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Contents contributed and discussions participated by Vanessa Vaile

Vanessa Vaile

Frankenstein, Letter1 - 1 views

    • Vanessa Vaile
       
      setting tone of exploration and discovery, extremes, benefiting "all mankind"  Note parallels to Victor F's purposes and experiment. Image of scientific discovery as a northern passage  Compare to history, obsessions and loss of associated with the Northwest Passage ~ for that matter, bear in mind the Columbus was search for a passage to the East. Explorations = the history of unintended consequences
  • discovering a passage near the pole to those countries
  • ascertaining the secret of the magnet,
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  • This expedition has been the favourite dream of my early years.
  • a history of all the voyages made for purposes of discovery composed the whole of our good Uncle Thomas' library
  • my father's dying injunction had forbidden my uncle to allow me to embark in a seafaring life.
  • I also became a poet and for one year lived in a paradise of my own creation;
    • Vanessa Vaile
       
      oh Shelley, self-elected and unacknowledged legislator of the world (see Defence of Poetry)
  • my failure
  • Six years have passed since I resolved on my present undertaking. I can, even now, remember the hour from which I dedicated myself to this great enterprise.
  • Letter 2 Archangel, 28th March, 17— To Mrs. Saville, England
  • How slowly the time passes here, encompassed as I am by frost and snow
  • I have one want
  • I have no friend
  • I shall commit my thoughts to paper, it is true; but that is a poor medium for the communication of feeling. I desire the company of a man who could sympathize with me
  • it is a still greater evil to me that I am self-educated
  • My lieutenant, for instance, is a man of wonderful courage and enterprise; he is madly desirous of glory, or rather, to word my phrase more characteristically, of advancement in his profession.
  • I heard of a mariner equally noted for his kindliness of heart and the respect and obedience paid to him by his crew, I felt myself peculiarly fortunate in being able to secure his services
  • "What a noble fellow!" you will exclaim. He is so; but then he is wholly uneducated: he is as silent as a Turk, and a kind of ignorant carelessness attends him, which, while it renders his conduct the more astonishing, detracts from the interest and sympathy which otherwise he would command.
  • I cannot describe to you my sensations on the near prospect of my undertaking. It is impossible to communicate to you a conception of the trembling sensation, half pleasurable and half fearful, with which I am preparing to depart. I am going to unexplored regions
  • I shall kill no albatross; therefore do not be alarmed for my safety or if I should come back to you as worn and woeful as the "Ancient Mariner."
  • Continue for the present to write to me by every opportunity: I may receive your letters on some occasions when I need them
  • Letter 3 July 7th, 17— To Mrs. Saville, England
  • I write a few lines in haste to say that I am safe—and well advanced on my voyage. This letter will reach England by a merchantman now on its homeward voyage from Archangel
  • No incidents have hitherto befallen us that would make a figure in a letter
  • Adieu, my dear Margaret
  • Letter 4 August 5th, 17— To Mrs. Saville, England
  • So strange an accident has happened to us that I cannot forbear recording it, although it is very probable that you will see me before these papers can come into your possession.
  • we were nearly surrounded by ice, which closed in the ship on all sides
  • we beheld, stretched out in every direction, vast and irregular plains of ice, which seemed to have no end.
  • a strange sight suddenly attracted our attention and diverted our solicitude from our own situation
  • a being which had the shape of a man, but apparently of gigantic stature, sat in the sledge and guided the dogs
  • by ice, it was impossible to follow his track,
    • Vanessa Vaile
       
      first sighting of the creature
  • before night the ice broke and freed our ship.
  • talking to someone in the sea. It was, in fact, a sledge, like that we had seen before, which had drifted towards us in the night on a large fragment of ice. Only one dog remained alive; but there was a human being within it
    • Vanessa Vaile
       
