Walking the Line: Human and Inhuman

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Walking the Line: Human and Inhuman
The human race’s complexity is so muddled with various desires, styles, and actions that even a substantial response could only explain a fragment of human nature, but, even with the intricacy of humanity, there is a barrier an ethical conscience held by the human race as a whole that separates actions human and inhuman. In Mary Shelly’s novel Frankenstein, the characters Dr. Frankenstein and the creature he reanimates walk along the separation line between human and inhuman. Shelly uses the idealisms like Promethean desire and existential questions to exemplify the natural yearnings that humans strive for as they search for their purpose and aspire for something greater. Frankenstein’s creature and Frankenstein illustrate both human and inhuman qualities as they exemplify natural human desires, but also simultaneously act in eerie and coldhearted ways that separate them from natural human society.
Promethean idealism is centered on the Greek god Prometheus who defied the other gods and gave humanity the gift of fire so that they could progress into advanced race. Those who follow this principal believe that life is of ultimate value and should be lived with the highest standard possible; therefore, the Prometheans push the boundaries to science and technology to move forward and advance the standards of life (SP1a). Dr. Frankenstein mirrors this belief as he ventured out away from society to push the limits of science and “renew life” for the first time (Shelly 58). His aspirations to advance forward in his field and reach to new heights where no one has gone before, mirror natural human desires and link him to humanity and humanistic actions. Dr. Frankenstein embarked on him journey i...

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...times seemed unnecessary to him as he separated himself from society took him across the line unto the side of inhumanity. Dr. Frankenstein and the creature’s actions made a distinct separation between them and humanity.
Separating what is natural and unnatural, Frankenstein and his creature both walk the line (SP12). Their actions at times reflect those of a normal being that craves to strive and fit in with the world, but they also take turns falling into a mindset beyond humanity. Pushing the boundaries into new frontiers is not always a positive thing. Ethical codes of humans separate themselves from the barbaric ways on animals and also from the ideas of creation. A line must be drawn to separate man from beast, and man from god in order to preserve the natural order of things so that humanity can retain what it has without reaching too far and losing it all.

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