Knowledge Seeking Victor in Mary Shelley´s Frankenstein

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At the start of the novel the Creature has clear childlike characteristics. Aside from having the inability to speak, read and write the Creature is described as having “yellow skin”(Shelley 51) and “watery eyes”(Shelley 51), traits associated with a newborn. Once usually connects newborns to innocence and purity which can correlate to Shelley’s view that men are born innocent, but through social pressure are able to develop a destructive and dangerous character.
“I was departed on none and related to none. The path of my department was free, and there was none to lament my annihilation”(Shelley 114). Due to the Creature’s isolation the only influence present was the world around him. Throughout the novel Shelley “illustrates that several factors can impose limits and bounds on one’s nature.” These limits and bonds consist of “Physical appearence and consequent social alienation”. Although the imposed limits do have an effect on one's attitude, Shelly demonstrates that the nature of man consists of “both circumstance and personal choice”. In the novel the question ;“Was man, indeed at once so powerful, so virtuous and magnificent, yet so vicious and base?”(Shelley 80) is posed. Through this Shelley is distinctly referencing a humans ability to possess both good and bad qualities. As the creature must surpass “The unnatural hideousness of [his]person" (Shelley 89) Shelly emphasizes the correlation between how society perceives the creature and how that perception eventually affects the Creatures view of himself.“ It is only upon being rejected because of his appearence that the creature becomes the monster that Frankeinstein sees him as ” The creature is shown to have good qualities such as empathy such as when he states;“wh...

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...alters the meaning behind light. Instead of being seen as something that is perceived as comfortable it has been altered to bee seen as painful and daunting. Just as a fire can keep someone warm and science can save many lives; if one gets too close one can get burned, in Victor Frankenstein's case it led to his death.
The continuous reference to light is seen as an Allusion to the Greek god Prometheus who “gave the knowledge of fire to humanity ” for allowing this knowledge to reach humans he was severely punished. In the eyes of most readers Victor Frankenstein is the embodiment of such a tale. Victor Frankenstein “attempted to become the modern Prometheus” and in turn was punished. Victor Frankenstein contrast to the original tale because unlike prometheus how shares this gift Frankenstein died without ever revealing what it took to bring the creature to life.

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