Darkness In Frankenstein

Poet Mary Oliver once wrote, “Someone I loved once gave me a box of darkness. It took me years to understand that this too was a gift.” Darkness is usually framed as being corrupting and evil in life, the little known truth is that Darkness can also be a force healing and development as seen in Frankenstein , A Tale of Two Cities, and Cannery Row. Frankenstein is the tragic story of Victor Frankenstein and his monster. The Gothic style of writing in this book gives the reader opportunity to easily observe the gift of darkness and the positives it can contain despite the horrors that also result. Victor Frankenstein begins the novel as an arrogant and irresponsible man who has yet to have any real problems of his own. Victor decided to

The darkness in this case comes in the form of the flu. In relatively poor towns there is little in the way of medicine and even something as minor as the flu can have a drastic impact on the community. In Cannery Row, a small, poor town is hit hard by the flu. People are dropping like flies and are receiving no medical aid. In the face of such a monumental catastrophe the town had to unite to try and push back the encroachment of the flu among their citizens. Many of the girls at the Bear Flag would spend their off time treating those who needed care. Others would work odd end jobs to earn money to benefit those in need. In the face of a community wide epidemic those who had arguments with others put aside their differences to help those in need. Another important example of the gift of darkness, is the gift of ignorance. In Cannery Row, Doc recalls a time when he went on a walk across the south to forget his troubles. As he walked he told people the truth, he was walking to forget his troubles. No one believed him, but when he said he was doing it for a bet people welcomed him into their homes. Throughout his life Doc has come to the conclusion that ignorance is bliss. People want to believe that someone can only be motivated for simple reason. To parallel this, Doc decides he wants to try a beer milkshake. When he asks the waitress he receives a disturbed look, suspicion, and an inquiry why. He tells her it is a medical condition and she immediately backs off and pities him. People want simplicity and motivations that are commonplace and logical, not strange and unique. Finally, Mack and the boys go through a similar life changing event, although not as dire as Victor and Carton. The boys throw a party for Doc, but it is a disaster. It is a disaster because they realize it wasn’t for Doc, but more for themselves. The have given the incorrect impression of