Detailed comparison notes on Frankenstein and The Handmaid's Tale. These notes helped get me an A* for English Literature A-level. Includes comparison of themes, context, the language and structure of both novels. Very helpful for getting A* essays and for revising. Great price considering how long...
Frankenstein and Handmaid’s Tale comparison notes
Key
Frankenstein
The Handmaid’s Tale
Dreams
o Dreams play a significant role in Gothic fictions- often reveal psychological states.
o Shelley juxtaposes Victor Frankenstein’s dream with vision of the Creature-opens up
layers of interpretation.
Victor’s dream that bringing the Creature to life was equivalent to killing Elizabeth-
prophetic.
Dreams- return of the repressed.
Suggests that sexuality frightens/revolts Victor- perhaps prefers to find a means of
procreation that eliminates sexual activity.
Eyes
o Eyes represent surveillance/Gilead’s authority/eternal watchfulness of God/totalitarian
state ‘under his eye’.
o Threat- anyone could be an eye/they’re everywhere.
o Framing/Chinese box technique creates a structure like an eye- Walton’s letters are the
white of eye, Victor’s story is the iris, and the Creature’s narrative is the unknown pupil- a
black hole drawing characters into destruction and unknown.
o Enclosing narrative frames represent boundaries crossed/transgressions.
o The pupil is Joseph Conrad’s ‘Heart of Darkness’.
o Shelley’s message- we’re quick to judge on what we see- aesthetic prejudice-
injustice/discrimination.
Threat
o Both behaviours threaten to damage society surrounding them.
o Offred is involved in subversive efforts of Mayday.
o Victor similarly continues subversive scientific endeavor- creating the Creature’s
companion.
Birth/fertility
o Women are fertile vessels ‘two legged wombs’ ‘we are containers’ pg107.
o Context- sexual revolution, birth control, STD’s and fertility crisis.
o Widespread protest against abortion at time written-demonized women who sought
control over own body.
o ‘Birthday’- celebration/ritual- baby taken from Janine- destruction of family/humanity
easily removed.
o No natural birth.
o Victor gives birth to a Creature- Shelley uses words associated with childbirth e.g.
‘labour’s’ and ‘confinement’.
o Widespread fear towards processes e.g. Galvanism-restore life to a dead body through
electrical currents.
o Moon- symbol of fertility.
Narrative structure
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