Chelsea’s Blog

Chelsea Simpson
April 20, 2009
English 101

“words are words, get over it…”

There is no question that we live in a technologically advanced world, so much so that new advancements are now allowing for readers to access written works on the internet or via a CD-rom in replace of the traditional bound novel. This has called into question, the affect that the reader will get from reading off the new medium. For example, does a reader get the same effect when reading words through a computer screen than from a print book. Although preferences may change from person to person, “words are still words- on page or screen” (Birkerts 154). Birkerts feels strongly against this notion of sameness. Sven Birkerts, the author of The Gutenberg Elegies, claims that there is a distinct difference between reading a book and reading words off of a computer screen. Birkerts argues that “because the order of print is linear” it allows the reader to stay both focused and engaged in the material. Whereas reading a hypertext lacks the physical aspects associated with a book. In Birkerts eyes this makes it less likely for a reader to concentrate and pay attention to the material. But is that really the case?  After reading, the hypertext, Patchwork Girl, created by Shelley Jackson, being engaged was not an issue.  In fact, the opposite occurred even though it was not linear or organized, it was fairly easy to comprehend and follow. Although, Birkerts would disagree with the fact that Shelly’s hypertext Patchwork Girl is a novel because it is not in traditional print form, my experience with Patchwork Girl has lead to the conclusion that this could be classified as a novel.  Not only does this work challenge the mind but it makes the reader to work to piece the story together.
Sven Birkerts, the author of The Gutenberg Elegies, believes that reading a work through a computer screen is not as effective as reading from a book or print.   Birkerts suggests that  a “screen and book may exhibit the same string of words, but the assumptions that underlie their significance are entirely different depending on whether we are reading from a book or a circuit generated text” (Birkerts 128 ). In other words, he believes that reading on the computer does not produce the same effect as reading from a book. The author of The Gutenberg Elegies points to electronic hypertext as the easy way out.  He believes that the modern day reader may prefer this nontraditional way of reading because of its ease and availability. He brings up the fact that because books are linear and have pages they allow for time management which in turn allows for “the active engagement of the readers attention” (Birkerts 122).  The aspect of  turning from page to page is lost when reading from an electronic device such as a computer and “detail and linear sequentially are sacrificed” (Birkerts 122).  In fact the linear aspect of a book actually is the easy way out; reading a hypertext challenges the mind as well as gives the reader freedom to choose what and when they want to read. This actually allows the reader to be engaged in the hypertext because it is constantly challenging you to pay attention to the text.
Birkerts point of view that when reading a work it must be linear and have a set path; however, from my own personal experience I found this assumption to be otherwise. An electronic hypertext is capable of doing something that a regular book cannot. Books often lead to boredom and distraction.  However, when reading a hypertext by means of the internet or computer screen  the reader can actually become more engaged and focused. The convenience of being able to look up the definition of unknown words with the ease of the internet keeps one reading without hesitation.  Although Birkert’s argues that you need pages to get through a reading, my experience has found this to be false.  Page numbers are not necessary to keep track of time and duration of reading time.  The story plot can serve the same purpose in determining the duration of ones reading time, in low points a break could be taken.
Patchwork Girl, the hypertext by Shelley Jackson, is unlike any print book of I have experienced.  This work is an adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein; it allows for and challenges the reader to be very “hands on.”  This notion of hands on allows the reader to become engaged in the reading. Patchwork Girl, required an initial process of downloading the text to a computer before it could be read. When it opened on the screen, the expectation of  music or the presence page numbers filled my mind.  Instead, the computer screen confronted me with a of a picture of a woman. After clicking on it the woman forwarded pages to what appeared to be the title page. Initially overwhelming was  the fact that the work had no set direction or path in which to read.  Instead the reader clicks on what interests them and the reader keeps choosing their own path as the story progresses. After a bit of exploring of the Patchwork Girl the story map came to the screen.  It appeared in the form of a web, this gave a visual depiction of the different paths in novel. This seemed odd as the book did not have a set direction and it was hard to determine if there was a beginning. After completion of the reading it can be concluded that Patchwork Girl does not have a beginning nor  an end. This lead to the belief that this media form of novels is far from easy to understand.  But I came to the conclusion that Patchwork Girl challenges the readers mind in different ways, it makes you put the pieces together and use your imagination to an extent that a traditional book would not. Shelley Jackson’s purpose of creating this piece may have been to challenge the mind to new extents, which challenges readers who are  accustomed of reading print pieces to struggle through and become accustomed to hypertext works like Patchwork Girl.  The fact that this piece does not have a set direction allows the reader to have freedom that isn’t present in a traditional novel.
Overall, the hypertext Patchwork Girl served as a challenge for the reader, which I believe may have been Shelly Jackson’s purpose for creating this media. She strove to show that there are different ways in which to read, as opposed to the traditional front to back reading with pages  Although Birkerts suggests the technology or more specifically hypertext is the “easy way out,” Patchwork Girl was far from easy to read. Instead of having a set path or direction  Patchwork Girl allows the reader to have freedom to choose what and when they want to read.  Every time that I opened Patchwork Girl I was challenged, I found something new and would have to go back and “piece” the story together. Hypertext may not be the traditional form in which one reads a novel, but it is still a written work and should be considered a novel regardless of its medium. As technology progresses it would not be surprising to see more hypertext works available to the people. Hypertext may only be the beginning of a media revolution in novels and other written works.

