The Obsession of Power and Monstrosity by Marc Carrera

Is there a link between wanting power and becoming monstrous? If so, how can it be identified?

mcarrera01 — 2018-12-12 16:57:30 UTC

Whatever the motive or original insecurity may be, the desire of power can be linked to what drives someone, or thing, to resort to a lifestyle of monstrosity. Here, we will evaluate the stories and behaviors of particular monsters that we have read about in novels, and relate this notion with them.

Frankenstein

mcarrera01 — 2018-12-12 17:01:30 UTC

"..but by some fatality the overthrow of these men disinclined me to pursue my accustomed studies. It seemed to me as if nothing would or could ever be known. All that had so long engaged my attention suddenly grew despicable. By one of those caprices of the mind which we are perhaps most subject to in early youth, I at once gave up my former occupations, set down natural history and all its progeny as a deformed and abortive creation, and entertained the greatest disdain for a would-be science which could never even step within the threshold of real knowledge."
- Victor (Shelley 37)

Frankenstein

mcarrera01 — 2018-12-12 17:33:56 UTC

"Nothing in human shape could have destroyed the fair child. He was the murderer! I could not doubt it. The mere presence of the idea was an irresistible proof of the fact. I thought of pursuing the devil; but it would have been in vain.."

Victor (Shelley 83)

Othello

mcarrera01 — 2018-12-12 17:42:29 UTC

"Though in the trade of war I have slain men,
Yet do I hold it very stuff o' the conscience
To do no contrived murder.."

-Iago (Act II)

Othello

mcarrera01 — 2018-12-12 17:43:07 UTC

I have rubb'd this young quat almost to the sense,
And he grows angry. Now, whether he kill Cassio,
Or Cassio him, or each do kill the other,
Every way makes my gain.."
-Iago (Act IV)

Beloved

mcarrera01 — 2018-12-12 20:34:29 UTC

"..And they beat. The women for having known them and no more, no more; the children for having been them but never again. They killed a boss so often and so completely they had to bring him back to life to pulp him one more time."
(Beloved PDF)

Beloved

mcarrera01 — 2018-12-12 20:35:33 UTC

"..I’ll explain to her, even though I don’t have to. Why I did it. How if I hadn’t killed her she would have died and that is something I could not bear to happen to her"
(Beloved PDF)

As opposed to a senseless act, Iago identifies a motive, relating to power and war.

mcarrera01 — 2018-12-12 20:38:28 UTC

Iago elaborates on how it is not in him to senselessly and maliciously kill. He identifies that the principle of war was present, and in that, comes the desire of power. Particularly in war, the goal is to cease and obtain power, which would lead to troops carrying out actions like murder, which coincides with being monstrous

Victor foreshadows a monstrous act

mcarrera01 — 2018-12-12 20:45:45 UTC

As a response to the creature killing, Victor is emotional and ends up mentioning that he should turn to the devil. This, to any degree, can be seen as monstrous. And even though it may not have been followed through with, Victor acknowledges that this would be an act of vein or revenge, all from a greater feeling. In this case, Victor feels a loss of power, because his creation outsmarted and overpowered him, and he resorts to a monstrous thought.

Victor explains his inspiration behind wanting to create a monster

mcarrera01 — 2018-12-12 20:50:36 UTC

In this response, Victor draws direct attention to how men before him who have accomplished a lot in particular studies, eventually were dethroned to being lesser. Victor relates this feeling of losing power and importance, to wanting to do something out of the ordinary, even monstrous, like creating a new being.

Iago justifies desiring the death of Cassio

mcarrera01 — 2018-12-12 21:01:16 UTC

In this justification from Iago, he explains what will satisfy him in the situation. The background emotions surround the fact that Othello gave power to Cassio rather than Iago, and this infuriates Iago, it is the driving factor that brings out the monstrosity in him to want Cassio dead.

Prisoners' reasoning behind causing chaos

mcarrera01 — 2018-12-12 21:04:11 UTC

In this excerpt, following the description of how the prisoners were being forced to perform sexual acts, we see what it drives them to do. In a way, being robbed of their masculinity and stripped of their power as men can and did drive them to lash out and perform such monstrous acts.

Explaining Beloved's murder?

mcarrera01 — 2018-12-12 21:15:43 UTC

In this shocking instance and explanation of Beloved, the daughter's murder seems to be justified by the uneasiness of apparent who loses the power and control in a baby's life. It's explained by Sethe that if the power was taken out of her hands from the start, and Baby Beloved would grow up and live in a hell, she may as well succumb to the monstrous act of killing her herself.

Frankenstein in Baghdad

mcarrera01 — 2018-12-12 21:33:10 UTC

"No one wants to die without understanding why he dies, and where he goes after death."

Ahmed (PDF)

Frankenstein in Baghdad

mcarrera01 — 2018-12-12 21:38:24 UTC

"He sat there until dark, thinking that dozens of these IEDs were being detonated or defused during the day. Not a day passes without at least one car bomb. Why should he see others dying in the newscasts and stay alive? He must enter the news bulletin one day. This is his ability, which he knows well "

Ahmed (PDF)

Ahmed foreshadows the power of having knowledge

mcarrera01 — 2018-12-12 21:39:26 UTC

Ahmed comments on the desire of men to die, and give themselves up, the motive behind it. Although not worded as clearly, it is understandable to draw the connection between understanding and having knowledge. In this case, having the power of knowledge about your reason for dying, may influence your ability to have these monstrous, dark thoughts.

Ahmed justifies the intentions of joining in chaos

mcarrera01 — 2018-12-12 21:41:49 UTC

Ahmed foreshadows what the absence of power can do to a man's thoughts. He revolves his words around how when man feels hopeless, and overpowered, even by chaos, he is more inclined to have such thoughts. It's in a sense peer pressure, you become, or start to become a result of what you are surrounded by.