The Real Monster In Frankenstein

1066 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Mary shelley frankenstein sympathy for victor frankenstein

Humans find it far too easy to make judgments based upon the outward appearance, deeming one individual to be of lesser value than the other because of society’s standards. However, when the true character of a person is brought to light, any previous assessment becomes highly questionable. In the novel Frankenstein, Mary Shelley leads readers to inquire as to who the real monster is through the conveyance of both Victor and the creature’s differing perception of women.
At first glance, Victor Frankenstein’s early life makes it seem as if he will be the perfect husband and family man. During his childhood he is spoiled with love and as a young man he is given all of the resources that he needs to become successful. This is all shown to have …show more content…

“His yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath; his hair was of a lustrous black, and flowing; his teeth of a pearly whiteness; but these luxuriances only formed a more horrid contrast with his watery eyes, that seemed almost of the same colour as the dun-white sockets in which they were set, his shrivelled complexion and straight black lips” (Shelley 58). This image is enough to strike fear into anyone and even the creature eventually saw that he was a monster when compared to everyone else. Nevertheless, his request to Victor espouses a side of himself that is anything but monstrous. After an extensive amount of time of hiding and living alone, the creature asks that Victor create a mate for him. Unlike Victor, who left his bride and worried her constantly, the creature desires someone to spend his unfortunate existence with, saying “You must create a female for me, with whom I can live in the interchange of those sympathies necessary for my being. This you alone can do; and I demand it of you as a right which you must not refuse to concede" (Shelley 174). Though the extent of the creature’s opinion on the topic of women is concentrated into this one statement, the contrast between the creature and creator cannot be clearer. Victor’s primary focuses in life are his experiments and fixing his mistakes, while

Show More
Related

  • The Juxtaposition Of Death In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

    1654 Words  | 4 Pages

    It is scientifically proven, that people prefer attractive people. Appearances help millions of good-looking men and women across the country advance in their careers, get free drinks, and receive more opportunities. But, Mary Shelley juxtaposes the physical deterioration of Victor as her novel, Frankenstein, progresses and the creature’s ugly physical appearance and the motif of clouds juxtapose with birds to argue that appearances may be deceptive. She argues through the juxtaposition of Victor and the creation’s death that ultimately it is through death, one of nature’s devices, that allows us to see the character of a person. Shelley juxtaposes the physical deterioration of Victor with the ugly appearance of the creation to prove that time will reveal a person’s character.

    Read More

  • Who is the Villain in the Frankenstein?

    718 Words  | 2 Pages

    Mary Shelley is the original playwright of 'Frankenstein' and it has been adapted since then by Phillip Pullman. Mary wrote it in 1818 and it was first performed in 1988, at the Polka Children's theatre in Wimbledon. In the play, a doctor called Victor Frankenstein created life from an experiment, a monster, and although Frankenstein had intended the monster (who wasn't to be called 'the monster') to be a kind, caring and loving creature, the way the villagers treated him and turned away in disgust when they saw the monster, was the reason that the monster became evil.

    Read More

  • Character Differences In Frankenstein

    1486 Words  | 3 Pages

    To begin with, Victor Frankenstein grew up in Geneva. Spoilt by his parents, Victor had a good childhood and his parents wished nothing but happiness for him. The way they showed it was through Elizabeth in which his mother presented to him as stated in the article, “my mother had said playfully,—"I have a pretty present for my Victor—to-morrow he shall have it." And when, on the morrow, she presented Elizabeth to me as her promised gift, I, with childish seriousness, interpreted her words literally, and looked upon Elizabeth as mine—mine to protect, love, and cherish.

    Read More

  • The True Monster in Frankenstein

    1764 Words  | 4 Pages

    What is a monster, really? Is it really a Creature that has three eyes instead of two, with pus seeping out of every crevice in his face and an abnormally large form? Or is it someone with a mind so corrupt it rivals that of Satan? Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is a story within a story that centers on the tale of a man with an immense thirst of knowledge and a fetish to imitate the Creator. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is a lot like the Greek mythological tale of the Greek God, Prometheus, and his brother, Epimetheus, who were assigned the task of creating man. The story captivates the theme of monstrosity. Mary Shelley wrote the novel in a form so the reader’s opinions never stray far from sympathy for the monster and apathy for Victor Frankenstein. The novel looks at “Monstrosity” and “Humanity” in a deeply analytical way.

