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The traditional view of a monster generally conjures visions of an imaginary creature that is typically large, ugly, and frightening, most likely due to the Hollywood portrayal of them. Some of these stereotypical monsters include dragons, werewolves, and vampires; all of them belonging in people’s nightmares. Although these monsters only appear in movies, people are still frightened by them at the mere sight of them. This stereotypical definition of monsters does not account for the actual monster’s point of view. Being a monster is all a matter of perspective. According to Frankenstein’s “monster”, “monsters” are only monsters because they are misunderstood.
Frankenstein’s monster fits the definition of the typical monster. As Victor finally
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sees his creation come to life, he explains “I saw the dull yellow eye of the creature open; it breathed hard, and a convulsive motion agitated its limbs. His yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath”(Shelley 32). This description of the newly created monster seems to evoke both fear and awe into the reader. Victor’s description confirms the notion of monster’s only being monsters because they are misunderstood; the monster inspires awe, yet Victor doesn’t want to go near it. The yellow eyes truly creep into the reader's nightmares. This creepiness is mainly caused by the horrid appearance of Frankenstein’s creation. Victor goes on to talk about the apparent contrasts in the monster, ”...but these luxuriances only formed a more horrid contrast with his watery eyes” (33). This description of the newly created monster seems to evoke both fear and awe into the reader. It helps develops the idea that Frankenstein’s monster is full of contrasts that are not familiar to humans in any way. Frankenstein tells Victor a key fact at a later point in the book, explaining that he knows that he very hideous: never being able to unite with any humans. For this very reason, the monster becomes more known to Victor. Despite the monster’s wretched appearance, it does not see itself as a monster.
On the inside of the cold, reanimated flesh, Frankenstein’s monster is able to think clearly. The monster goes on to say to Victor, "I intended to reason. This passion is detrimental to me; for you do not reflect that you are the cause of its excess. If any being felt emotions of benevolence towards me, should return them an hundred and an hundred fold; for that one creature's sake, I would make peace with the whole kind!” (102). The monster saying that it does to others what others do to him shows it’s ability to see itself for what it truly is: misunderstood. If only Frankenstein’s monster were understood for what it truly was, a capable minded individual thinker, then it’s view on society and society’s view on it would change for the better. After the monster realizes it’s predetermined path thanks to society, he says, “But I now indulge in dreams of bliss that cannot be realised. What I ask of is reasonable and moderate; I demand a creature of another sex, but as hideous as myself”(103). When he explains his predicament to Victor, the monster starts down the path of being understood, but only by Victor. By telling Victor this, he is telling his story to someone who will listen with the hopes of being understood as an outsider, just as Victor does to Walton at the end of the book. Victor never agrees to his monster’s request because of the obvious danger that he would put himself in by …show more content…
creating and equal to his monster. With this said, Victor becomes a monster to his creation; the creation sees Victor as someone who can help, yet doesn’t. As a result, Frankenstein’s monster’s own motivation is to destroy his creator’s life. “Monsters” are only seen as monsters because they do not have any solace.
As the truth behind Frankenstein’s monster’s life comes to light, sympathy sets in. To Frankenstein’s monster, life was unknown to him from the beginning of it’s life; Victor fled the lab and fell ill as soon as he awakened. Frankenstein’s monster had a life full of confusion and deceit from humans. To him, humans were the true monsters; they would not accept him in any way. As the monster is unhappy with it’s creator, it exclaims, ”Cursed creator! Why did you form a monster so hideous that even you turned from me in disgust” (90). The monster knowns it’s appearance to humans is too vial to deal with yet, all he wants is solace. As the creator of the “monster”, Victor regrets his decision to search to the secret to life. After he made the monster, Victor never realizes what he had done wrong: not take responsibility for his creation. Going on the explain to Victor his predicament, the monster says “God, in pity, made man beautiful and alluring, after his own image; but my form is a filthy type of yours, more horrid from its very resemblance. Satan had his companions, fellow-devils, to admire and encourage him; but I am solitary and detested” (90). This shows the desire to be accompanied by someone/something: a monster as hideous as itself. It shows the duality of Victor as both caregiver and creator, acting as the monster’s actual god. The monster goes on to say that all walks of life have their
respective companions, even Satan did. All the monster wants is just one companion that can potentially make his life complete. Being a monster or not being a monster is all a matter of perspective. Just as Grendel did not see himself as a monster, Frankenstein’s monster does not see himself as a monster. Despite his wretched appearance, he is able to think rationally, not asking for too much. Society as a whole, including Victor, acts as a monster to Frankenstein’s monster; they cast him off as an outsider, somewhere between man and beast. Being misunderstood and not having any solace are the only two wrongdoings by the monster, neither of which are his fault directly.
