It Is Kind of Like Jeopardy
A simple way to explain Nietzsche's Philological Approach (discussed in the previous section) is to say it is like Jeopardy. On the popular game show, contestants are given the "Answers" and their response has to be in the form of a question. If we apply Nietzsche, we are given Answers (The Text), and we use our deep reading of the text to come up with Questions. Later we will try to use the Text or the works of Socio-Cultural Theorists to answer those questions. However, for now we will just focus on coming up with good questions based on the deep reading of the text.
We will start by looking at a passage from Mary Shelley's Introduction to Frankenstein describing an image that inspired the text.:
Passage 1 I saw—with shut eyes, but acute mental vision—I saw the pale student of unhallowed arts kneeling beside the thing he had put together. I saw the hideous phantasm of a man stretched out, and then, on the working of some powerful engine, show signs of life and stir with an uneasy, half-vital motion. Frightful must it be, for supremely frightful would be the effect of any human endeavor to mock the stupendous mechanism of the Creator of the world.
Response: When she says "Unhallowed arts," does she mean that it is in direct opposition to God, whose name is Hallowed? or is she saying "unhallowed" as in the opposite of sacred, which would be profane or secular, but not necessarily "evil?" Perhaps it signifies both because he is using a engine which would be secular, and she concludes this passage by saying that the act itself mocked the Creator?
Here are more key passages from Frankenstein to practice interacting with, add your response to one of them in the comments, or a link to a blog posting in which you added your response:
Passage 2 When I reflected on his crimes and malice, my hatred and revenge burst all bounds of moderation. I would have made a pilgrimage to the highest peak of the Andes, could I, when there, have precipitated him to their base. I wished to see him again, that I might wreak the utmost extent of abhorrence on his head, and avenge the deaths of William and Justine. (Chapter 9, 6th Paragraph)
Passage 3 What may not be expected in a country of eternal light? I may there discover the wondrous power which attracts the needle; and may regulate a thousand celestial observations, that require only this voyage to render their seeming eccentricities consistent for ever. I shall satiate my ardent curiosity with the sight of a part of the world never before visited, and may tread a land never before imprinted by the foot of man. These are my enticements, and they are sufficient to conquer all fear of danger or death, and to induce me to commence this laborious voyage with the joy a child feels when he embarks in a little boat, with his holiday mates, on an expedition of discovery up his native river. (Preface, Letter 1)
Passage 4 Such were the professor's words--rather let me say such the words of fate, enounced to destroy me. As he went on, I felt as if my soul were grappling with a palpable enemy; one by one the various keys were touched which formed the mechanism of my being: chord after chord was sounded, and soon my mind was filled with one thought, one conception, one purpose. So much has been done, exclaimed the soul of Frankenstein--more, far more, will I achieve: treading in the steps already marked, I will pioneer a new way, explore unknown powers, and unfold to the world the deepest mysteries of creation. (Chapter 3, 5th paragraph from bottom)
Passage 5 "You, who call Frankenstein your friend, seem to have a knowledge of my crimes and his misfortunes. But in the detail which he gave you of them he could not sum up the hours and months of misery which I endured, wasting in impotent passions. For while I destroyed his hopes, I did not satisfy my own desires. They were for ever ardent and craving; still I desired love and fellowship, and I was still spurned. Was there no injustice in this? Am I to be thought the only criminal when all human kind sinned against me? Why do you not hate Felix who drove his friend from his door with contumely? Why do you not execrate the rustic who sought to destroy the saviour of his child? Nay, these are virtuous and immaculate beings! I, the miserable and the abandoned, am an abortion, to be spurned at, and kicked, and trampled on. Even now my blood boils at the recollection of this injustice. (Chapter 24, 6th paragraph from bottom)