    Read More

  • The True Villain in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

    2019 Words  | 5 Pages

    he says "It was long the mind can persuade itself that she whom we saw

    Read More

  • The Monster In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

    907 Words  | 2 Pages

    We are all born into this world with innocence, but due to our human nature and the ways of society we don’t stay this way. Some people let the world corrupt them and others manage to find peace. However, none of us are been as liars and killers. Victor Frankenstein’s monster is an example of such corruption and how someone so innocent can be manipulated based on how they’re viewed by others. In the monster’s early days he is shown to be innocent without knowledge of his appearance and the effect that it will have on people.When he first encounters humans he has faith in them and is confident that he will befriend them. Then, with each human encounter his faith is destroyed. The monster is young and doesn’t understand

    Read More

  • Monstrosity in Frankenstein

    1001 Words  | 3 Pages

    Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus, explores the monstrous and destructive affects of obsession, guilt, fate, and man’s attempt to control nature. Victor Frankenstein, the novel’s protagonist and antihero, attempts to transcend the barriers of scientific knowledge and application in creating a life. His determination in bringing to life a dead body consequently renders him ill, both mentally and physically. His endeavors alone consume all his time and effort until he becomes fixated on his success. The reason for his success is perhaps to be considered the greatest scientist ever known, but in his obsessive toil, he loses sight of the ethical motivation of science. His production would ultimately grieve him throughout his life, and the consequences of his undertaking would prove disastrous and deadly. Frankenstein illustrates the creation of a monster both literally and figuratively, and sheds light on the dangers of man’s desire to play God.

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Conformity In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

    1323 Words  | 3 Pages

    Victor had created the creature with the vision from his dreams of a strong, tall perfect being with no flaws. His years of study with the unnatural and science had come to this final conclusion and masterful idea that he was determined to finish. To his surprise, he had created the opposite, “For this I had deprived myself of rest and health. I had desired it with an ardour that far exceeded moderation; but now that I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart.” (Shelley 35) Victor is saddened by what he thinks of as a failure. He leaves his own apartment to go sleep in his court yard outside following his creation. He begins to isolate himself from the creature because of his fear of the creature’s outward appearance. He loses all hope for the creature without even learning anything about him. The fact that Shelley begins to refer to the being that Victor created as a “creature” shows Victor’s ignorance and lack of acceptance. It is Victor’s prejudice that blinds him of the creature’s true potential due to the unwanted preconception that follows the creature as he finds meaning in

    Read More

  • The Monster in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

    1219 Words  | 3 Pages

    and in this essay I will explore who the monster is in the novel. The

    Read More

  • Victor Frankenstein’s Isolation

    976 Words  | 2 Pages

    All the events and misfortunes encountered in Frankenstein have been linked to one another as a chain of actions and reactions. Of course, the first action and link in the chain is started by Victor Frankenstein. Victor’s life starts with great potential. He comes from a decently wealthy family whose lack of love towards each other never existed. He is given everything he needs for a great future, and his academics seem to be convalescing.

    Read More

  • Victor Frankenstein: The Real Monster of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

