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The Literary Importance of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
Figurative language in frankenstein from mary shelley
The Literary Importance of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
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Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein tackles the hard-hitting topic of alienation and its source of origination. Alienation is being isolated from a group that you should belong to, which in Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein’s creation is excommunicated from society. The novel from 1818 divulges the strain of involuntary seclusion on the creature and its subsequent effects in the creature’s actions. The struggles between appearance and social acceptance are the profound source of alienation because society has superficial prejudices against appearances that make it impossible for someone that does not fit the standard to be accepted.
The societal prejudice of designating a living being as wicked solely on semblance is the origin of alienation. The creature
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enters a village seeking out food when only a short time passes before the villagers begin to assault the creature barely escaping with his life (83). The villagers fear Frankenstein’s creation when he is the harmless being in this situation. He is actively sought out by the rest of society in pursuit of extinguishing his atrocious countenance. The villagers make him out to be the ‘monster’ when they initiated the violence and ostracize him based on their superficial beliefs of malevolence and appearance. Bringing up the notion, that society is the true ‘monster’. The cottagers walk in on the creature conversing with the blind man and they “behold a detestable monster” (109). The cottagers are quick to attack the creature based on his appearance then to step back and calculate who he really is. This shows that humans will make snap-judgements based on the prejudice that if someone or something looks horrid or malicious then they are as such on the inside. Conversely, the blind man who cannot see the creature’s face does not alienate but accepts the creature for who he expresses himself to be. The creature sees William for the first time and is under the impression that he, in his cherubic youth, is unprejudiced then to only be blasted by debatable insults and assumptions (116-17). The creature is correct in thinking that children are innocent for the trials of life has yet to bequeath its corruption upon them. Children do not know who is evil and what makes something evil, so William should not have reacted to the monster in such a boisterous way. This is where the societal ideal of alienating an unseemly individual plays a large role. Society has instilled William into thinking that what defines a living thing on the inside is directly correlated to what they are on the outside. Frankenstein demonstrates societal pretenses that further cause the estrangement of the creature, therefore fomenting the creature’s ensuing malignant actions. The creature first approaches Frankenstein miserable and begging for help in his lowliness. Frankenstein denies him the community that the creator and his creation usually have (78). The creature is in dire need of acceptance and is jilted of companionship by the selfishness of his own master. Frankenstein procures his own destruction by letting the shallow prejudice of grotesque appearances influence his interactions with the creature. The creature, novice to life’s undertakings, is searching to improve himself but is stunted the opportunity of growth. He is reproached by the bias discrimination of his ‘father’, ultimately inspiring the evil that is the creature’s actions later in the novel. The creature curses Frankenstein for giving him life in such an ugly form and in exchange to leaving humanity alone forever, he pleads to have a woman made in his likeness (105,120). The pretense that society and consequently Frankenstein places upon the creature casts him into an exile that even Satan has no knowledge of. Satan has his fallen angels whereas the creature has not a soul to confide in. This prejudice is very much a selfish and egotistical attribute because by denying the monster a female, Frankenstein endangers mankind. Living in forced solitude has a running theme throughout the novel of driving people into lunacy and feelings of desolation. The creature knows that he is never going to be accepted by society. As a social outcast, being rejected by his master and the opportunity to have a partner eventually leads the creature to his extreme behavior that brands him ‘the monster’. Although the creature commits heinous crimes as the novel progresses, the appearance of the creature should not be associated with these awful actions.
