More handpicked essays just for you.
Use of language in Shelley's Frankenstein
Critical analysis of Frankenstein
Discuss the character of Monsters in Frankenstein
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Recommended: Use of language in Shelley's Frankenstein
Frankenstein's monster most strategically employs pathos to convince Victor to listen to his story. After escaping from Frankenstein’s lab and attempting to interact with other humans, the monster laments that “Everywhere I see bliss, from which I alone am irrevocably excluded. I was benevolent and good; misery made me a fiend” (Shelley 105). Through “irrevocably excluded,” the monster demonstrates to Frankenstein the pain that caused him to become “a fiend.” Even though “bliss” exists throughout the world, none of it can ever reach the inhuman monster, forcing him into his current despicable situation. The creature then demands that Frankenstein free him from the pain and make him “benevolent and good” again, crying out to his creator to
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
"Cursed, cursed creator! Why did I live? Why, in that instant, did I not extinguish the spark of existence which you contains several thematic elements; specifically, the element of betrayal. Through a complex plot, Shelley creates dynamic characters who come to the realization that the dangers of searching for the unknown secrets of life can lead to ruined and tarnished relationships. The irreversible damage that comes with finding the unknown appears to have a substantial effect on the character’s relationships with one another; especially, the central relationship between Victor Frankenstein and the monster. To the reader’s surprise Frankenstein is not the monster, but the doctor and creator of the monster, Victor. Victor Frankenstein, the creator of the monster and avid scientist, is perhaps the most complex character due to the
Frankenstein says he has an obligation as the creator to allow his creation as much happiness as possible. “...did I not as his maker owe him all the portion of happiness that it was in my power to bestow? (Shelley 178). Afterwards, Victor states, “Let the cursed and hellish monster drink deep of agony; let him feel the despair that now torments me,” (Shelley 246). Frankenstein abandoned the monster, ignored his own word, broke a promise to the monster (that would significantly improve the monster’s life, if it were fulfilled), and lastly ignored the obligation to give the monster “all the portion of happiness it was in [his] power to bestow,” (Shelley
So, when he created Frankenstein “the monster” he turned out to be this grotesque and unnatural creature which was different from what Victor had imagined. However, at the site of looking at his creation, Victor is now spooked by his appearance and immediately turned off by his own creation. For example, in chapter 5 Victor says, “I had desired it with an ardor that far exceeded moderation; but now that I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart. Unable to endure the aspect of the being I had created, I rushed out of the room, continued a long time traversing my bed chamber, unable to compose my mind to sleep.” (Page 35). Again, we can see Shelley’s use of Gothic elements infused with the monstrous theme. However, this causes Victor to immediately stray away from the monster because he views his creation as repulsive and upsetting. Which marks the first sign of abandonment that Victor places on his creation. This doesn’t do any justice for Victor because now the monster is trying to assert himself into Victor’s life but yet feels more and more neglected from the absence of love that Victor doesn’t want to give in terms of having a relationship with
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.
Imagine spending months or even years perfecting a drawing. You gathered the most exquisite paints, brushes, and paper only to find out that the final product has wonky lines, irregular patterns, and is just completely not what you expected. Frankenstein could be feeling the same. For him, the monster could then symbolize shame or guilt because he vilely shut out his entire family for years, for something that is the complete opposite of what he envisioned. Thus, Frankenstein has to avoid it since it reminds him of the defeat and failure. Failure is an egotistical man’s biggest fear.
This greed is not materials as much as it is social. The occurrence with Justine’s accusation presents the reader with the multiple accounts of greed, the first being in Viktor Frankenstein, the second in Justine. Viktor has an internal conflict over whether to defend Justine publicly and risk people questioning his mentally unstable or to keep the information that would establish her innocence legally to himself for personal gain. On this topic, Frankenstein thinks, “Justine, and indeed every human being, was guiltless of this murder … My tale was not one to announce publicly; its astounding horror would be looked upon as madness by the vulgar.” This quote shows the recognition of both sides of the conflict in one thought, and ultimately, the decision to withhold the information caused the death of an innocent person due to greed resulting from the necessity to maintain social standings and evade the asylum his mental instability warranted. Viktor exhibits greed throughout the novel from his self-validation of creating the monster in this beginning to his notion that the monster directed his threat at Viktor towards the end of the story; however, Viktor is not the only greedy character in this section. Justine, who many regard as the innocent and angelic maid of Frankenstein family demonstrates blatant acts of self-preservation with greedy motives after her
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.
