Of Monsters and Dinosaurs
Taylor Johnson and Maria Navarro
Frankenstein Characters
Protagonists
Victor is one of the protagonists, even though he created the monster. He was consumed with gaining new knowledge, and not understanding how that knowledge and creation would affect the community and his surroundings. Victor realized his creation was a wrongdoing, and additionally, took steps to prevent the monster from further harming the community. He fits the “tragic hero” role, and it is seen how much time and energy he pours into this creature, only to have it backfire.
The monster possesses multiple protagonist traits and characteristics. His utmost longing and desire is for a companion and compassion. Thus shows the monster’s motives are not altogether destructive-seeking. When looking at the story as a whole, the monster is the only one who performs any acts of grace, (such as saving the girl in the river) and not being prejudice based on appearance.
Antagonists
Victor refuses to have compassion on his own creation, making him the antagonist. He further refuses to make his creation a companion and refusing support to the monster after he is created. Therefore, he is directly responsible for the actions the monster took. However, he never accepted responsibility for the creature, showing his lack of interest, empathy, and even humanity.
The monster (if considering Victor as the protagonist) is the enemy by default. The monster has been the cause of multiple deaths in the community and repeatedly acts out of anger.
Jurassic Park Characters
Protagonists
Dr. Alan Grant is one of the protagonists, even though he was mesmerized by the discovery he knew it was wrong to go against nature. He recognized that men and dinosaurs have never interacted before, therefore the outcome of this is unpredictable.
Dr. Ian Malcolm “God creates dinosaurs. God destroys dinosaurs. God creates man. Man destroys God. Man creates dinosaurs. Since the beginning of the movie he makes it clear that man should not be playing God. He tries to warn John Hammond of the dangers of genetics, “your scientist were so preoccupied with whether or not they could that they didn’t stop to think if they should”.
Dr. Ellie Sattler, like Dr. Grant she is mesmerized by the concept and discovery of Jurassic Park. However she points out “the question is, how can you how anything about an extinct ecosystem? And therefore, how could you ever assume that you can control it?”
Antagonists
John Hammond is not necessarily an evil person but he was determined to bring back to life dinosaurs regardless of potential risk, in fact he was blinded by the discovery that he could not seem to understand the possible risk of dinosaur genetics and life. His ambitious actions had deathly repercussions.
Dr. Henry Wu (chief geneticist) comparable to John Hammond, as the chief geneticist Dr. Wu was determined to recreate dinosaurs not realizing the power of the knowledge at hand. He was sure that his discoveries would work due to his extensive research and that nature could not find a way. He defied the course of nature and as a result nature found a way like it always does.
Dennis Nedry (computer system guy) Fueled by avarice Dennis jams the computer systems, which shuts down the system that deactivates the electric fences and stops the tour cars and causes chaos. If he hadn't done that the story would be completely different.
CONFLICT
Frankenstein Conflict
Man vs. Himself - Victor comes into conflict when he disagrees with himself multiple times as to whether to pursue making the monster a companion or not. Victor also feels very responsible for the murder of William in which he did not commit.
Man vs. Society - Repeatedly throughout the novel, there are many accounts of isolation and rejection between Victor, the monster, and society. The monster struggles with appearance while Victor is shutting everyone in his life away.
Jurassic Park Conflict
Man vs. Himself - Dr. Grant has an internal conflict deciding whether jurassic park is a good idea. He is enthralled by the concept and discovery and therefore he has a difficult time drawing conclusions about the park
Man vs. Society - John Hammond has an external conflict because his park seems like a good idea to him but in reality society does not agree with that statement. Dr. Sattler, Dr. Grant and Dr. Malcolm recognize the potential risk of such discovery. He however is convinced by scientific facts that he can control things like reproduction and natural instinct therefore does not doubt the potential success of Jurassic Park.
Man vs. Nature - Man should not defy nature, if man does the repercussions are unpredictable. Nature wins every battle because it finds a way, it cannot be transformed stopped or destroyed if nature does not want to be. Dinosaurs found a way to reproduce even after the scientist “made sure” this would not happenTHEMES
Frankenstein Theme
Appearance- Appearances can indicate someone's inner self, but only because society inevitably reacts to beautiful people in a way that makes them able to be good—and to ugly people in a way that makes them turn out evil.
Jurassic Park Theme
Danger of Ambition - Ambition is not necessarily a bad quality but when it becomes obsessive it is dangerous because there is nothing that can stop that person from completing their quest. In Jurassic Park John Hammond and his scientist did not stop to think whether they should recreated dinosaur their only goal was whether they could, and they did.
Both
Ending Scenes
Similarities
“So have I.” (John Hammond)
Just like Walton and Victor agree that pursuing their quests were not good ideas, Dr. Grant and John Hammond agree that Jurassic Park is not an intelligent thing to pursue.
The “monsters” were created by artificial means and in the end were left alone with no one to take care of them. Both Victor and the Jurassic Park scientists played with science and the outcome was unexpected.
Differences
John Hammond was fascinated by dinosaurs, whereas Victor was afraid and disgusted by the creature since the beginning. After reading Frankenstein the reader feels sad and depressed after seeing that the creature just wants to go die, on the other hand after watching Jurassic Park the viewer feels hopeful because they were able to leave the island alive.
Quests
Frankenstein Quest
Walton - Robert Walton is the captain of a ship traveling to the North Pole. Walton is searching for a Northern passage to the Pacific, and his attitude is one of determination. He is determined to accomplish "some great purpose."
Victor Frankenstein - Victor’s life revolved around a quest for knowledge which led to a life of misery. When he meets Walton, he warns him, “You seek for knowledge and wisdom as I once did; and I ardently hope that the gratification of your wishes may not be a serpent to sting you, as mine has been” (Shelly 15). This quote implies that the quest and creation of his monster is what led to his downfall. However, the downfall began long before the monster was created.
Creature - Throughout the novel, the creature’s quest is for compassion and a companion. He is constantly rejected by society and even his creator, which leads him further into isolation. He then begins to thirst for knowledge when rejected by society, just like his creator.
Jurassic Park Quest
Dr. Hammond - Dr. Hammond’s quest is to bring dinosaurs back from extinction with the help of science and technology. His goal for Jurassic Park is so everyone can see and enjoy dinosaurs
Dr. Grant - Dr. Grant’s quest is to learn about dinosaurs on their habitat and to prove right his theories about their behavior. He is also there to support John Hammond and Jurassic Park.