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Frankenstein literary analysis
Literary analysis of frankenstein example
Character analysis of the monster in Frankenstein
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Humans are born into this world with different thoughts and emotions, but they experience, not one, but many feelings within one’s self. In the novel Frankenstein, Mary Shelley offers readers to search for the truth behind her story through the main characters’ life experiences. A young scientist named Victor Frankenstein attempts to defy death by resurrecting the life of a corpse, which soon becomes a monster in an unfamiliar world. Victor also experiences loneliness and depression while trying to escape from the world. Victor desperately craves for knowledge, yet he doesn’t know that his love for knowledge can blind him. Unfortunately, during his moments of grasping for knowledge, his mother passes away; this leaves him in a state of hatred, …show more content…
loneliness, and depression. Since his mother’s death, he used this chance to head off to the University of Ingolstadt to further his knowledge and research. As time went on in the University, Victor found interest in the study of anatomy. The human body intrigued him into learning more about it, so he secluded himself from the outside world; meaning from his friends, family, and love ones. His love of knowledge led him in the construction of a huge monster, which was a huge mistake. Victor created a monster and released him into an unfamiliar world of mysteries, confusion, and wickedness. Certainly, Victor hides his true self from his family, friends, and love ones. He shows it by running away problem that has happened through a tragic experience. An experience he cannot let go. Through Mark Shelley’s Frankenstein, examines self-love, self-hatred and human experience. The notion of self-love in Frankenstein is portrayed through Victor’s narcissistic personality.
Narcissistic is defined as the pursuit of gratification from vanity or egotistic admiration of one’s own attributes. Victor shows this by pursuing his fantasies, his dreams of power and knowledge. The fantasies he dreamt of secluded him from the external world, which delayed him from seeing his family. He cared too much for the love of his work instead of the love of his family. “Victor exhibits, in fact, all characteristics of the narcissistic personality disorder as defined in DSM-III: a grandiose sense of self-importance; preoccupation with fantasies of unlimited success; exhibitionism…lack of empathy (Berman, P5).” Furthermore, Victor lacked the responsibility to take care of his creation himself. For example, Victor thought his creation would be beautiful, but instead viewed upon as the ugliness of his personality. The creation asked for Victor’s love, but Victor rejects him. Victor created this monster out of self-love, which is soon deceived by the monster ugliness. As a representation, the monster reflects Victor’s rage and failures. Knowingly, Victor is not suited to fit the parent role because he neglected the love and respect for his creation, which leads to his demise. “Haunting and hunting each other, Victor and the Creature reveal not only an absence of self-object boundaries, but an identity that has never come into independence existence. Functioning as a self-object, the Creature embodies Victor’s narcissistic rage. Victor invests himself in his offspring...Victor imposes a monstrous identity on the “demoniacal corpse.” (Berman, P7).” For the love of creating new life, he tends to master his efforts of the fear of death. Ever since the death of his mother, Victor was interested in reversing time by
resurrecting. As a result of Victor narcissistic self, his creation is abandoned into a world in which inspires many horrors. Victor denied his love to his creation which caused his monster to experience the feel of hate. Thus, enrages the beast to murder Victor’s love ones: William, Clerval, and Elizabeth. In all honesty, the monster is the victim in the story. As Milton A. Mays states, “…the Monster; he is, rather the victim of universal injustice-from man, and from his “God,” Frankenstein, a god who, after casting him botched into a world in which he inspires horror, abandons him (P4).” Though, the monster portrays evil to replace his goodness over the fact of his creator happiness. After he murdered Clerval, he pitied his creator and adored it; however, once his creator married Elizabeth, the monster was again enraged. To clarify, the monster is abandoned by his creator in a world of great horror and mysteries. Since his abandonment, the creation felt misery, depression, and loneliness while wondering around in this world. Reasons for his misery, depression, and loneliness is because of his ugliness as he looks upon his reflection and the reaction of the cottages and villagers. “After the murder of Frankenstein’s friend Clerval in his rage at the destruction of his mate, the Monster abhors himself, and pities Frankenstein. But when Frankenstein marries, the Monster is again overcome with rage. Frankenstein’s marriage seems a taunt to his loneliness, the insult added to the injury of the destruction of his mate-to-be. Monster seems to cross a watershed, abandoning conflict with his better self to embrace evil as a principle: ‘Evil thenceforth became my good’ (Mays, P5).” With this in mind, the monster is seeking vengeance on his creator for leaving him in misery and loneliness while Victor is happy with everything he has. It’s like a comparison between Milton Satan and Mary Shelley’s Monster in which both are cast out by a special someone. Satan was caused out from Heaven by God, and the monster was as well cast out by his creator, Victor. Above all, the feeling of abandonment can bring self-hatred upon one’s self; reason for the monster exclude all his love into hate. Although, since Victor death, the monster wept and found his father “worthy of love”. Even with all the self-hatred within the beast, he still could not resist the love for his creator. Let alone, the monster finds his journey in this world injustice due to the fact of evilness of man.
