Frankenstein

1625 Words4 Pages

I awoke, frightened and alone, with a monster standing beside my bed. Although my body was paralyzed with fear, my mind was awake, trying to figure out how this hideous creature could have found me. As I gazed into the hypnotizing, dark eyes of this giant, the room altered, and I found myself, once again, in the basement of my father’s house. Surrounded with medical equipment, a rush of adrenaline pulsed through my tired body, forcing it awake. The monster walked slowly through the room, dragging his long, boney finger along the table. I remembered this basement very well, as I spent a great deal of time occupying it; however, there was something different, something was missing, something had changed. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. Before I could spot the difference, an odd aroma began filling the air, making it somewhat difficult to breathe. Once again I found myself spinning, falling through a dark tunnel with no sense of direction or time, I closed my eyes tightly. Whenever the spinning sensation concluded, I opened my eyes. The aroma was stronger here, forcing tears out of my eyes and my dinner back up my throat. I knew exactly where I was… In recent discussions of Frankenstein, an issue has been whether the characters struggle with obedience to authority. Some argue that the characters react to circumstances at their own will, without receiving guidance from outside figures. Others, however, argue that the reactions of characters such as Victor and Frankenstein are direct results of obedience to authority. Although I admit that not every action that these characters carry out is a direct result of obedience and/or disobedience, I maintain my view that there are multiple instances in Frankenstein where characters were ... ... middle of paper ... ... conscience is “the voice present in every human being” that is “independent from external sanctions and rewards” – this is what the creature feels (Fromm 623). When humanistic conscience is analyzed in more detail, it becomes apparent that this form of conscience is based on the concept that as a human being, one equips an instinctive awareness that enables him/her to decipher between what is human, and in return, what is inhuman (Fromm 623). In addition, one who possesses a humanistic conscience is also able to distinguish between good and evil, conductive and destructive, etc. (Fromm 623). Due to the creature possessing a humanistic conscience, he is able to realize that he is not human and also destructive of life—this results in the creature’s hatred for Victor to increase, which later results in him obeying his own personal authority and carrying out revenge.

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