Date of Award

2019

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Humanities

First Advisor

Osment, Sarah

Area of Concentration

English

Abstract

In my thesis I explore the artificial creation of life in literature through novels featuring golems, artificial intelligence, and the Creature of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. I trace these figures through The Golem and the Wondrous Deeds of the Maharal of Prague by Yudl Rosenberg, The Puttermesser Papers by Cynthia Ozick, Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, and He, She, and It by Marge Piercy. I explore the relationship between a human Creator and their nonhuman Creation in each text. This raises religious questions of origins, as well as ethical questions regarding how humanity is defined. I argue that the assumption of the role of Creator, placing these individuals in a position of power over their Creation, is ethically improper. By becoming similar to a Creator-God, they gain power and responsibility for another being that leads only to the exploitation of this relationship. Their Creations are ultimately seen as subhuman, and are denied protection because of this. Ultimately, the Creator’s take on a power over another human-like Creature that no human should wield.

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