After fooling around with Patchwork Girl for a significant amount of time, I am at a loss for words. I found it extremely disorienting. Although Patchwork Girl revolves around links from one idea to the next, I felt as if it was not linked at all. Struggling to find some sort of common theme, I failed. Multiple times I tried to connect one idea to the next, but I was unsuccessful. Although I became frustrated after working with Patchwork Girl I was fascinated by the fact that although I could not personally link everything together, Mary Shelley was able to link numerous thoughts together that no one else would have thought possible. In addition, one of my favorite things about Patchwork Girl is the name. I agree with the thoughtful name posed by Shelley, because her creation is a patchwork, because she pieces many things together. After reading Hayles’ thoughts on Shelley’s Patchwork Girl I agree with many of the assertions he poses in his essay discussing Shelley’s Patchwork Girl.
First, Hayles discusses the power of change when dealing with electronic text. Hayles states that when dealing with electronic text a “single keystroke [has] the power to change the entire appearance of a textual image”. I agree with this belief, because just as I am typing a new thought now, I have the ability to change my idea in an instant if I am not satisfied or if I want to go in a different direction. In Patchwork Girl, Shelley illustrates this belief by creating text that once you click on, it changes to something different. On the other hand, books are more permanent. The text is in print published in a book; therefore, it is impossible to alter the text unless the entire book is recreated and republished.
Secondly, Hayles discusses issues of individual ideas. Referring to Blackstone in his essay, Hayles notes Blackstones thoughts, “Style and sentiment are the essentials of a literary compostion…The paper and print are merely accidents, which serve as vehicles to convey that style and sentiment.” I agree with this thought, because I believe that like Blackstone asserted style is the “private intellectual property.” This is the “part appropriate for copyright protection.” I agree with both of these assertions, because as seen in Patchwork Girl the style in which Shelley poses her thoughts and ideas is creative; it is original to her. Furthermore, I believe that in my personal life the way I express myself is original to me.
Hayles presents very interesting points when using Shelley’s Patchwork Girl to support his beliefs. I agree with Hayles personal assertions, especially with the support he includes in his essay. Before reading this essay, I could not understand Patchwork Girl, but after reading Hayles’ essay I have come to appreciate Shelley’s creation and have a newfound belief about it.
