Who Is Victor A Foil In Frankenstein

1026 Words3 Pages

Victor & The Creature

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein

Directions: Write a paragraph comparing and contrasting the characters of Victor and The Creature. Use the analysis you’ve did in the foil analysis as well as the Paradise Lost analysis to help you. You must have at least two quotes. Make sure you have correct parenthetical citation.

Mary Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein, is a horror story about the dangers of attempting to play God. In the story, a man named Victor Frankenstein becomes obsessed with the possibilities of creating life out of death. As a result, he creates a monster, described as 8 feet tall, and incredibly grotesque. While at first Victor is overjoyed that he was able to do this, that joy soon turns into dread. Throughout …show more content…

The monster wanted revenge after he was cruelly shunned by his master, Victor. This led to the untimely death of William, Victor’s little brother. On the other hand, Victor desired retribution after the monster killed his family and friends. While both seemed to have validation for vengeance on the other, the plot of the story shows otherwise. Frankenstein was wrong in his actions on many occasions. The first, and most obvious reason, was by creating life. After doing so he then neglected his creation because he viewed it as disgusting and inferior. The monster, at that time (around Chapter 5), could be compared with a child. He/it had no idea of what was going on in the world and was looking for support from the only person he/it knew: Victor. By treating it the way he did, it gave the monster moral reasons to act the way it did throughout the story. Victor, on the other hand, only began to seek revenge after he had lost all of his family and friends. If he had looked to enact vengeance on the monster after the death of his little brother, that would be acceptable, but he did not care then; instead, he kept quiet and that led to the death of not one, but two. Only after his wife died did Victor start to care. As a result, Victor could be seen as petty for finally trying to destroy his

Show More
Related

  • Frankenstein

    698 Words  | 2 Pages

    Mary Shelley’s gothic novel Frankenstein is a novel narrated by Robert Walton about Victor Frankenstein and the Monster that he creates. Frankenstein grew up surrounding himself with what he loved most, science. He attended Ingolstadt University where he studied chemistry and natural philosophy, but being involved in academics was not enough for him. Frankenstein wanted to discover things, but did not think about the potential outcomes that could come with this decision. Frankenstein was astonished by the human frame and all living creatures, so he built the Monster out of various human and animal parts (Shelley, 52). At the time Frankenstein thought this creation was a great discovery, but as time went on the Monster turned out to be terrifying to anyone he came in contact with. So, taking his anger out on Frankenstein, the Monster causes chaos in a lot of people’s lives and the continuing battle goes on between the Monster and Frankenstein. Throughout this novel, it is hard to perceive who is pursuing whom as well as who ends up worse off until the book comes to a close.

    Read More

  • Frankenstein Revenge Quotes

    933 Words  | 2 Pages

    On his search for Victor he came across the little brother of his creator and kills him. “‘Frankenstein! You belong then to my enemy—to him towards whom I have sworn eternal revenge; you shall be my first victim’…and in a moment he lay dead at my feet” (Shelley, 131). He killed the little boy to force Victor to feel all of the pain that he had felt. He did not show anymore compassion because all he wanted was revenge from Victor and to make him feel the same way that he had felt. The desire for revenge only strengthened as he approached

    Read More

  • Angel/Satan Relationship in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

    619 Words  | 2 Pages

    The theme of creation in "Frankenstein" touches on the notion of how modern science plays God. This is illustrated through the attempt of replicating a human by means of science, using the main character Victor as the god-figure. Unfortunately, Victor Frankenstein did not consider the effect his creation would have on the outside world and, more importantly, his internal self and his creation.

    Read More

  • Victor's Irresponsibility and Subsequent Downfall Depicted in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

    1114 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...or was not thinking of others in his actions, but only of himself. He did not consider the tumult the abnormally large creature could cause in the world, nor what the feelings of the monster would be towards him if he abandoned him. Victor also did not contemplate the safety of his friends, as he had the chance to stop the creature’s misdoings but failed to do so, risking the life of his friends. Therefore, Victor was a selfish being, who only concerned himself with his wishes and never evaluated the situation of his loved ones, ultimately causing their demise. The misfortunate events that occurred through Victor’s life could have been prevented, and also discontinued when Victor had the chance. However, Victor’s irresponsibility overcame these opportunities and he in turn, caused misfortunes for himself as well as his loved ones.

    Read More

  • Monstrosity in Frankenstein

    1001 Words  | 3 Pages

    Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus, explores the monstrous and destructive affects of obsession, guilt, fate, and man’s attempt to control nature. Victor Frankenstein, the novel’s protagonist and antihero, attempts to transcend the barriers of scientific knowledge and application in creating a life. His determination in bringing to life a dead body consequently renders him ill, both mentally and physically. His endeavors alone consume all his time and effort until he becomes fixated on his success. The reason for his success is perhaps to be considered the greatest scientist ever known, but in his obsessive toil, he loses sight of the ethical motivation of science. His production would ultimately grieve him throughout his life, and the consequences of his undertaking would prove disastrous and deadly. Frankenstein illustrates the creation of a monster both literally and figuratively, and sheds light on the dangers of man’s desire to play God.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Insecurity In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein '

    1078 Words  | 3 Pages

    In Mary Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein, she addresses the challenges that arise in both the creation and life of a dead creature that has been brought back to life in hideous forms. The

    Read More

  • Frankenstein Socratic Quotes

    563 Words  | 2 Pages

    When Victor Frankenstein breaks his promise to the monster, it threatens him by saying that he’ll return on Victors wedding. Victor assumes that it’s his life that’s being threatened but the night of the marriage, Victor finds his Elizabeth. “She was there, lifeless and inanimate, thrown across the bed, her head hanging down, and… running with the swiftness of lightning, plunged into the lake.” (Chapter 23) This quote conveys that the monster didn’t feel bad for killing Victor’s bride, he believed that it was a justified murder because he was repaying the heartache that he felt for his lost mate. This act of cruelty helped develop the monsters sense of right and wrong. The monster was born innocent but after being treated so cruelly for so long, his moral compass was corrupted. He felt as if it was his right to do this to this to Victor.

