A Hero of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Every story revolves around a hero. Heroes make an impact on everyday life, positive and negative, so it is common for writers to revolve their stories around them. One of the several hero archetypes used in novels is the tragic hero. A tragic hero is a person of noble stature, whose fatal flaw leads them to abuse the free will they once controlled. This moment of choice leads to a punishment which far exceeds anything deserving. The fall is not pure loss; the hero gains self knowledge through an increase in awareness, but the consequences are far reaching. Mary Shelly is an example of one of the many authors who create literature around a tragic hero. Shelley’s novel Frankenstein is filled with many intricate characters, but only one fits into the tragic hero archetype. The moment of choice for Victor Frankenstein, who was once a happy, noble individual, creates a devastating fate for himself, leaving him as an ideal tragic hero.

As the story begins, the reader is immediately told of Victor’s noble stature in society as he states “I am by birth a Genevese, and my family is one of the most distinguished of that republic” (Shelly 14). His family was constantly travelling when he was younger and his parents devoted all their affection towards him. As he grew older, his desire for knowledge leads him to travel abroad so he could earn the best education. Victor was born into a happy, enjoyable, and wealthy life, but still strived to excel at everything in his life. The passion he expresses towards bettering himself in the means of knowledge connects the reader to him. Everyone has goals, and seeing someone push themselves to the limits to achieve them gives a sense of hope. Unfortunately, Victor’s lust for knowledge go...

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...e of pain for himself, demonstrating how he is truly a tragic hero. In life, one can either choose to succumb to the selfish pressures inside of themselves, or find the will power to overcome them. As proved by Victor Frankenstein, it is most likely to see past the flaw when it is too late. Although it might be too late, the realization is crucial for one’s ability to keep growing as an individual. Victor was able to see past his own life and make choices to benefit everyone else. Life is all about choices and timing; one wrong move and one’s entire future is obliterated. Not only does one destroy their own life this way, but everyone’s life close to them also. The heroes in stories are not all that different from people in the real world; every individual can be a hero, what which type of hero defines us as a whole.

Works Cited

Frankenstein by Mary Shelly