Essay On Victor As A Byronic Hero In Frankenstein

952 Words2 Pages

Another Byronic hero in Frankenstein is Victor Frankenstein himself, as evidenced by his intelligence, isolation, large ego, and selfishness. As a teenager, Frankenstein leaves his hometown of Geneva in Switzerland to seek a higher education in Germany away from his entire family. He is accompanied by no one, and he quickly delves into his studies. Early on, his intelligence becomes quite clear as “natural philosophy, and particularly chemistry, in the most comprehensive sense of the term, became nearly [his] sole occupation” (Shelley 40). His freetime gradually becomes nonexistent as he “became so ardent and eager that the stars often disappeared in the light of the morning whilst [he] was yet engaged in [his] laboratory” (41). Frankenstein …show more content…

However, he is wrong on that front. He isn’t responsible for everything the creature does because he created him, he is responsible for all of the crimes the creature commits for the way he treats him when they interact. Victor’s intelligence is again proven when the creature is erected. Once he achieves his goal and the creature is animated, “the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled [his] heart” (45). Victor creates a being that is meant to worship him, “a new species would bless [him] as its creator and source; many happy and excellent natures would owe their being to [him]” (43). When the creature rises for the first time, Victor becomes instantly repulsed, and abandons the ‘newborn’ alone in the laboratoratory where he was formed. The creature is left to fend for himself, and frankly, Victor hopes he wouldn’t survive. In fact, he plans to kill the creature himself, and when “[he] thought of him, [Victor] gnashed his teeth, [his] eyes became inflamed, and [he] ardently wished to extinguish the life which [he] had so thoughtlessly bestowed” (67). When he encounters the creature for the first time since its genesis, Victor dismisses the creature before he speaks. He exclaims, “begone, vile insect! Or rather, stay, that I may trample you to dust” (71). This treatment of his creation is

Show More
Related

  • Frankenstein Romanticism Essay

    1864 Words  | 4 Pages

    As a response to the Enlightenment movement in 18th century Europe, Romanticism gradually began to undermine the way people thought about human consciousness and nature itself. Appreciation of the natural beauty of the world and pure, human emotion bloomed in Europe as Romanticism’s influence grew ("Topic Page: Romanticism”). Romantics valued Individualism and thought that being close to nature would make them closer to God (Morner and Rausch). People also searched for solace in nature to overcome the adversities and cynicisms that followed the French Revolution ("French Revolution."). Romanticism and Romantic ideals influenced Mary Shelley, and that influence can be seen throughout her novel Frankenstein. The two main characters, Victor Frankenstein

    Read More

  • Theme of Playing God in Frankenstein

    1032 Words  | 3 Pages

    Once the process of life has been initiated, individuals have a lot to consider. When Victor begins creating the first creature he is excited at the possibility of bringing his creation to life. He has no thoughts of destroying the creature at this time. However, once the creature is brought to life, and Victor realizes the monstrosity he has created, Victor wishes to abandon the creature.

    Read More

  • Free Essays on Frankenstein: No Hero iin Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

    799 Words  | 2 Pages

    Victor Frankenstein may be the leading character in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, but a hero he is not. He is self-centered and loveless, and there is nothing heroic about him. There is a scene in Chapter twenty-four where Captain Walton is confronted by his crew to turn southwards and return home should the ice break apart and allow them the way. Frankenstein rouses himself and finds the strength to argue to the Captain that they should continue northwards, or suffer returning home "with the stigma of disgrace marked on your brows." He quite obviously has alterior motives and if he were not the eloquent, manipulative creature he so egotistically accuses his creature of being, he might not have moved the Captain and the men so much that they are blind to the true source of his passion. Unfortunately for Frankenstein, the crew, (however "moved") stand firm in their position. Yet the things he says in his motivational speech are prime examples of the extent to which Frankenstein is blind to his own faults and yet will jump at the chance to harangue others. He is so self-centered that his lack of interaction and love for others after his experiment has been completed, would barely qualify him as a person, if the difference between being human and being a person lies in the ability to have relationships with others.

