Great Expectations and Frankenstein?

[qwefty23]

Hi, I'm doing a project for and English class and our essay question is to write about how Frankenstein is a theme in the novel. Can anyone explain this to me please?

Thank you!

[kilted exile]

Nope that makes no sense to me.

It would make sense the other way around however. I.E. One of the themes of Frankenstien is Victor's "great expectations" of him in general because of his father being such a notable doctor & the expectations he has for his creation

[manolia]

(hehe kilted we saw Dickens name and responded, eh?)

You could say that Pip is somehow Estella's 'creation" in a sense. He was such a good and soft hearted boy, to begin with, but after being subjected to Estella's cruel treatment he grew up being proud (in the sense that he was ashamed of his poor relatives and friends) and grew rather unfeeling towards them and neglected them, trying the same time to become a gentleman. Look for example his reaction to his benefactor, Magwitch, when the revelation takes place and towards good old Joe.
The same with Frankenstein (the creature). He comes to the world sensitive and good towards people and longs for their friendship and love. After being subjected to their cruel behaviour he becomes a monster.
Ehhmmm hope that helps a little.

[kilted exile]

(yeh, we did)

I'm gonna have to disagree though, I really dont see enough in the similarity of themes to allow any significant linkage to take place, at least not enough for a full essay - maybe a paragraph along the lines Manolia noted, but I dont think there is enough meat there.

First I suppose you would have to decide which theme from Frankenstein you think is linked to GE. I have always been of the opinion that the main themes in Frankenstein are: Inability to deal with death; The intrusion of science into the new world & The pitfalls of obsession. The theme Manolia mentions of how an uncaring world can affect people is to me a minor theme, but it is probably the most suited to your essay. You might be able to work in the pitfalls of obsession, but I dont think this is the major theme in GE which deals with so much more besides this.

[manolia]

Yeah i agree, not much meat for an essay ;)

[qwefty23]

Thank you for your help anyways, I'm afraid my teacher can be a bit vague at times.
I asked one of my classmates if they had an idea about what he meant, and they thought like you, manolia, but with Pip being Magwitch's monster, and Pip being repelled by his creator... Like Frankenstein, but reversed.
It makes a bit more sense to me, but I think that Estella creating Pip as a sort of monster also does, so I am still a little stuck on the essay, but thank you for your help!

[sunny75]

hey, i dont kno if this is too late but there are alot of similarities between victor and his creation and Miss Havisham and her creation (Estella). You may have noticed Herbert's remark that Estella "has been created to wreak revenge on all male sex" or throughout the story how Estella is Miss Havisham's revenge tool on a society (specifically men) that has wronged her; compeyson and arthur's betrayal of Miss Havisham.
- check out chapter 38, it'll help you with the evidence for this frankenstein's theme

oh if that's not enough also do a comparison with Magwitch creating Pip, to take revenge his own way towards society..