Maya Sturgeon 12.3.18
Compare the ways in which the writers of your chosen texts explore the theme of nature
Tips
· Use more examples to back up your points
· Be more accurate with punctuation
Nature is the phenomena of the physical world collectively, including plants, animals, the landscape, and other features and products of the earth, as opposed to humans or human creations. Nature in ‘Frankenstein’ and ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ creates hope for the two main characters in times of isolation and destruction. Nature acts as an outlet for characters when they feel forcibly oppressed by the society they are living in. In ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ nature represents control, whilst in ‘Frankenstein’ nature acts as a coping mechanism for The Monster and Victor. However it retaliates appropriately when consequences are deserved
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Both authors, Atwood and Shelley use the image of nature to create hope for the characters of their novels. Attwo
od was recognised for her concern for the environment, she was an advocate of Green Politics in Canada. Atwood uses nature in her novel to act as a coping mechanism especially for Serena Joy. In chapter 3 Offred observes that, ‘Many of the wives have such gardens, it’s something for them to order and maintain and care for.’ Women in the novel are stripped of their identity and therefore any responsibility, the garden gives Serena joy something to care for. Serena j
oy also ‘has a chair brought out, and just sits in it, in her garden.’ The poignant use of ‘her’ emphasises the importance of the gardens to the Wives as none of the women own anything, they don’t even have a say over how their own body is used. Thus highlighting the importance of nature throughout the novel, it allows a sense of freedom, although restricted it still creates hope for people like Offred and Serena Joy. Similarly in Frankenstein
, the monster is thrown into a spiral of depression and isolation after he is rejected by society because of his physiognomy. Nature acts as his companion and comforter when he is alone he exclaims, ‘These bleak skies hail, for they are kinder to me than your fellow beings.’ He talks to nature as if it is his friend, painting the monster out to be a compassionate being, as even the ‘wretched’ monster can see the beauty and tranquillity of nature. As well as acting as a friend to the monster, nature also lifts the dark mood of the Monster in lonely episodes of the novel, the monster explains in chapter 8 of volume 2
, ‘ cheered even me by the loveliness of its sunshine and the balminess of the air. I felt emotions of gentleness and pleasure, that long appeared dead, revive in me.’ Nature is seen to have a power over the characters of the book to create happiness. Both authors were passionate about nature and they use nature in their novels to display how precious nature is to our earth and how we cannot let science destroy it and people exploit it
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As well as nature creating hope, Mary Shelley uses it to romanticise
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