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The theme of loneliness and revenge in Frankenstein
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Recommended: The theme of loneliness and revenge in Frankenstein
In Mary Shelley’s novel, “Frankenstein”, the thematic of suffering is introduced again and again throughout the work. Through the protagonist Victor Frankenstein and his creation, Shelley was able to explore the relationship between suffering and education and suffering and the human consciousness. The development between the two characters makes us question whether or not one can truly understand another’s suffering and how it can affect our morals. In this analysis, we will address these issues in order to gain a deeper understanding of the role of suffering in the novel. In the beginning of the novel, the creature was at a clean state. New to all the human experiences, he did not understand nor felt intense emotions such as desire, sorrow, …show more content…
One of the book was Milton’s “Paradise Lost”, a long, detailed, narrative poem about the creation of Adam and Eve and it was through this novel that the creature began to question his own existence and place in the world. Why was he created? Adam and Eve must endure their suffering as a punishment for eating the forbidden fruit so why was he being punished? Being in solitary made him question about his own Eve as he once mentioned, “no Eve soothed my sorrows nor shared my thoughts; I was alone” (Shelley 130). While with the cottagers, the creature also noticed that as the season was transitioning to spring, Felix was growing unhappy, however that feeling seemed to disappear when Sofia appeared. Seeing how Felix had someone to share his sorrow yet he was all alone further amplified his bitterness towards his …show more content…
Victor, in the beginning was very adamant about creating life and because he was so absorbed in it, he failed to see the moral implications of it. It wasn’t until William’s death that Victor realizes that he was in no place to mess with nature nor try to bestow life. Another aspect of Victor developing morally is that when he first saw the creature, he immediately deemed it as a “monster” solely based on its appearance. As the creator of the creature, it would only be right of Victor to give the creature a chance to prove himself, however Victor never did. Through most of the story, Victor continued to hold a negative view against the creature, never allowing himself to fully understand the creature’s perspective. This animosity towards the creature went on until Victor went through the same suffering and was finally able to understand where the creature was coming from. He realizes that although the creature was born with a grotesque appearance, there is still humanity in him. Victor had developed morally because he recognizes that he was at fault for neglecting the creature based on his personal impression of it. This also touches bases on whether or not it’s possible to understand the suffering of another. From the conversation between Victor and the creature, it shows that it is possible because Victor stated on page 104 that “For the first
In Mary Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein, values of society are clearly expressed. In this particular society and culture, a great value is placed on ideologies of individuals and their contribution to society. In order to highlight these values, Shelley utilizes the character of Victor Frankenstein. Frankenstein is the main character of the novel, and with his alienation, he plays a significant role that reveals the surrounding society’s assumptions and moral values of individualism and use in society. This is done through Victor’s actions of self-inflicted isolation.
The fact the creature refers to a Biblical story teaches us that what Victor has done is not ethical or morally right as the bible connotes truth and wellbeing, the creature feels he is not treated as Adam because he is rejected like the fallen angel is from heaven; the philosophy is that one should absolve themselves of all sin, leaving the creature feeling like his is owed something from Victor. Furthermore during the romantic period it was said that ‘All man is born good’ however this contradicts the creatures life as he is sinned against, hated by Victor and feared by society from the day he was created although he did no wrong. The creature is given no chance in life like Adam was; he is simply a creation who is isolated fr...