      1st appearance of Victor Frankenstein, in futile pursuit of his creation / criado
  • will you have the kindness to inform me whither you are bound?"
  • His limbs were nearly frozen, and his body dreadfully emaciated by fatigue and suffering. I never saw a man in so wretched a condition
  • Two days passed in this manner before he was able to speak, and I often feared that his sufferings had deprived him of understanding.
  • I never saw a more interesting creature: his eyes have generally an expression of wildness, and even madness, but there are moments when, if anyone performs an act of kindness towards him or does him any the most trifling service, his whole countenance is lighted up, as it were, with a beam of benevolence
  • generally melancholy and despairing, and sometimes he gnashes his teeth
    • Vanessa Vaile
       
      sounds more like Creature than Victor
  • "To seek one who fled from me."
  • a multitude of questions concerning the route which the demon, as he called him, had pursued
  • a new spirit of life animated the decaying frame of the stranger.
    • Vanessa Vaile
       
      Interesting choice of words, animated, decaying
  • He must have been a noble creature in his better days,
  • attractive and amiable
  • How can I see so noble a creature destroyed by misery without feeling the most poignant grief?
  • One man's life or death were but a small price to pay for the acquirement of the knowledge which I sought, for the dominion I should acquire and transmit over the elemental foes of our race.
    • Vanessa Vaile
       
      weaponization of knowledge?
  • "we are unfashioned creatures, but half made up, if one wiser, better, dearer than ourselves—such a friend ought to be—do not lend his aid to perfectionate our weak and faulty natures. I once had a friend, the most noble of human creatures, and am entitled, therefore, to judge respecting friendship.
  • 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.
  • the stranger said to me,
  • exposing yourself to the same dangers which have rendered me what I am, I imagine that you may deduce an apt moral from my tale,
    • Vanessa Vaile
       
      Victor prepares to tell his story a cautionary tale
  • my fate is nearly fulfilled. I wait but for one event, and then I shall repose in peace
  • he would commence his narrative the next day
  • Strange and harrowing must be his story, frightful the storm which embraced the gallant vessel on its course and wrecked it—thus!
  •  
    Letters from Walton to his sister, opening the book, frontispiece or front bookend framing the story. 
Vanessa Vaile

Dracula, Chapter 10 - 0 views

    • Vanessa Vaile
       
      confinement theme ~ includes knowledge as well as bodies, women, infection
  • "The good husbandman tell you so then because he knows, but not till then
  • When I described Lucy's symptoms, the same as before, but infinitely more marked, he looked very grave, but said nothing.
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  • spiritual pathology,
  • She was ghastly, chalkily pale.
  • Her breathing was painful to see or hear.
  • I would give the last drop of blood in my body for her."
  • She wants blood, and blood she must have or die
  • transfusion of blood, to transfer from full veins of one to the empty veins
  • of blood so pure
  • the narrow black velvet band which she seems always to wear round her throat, buckled with an old diamond buckle
  • deep hiss of indrawn breath
  • What do you make of that mark on her throat?"
  • There was no sign of disease, but the edges were white and worn looking, as if by some trituration. It at once occurred to me that that this wound, or whatever it was, might be the means of that manifest loss of blood.
  • The opiate worked itself off towards dusk, and she waked naturally.
  • looked at me gratefully whenever I caught her eye
  • You do not want to sleep?"
  • "Afraid to go to sleep! Why so? It is the boon we all crave for."
  • "Ah, not if you were like me, if sleep was to you a presage of horror!"
  • All this weakness comes to me in sleep,
  • "But, my dear girl, you may sleep tonight. I am here watching you, and I can promise that nothing will happen." "Ah, I can trust you!" she said.
  • All night long I watched by her. She never stirred, but slept on and on in a deep, tranquil, life-giving, health-giving sleep.
  • It was dark when I was able to inquire about my zoophagous patient.
  • I lay on the sofa, and forgot all about everything.
  • Somehow Arthur feels very, very close to me.
  • DR. SEWARD'S DIARY 10 September.--I was conscious of the Professor's hand on my head, and started awake all in a second. That is one of the things that we learn in an asylum, at any rate.
  • There on the bed, seemingly in a swoon, lay poor Lucy, more horribly white and wan-looking than ever.
  • the faint seemed to merge subtly into the narcotic sleep.
  • how Lucy had made such a retrograde movement, and how she could have been drained of so much blood with no sign any where to show for it
  • "Now you go home, and eat much and drink enough. Make yourself strong. I stay here tonight, and I shall sit up with little miss myself.
  • In the hall two of the maids came to me, and asked if they or either of them might not sit up with Miss Lucy.
  • For over and over again have I seen similar instances of woman's kindness.
  • waiting for sleep. It is coming.
  • 11 September.--This afternoon I went over to Hillingham. Found Van Helsing in excellent spirits, and Lucy much better.
  • "No trifling with me! I never jest! There is grim purpose in what I do, and I warn you that you do not thwart me.
  • No telling to others that make so inquisitive questions.
    • Vanessa Vaile
       