    1574 Words  | 4 Pages

    Victor Frankenstein: The Real Monster. & nbsp; Science is a broad field that covers many aspects of everyday life and existence.  Some areas of science include the study of the universe, the environment, dinosaurs, animals, and insects.  Another popular science is the study of people and how they function.  In Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, Dr. Victor Frankenstein is an inspiring scientist who studies the dead.  He wants to be the first person to give life to a dead human being.  He spends all of his Frankenstein is to blame for the tragedy, not the monster he has created, because he is the   mastermind behind the whole operation, and he is supposed to have everything under control, working properly as a good scientist should. & nbsp; Although some critics say that the monster Victor has created is to blame for the destruction and violence that followed the experiment, it is Victor who is the responsible party.  First, Victor, being the scientist, should have known how to do research on the subject a lot more than he had done.  He obviously has not thought of the consequences that may result from it such as the monster going crazy, how the monster reacts to people and things, and especially the time it will take him to turn the monster into the perfect normal human being.&nbsp something that would take a really long time and a lot of patience which Victor lacks.  All Victor really wants is to be the first to bring life to a dead person and therefore be famous.  The greed got to his head and that is all he could think about, while isolating himself from his friends and family.  In the play of  Frankenstein, when Victor comes home and sets up his lab in the house, he is very paranoid about people coming in there and & nbsp; I had worked hard for nearly two years, for the sole purpose of infusing life into an inanimate body.  For this I deprived myself of rest and health.  I had desired it with an ardour that far exceeded moderation; but now that I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart. (156)  & nbsp; Victor is saying that he has isolated himself for two years and in the end, he is not at all happy because of the bad outcome.  He also adds, "Winter, spring and summer passed.so deeply was I engrossed in my occupation" (156).  By spending most of his time inside on his experiment, never going out, but mostly worrying about his success,  he has got himself crazier.  This has made him lose sight of his surroundings and judgment & nbsp; Moreover, the monster should not be held responsible for killing Victor's family members and friends as shown in the book and movie, because it is Victor who has brought a dead creature back to life.  He expects the monster to know everything when he wakes up cool, calm, and collected.  But when the monster is awakened, he does not know anything.  He sees a world different from what he is used to, which makes him get nervous and scared, so he&nb has removed him from  dead.  With the dawning of life, the monster has to learn about his new environment.  In the play of Frankenstein, the monster starts to gradually get used to things.  The problems he encounters are with Victor's assistant, Peter Krempe,  Victor's friend, Henry, and other family members, including Elizabeth, and these are reactions to how these people treat him.  These reactions are clearly shown in the movie of Young Frankenstein, where Victor tries to teach the monster how to live like to show off the monster to an audience in a dance routine of sorts.  But then people start to scream,  panic and throw things at the monster, so he reacts by attacking them to defend himself.  In this case, it is clear that Victor tries to push the monster too hard because he wants to be famous.  

    Read More

  • Who Is the Real Monster in Frankenstein?

    1708 Words  | 4 Pages

    Shelley presents two characteristics of mankind in order to prove her case. The first example is Frankenstein’s creation. Upon first being introduced to his creation, the reader initially labels him as a monster because of his physical appearance. He is portrayed as a man with “.yellow skin scarcely cover[ing] the work of muscles and arteries beneath.watery eyes, that seemed almost of the same colour as the dun-white sockets in which they were set.shrivelled complexion and straight black lips” (Shelley 58). Not only does the reader view him as a sort of horrifying being, but his deformed exterior also causes society to reject him; they brand him the title of a monster.... ...

    Read More

  • Frankenstein Appearance Essay

    1257 Words  | 3 Pages

    Throughout every individuals life there are experiences of unfair judgments based on someone’s appearance. While this is never a good thing, it is an action that everyone takes part in, whether it is purposeful or not. In Frankenstein, Mary Shelley’s message is very clear as she illustrates the cruel events that take place in a society focused only on outside beauty. The central message that Shelley communicates with Frankenstein, is that while appearance is just one of an individuals many characteristics; it is always a factor they are judged on regardless of all the other qualities they may possess.

    Read More

  • Prejudice and Pride Illustrated in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

    1484 Words  | 3 Pages

    Victor Frankenstein, the monster’s creator, is the victim of his own pride. An ego unchecked is a dangerous thing. But in truth, it really just shows Victor’s humanity. He is privileged, educated, talented, loved, adored, but he is not perfect. His flaw is his own ego and pride. Without doubt, this is the result of a childhood where he was overindulged. Overindulged to the extent he was given a little girl “Elizabeth” as a “present”, whom he considered from childhood “mine only” (Shelley 21). Little wonder the twenty year old Victor would think he could create, control and command life. But Victor as with any indulged child did not take the time to learn much from his parents about parenting and fath...

    Read More

  • The Monstrous In Frankenstein

    1362 Words  | 3 Pages

    Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein or; The Modern Prometheus, published in 1818, is a product of its time. Written in a world of social, political, scientific and economic upheaval it highlights human desire to uncover the scientific secrets of our universe, yet also confirms the importance of emotions and individual relationships that define us as human, in contrast to the monstrous. Here we question what is meant by the terms ‘human’ and ‘monstrous’ as defined by the novel. Yet to fully understand how Frankenstein defines these terms we must look to the etymology of them. The novel however, defines the terms through its main characters, through the themes of language, nature versus nurture, forbidden knowledge, and the doppelganger motif. Shelley also shows us, in Frankenstein, that although juxtaposing terms, the monstrous being everything human is not, they are also intertwined, in that you can not have one without the other. There is also an overwhelming desire to know the monstrous, if only temporarily and this calls into question the influence the monstrous has on the human definition.

    Read More

More about The Real Monster In Frankenstein

Open Document