    Read More

  • Life Is A Gift In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

    1047 Words  | 3 Pages

    Each living being has the right to live and to be happy in this world – which is the simple philosophy of life. When the creature asks Victor to create somebody to love it gets heartless reply:” …Devil ... do you dare approach me? ... Be gone, vile insect! Or rather, stay that I may trample you to dust! ... Abhorred monster! Fiend that thou art! The tortures of hell are too mild a vengeance for thy crimes. Wretched devil! You reproach me with your creation; come on then, that I may extinguish the spark which I so negligently bestowed” [p.68]. For him the life on this creature is nothing, just another caprice, just something used to want and does not need anymore. He, considering himself to be “God”, does not care about what the creature feels and how lonely it is. Whom to blame? Analysis shows that Victor is the victim of the mistakes his parents did, and the Creature is a victim of Victor’s ill perception of reality. The answer says to itself!

    Read More

  • Victor Frankenstein Comparison Essay

    696 Words  | 2 Pages

    Both characters from the novels Prometheus and Victor Frankenstein were similar because they were both intelligent. Victor loved science, he sued to go on journeys to seek more information about life and death, because at home he had nobody to teach him.” My father was not scientific, and I was left to struggle with a child's blindness, added to a student's thirst for knowledge. (Victor Frankenstein quotes on education). And he even studied abroad to see more knowledge on his favorite subject. This created major conflicts with his professor at the university but also admiration among professors and peers.

    Read More

  • Personal Blame

    815 Words  | 2 Pages

    Despite the rash actions that Victor takes, he ultimately does assume complete responsibility for the creature that he brought into being. After the monster murders William, Justine is then tried for the murder. Victor accepts that it was his fault even though he was not the one that actually murdered him: "But I, the true murderer, felt the never-dying worm alive in my bosom, which allowed of no hope or consolation" (74). Victor felt as if he had actually murdered both children because he had created the murderer. Even though in the end Justine took the official blame, Victor seized the responsibility so he took steps towards catching the monster and stopping him from killing anyone else. If he was not concerned with it being his fault one way or another he would not have continued to try to put the monster to rest. Later on, while Victor is creating a companion for the monster, he realizes the implications of a second creation: "Had I right, for my own benefit, t...

    Read More

  • Examples Of Ignorance In Frankenstein

    1135 Words  | 3 Pages

    Victor is so engulfed by his work that he is unaware of what is going on around him. He “bore onwards [with his work], like a hurricane, in the first enthusiasm of success” and he wants to “pour a torrent of light into our dark world" (Shelley 55). Blinded by his yearning for making new discoveries, Victor thinks that his knowledge of the sciences will be enough for him to be successful. However, he does not understand that in order to create an auspicious relationship between him and his creation, he needs to have knowledge of society as well. Once his creation is animated, Victor is unable to see that all the creature wants is to be loved and accepted. The creature craves the maternal love that Victor denies him. From the beginning, Victor is unable to realize the significance of his creation. He describes how the creature’s “yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath... [and] his hair was of a lustrous black... [and] his shrivelled complexion and straight black lips” (Shelley 58). He immediately focuses on the negative features of his creation, and does not even attempt to learn the positive qualities. If Victor uses more social skills, rather than his knowledge of the sciences to manage his creation, all of the destruction the creation causes could have been

    Read More

  • Frankenstein - Victor is the Villain not Victim

    1368 Words  | 3 Pages

    As a romantic, archetype and gothic novel, Victor is responsible for the monsters actions because Victor abandons his creation meaning the creature is dejected and ends up hideous and fiendish. It is unfair to create someone into this world and then just abandon it and not teach it how to survive. The quote from the creature “Why did you make such a hideous creature like me just to leave me in disgust” demonstrates how much agony the creature is in. He is neglected because of his creator. The monster says “The hateful day when I received life! I accurse my creator. Why did you form a monster so hideous that even you turned from me in disgust?” Victor is wholly at fault for his actions, image and evil.

