Introduction
The setting is a crucial component of literature that not only provides the backdrop for the story but also frequently has symbolic meaning. The settings of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations are employed to convey deeper thematic and emotional depth, reflecting the literary movements from which the authors emerged. This article compares and contrasts how the surroundings are used symbolically in these two books, emphasizing how the environments support the development of themes and emotions. This paper aims to demonstrate how the settings of Frankenstein and Great Expectations are deeply ingrained in the narratives, acting as potent symbols that heighten and enrich the main ideas and emotions of the books.
Romanticism and the Setting in “Frankenstein”
The Romantic era had a significant influence on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. The Swiss Alps, the Arctic, and numerous European towns are only a few of the places the book is located, and each has a special symbolic significance (Greenblatt, 2012). The Alpine region is known for its breathtaking natural beauty and serves as a metaphor for both nature’s generative and destructive forces.
The main character, Victor Frankenstein, is motivated to pursue his scientific goals by the breathtaking Alps. In his observation, he says, “A cold northern breeze played upon my cheeks, which braced my nerves and filled me with delight” (Shelley & Hunter, 2021, p. 23). Here, the environment represents the Romantic infatuation with nature’s majesty, which simultaneously awes and terrifies people.
However, as the story progresses, the same beautiful setting gives rise to feelings of dread and foreboding. The Alps, which were previously Victor’s inspiration, now symbolize the results of his aspirations (Greenblatt, 2012, p. 78). The setting’s dual connotation echoes the romantic idea that nature can be both nourishing and destructive.
The Arctic represents the loneliness and emptiness that Victor and his beast go through. Victor’s trek into the depths of his own loneliness and remorse is mirrored in his chase of the monster into the Arctic wasteland. In line with his mental anguish, he refers to the area as a “vast and wretched waste” (Shelley & Hunter, 2021, p. 204).
The novel’s examination of the effects of unrestrained scientific ambition and the isolation that accompanies it is further highlighted by its Arctic setting. Victor and his beast travel to several European cities during the book, including Geneva and Ingolstadt (Shelley & Hunter, 2021, p. 121). These scenes represent the conflict between the desire for knowledge and the risks associated with unfettered scientific advancement.
Victorian Values and the Setting in “Great Expectations”
The intricate web of social strata and individual desires is explored in Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations, which is set in Victorian England. Victorian society placed a strong focus on moral principles, industrialized, and created a clear divide between the rich and the underprivileged (Greenblatt, 2005). The stately yet dilapidated home belonging to Miss Havisham, Satis House, serves as one of the novel’s key locations.
The home itself serves as a metaphor for decline and stagnation (Dickens & Rosenberg, 1999, p.69). It was described as a location “which was of old brick, and dismal, and had a great many iron bars to it” by Dickens (Dickens & Rosenberg, 1999, p. 72). The home symbolizes the notion of halted growth by being fixed in time, much like Miss Havisham herself. Satis House’s setting evokes Victorian concerns about rigid social structures and the dangers of a culture preoccupied with outward appearances.
The protagonist of the book, Pip, is born in the lowly marshes of Kent. His humble beginnings and the Victorian idea that self-improvement may lead to social mobility are represented by this environment (Yıldız, 2022). The marshes serve as a dramatic contrast to Satis House’s opulence and the busy streets of London, emphasizing the clear class divide.
A central motif in Pip’s growth is his transition from the marshes to the upper echelons of society. The Victorian notion of personal progress is emphasized (Yıldız, 2022). The bustling city of London, where Pip goes in search of realizing his “great expectations,” serves as a metaphor for the allure of metropolitan living and the pursuit of financial success (Greenblatt, 2005, p. 90). With its emphasis on business and social advancement, the city exemplifies the ideals of the Victorian era. As Pip is drawn into the ethically murky realm of high society, it also reveals the moral depravity and brutal reality of city life (Dickens & Rosenberg, 1999, p.61). In the Victorian era, when people sought upward mobility but frequently found themselves morally compromised, London acted as a microcosm.
