Think of all the things that happen to humans as they grow from being a baby to an adult. They grow physically by getting bigger and they need more food and exercise to sustain themselves. Learning to talk and read is also one of the first things that humans learn to do. Experiencing different feelings can be one of the immediate things that people go through. Some babies come out of the womb crying and others come out without showing any emotions. Frankenstein’s creature went through all of those different kinds of experiences. In his last speech, the creature showed us that he grew mentally by being able to talk and tell us his story, he grew emotionally by telling the sadness, hope, and anger he felt throughout his life, and he grew …show more content…
He first learns to understand a language by watching a family and observing their lives. When the Arabian girl named Safie is trying to learn the language of the family, the creature also listens and tries to learn the language with her. He eventually succeeds and begins to be able to put his thoughts into words and is able to understand more of what’s happening around him. “I improved rapidly in the knowledge of language, so that in two months I began to comprehend most of the words uttered by my protectors.” (94) It’s shown by his ability to learn almost an entire language in only two months that he is incredibly smart. He also builds up the courage to speak with the old man but the kids discover him and Felix beats him until he runs away. The creature then proceeds to burn the house down. The creature was showing very humanlike characteristics, such as being a quick learner and showing compassion for his educators and protectors, but it seems like he almost throws it all away when he burns the house down. He was proving to the old man that he was regular person by talking to him like a normal human being, but once Felix begins attacking him because he looks like a monster, he turns violent and burns the house down. Frankenstein’s creature was successful in learning how to speak and read, which helped his brain grow to be smarter, and …show more content…
After his little brother, William, had been killed, Frankenstein discovers the creature he created during a storm and describes what he sees. “A flash of lightning illuminated the object, and discovered its shape plainly to me; its gigantic stature, and the deformity of its aspect, more hideous than belongs to humanity, instantly informed me that it was the wretch, the filthy daemon to whom I had given life.” (56) Frankenstein tells that the creature is much, much bigger than any other person in the world. He also tells that it’s deformed and hideous, so the creature is definitely seen as a monster rather than a human. Frankenstein’s creature is also able to adapt to his environment and what he’s given to live better than other humans. “One day, when I was oppressed by cold, I found a fire which had been left by some wandering beggars, and was overcome with delight at the warmth I experienced from it. In my joy I thrust my hand into the live embers, but quickly drew it out again with a cry of pain.” (81) We see he is surprised by the cold climate and he puts his hand in a fire to try and get warm, which he quickly takes out because it is burning him, and by the end of the book he says he is able to live in intense places on Earth. “I swear to you, by the earth which I inhabit, and by you that made me, that, with the companion you bestow, I will
Frankenstein, speaking of himself as a young man in his father’s home, points out that he is unlike Elizabeth, who would rather follow “the aerial creations of the poets”. Instead he pursues knowledge of the “world” though investigation. As the novel progresses, it becomes clear that the meaning of the word “world” is for Frankenstein, very much biased or limited. He thirsts for knowledge of the tangible world and if he perceives an idea to be as yet unrealised in the material world, he then attempts to work on the idea in order to give it, as it were, a worldly existence. Hence, he creates the creature that he rejects because its worldly form did not reflect the glory and magnificence of his original idea. Thrown, unaided and ignorant, into the world, the creature begins his own journey into the discovery of the strange and hidden meanings encoded in human language and society. In this essay, I will discuss how the creature can be regarded as a foil to Frankenstein through an examination of the schooling, formal and informal, that both of them go through. In some ways, the creature’s gain in knowledge can be seen to parallel Frankenstein’s, such as, when the creature begins to learn from books. Yet, in other ways, their experiences differ greatly, and one of the factors that contribute to these differences is a structured and systematic method of learning, based on philosophical tenets, that is available to Frankenstein but not to the creature.
Due to Frankenstein's abandonment at birth he first learns how to do the basic “human” requirements to live all on his own. He learns how to see, feel, hear, walk, find food, sleep, and even make fire. He learned all of this from his environment and by how he felt. Later on the creature finds the cottagers and would “remain quiet in my[his]
The Monster, created by Victor Frankenstein out of carefully selected corpses, is a round, dynamic character. Born as a tabula rasa, the creature is accosted by all the natural elements of our ordinary physical world as an adult with no guidance. He experiences light and sight, cold and hunger and immediate rejection by his creator. His mind is intellectually capable of this awareness very quickly. In the beginning of Chapter 11, the Monster recounts the ‘oppressive light’, insatiable thirst and extreme tiredness which he experienced shortly after becoming alive. “I was a poor, helpless, miserable wretch; ...
James Whale and the many adapters/screenwriters involved in both films leeched onto the inhumanity of the monster and the terror he could create. The monster could not speak at all in “Frankenstein” but did learn to speak poorly in “Bride of Frankenstein.” However, when he is finally given the ability to speak, the monster is portrayed as a shallow character that indulges on simple pleasures. “Smoke ...smoke,” and “Drink…good,” are a couple of the commen...
Delivered into the world, full grown and without a guardian to teach him the ways of the human world, the creation discovers that he is alone, but not without resource. He attempts to communicate to his creator, however, he is incapable of speech. As Frankenstein recounts the situation, he says,
“I now hasten to the more moving part of my story. I shall relate events that impressed me with feelings which, from what I was, have made me what I am” (Shelley 92). Frankenstein’s Creature presents these lines as it transitions from a being that merely observes its surroundings to something that gains knowledge from the occurrences around it. The Creature learns about humanity from “the perfect forms of [his] cottagers” (90). Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein offers compelling insights into the everlasting nature versus nurture argument. Her husband, Percy Bysshe Shelley wrote, “Treat a person ill, and he will become wicked.” Shelley believes that the nurture of someone, or something, in the Creature’s case, forms them into who they become and what actions they take. While this is true for Frankenstein’s Creature, the same cannot be said about Victor Frankenstein.
