Frankensteins monster Essay Example

Frankensteins monster Essay Frankenstein was a novel written by Mary Shelley in 1818. Since then there have been many versions and adaptations in the form of films. One extremely different to the other, they show how the novel can be so widely adapted and modified to the wishes of the director. James Whale directed the first film version of Frankenstein in 1931 then Kenneth Branagh released Mary Shelleys Frankenstein in 1994. Mary Shelley was born in 1771 and had a troubled life from the moment she was born. Her mother Mary Wollstonecraft died giving birth to Shelley. She inherited a tendency to be easily depressed from her mother, so when her stepmother who she despised brought her up she decided to runaway to Europe continually with her stepsister. She met Percy Shelley when she was sixteen (who was already married) and they went away to Geneva (also where the novel was set). They decided to all write ghost stories and Mary produced Frankenstein, the only story from that holiday to be published. Many think that Frankenstein is based around Shelleys life, and her heartache of her mothers death at birth. Throughout the essay I will write about the ways both the monster and Dr. Frankenstein are portrayed by the two different directors and how this creates atmosphere and feelings in the audience. I will also be writing about how background music, Sound effects, and camera angles contribute to the separate films. Then I will go on to look at not only the costumes of the characters but the settings of the both films too. In Whales 1931 black and white version of Frankenstein he characterises Dr. Frankenstein exceedingly well, but not truthfully towards Shelleys novel. We will write a custom essay sample on Frankensteins monster specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Frankensteins monster specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Frankensteins monster specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Firstly he changes his name from Victor (meaning victory) to Henry; this could relate to Whales view that Frankenstein is not victorious in the novel. Frankenstein wears a typical long, white lab coat to suggest clearly to the audience that he is a professional doctor. It could also connote to the audience that he is smart, well brought up, devoted and possibly a perfectionist. This is also shown by the way Frankensteins hair is always perfectly tidy and combed. These are deliberate decisions made by the director, as this is the way he wants Dr. Frankenstein to be portrayed.

The Life and Accomplishments of Marcus Aurelius

The Life and Accomplishments of Marcus Aurelius Marcus Aurelius (r. A.D. 161-180) was a Stoic philosopher and one of the five good Roman emperors (r. A.D. 161-180). He was born on April 26, A.D. 121, according to DIR Marcus Aurelius, or perhaps April 6 or 21. He died on March 17, 180. His Stoic philosophical writings are known as the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius, which were written in Greek. He was succeeded by his son the infamous Roman emperor Commodus. It was during the reign of Marcus Aurelius that the Marcomannic War broke out at the northern frontier of the empire. It was also the time of the important physician Galen who wrote about a particularly virulent pandemic that was given Marcus Aurelius family name. Quick Facts Name at birth: Marcus Annius VerusName as emperor: Caesar Marcus Aurelius Antoninus AugustusDates: April 26, 121 - March 17, 180Parents: Annius Verus and Domitia Lucilla;Adoptive father: (Emperor) Antoninus PiusWife: Faustina, daughter of Hadrian; 13 children, including Commodus Family History and Background Marcus Aurelius, originally Marcus Annius Verus, was the son of the Spanish Annius Verus, who had received patrician rank from Emperor Vespasian, and Domitia Calvilla or Lucilla. Marcus father died when he was three months old, at which time his grandfather adopted him. Later, Titus Antoninus Pius adopted Marcus Aurelius at the age of 17 or 18 as part of an agreement he had made with Emperor Hadrian promoting Antoninus Pius to the status of heir. Career The Augustan History says that it was when Marcus was adopted as heir that he was first called Aurelius instead of Annius. Antoninus Pius made Marcus consul and caesar in A.D. 139. In 145, Aurelius married his sister by adoption, Faustina, daughter of Pius. After they had a daughter, he was granted tribunician power and imperium outside Rome. When Antoninus Pius died in 161, the Senate awarded the imperial power to Marcus Aurelius; however, Marcus Aurelius gave joint power to his brother (by adoption) and called him Lucius Aurelius Verus Commodus. The two co-ruling brothers are referred to as Antonines as in the Antonine plague of 165–180. Marcus Aurelius ruled from A.D. 161-180. Imperial Hotspots SyriaArmenia (Marcus Aurelius took the name Armeniacus)Parthia (took the name Parthicus)Chatti (took the name Germanicus by 172 since the name appears in inscriptions then [Cassius Dio])BritonsMarcomanni (when Aurelius defeated them and freed the Pannonian provinces, he and his son Commodus celebrated a triumph) Plague As Marcus Aurelius was preparing for the Marcommanic War (along the Danube, between Germanic tribes and Rome), a plague broke out killing thousands. The Antonini (Marcus Aurelius and his co-emperor/brother-by adoption) helped with burials expenses. Marcus Aurelius also aided the Romans in time of famine and so is thought of as a particularly benevolent rule. Death Marcus Aurelius died in March 180. Before his funeral, he had been declared a god. When his wife, Faustina, had died in 176, Marcus Aurelius asked the Senate to deify her and built her a temple. The gossipy Augustan History says that Faustina had not been a chaste wife and that it was considered a stain on Marcus Aurelius reputation that he promoted her lovers. Marcus Aurelius ashes were put in Hadrians mausoleum. Marcus Aurelius was succeeded by his biological heir, in contradistinction to the previous four good emperors. Marcus Aurelius son was Commodus. The Column of Marcus Aurelius The Column of Marcus Aurelius had a spiral staircase leading to a top from which one could view the Antonine funerary monuments in the Campus Martius. Marcus Aurelius German and Sarmatian campaigns were shown in relief sculptures spiraling up the 100-Roman-foot column. 'The Meditations' Between 170 and 180, Marcus Aurelians wrote 12 books of generally pithy observations from what is considered a Stoic perspective while emperor, in Greek. These are known as his Meditations. Source â€Å"Marcus Aurelius Antoninus - 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica - Bible Encyclopedia.†Ã‚  StudyLight.org, www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/bri/m/marcus-aurelius-antoninus.html.