"Look at me: I am like you."

Ronald Barthes presents in his excerpt from Mythologies an essay entitled “Photography and Electoral Appeal,” in which he outlines the idea that through photography, a political candidate is able to connect with the masses, to show them that ultimately, they are the one in the same. This idea, of electoral photography, allows a candidate to illustrate the sameness between himself or herself and the voting public, to declare “ ‘Look at me: I am like you.’” It is this idea that interests me; the idea of looking into another person for some sort of inherent commonality, a sense of sameness between yourself and the person or character that you are examining. In this week of Structuralism, where we are urged to look at the language of the text, I would like to explore how Shelley’s language creates an image of Dr. Frankenstein, and in turn, how this image functions in terms of a photograph of a man, a man who as a reader, we are encouraged to relate to. In examining Frankenstein, can it be said that there is a sense that a common ground can be assumed with this man or do we, as readers, shy away from him because of the extremity of his behavior? Similarly, is it the idea that at some points in the novel, readers are able to relate to Frankenstein that makes people so uncomfortable with the work, because of how inhumane Frankenstein becomes? Underneath all the intricacies of the plot, though, isn’t Frankenstein a man like any other, a man who has been a bit greedy, pushed his limits, and now must come to terms with the consequences of his actions? Is this not an idea that is completely relatable to all humans?

Shelley writes Dr. Frankenstein in a manner that the reader is able to paint a perfect portrait of him while reading. Victor is described as a typical man, nothing particularly interesting about him, except his obsession with learning. By having Victor be such a normal looking man, it allows for him to become a relatable character, a man who the reader can easily create an image of, and in turn, relate to. I guess this is the main idea I am attempting to convey in this post; does Shelley intentionally write a common character, whose desires have spun a bit out of control in order for the reader to look at him and say “I am like him?” Is that the reason for the portrait of Frankenstein we receive from Shelley, so that a reader can relate to him, and in turn, look to themselves to see their own faults? Is Shelley making a commentary on humanity in general, through her portrait of Frankenstein as a sort of universal character, depicting that every human has a little bit of Frankenstein in them, and wants to push the limits as far as they possibly can to achieve their own personal goals? I sure think so.