The Resolution

"I shall die, and what I now feel be no longer felt. Soon these burning miseries will be extinct. I shall ascend my funeral pile triumphantly and exult in the agony of the torturing flames. The light of that conflagration will fade away; my ashes will be swept into the sea by the winds. My spirit will sleep in peace, or if it thinks, it will not surely think thus. Farewell" (pg 211).

Oh my lanta!! I admit...this book was decently boring up until the last two chapters. I want to know what the heck Walton was going on in Walton's mind when he was faced with this story of two monsters (other than what was said in the letters of course). If I were him, I would feel like I was in some sort of dream. Not only did he randomly find this dude who created life with this bare hands...but he found the creation, too, which had killed off all of the creator's family. Insanity. After reading the last chapter, I had trouble deciding whose side I was on in the end: Victor or the monster? Honestly, I think that they ended up having the same personality. They were both benevolent people to begin with. Victor worked hard in his studies and cared deeply for his family, but ended up being alone and miserable in the end. The monster desired to learn language and love from the cottagers, but he ended up being alone and miserable in the end, too. The novel seemed like a big long description of the two characters chasing each other around, trying to get revenge. To be honest, they could have been each other's good friends had they given the other the chance. I enjoyed the book for the most part; however, the complaining and whining about misery grew old after awhile.

Benevolence/Malevolence

"...I saw at the open window a figure the most hideous and abhorred. A grin was on the face of the monster; he seemed to jeer, as his fiendish finger he pointed towards the corpse of my wife. I rushed towards the window, and drawing a pistol from my bosom, fired; but he eluded me, leaped from his station, and running with the swiftness of lightning, plunged into the lake" (pg 187).

Earlier in the novel, I blogged about my feelings of sympathy towards the monster and state of loneliness...and I am sure that I was not the only one who felt bad for the poor, "wretched" monster. After this scene, though, where he guiltlessly murders Elizabeth, my feelings have changed a bit. I think this is why the creation of Frankenstein is such an interesting character. He evokes different emotions from the audience at different times in the story. For example, towards the middle, the audience could relate to his hurt and agony, but now they despise him for his evil acts. In my opinion, Mary Shelley uses the monster as a perfect portrayal of society. The monster shows both benevolence and malevolence (lack of benevolence) that society maintains. Although difficult for us to admit, we are created to be benevolent beings; however, it is easier to be malevolent after enduring hardships. This is why it is easy for the audience to relate with Frankenstein's monster.

Suspense

"Sometimes I thought that the fiend followed me and might expedite my remissness by murdering my companion. When these thoughts possessed me, I would not quit Henry for a moment, but followed him as his shadow, to protect him from the fancied rage of his destroyer. I felt as if I had committed some great crime, the consciousness of which haunted me. I was guiltless, but I had indeed drawn down a horrible curse upon my head, as mortal as that of crime" (pg 155).

Okay, seriously Frankenstein??? What in the world are you doing skipping around Europe when you have a monster to please??? Not only does Frankenstein tick me off during this scene, but he is acting absolutely stupid, too! He has almost waited a year before beginning to create the female monster when he knows the consequences of his actions. HIS FUTURE WIFE IS AT STAKE! Does he not understand that putting this task off will inflict suffering and death on other people besides himself?? How could he be so selfish!!!?? Anyway...the last line of the quote left me with suspense. He did not say he "might have" drawn down a horrible curse upon his head, but he INDEED had drawn down a horrible curse upon his head. This line is one of the reasons I had trouble putting the book down before falling asleep last night. Frankenstein knows how to draw his audience in at the right time. Because of his cliffhangers, the audience pays attention to more detail and foreshadowing in order to figure out the result of his neglect. Now, I want to know if the female monster is ever created...or if it is created in time to please the creature. If Elizabeth ends up dead because of Frankenstein's ignorance...I'm going to be so angry.

Foreshadowing

"For a few moments I gazed with delight on her dark eyes, fringed by deep lashes, and her lovely lips; but presently my rage returned; I remembered that I was forever deprived of the delights that such beautiful creatures could bestow and that she whose resemblance I contemplated would, in regarding me, have changed that air of divine benignity to one expressive of digust and affright" (pg 136).

