The way the narrative voices of the ‘powerful’ and ‘oppressed’ are explored in both, ‘Frankenstein’ and ‘The Tempest’ could relate to the way power over one another is presented in relation to the hierarchy. When in possession of power there tends to be a sense of abandonment, rejection and oppression for those below the “oppressors” . For example, in ‘The Tempest’, Caliban’s portrayal identifies the oppressive nature of Prospero. Prospero has all the power as well as the control over those less superior to him due to his magic. He refers to Caliban as a slave. It’s evident that Prospero has the power and Caliban is the one who has to cope with the oppression that comes with it. Similarly in ‘Frankenstein’, Victor’s knowledge gave him the power to create life, however, later proving to be more powerful than man. In Mary Shelley’s novel, she outlines oppression through Victor, the monster and ignorance resulting in the character’s respective downfalls.  Playing God left Victor Frankenstein with nothing to love and a freak of nature who was rejected by society. However the monster gained more power than Victor due to Victor’s physical fear. This leads Victor to focus on the creation and this leads him to distance himself from the important things in his life ( family and friends ).

In ‘Frankenstein’  Power is presented through the character ‘Victor Frankenstein’. He seeks power through his interest in science. As a result, this led to a creation which he ended up losing power over. The power the monster had, in terms of facial features

 

He abandoned that power because of his fear and intimidation of the responsibilities he was about to face.

 

How the creature is abandoned and victors actions that relate to oppress.

He’s treated harshly, by both his creator and society because of his atrocious appearance. He wants love and a father figure and wants to be accepted in a society.

 

Prospero is able to control the spirits of the island. By using these spirits, he’s able to control Caliban as well. From looking at Act 2 Scene 2 where Caliban talks to Stephano, you can see him talking about how Prospero uses spirits to control him. He talks about how they will cause hurt him if he doesn’t Obey Prospero.  Caliban’s the son of Sycorax, a witch who had controlled the island before Prospero got there and took over. There isn’t specific enough text’s or quotes explaining how Prospero got control of the island, however ever since he landed there he has been the one in control of the island so Caliban has lost the throne and the privilege to control the island due to Prospero coming and taking over what belongs to Caliban and not Prospero. Shakespeare can present Caliban as fearful towards Prospero, due to him having that power and control over him. Propsero control’s some aspects of Caliban’s life. He controls where caliban lives, what caliban does, and where he’s allowed to go. Prospero cannot control what Caliban says to him. Prospero taught him their language, so Caliban must have heard it from Prospero first. Prospero controls Caliban in the only way he knows how, with ‘magic’.

” All the infections that the sun sucks up from bogs, fens, flats, on Prospero fall, and make him by inchmeal disease’ ( A noise of thunder heard) His spirits hear me, and yet i needs must curse.” Analyzing this quote there’s that tense fear towards the way Caliban summons Prospero and the Power that Prospero has due to Caliban speaking and Prospero being able to listen to his phrases. The thunder heard would represent that fear as well as the destructive power that Prospero has. Shakespeare ‘s attempted to use that thunder to represent the power that Prospero has as well as the fear that Caliban experienced to him saying ” His spirits hear me”.

From exploring and discussing how the ideas of the ‘romantic movement’ are reflected in both texts; concerned with nature, human feelings and rebellion against society. Mary Shelly lived amongst practitioners of these concepts which influenced her novel, Frankenstein. She represents the monster as a romantic hero due to the rejection he must endure from normal society with this. Shelly is attempting to show the readers how many people in conventional society rejected those less than average or disfigured, just like Frankenstein