To visually demonstrate what catastrophe is, here is a work of art by Jean Julian showing some monsters attacking a city.
Catastrophe
According to Marian-Webster Dictionary, a catastrophe is defined as a final action of dramatic action especially a tragedy.
The entire novel could be considered a string of multiple catastrophes one after another. Or it could be viewed in full as one giant tragedy. But whichever way you prefer to look at it, it's very obvious that the novel contains a very strong element of catastrophe and tragedy over it.
The entire novel could be considered a string of multiple catastrophes one after another. Or it could be viewed in full as one giant tragedy. But whichever way you prefer to look at it, it's very obvious that the novel contains a very strong element of catastrophe and tragedy over it.
Specific instances
This is a very striking example of a catastrophe that is in the novel. This is when Pieces kills Victor's wife, Elizabeth. This specific image is of Boris Karloff playing the monster in a Frankenstein movie. Victor hears his wife scream and realizes that the monster was in fact not trying to kill him, but was trying to get to Elizabeth the whole time. After this happens Victor goes to tell Elizabeth's father of her death. When Victor tells the old man of the news, he drops dead from the shock that his daughter has been killed. As if his wife dying was not bad enough. This string of events is considered a definite catastrophe in my eyes.
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Another poignant catastrophe in the novel could be the monsters entire life. This catastrophe is less tangible as the other ones but it is a good one to talk about. The monster comes into this world with no one wanting to take care of him or help him in this very confusing world. It is very sad how he comes to learn about the world, and comes to realize that he is a monster and not something normal. When he lives with the family, he actually grows to like them and helps them in some ways like by gathering firewood for them. This is where he learns more about the world. When he finally decides to make social contact with them, he talks to the old man. This is the only person who is ever kind to him. Once the family returns they chase him off and this is when he realizes that there is no kindness for him in the world. If someone had taken the time to take care of him in the beginning of his life he might have turned out not to be so evil and could have actually had a fulfilling life and become a productive member of society.
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