Work Text:
Mr. Kars was a literature teacher who talked more about the sun than the books they were reading. So, when the class got a substitute teacher Caesar was thrilled. Maybe just maybe they’ll actually talk about Frankenstein.
“You seem happy,” Joseph commented.
“We can finally talk about the book.”
“I just want to point out that Victor Frankenstein is an asshole,” said Smokey sitting on Joseph’s left.
“I wouldn’t know, I haven’t read the book,” said Joseph receiving a glare from Caesar.
“How do you plan on writing a paper then.”
“I’ll just write how Victor made a monster but if that monster was sunproof, he would have made the ultimate being.”
“You’re disgusting.”
“But I’ll get an A either way.”
“Unfortunately, he’s not wrong,” said Smokey.
“I’m going to beat your ass, again,” said Caesar.
“Fine, I have a new dress I want to wear, anyway.”
“Why do you show up to our fights wearing a dress.”
“Because it makes you look bad.”
“Attention class,” said a man with a German accent, “I am Rudol von Stroheim your substitute teacher. Now what book is this class reading?”
Caesar’s hand shot out into the air.
“Yes.”
“Frankenstein.”
“Oh, I love that book my mother used to read it to me as a child.”
‘Thank god,’ Caesar thought, ‘they were going to discuss the book.’
“Frankenstein expresses the genius of German science.”
Caesar raised his hand again.
“Yes.”
“Victor Frankenstein is Swiss.”
“Yes, but his last name and if he was born in Germany everything would have worked out perfectly.”
“So, Frankenstein is only a jerk because he’s Swiss,” asked Smokey.
“Yes, everyone knows Germans are the nicest people in the world.”
Smokey wasn’t exactly sure if he should point out that Germans were stereotyped as something else completely.
“If he was French, he would be a bigger jerk and a coward,” said Mr. Stroheim.
Smokey wasn’t exactly sure if he should point out that was kind of racist.
“You know I feel like my grandson is going to know a Frenchmen,” said Joseph.
“Do you hear the words coming out of your mouth?” asked Caesar.
“It’s just a feeling, calm down.”
Wamuu raised his hand.
“Yes.”
“If I may, I believe the book Frankenstein to be about the danger of science and how humanity is not responsible enough for the discoveries it wishes to make.”
“That is correct, Swiss science is not responsible enough, unlike German science.”
Caesar sighed, accepting that the class would now be about German science.
“At least we are talking about the text,” said Smokey.