What Are The Foil Characters In Frankenstein

In literature, the author is able to describe the world around them by using different literary techniques in their writing. Certain literary techniques allow the message the author is trying to impart to the reader more lucid. Frankenstein Or, The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley, is an example of gothic literature that combines fiction, horror, death, and romance. One literary technique prevalent in the novel is the use of foil characters: a character whose traits-by their differences and similarities to the protagonist-help clarify the protagonist’s character. The creature in Frankenstein is a more effective foil for Victor Frankenstein over Robert Walton. Society’s perception that the creature is a freak and has a monstrous attitude towards

Victor grows up feeling that “no human being could have passed a happier childhood” (Shelley 45). His family’s basis for stability is centered around unconditional love and care for one another. Victor feels that his parents were the “creators of all the many delights” that he experiences as a child (Shelley 45). Victor is given freedom to decide what he wants to accomplish in life and how he should approach those goals in childhood. This means Victor is able to study whatever interests him, which ends up being natural philosophy. Victor’s free will turns into greed, however, when he thinks that “A new species would bless me as its creator and source; many happy and excellent natures would owe their being to me” (Shelley 65-66). The idea that Victor could play God ultimately leads to his suffering. Victor’s defiance to his responsibilities as a creator is highlighted when he fails to show adequate parental attention to the creature, who does not meet the unreasonable status of perfection that Victor assumes would result from superior body parts

Victor’s desire and intensity to gain knowledge in natural philosophy is intended to place himself above man. The creature’s desire and intensity to gain knowledge in language, social, and relationship skills is intended to place himself equal to man. In an attempt to understand human nature, the creature decides to read books that describe certain aspects of human society and emotions. By reading Plutarch's Lives, the creature learns how humans live together in towns/cities. He also learns that humans can be violent towards one another and he begins to realize that being peaceful is a good thing if he is going to coexist with humans. After reading The Sorrows of Young Werther, the creature finds himself evaluating his own life and where he belongs. This book makes him think about death and suicide, which will play a role in how he decides to move on with his life after the death of Victor. Paradise Lost gives the creature religious figures to examine and he notices that his situation with Victor is similar to the beliefs of Christianity. The book arouses the strongest feelings from the creature when he begins to associate God with Victor because they are both creators and both are struggling to keep peace between themselves and their creations. The creature also