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Frankenstein literary analysis
Analysis of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Analysis of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
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A monster according to the online dictionary is many things; it can be a creature so ugly or monstrous that it scares people, an animal that is not of a normal shape behaviour or character, an animal or human that is huge in size, or a person who excites horror by wickedness or cruelty. I would describe a monster as someone who commits evil deeds and whose general mindset is to cause suffering on other living creatures. By my definition of a monster this makes victors creation a monster but not Victor.
Monsters are often present in gothic novels; especially in those that combine horror and romance. A monster will be the cause of individual characters fears. Frankenstein can be linked to this genre in many ways, the most obvious link being the horror element of the story. The thought of someone created from dead flesh would have been a horrific thought back then and still would be now, also Victor playing god would have been considered terrible back then “A new species would bless me as its creator” the 1800’s were still very religious times and trying to create life artificially would have been condemned by religious people.
The story is told in first person by three different characters; Victor, his creation and captain Robert Walton. By using this method Shelly allows the audience to view things from another angle, allowing them to consider the story and judge the actions of the characters better than if they only had one view to go by. The story would have been considerably different if it had been in third person, if there was a all knowing narrator there wouldn’t of been the same message put across to the audience.
We are first introduced to victor by Robert Walton, who is captain of a ship which is on an expedition t...
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The main message of the novel is a warning. Shelly is trying to warn us about the effects science could have on society if it continues to progress at the rate it is. Despite the good things about science like medicine, it is changing the world as we now it, we can see this in global warming, but despite knowing we are damaging the environment, as a race we take no real action to prevent it.
My conclusion is that the creation is the real monster his only intention was to cause pain to others he was the one who murdered several people. You could argue that victor made his creation things he did by abandoning him but I think came to the conclusion that victor was not deliberately trying to hurt people. His actions were foolish and rationale but not monstrous , he was driven by fear not vengeance. The only monster in this story is victors creation.
Merriam Webster’s Encyclopedia of Literature highlights Frankenstein as the work of Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, published in 1818, and it brought into the Western world one of its best known monsters. Elements of gothic romance and science fiction help in telling the story of young Swiss scientist Victor Frankenstein, as he creates a horrible monster by putting together limbs and veins, leading to destruction and his later regret. The creature is left alone in the world, even by his own creator, for his hideous appearance, and through watching humans he learns their ways of living. Haunting Victor due to his loneliness, he forcefully makes Victor agree to make him a female companion, but Victor’s regret and misery enables him to tear up his
As a romantic, archetype and gothic novel, Victor is responsible for the monsters actions because Victor abandons his creation meaning the creature is dejected and ends up hideous and fiendish. It is unfair to create someone into this world and then just abandon it and not teach it how to survive. The quote from the creature “Why did you make such a hideous creature like me just to leave me in disgust” demonstrates how much agony the creature is in. He is neglected because of his creator. The monster says “The hateful day when I received life! I accurse my creator. Why did you form a monster so hideous that even you turned from me in disgust?” Victor is wholly at fault for his actions, image and evil.
...he creature which has also resulted in death, It could be argued that Victor himself is a monster as his ambition, secrecy and selfishness that alienated him from human society is what eventually consumed him.
In Frankenstein, everyone treats Victor’s creation like a monster, including Frankenstein himself. This leads to the creation accepting that title and going on a murder spree. His creation says “When I reflect on his crimes and malice, my hatred and revenge burst all bounds of moderation” (69). Victor’s creation shows that he did not ask to be created, and his existence is miserable.
Using gothic conventions Frankenstein explores Mary Shelley’s personal views on the scientific developments, moral and economical issues that occurred during the 19th century and Shelley’s personal emotions and questions regarding her life. As an educated person, Mary Shelley had an interest in the development of the world such as political and moral issues and she challenged these issues in the novel.
In “Frankenstein” the evil portrayed throughout the novel is created from dead human body parts made to live by a sadistic scientist who thinks he wants to play God and start a new and beautiful species. In reality you have to make use of willing suspension of disbelief for this novel to even make you raise an eyebrow. “Frankenstein” is a very fictous novel and only has slightly accelerated elements of fear because some monster was abandoned and disowned ...
Nowadays, people are still enticed by fear, they have a curiosity for the supernatural, evil and frightening. Although modern day society is supposedly politically correct, we are still an immoral society and many of us would treat a creature like Frankenstein’s creation or a vampire like Dracula like a monster. In this way, the novels still have social significance.
Frankenstein was and still is one of the greatest horror books written. It is still relevant to incidents happening today. Children dress up as the monster at Halloween and directors still try producing newer versions of the movie. People view the creature as a monster purely based on its aesthetics, “I had gazed on him while unfinished; he was ugly then…” Victor comments on the monsters looks a lot throughout the novel and as the story progresses the creature realises how hideous he is too.
The monster is left to live his life with no help from his creator after being abandoned. While having the mind of a newborn, this is not easy for him. By not knowing right from wrong, he murdered Victor's loved ones in order to get attention. He never had anyone to teach him how to live life with dignity and respect. This is a major loss for a living being. The creator is at fault here because the monster does not know better. Victor should have taken responsibility by accepting, raising, and controlling the monster.
As one of the first gothic novels Frankenstein explores the darker side of human nature, ambitions, and the human mind.
Victor has a lack of respect for the natural world that leads him on the path to becoming a monster. In creating the monster Victor is trying to change the natural world. He is trying to play the role of god by creating life.
As a romantic novel Victor is responsible, because he abandoned his creation. As an archetype novel, Victor is the villain, because he was trying to play god. Finally, Victor as a Gothic novel, Victor is at fault, because, he and the creature are two different parts of the same person. If Frankenstein is looked at as a romantic novel, Victor, not the creature, is truly the villain. When Victor created the creature, he didn't take responsibility for it. He abandoned it, and left it to fend for itself. It is unfair to bring something into the world, and then not teach it how to survive. The creature was miserable, and just wanted a friend or someone to talk to. On page 115, the creature said, "Hateful day when I received life! Accursed the creator. Why did you form a monster so hideous that even you turned from me in disgust." This line shows the agony the monster was in, because of how he looked when he was created which led to even Victor running away from him. If Victor didn't run, he could have taught the monster and made his life happy. After the creature scared the cottagers away he said, "I continued for the remainder of the day in my hovel in a state of utter ...
Frankenstein is a well known gothic story that is still popular today and will be for decades to come. “Mary Shelly’s 1818 novel Frankenstein has inspired an almost uncountable number of film adaptations, many of which have in turn spawned their own sequels, series, spin-offs, mega-franchises, and finally par- odies” (Miller). If you have not heard of Frankenstein, you need to read or watch the movie. The man-made monster that is lonely in a world that thinks he’s weird and evil. He gets created in an old haunted house looking castle with a crazy scientist while it’s lighting and storming outside.
A monster is defined as an imaginary creature that is typically large, ugly, and frightening. By this definition, Victor’s creature who is depicted to be eight feet tall and hideous
The fact that he is a creation made of dead parts if inarguably horrific. The presence of both romanticism and horror in Shelley’s novel makes the genre of Frankenstein Gothic. Gothic literature is characterized as being mysterious, suspenseful, somber, dark, and melodramatic. All of which are characteristics found in the novel