The creature mangles William because of the child’s ill appellations against him (117). Killing Frankenstein’s youngest brother does not bode well for the creature in any situation. This quote substantiates the claim that the creature is bad at heart and that the child is right in judging him by his appearance. Posing that society is right in associating the meanness of a living being to its appearance. Although, murdering a child does prove his monstrosity, the creature did not know better. He is still experiencing and learning about the world. When the child starts to bully the creature, he does not know any other way to respond then how another young child would react to being insulted. Up until now, the creature has refrained from any type of physical action against another living being and this incident only happened out of desperation to get the child to stop desecrating his visage. Which leads to that idea that the creature should not be accounted for just his outward features because the fledgling creation also has human emotions to take into consideration. The creature reports suffering from hunger and fatigue as well as being “moved” by the kindness of the cottagers and starts scavenging for wood to replenish their stores with (80,88). The creature encounters everything that a normal human being experiences and endures the same emotions that humans do. This makes the creature more personable and relatable. The so called ‘monster’ sympathizes with the cottagers and shows his kind-hearted nature and selflessness by taking the responsibility of providing them with firewood through the frigid winter. With respect to these traits that he has demonstrated, the characters in the novel should not derive opinions based on his appearance upon first encountering the creature. By the end of the novel, the creature
confesses the travesty that is the death of everyone Frankenstein loved. Repenting to Frankenstein’s corpse, he asks for an irretrievable pardon to relieve him of his torment. Eventually realizing that his once loving heart is now ravaged by vice and hatred (187-88). As the creature’s kill list grows throughout the novel, the evidence that people should judge the creature’s appearance and thus pin him as evil is further validated. Yet, this is still no cause to have prejudices of someone else’s appearance. For the creature is not evil at heart but is influenced by the vices of revenge in the feud between himself and Frankenstein. The issue of society’s unnecessary intolerance and successive alienation in Frankenstein is imperative because 200 years later it is still a problem. At the end of the story, the creature reflects upon himself to Walton, “you hate me; but your abhorrence cannot equal that with which I regard myself” (190). Society makes people hate themselves with its prejudices and ostracization. These prejudices make people or any living thing out to be something that they are not. People today still make frivolous judgements based on the appearance of a person rather than who they really are, an occurrence the creature is all too familiar with. The creature is continually alienated because he is made out to be evil because of his chilling features which is an inaccurate assumption. People have no control over what they are born as or what they end up looking like but they can control who they are. This is a major issue in today’s world because the corruption that is this superficial prejudice divides people, subsequently leading to hate crimes. If the parameters to social acceptance consisted only of a person’s character, then society would prosper. It is a hindrance to the advancement of humanity to reject those who try to do good or have revolutionary ideas that can never break through the barrier of social inequality. The blind man is kind and invites the creature into his home to sit by the fire (108). The blind man is a prime example that if you take away the prejudice that is clouding your judgement then you can distinguish people for who they create themselves to be. If people are more like the blind man, then mankind would be able to cooperate and accomplish more. During his time of reflection the creature also says, “you throw a torch into a pile of buildings, and when they are consumed you sit among the ruins and lament the fall” (188). Society is causing their own destruction. The torch thrown into the fire is the superficial prejudice that causes the alienation of good beings in this world and thus the immobility of societal progress. They watch as the world is engulfed in the flames of war and hate not realizing that social acceptance-the inclusiveness of all living things-is the solution.
In Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, cruelty is a frequent theme and different acts of cruelty are committed almost every chapter. Victor Frankenstein abandoned his creation because of its grotesque face and destroyed any chance if the monster getting a mate, and the monster kills everyone Frankenstein loves out of spite. In Frankenstein, the different acts of cruelty that are imposed onto Frankenstein and his creation help reveal their true character
Mary Shelley’s idea of friendship is very important throughout the novel because it is the goal of Walton throughout the beginning, as well as the monster Frankenstein created throughout his narration period. In chapters fourteen through sixteen the creature learns that he is the only man of his kind, the only monster created on this Earth and he himself is much like Satan and Adam. He stumbled across three novels in which he reads and interprets differently. Paradise Lost having the most impact on the creature made him realize that he is utterly alone, and wretched. Adam was created from God, and was protected, whereas the creature who was created by Victor, was the complete opposite. He was dragged into this earth. The creature states, “But
...nderson, 107). The novels demonstrate that humans react to alienation by choosing to alienate themselves rather than allow others to alienate them. The protagonists intentionally withdrew themselves from society before society could hurt them by denying them acceptance. They equally fear rejection which is common among human kind.
“Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves” is a quote from Chinese philosopher, Confucius, that immaculately describes the knowledge the characters in the story of Frankenstein lacked. In the novel Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, the main character, Victor Frankenstein, creates a creature whom he abandons soon after. After the abandonment the creature gets treated horribly by other humans, feeling alone in a world where there was no other like him. This causes the creature to feel hate towards his creator, whom he continuously tries to seek revenge from. The desire for revenge transforms the creature into a true monster that has no feelings or aspirations beyond destroying Victor, leading to his miserable death.
In Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, the Creature executes extreme and irreversible acts due to his isolation from society. Although the Creature displays kindness, his isolation drives him to act inhumanely.
Isolation in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein Mary Shelley's novel, Frankenstein, has several themes imbedded in the text. One major theme is of isolation. Many of the characters experience some time of isolation. The decisions and actions of some of these characters are the root cause of their isolation. They make choices that isolate themselves from everyone else.
The creature was created with the intention of goodness and purity but because of this, he wasn’t equipped to deal with the rejection of his creator. After Victor Frankenstein’s death, Robert Walton walks in to see the creature standing over his friend’s lifeless body.
