A Troubled Creator and a Hopeful Monster
Mary Shelley’s nineteenth century classic “Frankenstein” Explores the troubles that came to the monster because of his differences, how he overcomes them, what makes the monster relatable, Victor’s individual tragic flaw, and the tragedy of this book.
The monster in Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” is ultimately confused and let down by his creator, Victor, because of the way that people respond to him. In the harsh wilderness the monster discovers fire and it’s usefulness to him as a “person” as it contributes warmth, light, and a means of cooking food to make it easier to eat. The monsters disfavored reactions begin when he enters a hut in search of food and the occupants of the house are clearly
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fearful of him and they screech and run away from him. It seems that wherever the monster goes, the humans are apprehensive toward him which causes him anguish. The monster soon comes to the conclusion that he should stay away from humans because they will not understand. Later, In the cottage which the monster takes shelter in, he is able to observe a young man, Felix, and a young woman, Agatha, as well as an old man who were all living in a cottage neighboring his hut, through a crack in the wall. At first, the monster steals food from the family until he realizes that the family has been unhappy because they are poor. With a guilty conscience the monster decides not to steal from the family anymore. In addition, the monster tries to help out the family by gathering extra wood for their fire and placing it by their door. He is able to show human emotions this way which shows his genuinity because of regret towards his actions. The monster attempts to mimic and learn the language of the family he is observing. The monster’s mind advances to understand the social significance of family which is made obvious to him due to his usual solitude and loneliness. Also, while learning that the family’s names and observing how they help each other, he begins to develop an identity crisis because he has been abandoned with no idea how to succeed, no name and nobody to reach out to except his regretful creator, Victor. According to Beenstock, “Through the creature’s impossible situation as an inherently sociable being who cannot be socialized, Frankenstein presents a sustained engagement with one of the major questions of seventeenth- and [End Page 406] eighteenth-century political theory: whether individualism is compatible with sociability.
Social contract theory develops a new understanding of society whereby individuals originate in a presocial state of nature and form societies to serve their private interests. At the center of social contract philosophy is a contradiction. Rather than bringing individuals together, society is designed to protect them from each other...As the challenge of negotiating between individual and social needs has had consequences for the contemporary understanding of the self as internally divided between the contrary pulls of self-interest and social commitment, social contract theory helps account for some of Frankenstein’s iconic cultural status and for the ongoing popular fascination with Victor’s dilemma.” This is sorted out by Mary Shelley in the novel because of one of the main character's tragic flaws. Victor essentially created the monster due to his tragic flaw of immense individualism. It is kind of ironic that Victor is individualistic, independent, and free, yet he created a life long companion that he is horrified by and that he blames for the murder of his youngest brother, his wife, and his friend and work
partner. In the novel, Mary Shelley describes Victor’s creation, “His yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath; his hair was of a lustrous black, and flowing; his teeth of a pearly whiteness; but these luxuriances only formed a more horrid contrast with his watery eyes” (Shelley, pp. 39–40). One of the main reasons that the monster is considered a “monster” and is an outcast to society is because of his appearance which is different and almost intimidating to the people that he encounters. According to Beenstock, “In representing the creature’s social isolation, Shelley emphasizes that he is rejected because of this hybridity, suggested by the disquieting effect created by the visible contrast between his different elements. In all other respects, Shelley emphasizes the creature’s fine parts, sensibility and persuasive rhetoric. But these cannot assuage the effect of his ghastly appearance.” Shelley describes the monsters attractive qualities like his quick learning abilities, his genuine whole heartedness, and mostly his affection and insight. She continues to explain that because of his frightful appearance, people will never come close enough to understand the redeeming qualities that he possesses. There are many tragedies in this book but only one to be considered major and that is of the monster to Victor, his creator. Bissonette explains, “We are all charmed by the monster's own narrative of his yearnings, trials, and traumas. We feel that of the two characters, creator and creation, we would far rather spend time with the creation. He is kinder, more loving, and more poetic than his creator. The tragedy of the book is so transparently the way the world deforms and embitters him. If he is a monster, it is society that made him so. He is, then, only a metaphor of a monster.” After hearing the stories from the monster’s side and seeing what he has been through one begins to feel sympathy for the creation and mimic his anger toward his creator. In the beginning both Victor and his creation had good intentions and were genuine, but after the world shows them no compassion and breaks them down they become the monsters that everyone wanted them to be. One thing that influences both characters behaviors is the fact that victor will not make a female companion for his creation. This shows that victor depends more on his peers then on his creation, while the monster only relies on Victor because that is all he knows. The monster finds that his creator is now only concerned with himself and his own well being and creating another monster would not be beneficial(Beenstock). Mary Shelley’s nineteenth century classic “Frankenstein” describes a scientist that puts his troubles into a mad project that comes to life. Later, that creation resents him for making him and leaving him alone in the world. The reader can empathize with Frankenstein’s monster in the sense that he is just a lonely, misunderstood creature. The book goes on to explore the troubles that came to the monster because of his differences, how he overcomes them, what makes the monster relatable, Victor’s individual tragic flaw, and the tragedy of this book.
