Loss Of Humanity In Frankenstein

Throughout the history of mankind, the question of what it means to be a human being has been contemplated for centuries. Numerous philosophers have read and debated this significant question and it is still reflected upon today. Frankenstein, written by Mary Shelley plumbs the depth of this question with the example of a creature who is spurned by humanity despite being human in character. The discernment of creature from man is still misconstrued as shown in this tale, but its importance lies in the message Frankenstein that appearances matter very little when it comes to being human. The creature’s human qualities of its emotions, desire for companionship, and intelligence set it apart as uniquely human from simply a base and barbaric monster

When the creature, who is Frankenstein’s creation, first observes the cottage family, intense emotion is stirred within it:“I felt sensations of a peculiar and overpowering nature: they were a mixture of pain and pleasure, such as I had never before experienced,” (Shelley 91). Witnessing the cottage family interact in such an intimate way provokes such complex emotions that the creature is not able to comprehend their nature. These “peculiar” emotions are “overpowering” which show the extent to which they influence the creature. In addition, the creature describes such sensations as a “mixture of pain and pleasure” referring to a blend of two complex emotions. This is no simple or primitive reaction. On the contrary, this demonstrates how human the creature really is. On the contrary, the creature also experiences the deficiencies of human emotion through rage and vengeance after he is attacked for rescuing a little girl. “The feelings of kindness and gentleness which I had entertained but a few moments before gave place to hellish rage...I vowed eternal hatred and vengeance to all mankind.” (Shelley 121). Rage and vengeance are very familiar emotions that are expressed by the creature. Because these feelings are human flaws in character, the creature allows these hurtful emotions to hurt his character of “kindness and gentleness”. Deeply hurt by such an attack for his good deed, his ire is provoked and like a human would, he reacts impulsively. A spectrum of

The creature’s reflections over his own existence are penetrating and reach to the heart of the matter:”My person was hideous and my stature gigantic. What did this mean? Who was I? What was I? Whence did I come? What was my destination?” (Shelley 110). The creature plays out an age old struggle that mankind has experienced when reflecting upon their existence. This line of questions covers a spectrum of human philosophy. Asking “what was my destination?”, the creature refers to the future and ultimately whether his life has meaning in those events to come. Most importantly, the creature wrestles with the nature of his identity by asking “who was I?”. Being able to consider such human questions concerning identity and existence, the creature shows an intellectual capability unique to human beings. In the same respect of reflection, the creature acknowledges and respects his creator as exclaims “I am thy creature, and I will be even mild and docile to my natural lord and king, if thou wilt also perform thy part, the which thou owest me.” (Shelley 84). Here the creature is reasonable and humbled himself before his creator. A barbaric and instinctive monster would hold allegiance to no one but the creature here sets himself above such a level and attempts to communicate. Referring to Victor as his “natural lord and king” suggests that the creature views him as a powerful ruler with authority over him.