historical slaves did. I do in fact see the similarities, but in my mind the creature’s education is more representative of one of man’s most basic conundrums, nature vs nurture.
Another previously discussed topic Allen Smith draws upon is the concepts of sexuality. Smith only writes about this topic for an about two pages, however the idea spans enough to fill many more than that. His overall thesis about the topic of sexually seems to align with much of what was said in the critical history, however he does not branch out as much but rather focuses on how “the Creature is denied control and fulfillment in sexuality” (559). I was a little surprised with this and to read about Smith’s theory about the Creature’s thoughts about rape and sexual assault I was interested to see a different take. I personally was more interested in the ideas of gender roles and expectations that are pressed upon the monster. I would seem that the monster was heavily influenced by his observations and learnings and sought a female partner. Victor himself also represents quite a bit of sexual issues, so I would be curious to find out what Allen Smith would say about him. Over all you can see quite clearly that Allen Smith draws upon many of the basic ideas that are mentioned in the critical history, however brings his own take on things. I am very curious to discuss this in class!
Great insight! While I was reading, there were a few things that I would like to hear more of. The concept of education is very interesting in this essay by Smith. When you say, “I had never thought about the creature like a slave trying to learn denied knowledge in secret, instead I viewed the creature as more of a blank sleight who was starting fresh,” I agreed. I even touched upon in a class discussion that I found it interesting the mind of an infant was in the skull of an adult. Until Smith compared these ideas to slavery, I did not make the connection. As with my mind, I too missed the fact that “there were people in world history who aged to adulthood having no education.” Again, the reality that so many different people can read a single text and make such different connections and understanding of it is impeccable.