The Creature was born capable of thing such as love and sympathy though he lost these capabilities as a result of how he was treated. The creature’s heart was ‘fashioned to be susceptible of love and sympathy’ but wrenched with misery to ‘vice and hatred’. On a cold night in November, Victor Frankenstein brought his creation to life. This creation has thin black lips, inhuman eyes, and
When he first awakens with a smile towards his creator, the creature is abandoned and learns by himself about how the world works. Despite his rough start in his new life, the creature experiences nature with no harsh emotions. “[The creature]... could distinguish, nothing; but feeling pain... Soon a gentle light and gave [the creature] a sensation of pleasure. [He] started and beheld a radiant form rise from among the trees. [He] gazed with a kind wonder” (Shelley 100). When the creature was a sobbing mess, he could have taken the chance to only let in anger and hate for the life he has been thrown into. But the creatures is distracted and in awe of the sunrise, a symbol of new hope and new start. Because of his hideous appearance, the creature receives negative reactions. “[The creature] entered... the children shrieked and... the women fainted. The whole village was roused: some fled, some attacked [him], until, grievously bruised by stones and many other kinds of missile weapons [the creature] escaped... [the creature]... miserable from the inclemency of the season, and still more from the barbarity of man” (Shelley 103). If the creature was a true monster, he would have fought back against the villagers. Because a true evil being would attack without hesitation. Because of his deformity, people automatical...
Victor experiences very little joy at all after the creation of the monster. He suffers from numerous bouts of depression, he most tolerate the deaths of his brother, best friend, and wife, all of which were murdered at the hands of the monster. His friend Justine is executed because of the death of William, for which she is falsely accused and convicted. His father also dies after the murder of Elizabeth, Victor's ill-fated bride. With so much death surrounding his life, how is it possible that Victor could still be cognizant of his actions when he decides to pursue the monster and end its violent fury? He can't. Victor's mind is so clouded by the sorrow and pain of his past that he is blinded to the fact that he is attempting to destroy a creature with far greater physical strength and speed than any mortal. Much of his conflict appears to be created by the monster, when in fact the torment comes from Victor's own hands because he himself created and gave life to the monster.
Although the Creature later went on to commit crimes, he was not instinctively bad. Victor’s Creature was brought into this world with a child-like innocence. He was abandoned at birth and left to learn about life on his own. After first seeing his creation, Victor “escaped and rushed downstairs.” (Frankenstein, 59) A Creator has the duty to teach his Creature about life, as well as to love and nurture him. However, Victor did not do any of these; he did not take responsibility for his creature. One of the first things that the creature speaks of is that he was a “poor, helpless, miserable wretch; I knew, and could distinguish, nothing; but feeling pain invade me on all sides, (he) sat ...
On the contrary, this demonstrates how human the creature really is. On the contrary, the creature also experiences the deficiencies of human emotion through rage and vengeance after he is attacked for rescuing a little girl. “The feelings of kindness and gentleness which I had entertained but a few moments before gave place to hellish rage... I vowed eternal hatred and vengeance to all mankind.” (Shelley 121).
A predominant theme in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is that of child-rearing and/or parenting techniques. Specifically, the novel presents a theory concerning the negative impact on children from the absence of nurturing and motherly love. To demonstrate this theory, Shelly focuses on Victor Frankenstein’s experimenting with nature, which results in the life of his creature, or “child”. Because Frankenstein is displeased with the appearance of his offspring, he abandons him and disclaims all of his “parental” responsibility. Frankenstein’s poor “mothering” and abandonment of his “child” leads to the creation’s inevitable evilness. Victor was not predestined to failure, nor was his creation innately depraved. Rather, it was Victor’s poor “parenting” of his progeny that lead to his creation’s thirst for vindication of his unjust life, in turn leading to the ruin of Victor’s life.
Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” is more than just a regular novel. It is a book that conveys a deep philosophical message. The novel moved me to my very soul. It turned out to be a book not about an encounter against a monster but a misfortune of a scientist, who reached the goal of his work and life and realized that breathless horror and disgust filled his heart but all of these is on the surface. The inmost philosophical thought is covered and hidden, but is very profound. The author tries to say that life is a gift. After this gift is given no one can take it away and it transforms the accountability of the creator. The novel makes the reader anxious with the question: “Is a human being able to take obligation to provide life?”