Victor Frankenstein, protagonist of the novel Frankenstein, allegorizes his quest from being an over dedicated scientist to a desolate man, stranded in the Arctic ice, with the obligation to stress the importance of leading a balance and moderate lifestyle—“I cannot describe to you the agony that these reflections inflicted upon me: I tried to dispel them, but sorrow only increased with knowledge. Oh, that I had forever remained in my native wood, nor known nor felt beyond the sensations of hunger, thirst, and heat!” (Shelley 102). On condition that this might help him redeem his sins, Frankenstein takes it upon himself to avenge the death of his beloved ones. Similarly, the Creature, mostly driven by feelings of rejection and abandonment, is also engulfed in sorrow and thus plans to relieve some of it by “returning the favor”.
...or was not thinking of others in his actions, but only of himself. He did not consider the tumult the abnormally large creature could cause in the world, nor what the feelings of the monster would be towards him if he abandoned him. Victor also did not contemplate the safety of his friends, as he had the chance to stop the creature’s misdoings but failed to do so, risking the life of his friends. Therefore, Victor was a selfish being, who only concerned himself with his wishes and never evaluated the situation of his loved ones, ultimately causing their demise. The misfortunate events that occurred through Victor’s life could have been prevented, and also discontinued when Victor had the chance. However, Victor’s irresponsibility overcame these opportunities and he in turn, caused misfortunes for himself as well as his loved ones.
As he goes off to college, interested in the science behind life and death, he ends up going his own way and attempts to create a living being. Victor “had worked hard for nearly two years, for the sole purpose of infusing life into an inanimate body” (Shelley 43). The being Victor has created does not by any means sit well with him. As victor is away from his family and for six years, he is neglectful to them, which only adds to his sorrow and misery. Victor’s isolation is brought upon him because of himself, however his creation, or “the monster”, is isolated from any connections with humans against his will. To start out, the monster would have had Victor there with him, but Victor is ashamed of what he has created, and abandons the monster. The monster is a very hideous being, which sadly is a contributing factor to his isolation. With nobody to talk to at any time, naturally this will be condescending and frustrating. Although the monster is able to
Victor’s cruel and hostile actions toward his creature demonstrate his monstrous characteristics. One example of Victor’s inhumane cruelty is when he decides to abandon his creature. When Victor realizes what he has created, he is appalled, and abandons his creature because he is “unable to endure the aspect of the being [he] had created” (42). This wretched action would be similar to a mother abandoning her own child. Victor’s ambition for renown only fuels his depravity; he brings new life into the world, only to abandon it. This act of abandonment accurately depicts Victor’s cruelty because it shows his disgust toward his own creation, as well as his lack of respect for life. An example of a hostile action is when Victor destroys the creature’s
Mary Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein, has captured people’s attention since it was first written. People often wonder how much of Mary Shelley’s life is documented in her novel. From the theme of parental abandonment, to the theme of life and death in the novel, literary scholars have been able to find similarities between Frankenstein and Shelley’s life. The Journal of Religion and Health, the Journal of Analytical Psychology, and the Modern Psychoanalysis discuss the different connections between Shelley’s life and Frankenstein. Badalamenti, the author of “ Why did Mary Shelley Write Frankenstein?” in the Journal of Religion and Health, primarily discusses the connection between Victor
Can you imagine losing all of your loved ones to an evil beast? Or being abandoned by everyone you came in contact with? Mary Shelley portrays numerous emotions in Frankenstein. Sympathy and hatred are two that are constantly shown throughout novel. Mary Shelley enlists sympathy and hatred towards Victor and the monster by presenting them in different viewpoints. The views of sympathy and hatred towards the main characters change as the narration changes in the novel Frankenstein.
“Allure, Authority, and Psychoanalysis” discusses the unconscious wishes, effects, conflicts, anxieties, and fantasies within “Frankenstein.” The absence of strong female characters in “Frankenstein” suggests the idea of Victor’s desire to create life without the female. This desire possibly stems from Victor’s attempt to compensate for the lack of a penis or, similarly, from the fear of female sexuality. Victor’s strong desire for maternal love is transferred to Elizabeth, the orphan taken into the Frankenstein family. This idea is then reincarnated in the form of a monster which leads to the conclusion that Mary Shelley felt like an abandoned child who is reflected in the rage of the monster.
In Frankenstein, Victor’s monster suffers much loneliness and pain at the hands of every human he meets, as he tries to be human like them. First, he is abandoned by his creator, the one person that should have accepted, helped, and guided him through the confusing world he found himself in. Next, he is shunned wherever he goes, often attacked and injured. Still, throughout these trials, the creature remains hopeful that he can eventually be accepted, and entertains virtuous and moral thoughts. However, when the creature takes another crushing blow, as a family he had thought to be very noble and honorable abandons him as well, his hopes are dashed. The monster then takes revenge on Victor, killing many of his loved ones, and on the humans who have hurt him. While exacting his revenge, the monster often feels guilty for his actions and tries to be better, but is then angered and provoked into committing more wrongdoings, feeling self-pity all the while. Finally, after Victor’s death, the monster returns to mourn the death of his creator, a death he directly caused, and speaks about his misery and shame. During his soliloquy, the monster shows that he has become a human being because he suffers from an inner conflict, in his case, between guilt and a need for sympathy and pity, as all humans do.
