Mary Shelley's Frankenstein Anticipation Guide

1) The key to all emotional healing can be found in nature.

-Agree

2) Nature is filled with harsh cruelties.

-Agree

3) A person's priorities should place family before work.

-Agree

4) Enjoying life is more important than pursuing fame, glory, and

knowledge.

-Agree

--Our parents always want us to become something better, greater. They tell us to hang in there, put in one more hour, one more day. Yet as we run after our newest assignment, or later on in life, after a bigger pay check, we never sit back and think: For what are we doing this? Why are we running around like chickens with their heads cut off, for more money? We could blame it on our parents. Sure. We could blame it on society. No problem.

Why is it so important for our society today to be famous, to be on a big screen or be a billionaire? It’s like the old Greek heroes who ran to their deaths, for “glory” and “fame”. But is that really what gives you joy in life?

Since our lives are so short, we should value them the most we can. That means that we should live the way we want to live, do the things we want to do, and not run after something which will only cause us more grief. There’s always going to be someone there with a bigger pay check then you. That’s why life should be about living your dreams, and having fun. What if fame only brought you despair and problems, would you call that ‘enjoying your life’?

I know that some people measure other people on how much knowledge they have acquired over the years and if they “know anything about the world”. But though knowledge is important, I think that we shouldn’t treat life like a huge puzzle we have to figure out. I think it’s something every single person should handle the way they want and not what society wants from us. A life without happiness would be misty and grey. What would the pay check help, if you were somewhere where you didn’t want to be?

We all look for meaning in life, and often we lose ourselves on the path. That’s why it is important to enjoy it while you have it. Because trust me, life’s shorter then you think.

5) Those born with social and financial advantages have a responsibility

for those who are not.

-Agree

6) Ignorance is bliss.

-Disagree

7) The pursuit of knowledge is a volatile quest.

-Agree

8) Someone's ego will cause a tragic fall.

-Agree

9) Children learn their behaviours by watching and mimicking adults.

-Agree

10) Most people are basically cruel.

-Disagree

--A baby is born. It looks upon its mother’s face and sees for the first time pure love. This tender affection practically radiates of the mother, and the child understands it. As the child grows it is cherished, held closely, for a mother’s love is free. The child knows it and radiates back this tender love between mother and child. Then the child becomes a teenager and contempt rises in his standing and eyes. However there is love always hidden inside him whenever looked closely.

We are not born evil and as my example shows, if nurtured and kept, that little flame of love will stay. However, what would happen if this child was neglected, left alone, beaten, or even orphaned? You think that the child then would show any sort of mercy for other human’s feelings and possessions?

There are many factors which can make a person cruel, and it may not be a person’s childhood. Maybe they become greedy, lose friends, or seek revenge. Maybe they have been shunned so often by society, that in order to protect themselves, they rebuke it with cruelty. I think that there is a glimpse of truth in every person, one just has to look. To say that humans are naturally cruel is like the pot calling the kettle black.

The problem is that polite and loving people don’t end up in the news or are remember in ballads. It is the evil king or monster which we will remember. That is why it may seem that the world is crawling only with cockroaches and evil beings. But looking at it as a whole, I think that the World has a pretty even balance between cruel and loving people.

11) Society makes a person whatever he becomes.

-Agree

12) The "disenfranchised man," who finds himself unable to live within

society for whatever reason, is someone for whom we should feel sympathy or

reverence.

-Agree

13) Rejection and mistreatment can manifest themselves in a person

becoming rage-filled.

-Agree

14) If a person or an animal is treated with cruelty, he will respond to

others in the same way.

-Agree

15) Those people we deem "monsters" in today's society are merely

misunderstood.