In this scene, when the monster revels at the beauty of William's mother, he reflects on his lonely life where he does not get to experience the affection of a woman. After he describes the beauty of the woman in the picture, I knew that he was trying to foreshadow his desire for a woman of his own. I knew that somehow he was going to attain a female companion of his own. Sure enough, at the end of the chapter, he requests the creation of a woman to Frankenstein. This request reminded me of one of the Frosty the Snowman episodes shown on ABC Family during the Christmas season. There is one episode where the kids roll up another snowman, or snowwoman, to be Frosty's wife so that he is not alone when the kids go inside after dark. They are both lonely, strange creatures with kind hearts that deserve someone to acknowledge them. It will be interesting to see IF the female monster is ever created, and what she will look like if she is created. Will they be happy together? Or will it be the disaster that Frankenstein predicted?

Theme: Loneliness

"Who can describe their horror and consternation on beholding me? Agatha fainted, and Safie, unable to attend o her friend, rushed out of the cottage. Felix darted forward, and with supernatural force tore me from his father, to whose knees I clung...But my heart sank within me as with bitter sickness, and I refrained...I quitted the cottage, and in the general tumult escaped unperceived to my hovel" (pg 129).

Of course, as any other human being with a heart, I felt sympathy towards the creature while he told his story. However, this particular scene, a great example of a main theme (loneliness), had me sitting up in bed with my eyes glued to the text. I had high hopes for the monster when he chose to introduce himself to the cottagers. By the routine of their daily lives, they seemed open-hearted and kind, and I guessed that they would take the monster in as a friend. Obviously, I am too optimistic at times. Their rejection of the monster not only made him he feel alone, abandoned, and hopeless, but it made me feel hopeless for the monster, too. He honestly is not asking for much! In fact, I think he has worked for the cottagers for so long that he deserves more than acceptance...he deserves a friend or a companion. I have not finished the novel, but I do know that the monster has asked Frankenstein to create him a woman with a similar appearance. To me, this is the saddest part. He must ASK to have someone CREATED in order for him to feel less lonely. If Frankenstein understands his story and feels sympathy, too, then why doesn't he take the monster in as his friend?

Elizabeth and Victor

"And when, on the morrow, she presented Elizabeth to me as her promised gift, I, with childish seriousness, interpreted her words literally and looked upon Elizabeth as mine--mine to protect, love, and cherish. All praises bestowed on her I received as made to a possession of my own..."

I am sure that this is a common topic or question among the audience: what is the relationship between Victor and Elizabeth? Although they refer to each other throughout the first half of the novel as "cousin," there seems to be more there than family relations. Victor continues to describe Elizabeth as someone who was "more than a sister" but that leaves so much room for interpretation. Does he mean that he loves her in a different way than a sister? Or does it mean that they are just really close? Although it would be sort of creepy if they had romantic feelings toward one another, I almost think it would be kind of cute. Technically, they are not related and have grown up side-by-side; therefore, they already know one another and care for one another. But how would there family react? Would they expect a romantic relationship to form between to the two of them, or would they be completely surprised? Ahh the suspense! I secretly hope they get together, and that she does not die (because that is what people are telling me will most likely happen). I am going to remain positive, and hope for a happy ending between the two, even though Victor makes it clear that he winds up miserable.

Annoyance

"I see by your eagerness and the wonder and hope which your eyes express, my friend, that you expect to be informed of the secret with which I am acquainted; that cannot be; listen patiently until the end of my story, and you will easily perceive why I am reserved upon that subject. I will not lead you on, unguarded and ardent as I then was, to your destruction and infallible misery..." (51-52)

One aspect of the novel that I have found rather annoying, is Frankenstein's tendency to leave out important (in my opinion) and interesting information. When describing his work and time spent creating the monster, I was waiting for details as to the method he used to form the monster. However, he tells the audience that providing that information would lead to misery. In other words, his creation of the body led to his own misery. After reading this quote, my curiosity sparked, and I wanted to know why obtaining such information would lead to unhappiness. It's rather odd to me that he has worked so hard in his studies and career, and all of the knowledge he has spent time attaining, has come back to haunt him. It scares me actually. To know that I may one day work so hard for something, and it only leads to misery. Anywho, I just want to know if he reveals to his family and society that he was the one who created the monster. I want to know if he reveals how he did it to anyone ever...or if he has always kept it a secret. I guess I'll just have to wait and see!

