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'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...

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Published in: Critical Survey
Published: 1996
URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa17978
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first_indexed 2014-05-16T01:30:06Z
last_indexed 2018-02-09T04:52:07Z
id cronfa17978
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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
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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
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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
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score 11.013686

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