PART 1

The podcast episode discusses the themes of revenge and forgiveness in literature, specifically focusing on the novels "The Song of Achilles" by Madeline Miller and "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley. It highlights the dangers and consequences of seeking revenge, emphasizing the importance of forgiveness for finding peace. The stories of Achilles and Frankenstein's creature are used as examples to illustrate these themes. The podcast concludes by suggesting that seeking forgiveness instead of revenge can lead to a more positive and peaceful society. Welcome to Caitlyn's Book Corner with me, Caitlyn Zurn. Revenge and forgiveness. Both are elements of the human condition and the subject of today's podcast. We're going to run the podcast a little differently today, as it will be split into two parts. The first part will go into depth on the topics I just mentioned, as seen in the great literary works, Madeline Miller's The Song of Achilles and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. In the second part, we will be joined by a special guest to discuss how a story from my childhood illustrates these topics and how they appear in real life. How far is one person willing to go to fulfill their desire for revenge? When someone mentally or physically harms another, should they seek retribution or try to find a pathway to forgiveness? A common response for nearly everyone is to want revenge against those who have wronged us. But revenge is often a fueled rage that can blind a person to the true cost of their actions. There are much more mature and reasonable responses to resolving anger rather than resorting to violence, such as seeking out forgiveness and peacefulness. The Song of Achilles and Frankenstein, although written centuries apart, share many similarities in their warnings about revenge. By shedding light on these potentially deadly dangers, both books caution their readers that forgiveness is a key factor to finding peace. Madeline Miller's The Song of Achilles is a modern retelling of the Iliad from the perspective of Patroclus, the companion and lover of demigod Achilles. The novel explores the developing relationship between the two young men and the impact the Trojan War has on their lives. In this literary masterpiece, Patroclus sacrifices himself to protect Achilles' honor. Achilles is left alive with a blinding fury and a hunger for revenge against Hector, the man that killed Patroclus. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is a classic horror story in which protagonist Victor Frankenstein, in his quest for fame and everlasting glory, successfully creates a new life from the dead. Once he fulfills his life's ambitions, this seeming triumph quickly turns into horror and shame when his creation appears, at least from the outside, to be a monster. Frankenstein dishonorably abandons his creature, triggering the creature to go on a rampage of violent killing sprees fueled by his need for revenge against Victor. While both novels include characters eager for revenge, in Madeline Miller's The Song of Achilles, Miller demonstrates through Achilles' pursuit of tireless revenge that seeking out revenge does not bring peace. In contrast, in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Shelley argues through the development of Frankenstein's creature that when one seeks forgiveness instead of revenge, peace can be found. Throughout the development of protagonist Achilles in the novel, Achilles learns from his mistaken pursuit of revenge that it does not bring him peace. Achilles is merely a teenager when called upon to fulfill his destiny and prove his honor and fame as the best fighter to enter the Trojan War. He goes to war with the looming knowledge that it has been prophesied that he will be killed in the war. As the ten years spent in Troy slowly crept by, both Achilles and Patroclus developed into shells of the boys they used to be, as the now men were struggling to postpone fate for as long as they could. While the Greek soldiers were expected to kill as many Trojans as possible during the battles of the war, Achilles made a sport out of it, thoroughly enjoying how easy killing came to him, and boastfully returned to camp each day smeared in the blood of his enemies with a smile on his face. It is not until Patroclus is killed on one of the battlefields by Achilles' utmost enemy, Hector, that Achilles slipped into a rage so blinding that no one, not even the River God's commander, can stand in the way of him satisfying his thirst for revenge. Achilles fights with an animalistic position, stating, quote, there are no bargains between mine and men. I will kill you and eat you raw, end quote, Miller 344, mindlessly striking down those who attempt to interfere with him finding and killing Hector. Upon succeeding in killing