      more confinement of information ~ characters are also always saying don't tell, don't say anything about. etc.   Also the effect of Victorian reticence it to sequester knowledge and information
  • you always have a reason for what you do, but this certainly puzzles me. It is well we have no sceptic here, or he would say that you were working some spell to keep out an evil spirit."
  • we left the house in my fly,
    • Vanessa Vaile
       
      another means of transportation
  • Tonight I can sleep in peace, and sleep I want,
  • remembering my own confidence two nights before and with the baneful result, felt awe and vague terror
  • weakness that made me hesitate to tell it to my friend
Vanessa Vaile

Dracula - 0 views

    • Vanessa Vaile
       
      Premonitions/ foreboding, sleeping and waking. Compare to Jonathon's journal at the castle. Also where this fits in with timetable. Hyperlinking cross-references would be handy here.
  • The clock was striking one
  • There was a bright full moon, with heavy black, driving clouds, which threw the whole scene into a fleeting diorama of light and shade as they sailed across.
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  • ruins of the abbey coming into view, and as the edge of a narrow band of light as sharp as a sword-cut moved along, the church and churchyard became gradually visible.
  • it seemed to me as though something dark stood behind the seat where the white figure shone, and bent over it.
  • flew down the steep steps to the pier and along by the fish-market to the bridge, which was the only way to reach the East Cliff. The town seemed as dead, for not a soul did I see.
  • I could see a white face and red, gleaming eyes.
  • CHAPTER 8 MINA MURRAY'S JOURNAL
  • I ran on to the entrance of the churchyard. As I entered, the church was between me and the seat, and for a minute or so I lost sight of her. When I came in view again the cloud had passed
  • she was still asleep
  • she was breathing, not softly as usual with her, but in long, heavy gasps, as though striving to get her lungs full at every breath
  • she put her hand to her throat again and moaned
  • Fortune favoured us, and we got home without meeting a soul
  • she rose without a word, with the obedience of a child
  • Lucy is sleeping soundly. The reflex of the dawn is high and far over the sea…
  • she looks better this morning than she has done for weeks
  • two little red points like pin-pricks, and on the band of her nightdress was a drop of blood.
  • Fortunately it cannot leave a scar, as it is so tiny
    • Vanessa Vaile
       
      reference to scar
  • twice during the night I was wakened by Lucy trying to get out
  • to bed with the key on my wrist as before
  • brilliant moonlight, and the soft effect of the light over the sea and sky, merged together in one great silent mystery
  • flitted a great bat, coming and going in great whirling circles
  • suddenly Lucy murmured as if to herself… "His red eyes again! They are just the same."
  • She appeared to be looking over at our own seat, whereon was a dark figure seated alone
  • The red sunlight was shining on the windows of St. Mary's Church behind our seat, and as the sun dipped there was just sufficient change in the refraction and reflection to make it appear as if the light moved
    • Vanessa Vaile
       