Theme

"From the tortures of my own heart, I turned to contemplate the deep and voiceless grief of my Elizabeth. This also was my doing! And my father's woe, and the desolation of that late so smiling home--all was the work of my thrice-accursed hands!" (pg 85)

Throughout the first half of the novel, a consistent theme of "health" can be recognized. Towards the beginning of the book, we witness the death of Victor's mother, and the grief it played on the family. Because his mother died due to the care of Elizabeth, we see her demonstrate kind heartedness and sacrificial desire to take care of her family. Then, towards the middle of the book, Frankenstein receives letters from both Elizabeth and his father explaining the grief the family is enduring. His father tells Frankenstein that it would help to relieve their grief if he returned home. The irony of the situation, though, is that Frankenstein is the cause of their bad health and ill feelings. Because the monster that Victor created killed William, Frankenstein's younger brother and the reasoning for the family's grief, Frankenstein is the source and initial cause. Also, he is the reason that Justine is killed in the end, also. If Frankenstein had not created a monster, then William would still be alive and in good health, and Justine would have never been accused of murder.

Foil characters

"Believe me, Frankenstein, I was benevolent; my soul glowed with love and humanity; but am I not alone, miserably alone? You, my creator, abhor me; what hope can I gather from your fellow creature, who owe me nothing? They spurn and hate me. The desert mountains and dreary glaciers are my refuge..." (pg 96)

Although it may be too early in the novel to tell, I believe that Frankenstein and his monsters are foil characters. In my opinion, the monster is more logical and humane than Frankenstein, who automatically characterizes his creation as evil and disastrous. So far, after his creation, Frankenstein seems to have become less human and more like a monster. However, his creation seems to becoming more human. The monster talks in an eloquent manner which emphasizes his characteristics as a human being. On the other hand, Frankenstein shuts the monster out and refuses to accept any explanation he provides to justify his behavior. Also, Frankenstein judged his creation before talking to him and getting to know him; he automatically characterized him as destructive and scary. The monster only wants a chance, but is willing to walk away when Frankenstein asks him to leave. "Thus I relieve thee, my creator." (pg 97) Frankenstein demonstrates hatred while Frankenstein demonstrates compassion.

Framestory

"Prepare to hear of occurences which are usually deemed marvelous. We were among the tamer scenes of nature I might fear to encounter your unbelief, perhaps your ridicule; but many things will appear possible in these wild and mysterious regions which would provoke the laughter of those acquainted with the ever-varied power of nature..." (pg 28)

In the commencement of the novel, we witness the letters that Walton writes to his sister. He explains his desire to acquire information from a man that they found and that boarded their ship. When the letters cease, and chapter one begins, the audience realizes that majority of the book consists of Victor Frankenstein, the dreary man on the ship, telling his story to Walton. The use of the frame story allows the author, Mary Shelley, to naturally use first person. The story being told is Victor Frankenstein directly speaking to the audience, or Walton. By doing this, the speaker and the author form a more intimate relationship with the audience, and allows the story to feel more personal. Also, the frame story forebodes the ending, which plants a seed of curiosity in the mind of the reader. That way, the reader is searching for the process that led Victor Frankenstein to chasing his monster on a dog sled.

The Resolution

"It was only a smile, nothing more. It didn't make everything all right. It didn't make anything all right. Only a smile. A tiny thing. A leaf in the woods, shaking in the wake of a startled bird's flight...but I'll take it. With open arms. Because when spring comes, it melts the snow one flake at a time, and maybe I just witnessed the first flake melting" (pg 371).


In my opinion, the conclusion of the novel was perfect considering the circumstances that had occurred previously in the novel. The novel was a roller coaster ride of tragedy and mourning, and to make the ending either happy or disastrous would leave the novel feeling unbalanced. Seeing Amir change his ways, and become a selfless person who put Sohrab's life before his own, displayed the importance of the novel: dedication and forgiveness. Although there was heartbreak and betrayal, amends were made in the end. Comparing the ice Sohrab had possessed in his personality since his attempted suicide to the snow of the first winter, shows the potential change that may become of Sohrab. It leaves the audience with a positive outlook, and hope for Sohrab to have a better life in San Francisco. Not only does Amir gain a child, but he gains the child of a half-brother whose story had haunted him his entire life. Now, both Sohrab and Amir can live at peace with themselves, and they can forget their tragic pasts. The story provides hope.