The monster tells Frankenstein of the wretchedness of the world and how it was not meant for a being such as himself. At the end of his insightful tale the creature demands a companion of the same hideous features but of the opposite gender to become his. Victor only has the choice to make the monster or suffer a lifetime of horror his creation would bring upon him. Which the creator ultimately agrees to make the female monster to save the lives of his family but gains a conscious that fills with guilt of all the destruction he has created and creating. When the monster comes to collect the female he tears her apart and the monster vows to destroy all Victor holds dear. The monster’s emotional sense is consumed with rage against Victor, murdering Frankenstein’s best friend. Though when the monster’s framing ways do not work to lead to Victor being executed, he then murders Frankenstein’s wife on their wedding night. This tragedy is the last for Victor’s father who becomes ill with grief and quickly passes within a few days, leaving Victor with nothing but his own regret. Shelley doesn’t give the audience the monsters side of the story but hints that the remainder of his journey consisted of being a shadow to that of his creator. It is at the graves of the Frankenstein family when the creature makes an appearance in the solemn and
As a tragic hero, Victor’s tragedies begin with his overly obsessive thirst for knowledge. Throughout his life, Victor has always been looking for new things to learn in the areas of science and philosophy. He goes so far with his knowledge that he ends up creating a living creature. Victor has extremely high expectations for his creation but is highly disappointed with the outcome. He says, “I had desired it with an ardour that far exceeded moderation; but now that I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart” (Shelley 35). Frankenstein neglects the creature because of his horrifying looks, which spark the beginning of numerous conflicts and tragedies. At this point, the creature becomes a monster because of Victor’s neglect and irresponsibility. The monster is forced to learn to survive on his own, without anyone or anything to guide him along the way. Plus, the monster’s ugly looks cause society to turn against him, ad...
While Frankenstein’s monster is presented as the villain of the novel, his savagery and viciousness only mirrors that hate and isolation he experiences because of the evil that is within every human alive. Before the creature even understands how he is different from the rest pf humanity (his creator and, for all intensive purposes-his God) abandons him because he is physically deformed and frightening to look at. For Victor Frankenstein to desert his own creation is an act of evil driven by a heart-stopping fear of his monster. Then, when the monster seeks refuge in a town of strangers, they all denounce him and either attack or run away from him. This cold reception to a being that needs help is not the response of individuals who are in their hearts kind and loving, this savagery is the result of selfish and cruel beings contorted by society into gentler animals. In addition, the viciousness of human nature is clearly evident when Felix beats the weeping monster off his father's knees even though the creature does nothing to harm him.The creature is clearly not a threat, he is defenseless at the feet of an old man, yet Felix still attacks. This instinctive reaction to reject the unknown reflects the violence that is inherent in all of humanity. Finally, when the monster saves a little girl from drowning in a river, her father does not embrace the creature for saving his flesh
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” ...
Frankenstein spent nearly two years devoting his life to giving life to an inanimate body. Frankenstein was so excited about finishing his work until he brought it the creature to life. Once the creature came to life Frankenstein abandoned him. Victor said, “Unable to endure the aspect of the being I had created, I rushed out of the room, and continued a long time traversing my bedchambers, unable to compose my mind to sleep (Shelley, 43).” Victor cast aside his creation simply because of his looks he could not get passed them. If Victor would have accepted and embraced the Monster than the outcome of their relationship could have been very different. Frankenstein’s rejection was the start of his future and happiness being stripped away from him. He had a chance to redeem himself to the Monster and he promised him he would create a companion for him and again he denies him that right as well. Victor spends months creating a companion for the creature and once he was almost finished he “tore to pieces” the Monsters companion. Victor now not only betrayed his creation once, but twice. First Victor left him and then he breaks his promise that he made
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.
People are defined by their environment and how they react to their environment. Environments that appear to be perfect on the outside may very well be the cause of misery in man's life because one must be able to cope with their environment. Victor could not cope with his environment and lashed out at the world by trying to attain power. However, things do not always go as planned, and sometime this may be beneficial. One should not judge by external appearance alone. It is what is on the inside that counts. Had Victor Frankenstein been taught ethics such as this, his life, as well as the lives of those he loved, could have been saved. Also, the life of the creature could have been free of pain and hatred. The monster is a symbol for the outcasts and rejected of society. He is also a reflection of Victor, meaning that Victor was also considered an outcast. The reality of an animated object reflecting something that one does not want to see, combined with being alone in the world, is enough to drive man mad. The monster, in some ways, creates a harsh reality for Victor. Either love what you create or be destroyed by it.
Is it possible for one thing to have such a negative impact on a person? Because of his creation, Victor Frankenstein was a recluse who did not tell anyone of his creation because he regretted creating it. Although this may be true, Victor only wanted to do good and help humanity by bringing loved ones back to life. In order to create life, he isolated himself from his family to work on his experiment. After the monster committed homicide several times, Victor could not tell any sane person the truth. And he felt guilt because his loved ones died too early and at the hands of his scientific advancement. To conclude, isolation, secrecy, and guiltiness are prevalent in the book Frankenstein by Mary Shelley.