-Disagree

Re-writing of TKAM Scene

Atticus had come with that car of his. Quite surprised me cause I was just enjoying my gallon jug of cherry wine when this rumblin’ came from outside. Soon figured it was a car and I thought that that negro be done for it. But all it was, was Atticus. Set himself up all fine nice and dandy with some light and a newspaper. Right in front of that nigger’s cell. And now we’re all jus’ waitin’. I’ve opened my window as wide as it’ll go and can see all of this square just like them hawks.
Well, I sure hope Atticus is reading my Maycomb Tribune. This edition is a fine and nice one, even if I say so myself. Aye, this night will make a good story.
Heck Tate was right about tonight. My nose and my bones are just tellin’ me, there’s something ain’t right! And here I am, with my ramblin’ mind and my gallon jug of cherry wine.
I was just grabin’ for another pull, when I spot some movement down yonder, at the bank. Well and fry me a cootie, ‘em kids of Atticus’ showed up! Just now, seeked right around that corner! And I don’t believe it, they just following Atticu’s light, well, give me some cherry wine! This ain’t good.
‘Em seem puzzled and checkin’ on Atticus he hasn’t noticed a thing! Well, I sure don’t know why he’s risking that neck of his for a negro but I ain’t letting him down. Let’s just hope ‘em kids run off.
And to my luck, they get moving away from Atticus and the light. Just right.
But then I heard it and ‘em kids heard it too. Cars chockin’ themselves down to my square. Well, I just knew trouble had found feet and now these kids gotta make it all the more complicated. Well, no helping now. Atticus don’t look worried nor does he hurry when those men get out of ‘em cars. A whole pack of ‘em, just after that one negro. Well, my double-barrel sittin’ right next to me if they think they can just make trouble…
Well shoot, one of ‘em just asked whether the niggers inside. ‘He is,’ Atticus answered, ‘and he’s asleep. Don’t wake him up.’
Who cares if he’s sleepin’, we just need him and you in one piece, Atticus! That’s when I head that next statement from another one. ‘Get aside from the door, Mr. Finch.’ That got me leaning out the window with my double-barrel, no one knockin’ up Atticus. Not while I’m here. I go him covered.
Just then the men seemed to speak even quieter, but good thing no wind stirred.
‘Heck Tate’s around somewhere,’ Atticus told ’em and I thought good that’ll stump ‘em, but ‘em smart cause Bragg (the one who had an affair with Miss Stephanie, if that ain’t a story) said, ‘Heck’s bunch’s so deep in the woods they won’t get out till mornin’. Called ’em off on a snipe hunt.’
Well, we’ve lost Heck but I’ve got him covered. Atticus got his answer just ready, ‘That changes things doesn’t it?’ ‘It do,’ come form one of ‘em shadows.
And I’ll hurl a spitball, that girl gotta bust outa the shadows, right into the middle of that gang! And her brother followed her along with that runnin’ midget. Now, I ain’t got a clean shot. What in the Sam’s Hill!
‘H-ey, Atticus,’ that girl shrieked.
She’s louder then a shotgun! Well, blow me my rifle! And now they won’t budge. Well, that boy got a stubborn head on him just like Atticus. But anything he says seems to make no difference. Boy wants to stay.
Didn’t surprise me when Bragg tried to drag that boy away. Course got ‘em all covered now. But that girl is just nasty! She kick right in the privates! This is sure turnin’ into some fine story. I can see the Headline, Bragg Cracked by Girl.
Well, Atticus sure is tryin’ with that boy, but he still won’t budge. Why Atticus even pleadin’ with him.
Just took another swing of my cherry wine, since a man pleadin’ with a son ain’t a nice thing to watch, when that girl gets started again.
‘Hey, Mr. Cunningham!’ Lord, she is loud!
‘I go to school with Walter,’ she talks out, ‘he’s your boy, ain’t he? Ain’t he, sir?’
Sure, had me off the chair! What she doin’? What she thinkin’! She talking to him like this is some picnic. Well, lookie at that. All the mouths open, they could catch flies. Even Atticus. ‘What’s the matter?’ she squeaked out. Well, that gal got it going. She as in the dark as ‘em shadows.
And Cunningham bends down, reassures her with an ‘I’ll tell him you said hey, little lady.’ And tells the gang ‘Let’s clear out!’
Gone went those cars, and Atticus looked relieved, but I knew it would end good. Had ‘em covered the whole time. And then that Negro spoke up asking bout ‘em gang.
‘They won’t bother you any more’ was Atticus’ answer. Well, and I could support that one.
‘You’re damn tootin’ they won’t. Had you covered all the time, Atticus.’
That surprised ‘em.
‘Mr. Underwood, you’ve been up there a long time?’ asked Atticus.
‘Yes, sir damn tootin’ right. Even saw ‘em kids come up. Had you all covered,’ I declared.
‘Well, thank you Mr. Underwood.’
‘Ah, no problem Atticus. Jus’ gotta keep ‘em folks in the eye.’ My statement seemed to amuse Atticus.
‘You sure did, Mr. Underwood, you sure did.’
‘Well, Heck’s gonna be just fumin’. ‘Em tricked him.’ I just couldn’t hold that though, made my insides squirm.
‘Yes, indeed. Well thanks again, Mr. Underwood.’
‘Night, Atticus, I’ll keep my eye on that nigger.’
With a nod, Atticus turned and left takin’ ‘em kids with him. Turnin’ to my linotype, I put my double-barrel on the floor and started writin’. The Maycomb Tribune had never been so good before, even if I say so myself.

Character: Mr. Underwood
Scene: Jail Scene, when Atticus guards Tom Robinson
Page: Chapter 15 pgs. 155-161

--The use of the words ‘nigger’ and ‘negro’ are not meant to be offensive in anyway and neither are they my own words. However, they are used by the character in the book To Kill a Mockingbird and thus would be out of character not to use them--