“Frankenstein” by Mary Shelly explores the concept of the body, life, ‘the self’ and most of importantly humanity, which is repeatedly questioned throughout the novel. The definition of humanity is the quality of being humane or in other words someone that can feel or possess compassion. Despite all the facts against the “monster” in “Frankenstein” he is indeed what one would consider being human. Humanity isn’t just about ones physical appearance but also includes intellect and emotion. Some people argue that the “monster” is not a human for he was not a creature that was born from “God” or from a human body. That being said, the “monster” is not only able to speak different languages, he can also show empathy - one of many distinct traits that set humans apart from the animals. Both the “monster” and his creator, Victor, hold anger and feel a sense of suffering throughout the novel. Victor is a good person with good intentions just like most individuals, but makes the mistake of getting swept up into his passion of science and without thinking of the consequences he creates a “monster”. After completing his science project, he attempts to move forward with his life, however his past – i.e., the “monster” continues to follow and someone haunt him. While one shouldn’t fault or place blame on Frankenstein for his mistakes, you also can’t help but feel somewhat sympathetic for the creature. Frankenstein just wants to feel accepted and loved, he can’t help the way he treats people for he’s only mimicking how people have treated him, which in most cases solely based on his appearance. Unlike most of the monsters we are exposed to in films past and present, the character of the “monster” ...
This presents Victor showing unfair judgement towards the creature that he made “There can be no community between you and me; we are enemies” (55). This is unfair to the creature because he was born against his will and already Victor claiming to the creature that he has no community; a home. This is also unjust because Victor shows his hatred towards his creation that they are enemies before even giving the creature a chance to show himself and show who he really is and can be. Victor and his poor character towards his family and close friends make him more monster than the creature he had created “I could cope with the sullen despair that overwhelmed me: but the whirlwind passions of my soul drove me to suddenly leave” (51). With his family having hardship during this time and Victor knowing that and knows he needs to be there decides to chase his passion and leave without giving much thought. Victor knowing that his family problems and hardship are happening because of him doesn’t tell them what’s going on or what's happening in his current situation leaving them with no answers. This makes Victor a bigger monster because of his poor character he has towards his family and his poor statements towards the creature, a being that he
In the novel Frankenstein, the author, Mary Shelley writes about a scientist named Victor Frankenstein who brings to life a human- like creature. Viewing this book through a psychoanalytic lens uncovers the many layers that make up this text and the characters. The psychoanalytic theory deals with a person’s underlying desire, most famously, the oedipal complex. The oedipal complex is the belief that all people possess the desire to partake in affectionate relations with a parent of the opposite sex. In Frankenstein, Shelley uses Victors conscious and subconscious to suggest that Victor possesses the oedipal complex, and that he feels intense guilt for the monster that he has brought to life.
The creator of the monster, Victor Frankenstein is a man full of knowledge and has a strong passion for science. He pushes the boundary of science and creates a monster. Knowledge can be a threat when used for evil purposes. Though Victor did not intend for the being to be evil, society’s judgement on the monster greatly affects him. As a result he develops hatred for his creator as well as all man-kind. Victor’s anguish for the loss of his family facilitates his plan for revenge to the monster whom is the murderer. While traveling on Robert Walton’s ship he and Victor continue their pursuit of the monster. As Victor’s death nears he says, “…or must I die, and he yet live? If I do, swear to me Walton, that he shall not escape, that you will seek him and satisfy my vengeance in his death…Yet, when I am dead if he should appear, if the ministers of vengeance should conduct him to you, swear that he shall not live-swear that he shall not triumph over my accumulated woes and survive to add to the list of his dark crimes” (pg.199). Victor grieves the death of William, Justine, Clerval, Elizabeth and his father. Throughout the novel he experiences the five stages of grief, denial/ isolation, anger, bargaining, depression and finally acceptance. Victor denies ...
Philosophers and scientists alike have debated for centuries whether a person’s character is the result of nature or nurture. In the writings of Thomas Hobbes, it is expressed that humans are endowed with character from birth, and that they are innately evil in nature. John Locke’s response to this theory is that everyone is born with a tabula rasa, or blank slate, and then develops character after a series of formative experiences. The idea that true character is the result of experiences and societal interaction is a theme deeply explored throughout Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Through different interactions with the monster, Shelley attempts to express that it is because of Victor’s failings as a parent and creator, because of the monster’s isolation, and because of society’s reaction to the monster that the monster has become evil. The monster’s character is a direct result of how he was nurtured, based on his experiences and circumstances, rather than his being innately evil from “birth.”
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...
In the novel Frankenstein, the monster is deserving of empathy because as a young child he did not have the guidance nor care from a parent or guardian like most people do. He was brought into the world and then cruelly rejected by the ...