Patchwork Girl is a 1995 hyperfiction written by Shelly Jackson. It is considered a type of electronic literature since it utilizes Storyscape in order to display the text. As a "classical" work of interactive fiction, it uses a web-like structure to display the text in an interesting way that allows the reader to choose a variety of paths to read. This hypertext is similar to the work of Mary Shelly's Frankenstein novel
Themes[]
Feminism[]
Patchwork Girl takes a note of feminism that is illustrated by Shelley Jackson. The monster, known as the patchwork girl, deviates from other texts as it is female instead of male. In addition, throughout the work, the parts of the body are carefully described to establish this possible viewpoint.
Intertexuality[]
Intertextuality can be seen in the hypertext fiction from the uses of different kinds of text from Frankenstein to the Patchwork Girl of Oz.
Remediation[]
Patrchwork Girl is a remediated story from Mary Shelley's 1818 novel Frankenstein. The author, Shelly Jackson, explores the idea of what would've happened if Marry Shelly herself went back and brought to life the bride of Frankenstein. Jackson mirrors Shelley and explores the topics of loss, loneliness, and rejection by society among other topics.
The use of Storyscape allows readers to have a sense in which they are being the author of the story. While reading the text, readers feel that immediacy plays a big role in the literature. While reading, readers do not know when the end of the book is approaching and there are always questions brought up as to how they know if they read all of the text.
Hypertext[]
Hypertext plays an important role in Patchwork Girl. It is an example of how "form meets its function". Patchwork girl's body was made from patches and piece of others. The text, written by Shelly Jackson, mirrors this theme by utilizing hypertext. "Quilting, grafting, and patching were a recurring theme within the book, just as the book itself". [1]
