Characteristics Of Man In Frankenstein

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One of the most debated topics about Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is whether Victor Frankenstein’s creation is human or creature. Throughout the novel, the creature maintains a fragile balance between man and monster. To determine if the creature should be defined as human, one must take into consideration what makes a person human and ascertain what characteristics the creature possesses and what characteristics are absent. One can classify humans by the qualities they possess. To be considered human, one must contain all of the following characteristics: sensitivity, emotional and mental capacity, physical characteristics, communication, desire, and mortality. Humans must possess the ability to be sympathetic towards other individuals which …show more content…

The creature shows sympathy through his actions towards the DeLacey family. When he understood that stealing food from the DeLacey’s had negative consequences, he states “but when I found that in doing this I inflicted pain on the cottagers, I abstained, and satisfied myself with berries, nuts, and roots, which I gathered from a neighbouring wood” (Shelley, 107). In addition to sympathy, the creature shows many emotions, for example, during a conversation with Victor Frankenstein, he becomes self-aware of his physical appearance and falls into despair; the creature states “I sickened as I read. Hateful day when I received life! ' I exclaimed in agony. Accursed creator! Why did you form a monster so hideous that even YOU turned from me in disgust?" (Shelley, 126). Another human characteristic demonstrated by the creature is the mental capacity through his extreme intelligence. The creature mastered the native language and history in a year whereas it takes others longer. One may argue that this incredible intelligence contributes to the inhumanity of the creature; however, he does not possess the intelligence to create a companion for himself and instead relies on Victor Frankenstein for the creation of a mate. Furthermore, the creature shows desire for companionship, for example, when he stumbled upon an inhabited cottage in the woods, and after observing the individuals living there, he stated, “I lay on my straw, but I could not sleep. I thought of the occurrences of the day. What chiefly struck me was the gentle manners of these people; and I longed to join them, but I dared not” (Shelley, 105). This sentiment exemplifies the human characteristic of

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