In the novel Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, the main theme of the story was isolation. Both internal and external consequences were the cause of being isolated from society. Frankenstein began to feel depressed after the creation of the monster and decided to isolate himself from his friends and family. Frankenstein kept his creation a secret from everyone because he was afraid of the consequences. Ironically, Frankenstein was the main problem for all of his sufferings. He thought that he could keep everyone safe if he were to not tell them about the monster, however, everyone died because he wanted to keep everyone from the truth. The creature also suffered many consequences from being isolated. He wanted to be part of a family, and feel
Throughout the year Professor Prudden has been teaching us the idea of the individual and when and how it came about. We have studied The French Revolution, Scientific Revolution, Colonialism, and Reformation, all stressing what made this time period important to the individual. We finished the class reading the novel Frankenstein with does a great job of demonstrating a man or “monster” creaking his own being. We have already determined that an individual is; the habit or principle of being independent and self-reliant. Mary Shelley demonstrates individuality through Frankenstein and leads to his internal isolation and loneliness. She shows that uniqueness is the most important aspect of individualism not only through Frankenstein but Victor
The science fiction genre is a genre of speculative fiction that is often considered to be unrealistic or unrelated to reality, it occurred due to time changing, the literature of change, as the world was developing in a specific era that the thinking and analysis of social aspects was in its early stages, which means that the elements and tropes of sci-fi are likely to be existed only within the frame of the plot, expanding the readers to reflect on themselves within their society, meaning no limitations to a specific frame. This essay will discuss the elements and tropes that are likely to be found in the sci-fi genre. Firstly, the effect of sci-fi genre elements and tropes, will be demonstrated. Secondly, the tropes and elements of the genre will be discussed as related to the indicated novel (Frankenstein).
In the novel Frankenstein, the main character, Victor Frankenstein, functions as an instrument of suffering to many of the other characters in the story. Frankenstein spends two years painstakingly constructing a creature he fully expects to be beautiful and superior to humankind. When he is faced with the reality that what he has created is grotesque and as far from humanlike as possible, he refuses to accept responsibility for his creation. Unable to be nurtured and cared for by his master, the creature is left to fend for himself in a cruel world that judges a person by appearances first. Because of his inability to interact with society and have a female of his own kind to love, Frankenstein’s creature eventually turns to murder as
A book or story is full of references and themes generated from the words that the author wrote himself inside that said book or story. Themes are the author’s way of messaging a “big idea” to his/her readers and is important to understand them. Themes are formed from quotes that the author present in his/her books or stories via by characters, narration, or by events from the book or story. Those quotes that generate those themes and reference are important and can develop or redefine one’s character. In all three stories, “Flowers for Algernon”, Frankenstein, and Prometheus all share a common quote that fits all three of their individual stories and theme. The quote is “It has been said that these are the stories of a man, so consumed by ambition and a thirst for knowledge that in the end his desire to live his dreams, becomes the death of something within him.”
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley: Theme Analysis Everyday, people flee from their problems thinking they will not follow them. Sadly, problems do not just disappear, and they could affect you badly in the future. In the case of Victor Frankenstein, he runs away from his monstrous creation of life in the book Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. As Victor continues to avoid his monster, his monster causes ultimate destruction in Victor’s life. Frankenstein’s monster gets revenge on his creator by taking the life of his little brother, William.
The novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley was incredibly fascinating to read as it explored the relationship between the creator Victor Frankenstein and his creature, concepts of guilt and innocence, and of self-awareness. While reading, the audience is able to question whether they should sympathize with Victor Frankenstein, who agonized over self-inflicted guilt, the loss of his family members and friends and acted cruelly to his creation, over the monster that despite all his good intentions was universally hated by everyone he came across and ended up wrongfully taking the life of innocent people. By the end of the novel however, the reader is left with the strong impression that the true victim of the novel, despite his murderous inclinations,