Imagine an eight-foot-tall, misshapen human child. You might complain that this is contradictory - but do it anyway. Imagine some sort of humanoid being with the mind of a human child in an eight-foot body, green with a nail in its head if you want. This is what Frankenstein's creature is. Frankenstein's creature is mentally a child, and we see its evolution through traditional child development in the course of its narrative. But the creature is the only member of its species, and therefore its narrative can be taken to represent the history of an entire species - the creature's first experiences can be viewed as an amalgam of creation myths.
Critic Northrop Frye says, “Tragic heroes tower as the highest points in their human landscape that they seem the inevitable conductors of the power about them, the great trees more likely to be struck by lightning than a clump of grass. Conductors may of course be instruments as well as victims of the divine lightning”. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein greatly exhibits the theme of the consequence of knowledge and irresponsibility among others through its tragic hero, Victor Frankenstein. Northrop Frye’s quote is certainly true when looking at Frankenstein’s situation. Victor is a victim of his divine lightning, and ultimately causes much trouble for himself; however, Victor also serves as the tragic hero in the lives of the monster, his family, and his friends.
...ime, such as reading, speaking, and how to find shelter. More importantly however, he learns something that affects his entirety of his short life: how humans truly are. Frankenstein learns that humans can be kind and moral, but more often are cruel, brutish, unfair, and unsympathetic. He learns that he will never be accepted, and learning this drives him to do rather evil human-ish acts. Even as he does these bad things though, he still experiences regret, longing for companionship, and the drive to do good things and be a good person. This inner conflict is present in all humans, as we struggle to do the right thing and avoid temptations and violence. This struggle is what causes the creature to truly be human, encompassing all of humanity’s aspects, including both the good and bad.
“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 describes all the bad things that he doesn’t like about his creation when it first comes to life, ‘yellow skin scarcely covered the work of his muscles’, ‘watery eyes’ and ‘straight black lips’. These things all explain things that most people would consider ugly and unpleasant in a person or creature. Frankenstein also thinks of his creation as a monster and wonders what, he feels is, a terrible thing he has done, ‘rain pattered dismally’ refers to the awful way Frankenstein felt when the creature came to life, Frankenstein felt as though he had done a terrible thing and that what he had created should be destroyed, ‘the wretch, the miserable monster whom I had created’ also refers to the way Frankenstein felt about his creation and what he sees it as. Frankenstein’s Monsters first experiences of life are confusing to him as his vision is blurry and his senses are not very good, almost like an infant, ‘dark, opaque bodies’, ‘oppressive light’, and ‘tormented by hunger and thirst’ all describe what the creature was going through and tells us that he is like a young child, who can’t get food for themselves and is adverse from bright direct light.
For instance, the images on page 102, show that the monster is reading a diary written by his creator Victor Frankenstein that includes a hatred perspective towards the creature, therefore, proving that the creature can read and inform himself about what he is learning and apply it to himself. However, his ability to speak the English language in a clear and thorough manner makes him seem like a human even more. For instance, read this quote provided by the book that better proves this argument " If the multitude of mankind knew of my existence, they would do as you do, and arm themselves for my destruction. Shall I not then hate them who abhor me?" As the quote shows the monster can speak clearly in the English language making him more of a human. One of the most convincing details is how the monster can determine when someone shows a certain emotion and decide to do something good or bad about it. A good example of this is on both pages 98 and 99. On these pages, the images show the monster hiding in a sheltered area and spying on the family. However, instead of hurting them the monster realizes their lack of food and wood, making them unhappy. So, the monster decides to go out of his way to in fact go chop down wood and pick out food and bring it back to their house. The next day the monster then learns that the family is happy due to their big supply of food and wood, thenceforth making him happy and showing human emotions and ways to fix
The literary critic Harold Bloom, in his Afterward in the Signet Edition of Frankenstein states that, “The monster is at once more intellectual and more emotional than his creator.” Bloom continues to say that the creature is more human, more lovable, and more to be pitied than Doctor Frankenstein (292). Throughout the novel Frankenstein, the monster portrays more human qualities than his creator Dr. Frankenstein. Dr. Frankenstein appears less human than his creation because he rejects his own creation and he fails to plan for the results of his experiment. As the monster wanders through the novel searching for companionship and acceptance, Dr. Frankenstein refuses to provide the support expected of a parent or creator. While the monster appears human in his attempts to socialize with his peers, Dr. Frankenstein represents the monstrosity that occurs when humans tamper with life.
The greater detail about the monster’s experiences provided by the book is the first thing that allows a reader to sympathize with the monster better than an audience member. When the Frankenstein monster is retelling the story of the hardships he has endured, he mentions events that were overlooked in the play. One example of this is when the monster saved a young girl’s life. An act such as this would be praised with the greatest heroism if it was done by a human, but as a reward he is shot, receiving only “the miserable pain of a wound which shattered the flesh and bone.” (Shelley 135) The book also examines the months of hard work the creature put into learning about human nature and language in order to be fully accepted when he chose to reveal himself. The monster hid by the cottage for around a year, never leaving during the day and working to help the cottager’s at night in order to learn from them. The monster went ...
Mary Shelley in her book Frankenstein addresses numerous themes relevant to the current trends in society during that period. However, the novel has received criticism from numerous authors. This paper discusses Walter Scott’s critical analysis of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein in his Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine Review of Frankenstein (1818).