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Chelsea Simpson

English

February 2009

Irony of Dark Creation in Frankenstein

Intertextuality can be described as various relationships that a given text may have within other works of literature. There are several styles of intertexuality that can be placed within writings which include “anagram, allusion, adaptation, translation, parody, pastiche, [and] imitation.” Authors include these separate writings into their own usually to convey a significant message or emphasize a point. Intertexuality aids the reader in understanding the meaning of the work.

Mary Shelly, the author of the 1818 gothic novel Frankenstein, uses intertexualitywhen she references a quote from Paradise Lost. Paradise Lost was and still is an especially famous series of writings that were published in the mid 1600’s. The author of the twelve books was a man named John Milton. Milton’s series was based around the biblical reference to Adam and Eve, as well as God the father and Satan. Shelley quotes early on in the novel, “Not only does the meaning of this quote relate to the general idea of Frankenstein; but if one goes back and reads the lines of Paradise Lost (book ten; lines 720-786) where this particular quote was found, the reader would see many common traits to Paradise Lost as well as the novel Frankenstein. Although many view Paradise as a blissful place, in this particular part of Paradise Lost, Milton changes the mood of happiness to the unexpected theme of darkness which is carried out in book ten. This biblical version of Adam and Eve shows the creation process does in fact have flaws. Shelley borrows the irony of dark creation in Paradise Lost and uses it in Frankenstein. Thus, one could conclude that Shelley takes creation which many think of as a joyful time, and changes it to something dismal while also adding death to reinstate the predominate theme of darkness throughout the novel. The first reference to Paradise Lost in Frankenstein is revealed in the beginning of the novel, thus introducing the reader to the dual-concepts of creation. On the title page, Shelley quotes an excerpt from Paradise Lost: “Did I request thee, Maker, from my clay to mold me man? Did I solicit thee from darkness to Promote Me?”(-Paradise Lost [X.74-75]). This quote generates sympathy for not only Adam; Gods creation, but also for the Monster that was the creation of Viktor Frankenstein. Though one may not pay a great deal of attention to this quote at first, creation is a chief theme in the novel. The theme dark creation is demonstrated throughout Frankenstein. In this version of creation, Victor plays the role of God because he too creates life. In chapter five, after Victor spends nearly two years perfecting his creature it finally comes to life and quotes;Did I request thee, Maker, from my clay to mold me man? Did I solicit thee from darkness to Promote Me?”

“It was already one in the morning; the rain pattered dismally against the panes, and my candle was nearly burnt out, when, by the glimmer of the half extinguishes light, I was the dull yellow eye of the creature open’ it was breathed hard, and convulsive motion agitated limbs.”

At this point the reader begins to feel a darkness created within the monster but also begins to question Victor. Unlike in the story of the creation of Man, Victor abandons the life he created as soon as the Monster is able to draw his first breath. Victor feels very disgusted with what he has created and rushes out of the room and leaves. The irony in this is that because Victor did leave the monster, he only knows to kill (page 60).

Another version of this irony is when Shelley takes the theme of dark creation and blames dark creation for death. One quote in particular from Paradise Lost (book ten) which may catch the readers eye is, “Why am I mocked with death, and lengthened out to deathless pain?” Although Shelley did not include this quote in her novel, it sounds very much like something either Frankenstein or the Monster would say. Death is tragically common theme in Frankenstein, whether it was natural or caused by the hands of the Monster. Victor could play the role of God as well as Adam from Paradise Lost, because in Paradise Lost, Adam is the one who is mocked with death because there shouldn’t be death in Paradise. Victor Frankenstein is especially tormented and mocked with death, as it was by his hands the creature was created and it was the creature that was killing members of Victor’s family. Right after Victor creates the monster he quotes;

The porter opened the gates of the court, which had that night been my asylum, and I issued into the streets, pacing them with quick steps, as if I sought to avoid the wrench whom I feared every turning of the street would present to my view.”At this point in the novel, Victor begins to realize that he created a monster which he now fears. Victor is mocked with death in a sense that because he did not educate him or provide him with knowledge, the monster murders two member of Victors family to get back at Victor. In chapter seven, William (Victors youngest brother) is murdered. Victor returns home and he believes that the monster killed William; however, Justine (a young girl that was adopted into the Frankenstein family) is accused of the murder. Justine is convicted and dies. These two incidents do mock death towards Victor because he created the monster which lacked knowledge therefore leaving the monster to kill to his beloved members of Victors family. Thus, Victor is to blame for the murders because he created the monster. Victor could play the role of God as well as Adam from Paradise lost, because in Paradise Lost Adam is the one who is mocked with death. Adam is mocked with death because in the particular quote he is saying As you can see in Frankenstein, the themes of death as well as dangerous knowledge parallel each other in a very dark way.

