Literary Criticism In Frankenstein

Frankenstein Essay

Everyday, people are judged and tormented for their looks and appearances. Those who are deformed or disabled are most often the victims of these cruel judgements. In this case, the victim of mankind's cruelty and rejection is a Creature that was animated from lifeless matter in a thoughtless attempt at a legendary scientific achievement. Mary Shelley uses her novel, Frankenstein, to criticise society’s obsession with beauty. In this Gothic novel, the Creature is continuously rejected by mankind because of its deformities and large stature, leading to tragic outcomes.

As soon as the Creature experiences its first days of life, it is wrongfully rejected by its creator and other humans for its distorted, repulsive image. Victor,

in Bok 8). The critic herself refers to the Creature as a monster, revealing that she has prejudices against it. As soon as the Creature is given life, it is unfairly rejected by its creator for its deformities. Unfortunately, this reason for rejection is very common in society, and looked down upon by Shelley because of the negative tone that she employs by incorporating disapproving words. Victor conveys his instant thoughts about his creation when he says “...I beheld the wretch--the miserable monster whom I had created,” (Shelley 44). Along with Bok, Victor immediately calls it a monster, giving it this despairing name before he even understands its motifs. The creator has a duty to his or her creation, and that is to watch over it, make sure it is not a threat to society, and provide it with the proper necessities in order to be content. Victor does none of these duties, and instead abandons the Creature and attempts to forget about the entire experience of creating the miserable being that he has infused with life.

The man ran away as soon as he laid eyes on the Creature, giving it no chance to show that it means no harm. The Creature understands that the man's distress has something to do with the way it looks, but it is not fully aware that all humans will acknowledge it as a threat. Also, the man is older and disabled, relating that he too is a victim of alienation from society because he is alone and nobody is there to care for him. Another confrontation with humans reveals to it that they can be extremely violent and brutal. It says that “The whole village was roused; some fled, some attacked me, until, grievously bruised by stones and many other kinds of missile weapons…” (Shelley 94). These cruel acts were done to it because of its appearance alone, allowing no room for it to prove its innocence. These events convey a major theme in the novel, which is discrimination towards those who are not ‘normal.’ Eventually, the Creature notices that humans look much different than it. It sees itself as a repulsive, deformed beast, heightening its misery and its desire to look like the beautiful humans it spies on. It states, “I had admired the perfect forms of my cottagers--their grace, beauty, and delicate complexions: but how was I