      COLORS: black, red, white, grey. Despite being in the country, few (if any?) references to green or blue (skies)
  • she is fretting about something. I wish I could find out what it is.
  • Lucy was languid and tired, and slept on after we had been called
  • She confided to me that she has got her death warrant.
  • her heart is weakening
  • 17 August.--No diary for two whole days. I have not had the heart to write. Some sort of shadowy pall seems to be coming over our happiness. No news from Jonathan, and Lucy seems to be growing weaker,
  • I trust her feeling ill may not be from that unlucky prick of the safety-pin.
  • the tiny wounds seem not to have healed. They are still open, and, if anything, larger than before, and the edges of them are faintly white.
  • LETTER, SAMUEL F. BILLINGTON & SON, SOLICITORS WHITBY, TO MESSRS. CARTER, PATERSON & CO., LONDON. 17 August "Dear Sirs,--Herewith please receive invoice of goods sent by Great Northern Railway. Same are to be delivered at Carfax, near Purfleet, immediately on receipt at goods station King's Cross. The house is at present empty, but enclosed please find keys, all of which are labelled.
  • boxes, fifty in number, which form the consignment, in the partially ruined building forming part of the house and marked 'A'
  • The goods leave by the train at 9:30 tonight, and will be due at King's Cross at 4:30 tomorrow afternoon.
  • Lucy is ever so much better. Last night she slept well all night, and did not disturb me once.
  • "I didn't quite dream, but it all seemed to be real. I only wanted to be here in this spot. I don't know why, for I was afraid of something, I don't know what.
  • I heard a lot of dogs howling
  • I went up the steps
  • It seemed a little uncanny to me
  • My soul seemed to go out from my body and float about the air. I seem to remember that once the West Lighthouse was right under me, and then there was a sort of agonizing feeling, as if I were in an earthquake, and I came back
  • At last, news of Jonathan. The dear fellow has been ill,
  • 19 August.--Joy
  • I am to leave in the morning and go over to Jonathan, and to help to nurse him if necessary, and to bring him home.
  • LETTER, SISTER AGATHA, HOSPITAL OF ST. JOSEPH AND STE. MARY BUDA-PESTH, TO MISS WILLHELMINA MURRAY
  • My journey is all mapped out, and my luggage ready
  • "I write by desire of Mr. Jonathan Harker, who is himself not strong enough to write, though progressing well,
  • He wishes me to say that he has not sufficient money with him, and that he would like to pay for his staying here, so that others who need shall not be wanting for help.
  • He has told me all about you, and that you are shortly to be his wife. All blessings to you both! He has had some fearful shock
  • his ravings have been dreadful, of wolves and poison and blood, of ghosts and demons,
  • we knew nothing of his friends, and there was nothing on him, nothing that anyone could understand. He came in the train from Klausenburg, and the guard was told by the station master there that he rushed into the station shouting for a ticket for home. Seeing from his violent demeanour that he was English, they gave him a ticket for the furthest station on the way thither that the train reached.
  • 19 August.--Strange and sudden change in Renfield last night.
  • You don't count now. The master is at hand.
  • it is some sudden form of religious mania which has seized him
  • It looks like religious mania
  • the God created from human vanity sees no difference between an eagle and a sparrow.
  • For half an hour or more Renfield kept getting excited in greater and greater degree. I did not pretend to be watching him, but I kept strict observation all the same.
  • "The Bride maidens rejoice the eyes that wait the coming of the bride. But when the bride draweth nigh, then the maidens shine not to the eyes that are filled."
  • If I don't sleep at once, chloral, the modern Morpheus! I must be careful not to let it grow into a habit.
  • had lain tossing about, and had heard the clock strike only twice, when the night watchman came to me, sent up from the ward, to say that Renfield had escaped.
  • The attendant told me the patient had gone to the left, and had taken a straight line, so I ran as quickly as I could. As I got through the belt of trees I saw a white figure scale the high wall
  • He was talking, apparently to some one
  • Chasing an errant swarm of bees is nothing to following a naked lunatic
  • I heard him say… "I am here to do your bidding, Master. I am your slave, and you will reward me, for I shall be faithful. I have worshipped you long and afar off. Now that you are near, I await your commands
  • His cries are at times awful, but the silences that follow are more deadly still,
  • "I shall be patient, Master. It is coming, coming, coming!"
Vanessa Vaile

