Theme Of Paradise Lost In Frankenstein

Allusions to Paradise Lost in Frankenstein

In the nineteenth century gothic novel Frankenstein, Mary Shelley uses numerous allusions within her novel that can easily be interpreted by the reader. This makes it easier for readers to understand the characters and relate to the circumstances throughout the story. The most important and most used was from John Milton’s epic Paradise Lost. This book has numerous parallels that readers can easily translate to Frankenstein. Victor Frankenstein and his monster can both be identified with several characters from Paradise Lost. Among the characters are Adam, Eve, Satan, and God. Paradise Lost is even mentioned in chapter 15 after the monster that Victor creates reads the epic as if it was a history book.

He knows that Adam and he can share the trait of being unique from any other previously made creations. The creature realizes after learning about who Adam is, that they have a few similarities that he can relate to. Unlike the Monster, Adam was made in God’s image. Adam was beautiful and was created to be perfect. The creature is described as a repugnant being because he was crafted through ghastly conditions. Adding to this, God assisted and helped Adam and watched over him where as Victor was so disgusted by the Monster’s image that he abandoned him. The Monster even cries to his creator, “He had come forth from the hands of God a perfect creature, happy and prosperous, guarded by the especial care of his Creator; he was allowed to converse with and acquire knowledge from, being of a superior nature: but I was wretched, helpless, and alone” (Shelley 124). The Monster is explaining this to his creator so he will feel pity on him. Victor’s monster did not have the presence of Victor with him throughout his journey. He was hopeless and alone, without knowing a single thing about life. He finally made a cottage next to a family, where he encountered his most educational experience. God blessed Adam with the ability to know all of the names of objects such as plants and animals. His

The Creature states, “Many times I considered Satan as the fitter emblem of my condition, for often, like him, when I viewed the bliss of my protectors, the bitter gall of envy rose within me” (Shelley 124). Lucifer and the Monster that Victor created were both made in hopes of a good opportunity. They could both be described as very terrifying to the eye, though both were created no to be. Victor had hopes in creating a creature that would well resemble his hard work and dedication. Satan was God’s greatest angel. He believed that he was more powerful than his creator and was then cast down to Hell from believing so. Though the Monster did nothing wrong to Frankenstein, he too was cast down in a way to his own internal “Hell.” He is forced to isolate himself from any human contact due to people being afraid of him. He does try to befriend humans, but soon learns that they all hate him just like Victor. Satan is also isolated from human contact but for different reasons. Satan initially wants to cause harm to mankind. God grants free will to Satan even though he knows what will happen in the future. Satan and the monster soon escape their cages and convert in contact with humans. This causes trouble to mankind in both aspects of the stories. The Monster tries to comply with humans in a virtuous way for a second time, but once again receives hatred in