    Read More

  • The Tempest And Frankenstein Essay

    1867 Words  | 4 Pages

    The fact the creature refers to a Biblical story teaches us that what Victor has done is not ethical or morally right as the bible connotes truth and wellbeing, the creature feels he is not treated as Adam because he is rejected like the fallen angel is from heaven; the philosophy is that one should absolve themselves of all sin, leaving the creature feeling like his is owed something from Victor. Furthermore during the romantic period it was said that ‘All man is born good’ however this contradicts the creatures life as he is sinned against, hated by Victor and feared by society from the day he was created although he did no wrong. The creature is given no chance in life like Adam was; he is simply a creation who is isolated fr...

    Read More

  • Role Of Cruelty In Frankenstein

    614 Words  | 2 Pages

    Victor, at first sight of the Creature, abandons and leaves him to survive on his own. This is insignificant to the creature at the time, but later causes the Creature to have bitter feelings towards Victor. After the Creature discovers Victor’s notes, he becomes enraged, and incriminates Victor for the victimization that he faces; hence accusing him as a perpetrator of cruelty. Through the accusation of Victor one can see that the Creature believes that Victor should be held responsible, and owes the Creature a favor. Additionally, Victor double-crosses the Creature after obliging to create a mate for the Creature. These actions of betrayal demonstrate how Victor is a perpetrator of cruelty and how the Creature is his victim. Victor’s unintentional cruelty reveals how he only wanted what was best for himself and human kind. Victor’s betrayal is seen as an action of cruelty by the Creature, and consequently delivers the final blow that instigates the retaliation of the

    Read More

  • Victor Inhumane Cruelty In Frankenstein

    261 Words  | 1 Pages

    Victor’s cruel and hostile actions toward his creature demonstrate his monstrous characteristics. One example of Victor’s inhumane cruelty is when he decides to abandon his creature. When Victor realizes what he has created, he is appalled, and abandons his creature because he is “unable to endure the aspect of the being [he] had created” (42). This wretched action would be similar to a mother abandoning her own child. Victor’s ambition for renown only fuels his depravity; he brings new life into the world, only to abandon it. This act of abandonment accurately depicts Victor’s cruelty because it shows his disgust toward his own creation, as well as his lack of respect for life. An example of a hostile action is when Victor destroys the creature’s

    Read More

  • Victor Frankenstein Selfish

    761 Words  | 2 Pages

    Victor’s thoughts of grander clouded his mind making him think “A new species would bless [him] as its creator and source; many happy and excellent natures would owe their being to [him]”(Ch.4, p.39). But life never goes as planned and Victor dropped all his obligations when he realized what he had done. Victor never questioned if creating a new species was morally right because he imagined they’d be grateful for him more than anything. For Victor to full fill his dream he knew that there needed to be a mate for his creature but “[he] thought with a sensation of madness on [his] promise of creating another like him, and trembling with passion, tore to pieces the thing on which I was engaged” (Ch.20, p.145). Instead of feeling like he owed his creature anything or thinking of the ethics of destroying his mate, Victor only cared for himself. On one hand it doesn’t seem like Victor desired to create pain and suffering when he created life. On the other hand it doesn’t seem like he should be free of all moral blame because he had good intentions even if it was difficult to be certain of those intentions. His lack of moral responsibility is only part of Victor but without the rest we wouldn’t have Doctor

    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

  • Victor as the Monster in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein

    865 Words  | 2 Pages

    Monsters can come in various physical forms, but all monsters share the same evil mentality. A Monster is a being that harms and puts fear within people. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is a prime example of how appearance does not determine whether a creature is a monster or not. In the story, Victor Frankenstein tries to change nature by creating a super human being. The being appears to be a monster. Victor becomes so obsessed with his creation and then rejects it. Victor is the real monster because of his desire for power, lack of respect for nature, and his stubbornness.

    Read More

  • Victor Frankenstein Knowledge Essay

    668 Words  | 2 Pages

    Victor Frankenstein finds himself exploring the world of science against his fathers wishes but he has an impulse to go forward in his education through university. During this time any form of science was little in knowledge especially the chemistry which was Victors area if study. Victor pursues to go farther than the normal human limits of society. “Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge, and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow” (Chapter 4). He soon finds the answer he was looking for, the answer of life. He becomes obsessed with creating a human being. With his knowledge he believes it should be a perfe...

    Read More

More about Essay On Victor As A Byronic Hero In Frankenstein

Open Document