Dracula - 0 views

    • Vanessa Vaile
       
      the churches and church yards frequently mentioned are also sanctuaries
  • Jonathan Harker's Journal (Kept in shorthand)
  • He is a funny old man. He must be awfully old, for his face is gnarled and twisted like the bark of a tree.
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  • I thought he would be a good person to learn interesting things from, so I asked him if he would mind telling me something about the whale fishing in the old days.
  • when the clock struck six
  • -I came up here an hour ago with Lucy, and we had a most interesting talk with my old friend and the two others who always come and join him. He is evidently the Sir Oracle of them
  • Lucy was looking sweetly pretty in her white lawn frock. She has got a beautiful colour since she has been here.
  • I got him on the subject of the legends, and he went off at once into a sort of sermon.
  • bans an' wafts an' boh-ghosts an' bar-guests an' bogles an' all anent
  • Surely these tombstones are not all wrong?"
  • 'Here lies the body' or 'Sacred to the memory' wrote on all of them, an' yet in nigh half of them there bean't no bodies at all,
  • Do ye think that all these men will have to make a rush to Whitby when the trumpet sounds?
    • Vanessa Vaile
       
      Whitby as a place of bones
  • she told me all over again about Arthur and their coming marriage. That made me just a little heart-sick, for I haven't heard from Jonathan for a whole month.
  • The same day. I came up here alone, for I am very sad. There was no letter for me. I hope there cannot be anything the matter with Jonathan. The clock has just struck nine.
  • I wonder where Jonathan is and if he is thinking of me! I wish he were here.
  • DR. SEWARD'S DIARY
  • The case of Renfield grows more interesting the more I get to understand the man. He has certain qualities very largely developed, selfishness, secrecy, and purpose.
  • Just now his hobby is catching flies
  • He has turned his mind now to spiders
  • he argued quietly that it was very good and very wholesome, that it was life, strong life, and gave life to him.
  • he keeps a little notebook in which he is always jotting down something
  • He has managed to get a sparrow, and has already partially tamed it. His means of taming is simple, for already the spiders have diminished
  • We are progressing. My friend has now a whole colony of sparrows
  • I could see a warning of danger in it, for there was a sudden fierce, sidelong look which meant killing.
  • took away his pocketbook to look at it. The thought that has been buzzing about my brain lately is complete, and the theory proved.
  • I shall have to invent a new classification for him
  • zoophagous (life-eating) maniac
  • If I could have as strong a cause as my poor mad friend there, a good, unselfish cause to make me work,
  • MINA MURRAY'S JOURNAL
  • yesterday dear Mr. Hawkins, who is always so kind, sent me a letter from him
  • only a line dated from Castle Dracula, and says that he is just starting for home. That is not like Jonathan. I do not understand it, and it makes me uneasy.
  • has lately taken to her old habit of walking in her sleep
  • Mr. Holmwood, he is the Hon. Arthur Holmwood, only son of Lord Godalming, is coming up here very shortly
  • 27 July.--No news from Jonathan. I am getting quite uneasy about him
  • 6 August.--Another three days, and no news.
  • Lucy is more excitable than ever, but is otherwise well. Last night was very threatening, and the fishermen say that we are in for a storm. I must try to watch it and learn the weather signs.
  • I have been quite touched by the change in the poor old man. When he sat down beside me, he said in a very gentle way, "I want to say something to you, miss."
  • Here comes old Mr. Swales
  • I didn't mean them, and I want ye to remember that when I'm gone
  • My time must be nigh at hand now,
  • He stopped to talk with me, as he always does, but all the time kept looking at a strange ship.
  • "I can't make her out," he said. "She's a Russian, by the look of her. But she's knocking about in the queerest way.
  • She is steered mighty strangely
  • "There's something in that wind and in the hoast beyont that sounds, and looks, and tastes, and smells like death. It's in the air. I feel it comin'.
  • he got up, shook hands with me, and blessed me, and said goodbye
Bonnie Sutton

Duncan's equity commission and the 'rising tide' of avarice, hostility, testing - 3 views

equity duncan commission John Merrow testing education and excellence
started by Bonnie Sutton on 25 Feb 12 no follow-up yet
  • Vanessa Vaile
     
    I agree ~ and the lessons and sharp reminders in the article are not just for K-12
Bonnie Sutton

More Wireless Broadband Is What Consumers Want, U.S. Needs to Close the Digital Divide - 3 views

wireless broadband affordability adoption rural access
started by Bonnie Sutton on 10 Jan 12 no follow-up yet
  • Vanessa Vaile
     
    too bad it's on HuffPo, won't blog, bookmark or retweet because I'm boycotting the site
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