"Cursed, cursed creator! Why did I live? Why, in that instant, did I not extinguish the spark of existence which you contains several thematic elements; specifically, the element of betrayal. Through a complex plot, Shelley creates dynamic characters who come to the realization that the dangers of searching for the unknown secrets of life can lead to ruined and tarnished relationships. The irreversible damage that comes with finding the unknown appears to have a substantial effect on the character’s relationships with one another; especially, the central relationship between Victor Frankenstein and the monster. To the reader’s surprise Frankenstein is not the monster, but the doctor and creator of the monster, Victor. Victor Frankenstein, the creator of the monster and avid scientist, is perhaps the most complex character due to the
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is ‘one of the pioneering works of modern science fiction’, and is also a frightening story that speaks to the ‘mysterious fears of our nature’. Mary Shelley mocks the idea of “playing God”, the idea that came from the Greek myth of Prometheus, of the Greek titan who stole Zeus’ gift of life. Both the story of Frankenstein and Prometheus reveal the dark side of human nature and the dangerous effects of creating artificial life. Frankenstein reveals the shocking reality of the consequences to prejudging someone. The creature’s first-person narration reveals to us his humanity, and his want to be accepted by others even though he is different. We are shown that this ‘monster’ is a ‘creature’ and more of a human than we think.
in Frankenstein: Contexts, nineteenth century responses, criticism. By Mary Shelley. Ed. J. Paul Hunter. Norton Critical Edition.
In this essay I will be looking at the differences between the creation of the first and second monster, how Mary Shelley portrays the feelings of Victor and the monster and the different myths and legends that she refers to within the novel. Victor Frankenstein had a wonderful life as a child: 'No human being could have passed a happier childhood than myself' (p.39) He was loving and cared deeply for his family, especially for his foster-sister, Elizabeth, who he looked upon as his own, and saw as a 'more than sister' (p.37). Victor always had an 'eager desire to learn' (p.39) about 'the secrets of heaven and earth' (p.39). When he was thirteen years old he started studying the works of Cornelius Agrippa and the fact that his father called it all 'sad trash' (p.40) fuelled his curiosity and enthusiasm and caused him to study even more which was to him, 'the fatal impulse that led to my [his] ruin' (p.41).
After learning about the life of Mary Shelley, I have grown to appreciate the novel, Frankenstein, even more since the first time I read it. She led a life nearly, as tragic as the monster she created through her writing. Mary seems to pull some of her own life experiences in Victor’s background, as in both mothers died during or after childbirth. Learning about Mary’s personal losses, I have gained a better appreciation of her as an author and a woman of the 17th century. She had association with some the most influential minds of that
Tragedy shows no discrimination and often strikes down on those undeserving of such turmoil. In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, a creature more repulsive than one can imagine is brought to life by a young scientist. Although this creature is horrifying in sight, he is gentle by nature. Unfortunately, the softer side of the creature is repeatedly overlooked and the so called “monster” is driven to a breaking point. Even though the Creature committed many crimes, Mary Shelley’s Creature was the tragic hero of this story because of his efforts rescue the life of a young girl and helping destitute cottagers.
Works Cited for: Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein: A Norton Critical Edition. ed. a. a. a. a. a J. Paul Hunter. New York: W. W. Norton, 1996.
In the 1818 text of Frankenstein, written by Mary Shelley, various forms of human exploitation and oppression lead to the dehumanization of two major characters in the novel: the creature which Victor Frankenstein brings to life, and Victor himself. The creature is deemed an outcast just by his very existence. Victor oppresses his creation solely based on the creature’s grotesque features. Although the creature shares qualities, feelings, and emotions that categorize him as a human, Victor’s oppressive behavior and rejection of the his creation immediately lead to the creature’s dehumanization. Victor is driven by human exploitation, and treads on the laws of nature as he successfully attempts to cheat death and create an artificial being.
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.
Victor Frankenstein, the monster’s creator, is the victim of his own pride. An ego unchecked is a dangerous thing. But in truth, it really just shows Victor’s humanity. He is privileged, educated, talented, loved, adored, but he is not perfect. His flaw is his own ego and pride. Without doubt, this is the result of a childhood where he was overindulged. Overindulged to the extent he was given a little girl “Elizabeth” as a “present”, whom he considered from childhood “mine only” (Shelley 21). Little wonder the twenty year old Victor would think he could create, control and command life. But Victor as with any indulged child did not take the time to learn much from his parents about parenting and fath...
The name of Mary W. Shelley somehow hidden behind the fame of her best known work, Frankenstein. The story of Frankenstein has past through the years without being forgotten, while the name of Mary Shelley is unknown to the general public. Following the plot of her own story, Mary Shelley is, somehow, the "victim" of her creation. Frankenstein can be seen as the story of a terrible monster who threatens society. It is the purpose of this essay to illustrate that it is actually society that has made a monster of Frankenstein.
Victor Frankenstein serves as an instrument of suffering of others and contributes to the tragic vision as a whole in this novel. He hurts those surrounding him by his selfish character and his own creation plots against his master due to the lack of happiness and love. The audience should learn from Frankenstein’s tragic life and character to always remain humble. We should never try to take superiority that is not granted to us because like victor we shall suffer and perish. He had the opportunity to make a difference in his life and take responsibility as a creator but his selfishness caused him to die alone just like what he had feared.
In Frankenstein, Shelley creates two very complex characters. They embody the moral dilemmas that arise from the corruption and disturbance of the natural order of the world. When Victor Frankenstein is attending school, he becomes infatuated with creating a living being and starts stealing body parts from morgues around the university. After many months of hard work, he finishes one stormy night bringing his creation to life. However, “now that [Victor] had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled [his] heart” (Chambers). Right after Victor realizes what he has done, he falls into deep depression and must be nursed back to health by his friend. Victor spends the rest of the story facing consequences and moral problems from creating unnatural life. When he realizes that the ‘monster’ has killed his brother, even though no one believes him, he feels responsible for his brother’s murder because he was responsible for the existence of the ‘monster’. Also feeling responsible, Victor...
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.
In Frankenstein, Mary Shelley highlights on the experiences her characters undergo through the internal war of passion and responsibility. Victor Frankenstein lets his eagerness of knowledge and creating life get so out of hand that he fails to realize what the outcome of such a creature would affect humankind. Mary Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein, highlights on how Frankenstein’s passion of knowledge is what ultimately causes the decline of his health and the death of him and his loved ones.