Similarities Between Ourika And Frankenstein

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At first glance, many would not imagine comparing the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley to the novella Ourika by Claire De Duras. However when analyzed closely, the similarities and differences between Ourika and the creature, prompts many readers to compare the novel and the novella. Both the creature and Ourika fulfill the idea of outcasts, while containing significant amount of differences. Whereas the creature’s anguish stems from society’s rejection of him and the creature pinning his suffering on society, Ourika’s misery on the other hand, arises from her own self-animosity and refusing to accept society’s shortcomings.
Both the creature from Frankenstein and Ourika from Ourika, demonstrate how dangerous society’s superficial view …show more content…

At the beginning of his life, the creature does not seek to harm the human race, instead wishing to join them. The creature demonstrates his desires when he reveals to Frankenstein that, “I longed to join them, but dared not. I remembered to well the treatment I had suffered the night before” (Shelly pg76). Regardless of his previously interactions with violent humans, he continues to desire the feeling of belonging to a group or family. Like Ourika, once the creature realizes that society will not accept him, he wishes for an interpersonal relationship with a significant other. The creature reveals to Frankenstein that, “I demand a creature of another sex, but as hideous as myself: the gratification is small, but it is all I can receive, and it shall content me” (Shelly pg102). The creature understands that the love he will receive from a female creature will not completely fill the gap of belonging; nonetheless he comprehends that some small feeling of attachment and love is enough to make him happy. Although the creature begins as kind-hearted character desiring companionship, the creature ultimately desires revenge against Frankenstein throughout volume three. The psyche of the creature evolves from one of innocent child looking at the world for the first time, to a vile human wishing to act upon his anger. Importantly, the …show more content…

The creature’s unhappiness at the end of the novel is not from the result of his own self-hate like Ourika, rather he believes that society is the cause of his suffering. During the time when the creature is outside the influences of society, he is free from hate and misery. The creature expresses his gentle nature when he admires cottagers stating, “ I admired virtue and good feelings, and loved the gentle manners and amiable qualities of my cottagers, but I was shut out from the intercourse” (Shelly pg84). At this point of the novel, the creature only had minimal contact with society evident from the seclusion from the cottagers; therefore he still views humans as amiable creatures. However as the creature continues to encounter other humans, he begins to develop a hateful attitude towards them. At the end of the novel, the creature reveals to Walton, “I cannot believe I am he whose thoughts were once filled with sublime and transcendent visions of beauty… the fallen angel becomes a malignant devil” (Shelly pg160). The creature understands that murder is considered reprobate, however he is shocked that he managed to carry perform all the murders. Since the creature experienced violence whenever he approach any of the humans, the creature slowly began adopting violence as a sort of way to communicate with other vicious

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