Victor’s thoughts of grander clouded his mind making him think “A new species would bless [him] as its creator and source; many happy and excellent natures would owe their being to [him]”(Ch.4, p.39). But life never goes as planned and Victor dropped all his obligations when he realized what he had done. Victor never questioned if creating a new species was morally right because he imagined they’d be grateful for him more than anything. For Victor to full fill his dream he knew that there needed to be a mate for his creature but “[he] thought with a sensation of madness on [his] promise of creating another like him, and trembling with passion, tore to pieces the thing on which I was engaged” (Ch.20, p.145). Instead of feeling like he owed his creature anything or thinking of the ethics of destroying his mate, Victor only cared for himself. On one hand it doesn’t seem like Victor desired to create pain and suffering when he created life. On the other hand it doesn’t seem like he should be free of all moral blame because he had good intentions even if it was difficult to be certain of those intentions. His lack of moral responsibility is only part of Victor but without the rest we wouldn’t have Doctor
Tragedy shows no discrimination and often strikes down on those undeserving of such turmoil. In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, a creature more repulsive than one can imagine is brought to life by a young scientist. Although this creature is horrifying in sight, he is gentle by nature. Unfortunately, the softer side of the creature is repeatedly overlooked and the so called “monster” is driven to a breaking point. Even though the Creature committed many crimes, Mary Shelley’s Creature was the tragic hero of this story because of his efforts rescue the life of a young girl and helping destitute cottagers.
Throughout time man has been isolated from people and places. One prime example of isolation is Adam, "the man [formed] from the dust of the ground [by the Lord God]" (Teen Study Bible, Gen. 2.7). After committing the first sin he secludes "from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken" (Teen Study Bible, Gen. 3.23). This isolation strips Adam from his protection and wealth the garden provides and also the non-existence of sin. Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein, is able to relate to the story of Adam and the first sin to help her character, the Creature, associate with Adam. The Creature is able to relate because "[l]ike Adam, [he is] apparently united by no link to any other being in existence" (Shelley 124). In other ways the creator of the creature, Victor Frankenstein, also identifies with the tale of the first human, but with a different character, God. "God created man in his own image" (Teen Study Bible, Gen. 1.27) and unlike Frankenstein "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good" (Teen Study Bible, Gen. 1.31). Frankenstein brought a life into the world but did not take the responsibility to lead and guide his creature to benefit himself or the created. Unlike God's creature who did in turn prosper. Instead of prosperity Frankenstein receives a life of loneliness and responsibility of many unnecessary deaths. The Creature, like his creator, lives his life in isolation from society. His only goal is to be loved and accepted by those around him. Through these circumstances the effects of isolation and loneliness are brought to life by the creature and the creator thought their pasts, social statuses, emotions, and dreams and fantasies.
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is a nineteenth century literary work that delves into the world of science and the plausible outcomes of morally insensitive technological research. Although the novel brings to the forefront several issues about knowledge and sublime nature, the novel mostly explores the psychological and physical journey of two complex characters. While each character exhibits several interesting traits that range from passive and contemplative to rash and impulsive, their most attractive quality is their monstrosity. Their monstrosities, however, differ in the way each of the character’s act and respond to their environment. Throughout Frankenstein, one assumes that Frankenstein’s creation is the true monster. While the creation’s actions are indeed monstrous, one must also realize that his creator, Victor Frankenstein is also a villain. His inconsiderate and selfish acts as well as his passion for science result in the death of his friend and family members and ultimately in his own demise.
In this essay I am going to answer ‘how and why does Mary Shelley make the reader sympathise with the character of the monster in her novel Frankenstein’.
I believe that Victor and the creature are both right about what they want and yet monstrous in their reactions. Victor is right about what he wants; one reason is because he is very committed to his work and in creating life for his creature. On the other hand he is evil because he abandoned the creature and left him on his own: "I escaped and rushed downstairs. I took refuge in the courtyard belonging to the house which I inhabited" (Shelley 57). Shelley shows Victor's monstrous reaction to the creature in the way that he abandoned the creature to his own luck and he shows no responsibility for him.