Betrayal

"I'm thirty-eight years old and I've just fund out my whole life is one big f*cking lie! What can you possibly say to make things better? Nothing. Not a goddamn thing! And with that, I stormed out of the apartment" (pg 223).


Although I could never imagine myself in Amir's shoes during this point in the novel, I understand his anger towards Rahim Khan. Amir has been harboring this guilt for not being able to please Baba, and for hurting Hassan the way he had, for twenty years. Then, to find out that his servant was his brother, and Baba had lied to him throughout the entirety of his life, would push that anger over the edge. Now, not only did Amir have to make amends with a servant in order to be at peace with himself, but he had to makes amends with his half-brother, too. If I were Amir, I would go back and reconsider all of the decisions I would have made differently had I been aware of my relationship with Hassan. Yes, Amir was aware that he had betrayed but a friend, but now he had to come to terms with betraying his blood...his family. In my opinion, this is what drives Amir to make things right with Hassan: for Baba and himself to forgive themselves and make peace with one another. Although Baba had died years prior to Amir's discovery, Baba's name would still be honorable if Amir made up for his mistreatment by raising Sohrab, Hassan's son.

Simile

"They were slaughter sheep's eyes. They even had the mascara--I remembered how, on the day of Eid of qorban, the mullah in our backyard used to apply mascara to the eyes of the sheep and feed it a cube of sugar before slicing it's throat. I thought I saw pleading in Sohrab's eyes" (pg 285). One particular literary technique that Khaled Hosseini uses to describe memories vividly, is the use of metaphors and similes. In this chapter of the novel, Amir refers to the look in Sohrab's eyes to resemble a sheep that is being prepared to be sacrificed. When I read this line, Sohrab portrayed an innocent and naive animal who only wanted to be free. The comparison that Amir makes between the two is what makes the line so powerful, and allows the audience to feel the empathy that Amir felt when seeing Sohrab in such a terrible position. Also, the story is a sequence of memories. Therefore, the comparison between the sheep and Sohrab is a result of Amir's memory. That is exactly how Amir felt about Sohrab in that moment. Withuot the use of similes, the audience would have a more difficult time imagining the look in Sohrab's eyes. The image Amir is trying to portray would not be so realistic.

Motif

"She was pointing to the sky. A half-dozen kites were flying high, speckles of bright yellow, red, and green against the gray sky" (pg 366). In The Kite Runner, the influence of kites plays a large role in the novel. In the begining of the book, Amir describes flying kites as an extra-cirricular activity that becomes a lifestyle for children in the winter. As he grows older, however, kite flying is no longer seen as an important aspect of his life. In my opinion, kite flying, or kites in general, are a motif of the novel that represent dedication. According to Amir, they practiced kite flying every day as children in order to perfect the sport, wanting to become the best to impress Baba. After Hassan was raped, though, due to the dedication he had to Amir, neither of the children flew kites any longer. In the conclusion of the novel, kites make their final appearance because Amir forgave himself and dedicated his own life to Sohrab. Now, he wanted to make Sohrab happy and was dedicated to raising him in a healthy environment; therefore, kite flying is not only a motif of the novel, but it is also represents the theme: dedication.

Dynamic Character

"And one more thing, General Sahib...You will never again refer to him as 'Hazara boy' in my presence. He has a name and it's Sohrab" (pg 361). Throughout the first half of the novel, Amir is constantly concerned with the opinion of his father. He consistently attempts to win the affection of Baba and make his father proud of his own accomplishments. He refers to Hassan as his servant, when in fact he is his best friend and his half-brother. Not only can he not defend himself, but he allows Hassan to be injured for the sake of his own pride. Towards the middle of the novel, however, the audience can detect a change in Amir's character when Amir begins to redeem himself through his search for Sohrab. By realizing that the right thing to do is fight for one's beliefs, Amir is a dynamic character. He makes the change from selfish to selfless and devotes nearly seven months to helping Sohrab. He treats Sohrab as his own son, even though he is a Hazara.