An Analysis of Frankenstein’s Spiritual Evolution in Frankenstein_英语论文

摘要

《弗兰肯斯坦》是玛丽·雪莱的著作，是历史上第一本科幻小说。小说主人公弗兰肯斯坦因为对自然科学的狂热追求创造出了怪物，又因其丑陋的外表将其抛弃。天生善良的怪物在受尽人间冷暖之后开始了对他的创造者疯狂报复，从而造成双方的悲惨结局。

评论界对本书的研究视角从20世纪70年代后逐渐多了起来，有女性主义、心理分析、恋母情结等。但是从精神演变角度出发且分阶段研究的尚少。因此，本文从精神演变的角度分析主人公弗兰肯斯坦来探讨玛丽·雪莱的这部科幻巨著。本文将弗兰肯斯坦的精神演变分为三个阶段，从痴迷到失望，最后是痛苦。

关键词: 玛丽·雪莱 《弗兰肯斯坦》 痴迷 失望 痛苦

Abstract

Frankenstein, a masterpiece of Mary Shelley, is regarded as the first science fiction in the modern sense. Victor Frankenstein, the protagonist of this book, creates a creature out of his crazy pursuit of natural philosophy. However, he discards the creature due to his ugly appearance. After experiencing so little warmth from human beings, the innately kind monster takes fierce revenge on his creator, resulting in the miserable fate of both of them.

Since 1970, this popular fiction has received extensive discussion, ranging from feminism to psychoanalysis and to Oedipus Complex. It seems there are relatively few reviews which put the spiritual evolution as their priority. As a result, this thesis, is an attempt to create a new understanding of Frankenstein by applying the angle of spiritual evolution. In this thesis, Frankenstein’s spiritual evolution falls into three stages: obsession, disappointment, and anguish.

Key words: Mary Shelley; Frankenstein; obsession; disappointment; anguish

Contents

1 Introduction 1

2 Obsession with Natural Philosophy 3

2.1 The influence from Frankenstein’s Early Experience 3

2.2 Reckless Ambition When Frankenstein Grows Up 5

3 Disappointment with His Creation 8

3.1 Loss of Dream 8

3.2 Fear and Despair 9

4 Hatred and Revenge 13

4.1 Revenge 13

4.2 Introspection 14

5 Conclusion 16

Bibliography 18

Acknowledgments 18