Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Grab Your Torches

When Dr. Frankenstein shows Dr. Waldman, Elizabeth, and Victor his experiment, he brags about how much more advanced he had become after leaving medical school. He also bragged about his discovery of a light source more powerful than ultraviolet light. His lab consisted of various machines that appeared to be electrical in nature. The Monster was a product of this modern technology. I only mention this technology because of the hunting party at the end of the film. The weapon of choice to hunt this monster was a torch. There were no guns or sharp weapons evident, just torches. It seems ironic that The Monster was a product of sophisticated technology, but his demise happened with the most primitive of weapons.

6 comments:

  1. Perhaps the torch represents something else. The torch sheds light (literally) on the fact that the Monster in in fact something different physically. To me, it is symbolic of him being unable to cope with what he really is. Frankenstein is a sort of modern day Prometheus, and it is interesting that he creates a light source that progresses life (similar to the flame that Prometheus stole and gave to his creation, in the myth).

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  2. Maybe it goes along with the theme of bringing this dark monster into the light. It is interesting that the mob chases the monster with fire, or light, at the end because throughout the entire movie the monster is darkness coming into the light of life.

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  3. Maybe it goes along with the theme of bringing this dark monster into the light. It is interesting that the mob chases the monster with fire, or light, at the end because throughout the entire movie the monster is darkness coming into the light of life.

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  4. The idea that he was created with light seems to be interesting because I feel that maybe the idea of it being shone so brightly on him may have caused him to have a dislike toward it. When his first days were spent in the dark, that didn't seem to help either. I think if he had been able to grow more accustomed to light and dark right after his "rebirth," maybe he would not have been afraid of the bright light that fire gives out. It is ironic, as you said, that torches are used as the primary weapon to bring the Monster down. He may have had a brain of a corrupt man, but if he had not been mistreated from the get go, maybe he would have had a better chance of being sophisticated to more of a normal state.

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  5. The answer to this might be more literal. It was easy to throw around technical-sounding words and create futuristic sets, but adding a futuristic form of lighting would completely transform the film to a sci-fi feel.

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  6. I didn't read the book and didn't know it was subtitled "or The Modern Prometheus". It now makes sense with the relationship to fire. Prometheus stole fire from the gods to give to mankind so they could live, survive and create. He is given life in an unconventional manner and now when presented or confronted with fire/life, he is afraid of it. As the movie progresses he is continually confronted or forced to deal with the fire (life) until we see at the end he has overcome this fear of it and wants to be free and live. ( or maybe I'm reading too much into it, lol).

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