Introduction
Literature has been used as a tool by different authors to analyze human actions in many societies. From fiction to nonfiction books, writers use literature to explain various activities that involve human beings.
Literature offers an individual the opportunity to reflect on society in a way that is not confrontational. Although novels are always categorized as fiction, authors of these stories always draw their examples from society. Such books are always based on what transpired in the lives of authors. Conversely, novels are always recollections of people’s experiences in life.
Frankenstein is a piece of literature that brings out different societies in different countries. Narrated in the first person, the book provides readers with a picture of a normal family set up. The adoption of children is common in various societies in Europe.
The author has successfully managed to bring out world realities through a piece of literature. This story is based on the societal set up of Geneva, Swaziland. Although the author briefly introduces us to other countries in Europe, such as France and Italy, the attention shifts to the city of Geneva.
This article discusses the role of the family and education in society. It narrows down to evaluate how education and the family affect the life of Frankenstein. It is noted that the two aspects are the major socializing agents. The family is the primary socializing agent while the school is the secondary socializing agent. In modern society, the family is losing its primary role of socialization to education. This is clearly brought out in the life of Frankenstein.
Role of Family in Frankenstein
In the story, the family serves as one of the major socializing agents in society. The writer shows that a child acquires societal norms and values through family members. Societal norms and principles are significant since they allow a child to interact freely with other members of society.
The writer demonstrates that through the family, normative components of culture are transferred from the older members of society to the young ones. The child and other members of the family are able to develop capacities that would generate creative thoughts. These thoughts would permit the child and members of the family to respond appropriately to various situations and events in life.
Through the family, children are able to learn how to relate with parents, their future partners, other members of society, as well as their youngsters. The writer shows that the family is the basic socializing agent in society. Frankenstein confirms that children are capable of relating to society through the family. In case a child fails to interact with society, the community would face challenges associated with formlessness.
The role of love in the family is an additional theme that can be depicted in the story. The author observes that the family is charged with the responsibility of uniting society. The society should acknowledge, accept, and appreciate each individual in society. Frankenstein illustrates that family love is fundamental in human life.
The writer argues that marital love means a lot as opposed to feelings and sexual expressions. The author illustrates that family love is a gift that is characterized by harmony and faithfulness. In the story, the family plays a big role in regulating sexual activity. It is frequently expected that sex relationships occur in some sort of marriage association. Such relationships are regularized through some social rules.
Therefore, a family has some significant responsibilities regarding sexual relations. Sex should take place within a standardized setting. Just like in any other society, the family in Frankenstein’s story exists to provide financial support to other members of the family. In the story, this takes a different form. The family gives each member some form of support to empower him/her economically.
Finally, the family exists to satisfy emotional needs regarding love and safety. In the story, most individuals depend on their families for emotional support. In the story, relatives loath children, but they do not stop loving them. The feelings of such children are dreadfully perplexed by the treatment they get meaning that the family is the major caregiver in society.
Role of Education in the Story
Education is vital to an individual’s success in society. This is according to the writer. School offers individuals an opportunity to sharpen their skills, which would further prepare them physically, emotionally, and socially for the world of work in mature commitments.
Through education, society can maintain a strong community that can actually produce health care experts, knowledgeable healthcare clients, and maintains a healthy populace. The author claims that without an educated population, society cannot develop either socio-culturally or politically.
It can be observed that education plays an important role in regards to storage and transmission of knowledge. This would mean that school is responsible for keeping knowledge safely and dispensing it to those who need it. Through published books and journals, learners can access what others have invented in various fields. In the story, the writer observes that scientists publish an article regarding their findings.
Such publications are vital in distributing ideas in society. Scientists are always supposed to publish their works for others to review. However, in the field of technology, findings are not made public because such findings are utilized in developing valuable goods. Scientific findings are made public because they aim at educating the population while a technological finding is kept secret because it is a resource. It is not surprising that individuals seek patents immediately. They come up with certain technologies.
In Frankenstein’s story, education plays a role as regards status ascendancy. Education is one of the few legitimate means that beneficiaries may utilize to improve their status rankings in society. Schooling facilitates mobility within occupational or political rankings.
Education offers an individual with an opportunity to shift from one social status to another. The writer tries to express that education diversifies an individual’s chances in life. The writer of the story underscores the fact that education is the solution to various problems afflicting society. Through education, good traditions, principles, and awareness against inhumane practices such as violence, dishonesty, and infections are enhanced.
Through analyzing the story, it can be observed that education is an important aspect of human life. It transforms an individual to enjoy advanced life in collective well-being. It equips people with desired attributes that are essential in leading decent lives. In the story, it can be reported that education molds an individual’s behavior. Individual personality benefits from the positive transformation that facilitates interactive fluency and social appeal. In the story, educated persons do not pose threats to others.
Instead, individuals act as social magnates and social glue, which means that they attract others. Earning a professional award in education prepares an individual to participate and contribute to organizations, corporations, and associations. In the story, therefore, education offers individuals with the power to move on and do things constructively. Education provides an individual with various perspectives. A learned person will always have alternative plans in life.
The Effects of Education and Family
Frankenstein was keen to acquire knowledge from his teachers in school. He was convinced that it was only through education that one would understand the world. In this case, the writer believed that education increased an individual’s orientation to the world. From what the author says, it was his interest to ensure that knowledge offered in class remained in his memories.
He says: “I took their word for all that they averred, and I became their disciple” (Wilke and Hurt 21). The author also notes with regrets that the father was not a scientist and, therefore, he could not be in a position to help him interpret scientific subjects. His determination to acquire formal education saw him secure admission to the University of Ingolstadt.
The parents inspired him through encouragement. Indeed, the presence of Elizabeth was comforting. However, as Frankenstein was about to join the University of Ingolstadt, Elizabeth fell sick. His mother had to take care of her. Unfortunately, the mother contracted a similar complication that would later kill her.
This was very devastating. She had been a driving force to his ambitions in life. The reality that he would live without her was itself a monster. He was to go to the school that was some miles away from home. It would be much better if the mother was still alive. He would have some hope of seeing her when he would visit during recess. However, he was sure that the mother was no more.
He decided to go for a pure science course at the university. He had developed a special interest in chemistry. He believed that chemistry was the best subject. While in school, memories of his family at home preoccupied his mind. He could imagine Elizabeth and other family members sharing meals. However, the oppression caused by her mother’s death left him with injuries to the extent that he could not live peacefully.
He loved the mother and could not believe that she was gone. Such memories would affect his studies and socialization. Sometimes, he could not avoid them, especially when he faced hardships in school. The mother was his source of strength during such hardships. Her absence was a reality that Frankenstein had to take time to accept. The family he left had been the only consolation. He felt that the world was empty without his close relatives. Therefore, one may say that the family has a strong influence on an individual’s life.
It is evident that the family ties strongly affected the life of Frankenstein throughout his life in school. Although he was keen to gain knowledge from this university, he could not avoid a nostalgic mood when his memories flashed back to his family at home. From the story, it is true that, though Frankenstein appreciated education, family ties affected his concentration. Therefore, education and family ties are two things that are closely related. An individual can only perform well in school when he/she has a settled mind.
Works Cited
Wilke, Brian and Hurt, James. Literature of the Western World Volume II. 5th ed. New York: prentice Hall, 2000. Print.