No Cover Image

Journal article 2064 views

'Filthy Types: "Frankenstein", Figuration, Femininity'

Steven Vine

Critical Survey, Volume: 8, Issue: 3, Pages: 246 - 258

Swansea University Author: Steven Vine

Abstract

The essay explores 'Frankenstein'’s representation of selfhood as an effect of specular figuration, and argues that the novel presents monstrosity as a condition of disfiguration. In the figure of the monster, Shelley ironises Victor Frankenstein’s specular figuration as narcissistic: his...

Full description

Published in: Critical Survey
Published: 1996
URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa17978
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
first_indexed 2014-05-16T01:30:06Z
last_indexed 2018-02-09T04:52:07Z
id cronfa17978
recordtype SURis
fullrecord <?xml version="1.0"?><rfc1807><datestamp>2014-05-15T16:34:29.2521177</datestamp><bib-version>v2</bib-version><id>17978</id><entry>2014-05-15</entry><title>'Filthy Types: "Frankenstein", Figuration, Femininity'</title><swanseaauthors><author><sid>8adad05ceecbaab7f4b2be512149b4d7</sid><firstname>Steven</firstname><surname>Vine</surname><name>Steven Vine</name><active>true</active><ethesisStudent>false</ethesisStudent></author></swanseaauthors><date>2014-05-15</date><deptcode>FGHSS</deptcode><abstract>The essay explores 'Frankenstein'&#x2019;s representation of selfhood as an effect of specular figuration, and argues that the novel presents monstrosity as a condition of disfiguration. In the figure of the monster, Shelley ironises Victor Frankenstein&#x2019;s specular figuration as narcissistic: his bid to create an image of self-aggrandisement falls into ruin. The essay argues that femininity in the novel is harnessed to the narcissism of male self-reflection. Just as Frankenstein&#x2019;s desire for his lover Elizabeth is figured in terms of specular narcissism, so the monster&#x2019;s desire for a mate is grasped by a dream of resemblance. The essay concludes by examining the female &#x2018;monsteress&#x2019; &#x2013; half-created and dismembered by Frankenstein late in the narrative &#x2013; as a figure that exceeds the economy of patriarchal, specular narcissism. The monsteress embodies a sublime of &#x2018;transgressive femininity.&#x2019;</abstract><type>Journal Article</type><journal>Critical Survey</journal><volume>8</volume><journalNumber>3</journalNumber><paginationStart>246</paginationStart><paginationEnd>258</paginationEnd><publisher/><keywords/><publishedDay>29</publishedDay><publishedMonth>8</publishedMonth><publishedYear>1996</publishedYear><publishedDate>1996-08-29</publishedDate><doi/><url/><notes/><college>COLLEGE NANME</college><department>Humanities and Social Sciences - Faculty</department><CollegeCode>COLLEGE CODE</CollegeCode><DepartmentCode>FGHSS</DepartmentCode><institution>Swansea University</institution><apcterm/><lastEdited>2014-05-15T16:34:29.2521177</lastEdited><Created>2014-05-15T16:34:29.2521177</Created><path><level id="1">Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences</level><level id="2">School of Culture and Communication - English Language, Tesol, Applied Linguistics</level></path><authors><author><firstname>Steven</firstname><surname>Vine</surname><order>1</order></author></authors><documents/><OutputDurs/></rfc1807>
spelling 2014-05-15T16:34:29.2521177 v2 17978 2014-05-15 'Filthy Types: "Frankenstein", Figuration, Femininity' 8adad05ceecbaab7f4b2be512149b4d7 Steven Vine Steven Vine true false 2014-05-15 FGHSS The essay explores 'Frankenstein'’s representation of selfhood as an effect of specular figuration, and argues that the novel presents monstrosity as a condition of disfiguration. In the figure of the monster, Shelley ironises Victor Frankenstein’s specular figuration as narcissistic: his bid to create an image of self-aggrandisement falls into ruin. The essay argues that femininity in the novel is harnessed to the narcissism of male self-reflection. Just as Frankenstein’s desire for his lover Elizabeth is figured in terms of specular narcissism, so the monster’s desire for a mate is grasped by a dream of resemblance. The essay concludes by examining the female ‘monsteress’ – half-created and dismembered by Frankenstein late in the narrative – as a figure that exceeds the economy of patriarchal, specular narcissism. The monsteress embodies a sublime of ‘transgressive femininity.’ Journal Article Critical Survey 8 3 246 258 29 8 1996 1996-08-29 COLLEGE NANME Humanities and Social Sciences - Faculty COLLEGE CODE FGHSS Swansea University 2014-05-15T16:34:29.2521177 2014-05-15T16:34:29.2521177 Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences School of Culture and Communication - English Language, Tesol, Applied Linguistics Steven Vine 1
title 'Filthy Types: "Frankenstein", Figuration, Femininity'
spellingShingle 'Filthy Types: "Frankenstein", Figuration, Femininity'
Steven Vine
title_short 'Filthy Types: "Frankenstein", Figuration, Femininity'
title_full 'Filthy Types: "Frankenstein", Figuration, Femininity'
title_fullStr 'Filthy Types: "Frankenstein", Figuration, Femininity'
title_full_unstemmed 'Filthy Types: "Frankenstein", Figuration, Femininity'
title_sort 'Filthy Types: "Frankenstein", Figuration, Femininity'
author_id_str_mv 8adad05ceecbaab7f4b2be512149b4d7
author_id_fullname_str_mv 8adad05ceecbaab7f4b2be512149b4d7_***_Steven Vine
author Steven Vine
author2 Steven Vine
format Journal article
container_title Critical Survey
container_volume 8
container_issue 3
container_start_page 246
publishDate 1996
institution Swansea University
college_str Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
hierarchytype
hierarchy_top_id facultyofhumanitiesandsocialsciences
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofhumanitiesandsocialsciences
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
department_str School of Culture and Communication - English Language, Tesol, Applied Linguistics{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences{{{_:::_}}}School of Culture and Communication - English Language, Tesol, Applied Linguistics
document_store_str 0
active_str 0
description The essay explores 'Frankenstein'’s representation of selfhood as an effect of specular figuration, and argues that the novel presents monstrosity as a condition of disfiguration. In the figure of the monster, Shelley ironises Victor Frankenstein’s specular figuration as narcissistic: his bid to create an image of self-aggrandisement falls into ruin. The essay argues that femininity in the novel is harnessed to the narcissism of male self-reflection. Just as Frankenstein’s desire for his lover Elizabeth is figured in terms of specular narcissism, so the monster’s desire for a mate is grasped by a dream of resemblance. The essay concludes by examining the female ‘monsteress’ – half-created and dismembered by Frankenstein late in the narrative – as a figure that exceeds the economy of patriarchal, specular narcissism. The monsteress embodies a sublime of ‘transgressive femininity.’
published_date 1996-08-29T03:20:57Z
_version_ 1763750610273828864
score 11.035874

Similar Items