    Read More

  • The Power Of Knowledge In Frankenstein

    2035 Words  | 5 Pages

    Victor was consumed with all the information he had learned from school and his own experiments and he did not care to offend anyone who would try to show affection. The monster wanted Victor to create a monster just as hideous as he was because he didn’t want the other creation to find attention from someone else due to the fact that the female monster would be scary. Victor did abandon the monster and that was a selfish act because he didn’t want the burden of something that was unable to fend for itself to consume him; furthermore, the reason why the monster killed Victor Frankenstein’s younger brother was the selfish act of revenge.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Compassion In Frankenstein

    1122 Words  | 3 Pages

    As the monster is abused by Victor is loses its compassion, and only seeks revenge. Victor, who never had any compassion for his monster, wants to get vengeance for the people who his monster killed. The monster has compassion at first, but the more Frankenstein tries to seek revenge on him, the less compassion he has. Frankenstein was shown compassion all his life because of his loving parents and their money so he does not have any compassion. Both the monster and Victor try to get revenge on each other, but neither succeeds. Overall, Mary Shelley is trying to prove that vengeance can take the place of compassion, but vengeance is pointless.

    Read More

  • The Consequences Of Revenge In William Shelley's Frankenstein

    1305 Words  | 3 Pages

    Victor and the creature both seek revenge against one another and by doing so this creates the destruction within the novel. Soon after William’s death, Justine is executed. In response to this, Victor becomes increasingly depressed. Victor reflects on the past events that led up to William and Justine’s deaths:

    Read More

  • Victor is the True Villain of Frankenstein

    1243 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...three different symbolic levels, as a Romantic novel, Archetype novel, or a Gothic novel. On the romantic level, Victor is the villain because he abandons the creature and leaves it to fend for itself. The creature is miserable and just wants a friend, but was abandoned by Victor making it almost impossible. On the Archetype level, Victor is the villain because he tries to play god. He wants to be worshipped like a god, by creating his own species, and creating life from plain matter. But in doing so, Victor disturbed the natural order of things. Finally, Victor is the villain on the Gothic level. There he is the villain, because he and the creature are part of a greater being, and Victor's subconscious wants William and Elizabeth dead, which is why the monster kills them. Despite the fact that Victor didn't physically murder anyone, he was the villain of the novel.

    Read More

  • Frankenstein: Mary Shelley's Ability to Create Sympathy for the Monster

    1840 Words  | 4 Pages

    This impact of the change of narration gives us a better understanding of each person, and we see that the monster is not such a monster at all. We begin with Victor’s story, firstly of his past family life and then the build up to his immoral creation, his scientific motives. We see what drove him to this terrible crime, and we are given an insight into his ‘dangerous’ passion. He wanted to create life, to make a human being, and increase his knowledge of science.

    Read More

  • Who Is the Real Monster in Frankenstein?

    1708 Words  | 4 Pages

    Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is a nineteenth century literary work that delves into the world of science and the plausible outcomes of morally insensitive technological research. Although the novel brings to the forefront several issues about knowledge and sublime nature, the novel mostly explores the psychological and physical journey of two complex characters. While each character exhibits several interesting traits that range from passive and contemplative to rash and impulsive, their most attractive quality is their monstrosity. Their monstrosities, however, differ in the way each of the character’s act and respond to their environment. Throughout Frankenstein, one assumes that Frankenstein’s creation is the true monster. While the creation’s actions are indeed monstrous, one must also realize that his creator, Victor Frankenstein is also a villain. His inconsiderate and selfish acts as well as his passion for science result in the death of his friend and family members and ultimately in his own demise.

    Read More

  • Role of Identity in Mary Shelleys Frankenstein

    1025 Words  | 3 Pages

    People are defined by their environment and how they react to their environment. Environments that appear to be perfect on the outside may very well be the cause of misery in man's life because one must be able to cope with their environment. Victor could not cope with his environment and lashed out at the world by trying to attain power. However, things do not always go as planned, and sometime this may be beneficial. One should not judge by external appearance alone. It is what is on the inside that counts. Had Victor Frankenstein been taught ethics such as this, his life, as well as the lives of those he loved, could have been saved. Also, the life of the creature could have been free of pain and hatred. The monster is a symbol for the outcasts and rejected of society. He is also a reflection of Victor, meaning that Victor was also considered an outcast. The reality of an animated object reflecting something that one does not want to see, combined with being alone in the world, is enough to drive man mad. The monster, in some ways, creates a harsh reality for Victor. Either love what you create or be destroyed by it.

    Read More

  • Frankenstein Monstrosity Essay

    981 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley a common theme is monstrosity that appears to be indisputable in both Victor and the creature yet the author’s intentions still stay secluded. By expressing the message that monstrosity is not a fundamental characteristic, but instead one that was created due to merciless revenge, lengthen isolation, and threatening want of knowledge. Mary Shelley uses the approach of monstrosity as a guide advise that going against the realm of God should not be challenged.

    Read More

More about Who Is Victor A Foil In Frankenstein

Open Document