The theme of darkness is prominent throughout both Frankenstein and Paradise Lost. After reading parts of Paradise Lost, book ten, one could clearly see that the passage is overwhelmed with darkness. Milton uses words such as misery, death, horrid, dreadful, and gloom to express emotion. Going back to the original quote; “Did I request thee, Maker, from my clay to mold me man? Did I solicit thee from darkness to Promote Me,” the word darkness is also stated in the above quote. The word darkness in this quotation is particularly relevant in both Frankenstein and Paradise Lost book ten because of the of dark creation which causes death. My interpretation is that the irony in Frankenstein is not about horror in the novel, its about dark creation itself. Though psychological horror is relevant in Frankenstein, its brought up in the form of dark creation. Though the monster may be the one looked at as being a very dark creature, Victor is actually the one who portrays a very dark image. He is the creator for the monster, therefore he is to blame for not nurturing his creation which leads the monster to kill. Thus, Shelley’s usage of Paradise Lost may classify as intertexual adaptation. In Frankenstein, Shelley incorporates the general ideas and principles from Paradise Lost as well as creates her own vision of Paradise Lost in the novel.

My original thoughts before reading the novel, Frankenstein, was that of a scary mad scientist who brings monsters back from the dead. After reading the beginning of Frankenstein, my assumptions were quite accurate. A point occurred when I turned to my roommate and asked her, “is this really the book about scary green monsters?” She laughed and replied “well not exactly…” Mary Shelley, who was the original author of this classic novel, begins the story with an introduction followed by four letters. The letters introduced an explorer by the name of, R. Walton, who wrote to his sister, Margaret, while he was on a voyage in the North. During Walton’s exploration, he comes across a wounded man who is then helped aboard the ship. After the stranger is able to talk and he is heeled, he tells Walton that he will now explain his story. Thus, these letters were of great significance because they are setting up the narration of this novel from this stranger’s perspective. Chapter one then begins.

Throughout the first pages of chapter one the narrator, later known as Victor, talks about his parents and how they met and then married. Later in the chapter, Victor explains how during his childhood when he was close to five years old in Italy, when he and his mother came across a young foster girl, Margaret. Victor’s mother ends up adopting Margaret and wishing one day that Victor and Margaret would one day be together. Margaret and Victor become close friends as they grow old. In Chapter two, there are two quotes that stand out to me. The first quote is when Victor was about thirteen he came across and become interested in the works of Corneluis Agrippa. Victor quotes that, “my father looked carelessly at the title page of my book and said, “Ah! Cornelius Agrippa! My dear Victor, do not waste your time upon this; it is sad trash.” Victor continues to read with great avidity. Another quote that stands out is when Victor suggests, “ my father was not scientific, and I was left to struggle with the child’s blindness, added to a student thirst for knowledge.” He becomes interested in natural philosophy. At the end of this chapter, Victor experiences electricity when he witnesses a storm that causes a tree shatter. Victor comments that he “never beheld anything so utterly destroyed.” In Chapter three, Elisabeth catches scarlet fever and then proceeds to give it to Victor’s mother. On her death bed, Caroline (his mother) pleads for them to one day be together, and no sooner does she pass away. Because of his mothers death, his departure for Ingolstadt where he was going to attend school was delayed. Finally, the time comes for Victor to leave and both Elisabeth and Clerval (a schoolmate and good friend) share the last evening with him. The next morning he leaves for his school and later meets his Chemistry professor named, Waldman. He is intrigued by the lecture, and decides to persue his studies in natural philosophy, but particularity chemistry. In chapter four, Victor comments that, “ to examine the causes of life, we must first recourse death.” He becomes aquainted with the science of the human body. He shuns himself from friends and family, and becomes close to being obsessed with his work.