When Pip returns to the marshes in the novel’s closing chapters, the location now has a distinct metaphorical significance. The marshes, once a symbol of modest beginnings, now represent atonement and a return to morality. Returning to the marshes is a reflection of Pip’s development from a snob enamored with society to a more modest and kind person (Greenblatt, 2005, p. 87). The Victorian notion of moral rehabilitation and the value of internal character over outward social rank are both conveyed by Dickens using this scenario.
A Comparative Analysis
Setting is crucial to moving the stories forward in both Frankenstein and Great Expectations, and it also provides insight into the literary eras in which they were written. The novels, written in various literary eras, share certain similarities in their use of setting to convey deeper thematic and emotional significance; however, they also differ significantly in how they employ these literary devices. The settings of both works serve as a metaphor for the dominant ideologies and conflicts of their respective literary eras.
In Frankenstein, the Swiss Alps and the Arctic bear serve as witnesses to the Romantic obsession with nature’s majesty and the sublime (Greenblatt, 2012, p. 157). The Victorian emphasis on social hierarchy and personal development is also reflected in Great Expectations through locations like Satis House, the marshes, and London (Greenblatt, 2005, p. 139). The locations of both novels serve as metaphorical microcosms of their own cultures by reflecting the ideals and issues of their respective literary eras.
The novels’ approaches to the interaction between people and the natural environment, however, vary. Frankenstein serves as a cautionary tale about unbridled ambition and the dangers of tampering with the natural world. In contrast, Great Expectations argues that people can overcome their circumstances and achieve moral redemption while still operating within the bounds of society (Greenblatt, 2005). The settings in Great Expectations represent the Victorian idea that one’s inner character can triumph above social rank and deliver a message of moral renewal. As a result, their settings convey various messages.
Contrast in Symbolism
Although both books utilize the location as a potent metaphor, they present differing viewpoints on the interaction between humans and nature. With a focus on the potentially deadly elements of the natural world, Frankenstein highlights the risks associated with man’s attempts to manipulate nature and the arrogance of unbridled ambition (Greenblatt, 2018). As Stephen Greenblatt (2018) observes, the novel serves as a cautionary tale, revealing “the consequences of unchecked scientific ambition” and the moral complexities (p. 148). In contrast, Great Expectations emphasizes social and personal growth within societal constraints, arguing that people can develop personally and achieve moral redemption.
Conclusion
Setting acts as a multidimensional aspect that extends beyond a simple background and plays a crucial part in delivering more profound thematic and emotional significance in Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. The authors represent the ideals and issues of their respective literary eras through their locations. The Swiss Alps and the Arctic represent the dual essence of nature’s strength, its capacity to both inspire and scare. The conflict between the need for knowledge and the risks of unrestrained technological advancement is mirrored in the European cities of the novel. In contrast, Great Expectations utilizes locations such as Satis House, the marshes, and London to represent the Victorian principles of social hierarchy, individual growth, and moral salvation.
The use of setting in these two novels not only enhances the plot but also offers a window into the Romantic and Victorian eras of literature. The environments serve as a metaphor for the prevalent ideas, conflicts, and fears of the day. While Frankenstein cautions against the arrogance of unbridled desire, Great Expectations offers hope that people might overcome obstacles and achieve moral redemption. The novels are timeless masterpieces of English literature because they offer a thorough examination of the complexities of human nature and society.
References
Dickens C. & Rosenberg E. (1999). Great expectations: authoritative text backgrounds contexts criticism. W.W. Norton.
Greenblatt, S. (2018). The Norton anthology of English literature Volume F: The twentieth and twenty-first centuries. W. W. Norton & Company Inc.
Greenblatt, S. (2005). The Norton anthology of English literature Volume E: The Victorian Age. W. W. Norton & Company Inc.
Greenblatt, S. (2012). The Norton anthology of English literature, Volume D: The Romantic period. W. W. Norton & Company Inc.
Shelley M. W. & Hunter J. P. (2021). Frankenstein : the 1818 text contexts criticism (3rd ed.). W.W. Norton.
Yıldız, Z. H. (2022). Charles Dicken’s Great Expectations: A reflection of the Victorian era’s social dynamics. Journal of English Language and Literature Club, 4(1), 6-9.