Hector, Achilles finds that his revenge has yet to be satisfied. Achilles dishonors and humiliates Hector's spirit as he obnoxiously drags his dead body around the Greek camp for days. Still blinded by his anger, Achilles initially refuses to return Hector's body back to the Trojans so that Hector can have a proper burial, besetting his position as Prince of Troy and a war hero. When his mother Thetis tragically begs her son to return Hector's body, saying, quote, you have killed him and taken your revenge. It is enough, end quote. Achilles, still fueled by rage, responds, it will never be enough, Miller 345. Achilles' thirst for revenge is unquenchable. Even after getting his revenge against Hector, Achilles is miserable, realizing that his revenge did not bring him peace. While waiting for the prophecy to be fulfilled, Achilles remains alive in a constant state of hopelessness and turmoil. Had Achilles taken a different approach, had he only put aside his pride and sought out forgiveness from those he wronged, he could have died in a peaceful manner. Just like Achilles, Frankenstein's creature is filled with a rage so blinding that he too sets out for revenge. However, in contrast to Achilles, Frankenstein's creature successfully brings peace to himself by ultimately seeking forgiveness from his creator. Frankenstein's creature, filled with rage and despair, spends most of the novel seeking vengeance on his creator for abandoning him. Having been repeatedly ignored by his creator, the creature is forced out into the world alone, without any care or guidance. Shelley effectively demonstrates that the loneliness and isolation felt by the abandoned creature can lead to a deep resentment and an even deeper rage. Upon tracking Victor down in the mountains and, still angry at Victor's refusal to create a mate for him, the creature spitefully roars, you can blast my other passions, but revenge remains. Revenge, henceforth dearer than light or food. Shelley 120. The creature despises Victor for his abdications as his duties to support his creation. Revenge is all the creature knows, and is the only thing that drives him forward in his constant pursuit of Victor. Days fade into weeks, weeks fade into months, and months fade into years as the creature allows his blinding rage to control him. As the creature explains, quote, I was a slave, not the master of an impulse, which I detested, yet could not disobey, end quote, Shelley 159. However, when the creature discovers that Victor has died, he is overcome with feelings of guilt and remorse. He sobs over Victor's body, regretting all of his actions he took against the Frankenstein family. He begs Victor for forgiveness for his misdeeds, crying, quote, oh Frankenstein, generous and self-devoted being, what does it avail that I now ask thee to pardon me, end quote, Shelley 158, and forgives Victor in turn. By being able to forgive Victor for his initial betrayal and abandonment, the creature accepts his fate in a peaceful matter. Shortly after he is done grieving, he vows to kill himself, remarking, quote, light, feeling, and sense will pass away, and in this condition, I must find my happiness, end quote, Shelley 161. By allowing the creature to find peace at the end of the novel, Shelley demonstrates that by seeking forgiveness instead of revenge can allow for anyone to find a peaceful ending. Even though these books have been written centuries apart, they still have applicable messages that have maintained their importance throughout the years. While Miller's message is that the pursuit of tireless revenge doesn't bring peace, Shelley's message that when one seeks forgiveness instead of revenge, peace can be found, is much more applicable to today's society. We live in a country full of strong opinions, and when people disagree with one another, tensions often rise to the extent of physical altercations between one another, all fighting over who is, quote, right and who is, quote, wrong inside. Instead of taking drastic measures to resolve the conflicts between our disagreements, we should instead seek out understanding and forgiveness. Forgiveness is an underestimated and powerful force. Not only will becoming more comfortable with forgiving help human nature to become less angry when wronged, but it will also lead to a much more positive and even peaceful society. The two authors are warning as to why, if we don't as a society seek out forgiveness and instead blindly follow revenge, that our entire society can and will crumble. Thank you for listening to part one of this podcast series, and get ready to listen to part two, which involves a real-life moment in which I myself has learned that the pursuit of forgiveness would bring me more peace than revenge would. Make sure to tune in to Caitlin's Book Corner to listen to part two of the final episode.