As I read Chapter two, I began to see similarities between Birkerts and Victor. There are two quotes that scream Birkerts name to me when I read them. As I stated above, the first quote was, “my father looked carelessly at the title page of my book and said, “Ah! Cornelius Agrippa! My dear Victor, do not waste your time upon this; it is sad trash.” You may ask how the hell does this relate to Birkerts? Well in my eyes I see both Birkerts and Victor as young passionate readers. In a sense, I feel that both Birkerts and Victor’s fathers had a negative influence on them regarding reading and or writing. For instance, Birkerts comments that his father wanted him to go outside and play and use his time more wisely. On the other hand, Victor’s father urges him to put down the works of Corneluis Agrippa. In both situations I think that the negativity from their fathers only intrigued them to read or learn more. Another quote in Frankenstein also reminds me of Birkets. This is because in both situations their fathers lack the knowledge they wanted to possess. For example, Birkerts comment to his father was a man out in the world, a problem-solver…not so much a reader. In Frankenstein, Victor “ my father was not scientific, and I was left to struggle with the child’s blindness, added to a student thirst for knowledge.” Because Victor’s father was not scientific made Victor want to learn more. Thus, I found many similarties between both Birkerts and the character Victor in Frankenstein.

Although I do not have many questions regarding the novel, Frankenstein, I would ask, Mary Shelly if there was a reason she uses the word “undertaking” five times in the first letter. I realize that it is a difficult word to substitute, but I feel that every time she uses “undertaking” it was said with significant emotion. Does it have a deeper meaning? Or does it symbolize something hidden? Also, I would ask her where she came up with the name and title, Frankenstein. I know in the novel it is Victor Frankenstein, but did Mary know someone named Frankenstein in real life who may have resembled this mad scientist type image in her mind?

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After just reading the introduction of “The Gutenberg Elegies, Sven Birkerts thesis, that today’s society is living in too much of an electronic culture, became evident. He quoted on page five, that his friends and others “. . . cannot see this transformation going on around [them] because they cannot pry themselves free from their synchronic worldview.” It seemed to me that he thinks technology a direct reason for why our society is changing the literary world. The beginning of chapter one, titled “MahVuhHuhPuh,” Birkerts expressed his opinion about another author named Virginia Wolf. Not only did Birkerts talk about Wolf, he also cited a section of Wolfs essay, A Room of Ones. He then explained “by now the astute reader would have picked up one my game- that I am interested not only in celebrating Wolfs cunningly sidelong approach, but I am trying, in my own ungainly way, to imitate it.” As I kept reading, Birkerts stated that he had taught a course in 1992 called the “The American Short Story.” He commented that he assembled a set of readings that he thought would appeal to his young readers. After his students read the first couple books, it seemed to me Birkerts became very annoyed that his students did not enjoy the reading they were assigned. He expressed his feelings and noted he had to get to the bottom of their disinterest. Birkerts commented that “… they were not, with a few exceptions, readers-never had been, ” and that’s the reason behind why they didn’t enjoy this book. Towards the end of the chapter, I came a across one particular quote that frustrated me the most. One page twenty-five, Birkerts stated “. . . if [my daughter] does not read on her own, where will she find the nutrients she needs in order to evolve as an independent identity.” He then made a remark that children live in too much of an entertainment environment which went along with his thesis statement. After I finished reading the first chapter, I was very annoyed.

The first chapter really made me reflect on some of the key points I mentioned in the above paragraph. For instance, when Birkerts talked about the college course he had taught. He went on about why exactly he believed his students did not enjoy the books he assigned to them. Birkerts stated his students were not readers with a few exceptions and that’s why they didn’t enjoy this book. I had to roll my eyes when I read that quote because yes, some people do like to read and some people do not like to read. However, he made it seem to me that if they students didn’t like the book he put them in the category of the non readers. I think that it is highly critical of him to make a general statement like that. I know that I like to read books I can either relate to or interest me. I do not know why he though that all of his young students would be so ecstatic to read something one can not relate to. He explained these student were non readers because they have occupied themselves with technologies (music, TV, and videos) which could have led them to not liking this book. Although, I believe the students, or non readers as Birkerts would call them, just couldn’t relate to the material and that’s the number one reason on why they didn’t like it. Finally, when Birkerts worried that if his daughter does not read she will not evolve into her own independent identity it truly struck me as wrong. I totally agree that reading helps one shape into who they are . However, don’t all the things Birkerts was bashing, such as music, give someone an independent identity? Many factors such as family, friends, where you live, music, and TV, give a person characteristics about who they are. I was frustrated because Birkerts made it seem that if you do not read you do not have an independent identify. Thus I feel like Birkerts should further his explanations in some parts of chapter one instead of just making very opinionated statements.

If I could have an interview with Birkerts there are a few things I would ask him regarding chapter one. One question would be why does he have such a negative impression on technology? Yes, I know thinks is a direct connection between why young people today are “non readers,” but is their something more to that. I would also ask Birkerts to elaborate more on when he talked about not having an independent identity if you do not read. My question for him is what really he meant by independent identity. I know that I took it one way but I would like him to just explain to me what he think is an independent identity is. Furthermore, how could one person sole identity be places strictly on what they do or do not read? In conclusions, the first chapter of the Gutenberg Elegies made me not only reflect on some key points but also raise question for the author.

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