Mary Shelley’s science fiction novel Frankenstein examines themes of otherness and alienation by employing the symbols of fire and ice to illustrate the novel's focus on racial ostracism. The action commences as Victor Frankenstein utilizes his scientific knowledge to create life; this ultimately leads to his demise, forming this story that amplifies social inequality and systems impacted by discrimination. Fire and ice assist Shelley in exposing the societal rejection towards the creature through a racial lens. Throughout the novel, Victor Frankenstein displays a natural admiration for science. As his experiments begin he discovers a fervor inside of him– the symbol of fire often proceeding creation–requesting that he take on the authoritative …show more content…
The assertion made, however, displays the repulsion and horror he experienced while looking at the creature. Furthermore, Victor’s statement proves that immediate rejection and otherness that could be interpreted as racial occur throughout life, establishing a sense of isolation and fear. Moreover, fire interweaves itself with destruction. “That to create another like the fiend I had first made would be an act of the Bastet and most atrocious selfishness” (175). This moment of realization for Victor further proves that he begins to understand the implications of his passions and the consequences that come alongside them. Similarly, the symbol of ice represents the isolation of the creature and the emotions felt as a result of societal rejection. As the creature begins to encounter humans, he finds that he is met with hatred, anger, and disgust. Due to this unsettling reality, the monster begins to internally deal with his emotions culminating in him harming others as revenge on humanity for his anguish. “Believe me Frankenstien: I was benevolent; my soul glowed with love and humanity; but I am not alone, miserably
Victor as the True Murderer in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein Mary Shelley wrote the book Frankenstein between June 1816 and May 1817 after a trip to Switzerland in the summer of 1816 with a group of young English writers and intellectuals, during which an agreement between the group to each write a story of the supernatural was drawn up. This agreement was later abandoned by most of the others. Mary was eighteen when she started to write the story. She had, had a difficult childhood and
future is “Frankenstein: Or the Modern Prometheus” by Mary Shelley Frankenstein is based around the life of Victor, who is overindulged as a child and who later creates a “monster”. He disowns the monster, who then goes on to kill several of Victor’s friends and family out of hate for Victor who left him. Victor then tries to create a friend for the monster so as to calm him, but rebels midway and then proceeds to chase the monster in attempt to put an end to him. In this essay I will be looking
period and have chosen to write about three particular pieces; 'The Signalman' by Charles Dickens (a short story), the novel 'Frankenstein' by Mary Shelley and another short story called 'The Tell Tale Heart' by Edgar Allen Poe. At the point when these stories were written, there were a wide range of issues touching society. However, for the benefit of this essay I am only going to focus on three of these; the role of God, the increasing advances in science and technology, the supernatural