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 ...
One of the most influential contributions in the formation of the monster’s character is Victor’s failure as a creator and a father. As a creator, Victor has the responsibility of providing for his creation, just as God provided for Adam and Eve. At the same time, Victor also falls under the role of a father, and should therefore seek to strengthen the familial bond between the two of them. However, Victor fails in both of these endeavors, because he cannot accept the monster in his deformity. “Frankenstein’s sole regret… is that he did not create an aesthetically pleasing being” (Bond). Victor, due to his skewed vision of humanity, believes outer beauty to be a reflection of inner character, and that because of the monster’s hideous appe...
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley portrays an individual in a unique situation trying to overcome daily interactions while being faced with inconceivable misfortunes. Created by Victor Frankenstein, who set out on a journey to bring life to scrapped pieces of waste, he was then abandoned and left to fend for himself in a world he was abruptly brought into. After being abandoned by his creator for his less than appealing looks, this then sparked his inevitable desire for revenge. Eventually leading to the destruction of those associated with his creator. Knowing that he will never fit in, the monster began to act out in hopes of getting back at his creator for what he did. His vulnerability due to missing guidance and parental figures in his beginning stages of life contributed to his behavior. The books and article Family Crisis and Children’s Therapy Groups written by Gianetti, Audoin, and Uzé, Victim Of Romance: The Life And Death Of Fanny Godwin by Maurice Hindle, and Social Behavior and Personality by Lubomir Lamy, Jacques Fishcher-Lokou, and Nicolas Gueguen support why the monster acts the way he does. The monster’s behavior stems from Victor’s actions at the beginning of his life and therefore is not to blame. The creature in Frankenstein is deserving of sympathy even though he committed those murders because the lack of parental guidance, lack of family, and lack of someone to love led him to that. All in all his actions were not malicious, but only retaliation for what he had been put through.
It is when Frankenstein realizes how different he is to other people that he realizes his uniqueness and individualism. “I was, besides, endued with a figure hideously deformed and loathsome; I was not even of the same nature as man. I was more agile than they and could subsist upon a coarser diet; I bore the extremes of heat and cold with less injury to my frame; my stature far exceeded theirs. When I looked around I saw and heard of none like me. Was I, then, a monster, a blot upon the earth, from which all men fled and whom all men disowned?” (Frankenstein, 150). While Frankenstein is by no means a human, he is made up of human parts and still craves love and affection. His rejection from everyone he sees, including his creator makes him feel like an outcast. It was because of Victor that Frankenstein couldn’t bear to be who he was made to be and felt a need to run into isolation. Victor not only created a monster physically, but also mentally turned him into someone he didn’t have to be. Both Frankenstein and Victor struggle with balancing their personal wants and needs with societies expectations and the people around them. That is one of the true struggles of being one person living in a world of many, you have to do what makes you happy while making sure it doesn’t effect other peoples happiness negatively. Victor doesn’t do a good job of
Even when Victor rejects him, the monster still seeks love from society and performs unselfish acts. He seeks the love from others. Longing for company, the monster stays in the cottage without revealing him and watches the family that lives there. By watching them he learned how to speak and read. The monster tried to understand the meaning of “beauty”. He somewhat understood why people he had interacted with had treated him ill and he realized that it was because they were frighten by his hideous appearance. “The absolute other cannot be selfed, that the monster has properties which will not be constrained by proper measure”(Spivak). This goes back to the idea of “other”, now the monster himself understand that he 's different from human, that he doesn 't have the properties as human do so he must be interior to them. Furthermore we see that by watching the family in the cottage, the monster soon starts to love the family. He liked the way they had affection and love they had for each other. “The gentle manners and beauty of cottagers greatly endeared them to me; when they were unhappy, I felt depressed; when they rejoiced, I sympathized in their joy”(Shelly100). This shows that the monster was very loving and caring towards the family as would a innocent
Like Adam was given Eve as a mate, the creature longs for companion too. “Satan had his companions, fellow-devils, to admire and encourage him; but I am solitary and detested” demonstrated his sturdy desire to not be a loner, outcast anymore. Declining the creature’s need and request for social interaction, it provoked the twisted world view in the creature inherited from the three sets of books he read and led to him declaring war on his creator, similar to what Satan and Lucifer did when they were turned against by God. From this, it is obvious that Victor Frankenstein fails to take responsibility for his creation. In this study of this analog between God, Adam, Satan, Victor and the Creature, it is palpable to tell Victor Frankenstein’s recklessness in indulging in a blind pursuit of scientific breakthrough and highlighting his failure as a life creator due to his inability to attend to and communicate with his creation resulting in his creation rebelling against him and thus a gut twitching tragic ending.