“Frankenstein: Or the Modern Prometheus”
“Frankenstein: Or the Modern Prometheus” 1931.
The original 1818 novel “Frankenstein: Or the Modern Prometheus” by Mary Shell is the story of Victor Frankenstein, a young brilliant scientist, who dreams of creating life and succeeds. It is the story of the victim who turns to violence.
The creature is horribly ugly and Frankenstein rejects and abandons him. Cast out into a hostile world, he is blamed and harassed for being physically repulsive. Frankenstein, like other great fiction, forces us to question what we take for granted.
The monster is socially isolated without shelter or food. The effects of his isolation is devastating physically and psychologically. He plans to take his own life after committing revenge killings of the family and friends of his creator, Frankenstein.
Victim Turns to Violence
Devil or Angel
How do we deal with the victimized child who becomes violent? Who is to blame? What do we do with him? Prison? Isolation? Execution? We want to deal with him swiftly and put him out of our of mind. He makes us see something inside that horrifies.
When you read about a monster committing a mass shooting, he – it is virtually always “he” – you usually don’t read about him beginning life innocent, loving, and trusting. If in these first years of total dependency, basic needs are neglected, he is heading for a rough ride through life.
I think some of my students might identify with the monster as I do and as Mary Shelly ever so subtly did. But in our class discussion, I stay somewhat impartial. I moderate the discussion in a way that both sides are presented and allow the students to form their own point of view. Victim or monster.
Insecure Attachment
Rejection and abandonment at an early age lead to an insecure attachment. Though the term insecure attachment was not coined until the mid twentieth century, Shelly understood the repercussions of an insecure attachment more empathetically than any psychologist I have yet to encounter.
We are totally dependent on our caretakers for our initial attachment. Some of us are the victims of abandonment and lack of emotional support; victims of unloving parents; victims of violence.
Trauma-Centered Teaching
Teachers need to understand the connection between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and emotional, social, and academic problems. It is important to empathetically manage the behavior of students with symptoms of developmental trauma.
I can’t remember a student I would consider a discipline problem. I looked at students acting out as a cry for acceptance. I tried to give all students a feeling of worth and acceptance. I cannot recall a student who did not respond positively, of course each in their own way.
I only wish I knew then all that I have learned since. I needed to do a lot of healing myself. It was quite literally the blind leading the blind. Sometimes I wish I could go back in time and correct egregious blunders. Instead, I’m sharing all that I’ve learned, so a few others may take it for their own.
Self-help books that help:
Total Self-Renewal through Attention Therapies and Open Focus
The Open-Focus Brain: Harnessing the Power of Attention to Heal Mind and Body