In the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelly, is dr. Frankenstein a god? God is the all being who creates everything, but also looks after what He has created. If dr. Frankenstein is Mary Shelly’s “god” figure, then dr. Frankenstein is a very irresponsible and carefree “god.” He is very irresponsible because he does not look after his creation. God looks over everything, dr. Frankenstein can not even look over one creation. Victor runs from his creation throughout out the whole novel and he is also trying to run away from the fact that he made his “mistake.” When the creature and his “god” meet up, and by meet up it is really implied that the “mistake” tracked him down, the creation tells his creator how bad of a “god” he has been and tries to make him realize how he has abandoned his duties. The creatures lectures him by saying, “remember that I am thy creature; I ought to be thy Adam, but i am rather the fallen angel, whom thou drives from joy for no misdeed”(Shelly). This quote is showing that the “mistake” has more
In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, there are many themes present. One prominent and reoccurring theme in the novel is isolation and the effect it has on the characters. Through the thoughts and feelings of both Victor and his monster, Frankenstein reveals the negative effects of isolation from society. The negative effects that Victor faces are becoming obsessed with building a monster and becoming sick. The monster faces effects such as confusion about life and his identity, wanting companionship, and wanting to seek revenge on Victor. Victor and the monster are both negatively affected by the isolation they face.
In the novel Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, the main theme revolves around the internal and external consequences of being isolated from others. Being isolated from the world could result in a character losing his/her mental state and eventually causing harm to themselves or others. Because both Victor Frankenstein and the creature are isolated from family and society, they experienced depression, prejudice, and revenge.
Isolation is often a result of choosing to seek refuge in solitude, however, in many cases, it is a result of brutality from the surrounding environment. In Mary Shelley’s Gothic novel, Frankenstein, a gruesome and painful story serves as a cautionary tale in order to prevent another from a similar downfall. Although Victor Frankenstein is the narrator for the majority of the novel, the audience learns of the destruction that has followed his decisions as well as the forced estrangement upon those he has encountered. In Frankenstein, Shelley uses relatable characters that reflect the harsh superficial aspects of society. Victor’s initial isolation as a child foreshadows the motif of detachment that occurs throughout the novel.
While Dr. Frankenstein my be lonely in the sense that he is so utterly bound by worry that he cannot interact with those whom he loves, the monster is forced to endure absolute isolation and censure from all people. Throughout history, hum...
Arguably, alienation and exile of The Monster in Mary W. Shelley 's Frankenstein begins from the moment of his creation. Developed by a process which is unknown to the reader, Doctor Victor Frankenstein pieces together the anatomical features of a man with what can be concluded as the scraps and remains of body parts and rare chemicals to produce The Monster. Doctor Victor Frankenstein rejects his own creation by failing to give it a name. Throughout the entirety of the novel, The Monster is incessantly referred to by severely degrading, dehumanizing terms resulting from a lack of identity. References to a character such as “monster”, “demon”, “it”, “wretch”, and “creature” further support the notion that The Monster is living as a social outcast. At an unbelievable eight feet tall, he enters the world as an anomaly. Inexperienced, unaware and frightened he undoubtedly attempts to integrate into society. Nevertheless, The Monster develops a harsh reputation due not only to his unappealing physical appearance, but also due to others unwillingness to look past his
Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein expresses human nature specifically through the character of the “Creature” and his development. The Creature has an opportunity to explore his surroundings, and in doing so he learns that human nature is to run away from something so catastrophic in looks. The Creature discovers that he must limit himself in what he does due to the response of humans because of his deformities. I feel that Mary Shelley tries to depict human nature to running away from the abnormal, which results in alienation of the “abnormal.” Even today, people have a prejudice against someone or something that is abnormal, and these people will act differently towards this abnormality that is put in front of them. In the novel, Shelley seems to suggest a conception of humanity that is deeply influe...
Afterwards, he comes to deeply regret his action and abandons the Monster by throwing him out into the world without any education or guidance. Because of this, throughout the book, the Monster harbors resentment towards Frankenstein and dedicates his life to making Frankenstein’s a living hell. Out of the many horrible things that the Monster did to achieve this goal, the main evil action I will be focusing on is the murder of William, Frankenstein’s younger brother, and the framing of his nanny for the murder. After being continually rejected by not only his creator, but countless other humans based only on his gruesome appearance, the Monster decides to exact revenge on humankind and especially on Frankenstein for giving life to such a horrible creature as himself. Upon deciding this, the Monster decides to go to his hometown and look for Frankenstein, and along the way runs into William.