Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is a theory that states that describes the stages of internal growth and development in humans; the theory states that the most basic and physical need must be fulfilled before emotional and psychological needs may be correctly addressed. A perfect example of this theory is when Frankenstein’s monster finds shelter in the hovel next to a cottage; by finding shelter and food, he fulfills his most basic needs and is able to become aware of his deeper needs of emotions and human connection. This crucial moment brings to our attention the humanity of the monster, and the duality of this story, that can be understood through an analysis of the language, the comparisons drawn, and greater application of this topic. It is at this time that we first see the monster as a human being, not a creation that lurks in the shadows and undergrowth. The language that is used through this passage evokes empathy and sadness for the monster in the reader. For most of the story, is passed to us the form of second hand event retold by Victor, through letters to Walton and conveyed to us that way. This seems to draw a stronger link to the monster. At this stage, the monster seems to be in child-like wonder, an doesn’t understand why everyone has been so terrified of him, or why victor was repulsed of him. He hides in a hovel and steals food, fulfilling his most basic needs. He is then able to better understand emotions; after he is no longer hungry and cold, he is able to focus on how the people in the cottage seem to communicate and are sad. He starts to learn their language, and, after understanding their poverty, sees its his fault and is able to correct that. The increasing complexity of the language shows the monster’s ... ... middle of paper ... ...of brotherly love and charity …[It will] afford [him] true pleasure to be in any way serviceable to a human creature." This is the one act of kindness, one act of true selflessness towards the monster in a sea of despair. As stated before, the juxtaposition of this moment of hope with the rejection of the three virtuous kids and Victor drive the creature over the edge. Mary Shelly brings to live the human struggle, and a complex social satire and commentary in the form of her own patchwork creature of language, diction, and metaphors. She portrays to the reader the struggles f her creature in the face of adversity through the use of a story within a story; Victor’s letter’s to Walton, The monster’s recounting of his moment of epiphany and fall, and even Safi’s story, told through the letters the monster found and told Victor who wrote about it and sent it to Walton.
Rather, it is others who alienate it because of its grotesque appearance. The monster is quite literally ‘born’ into perpetual isolation beginning with Victor’s abandonment of it. He denies it domestic safety when he flees to his bedchamber. Victor disregards the monster’s utterance of “inarticulate sounds while a grin wrinkled his cheeks,” then escapes its outstretched hand “seemingly to detain [him]” [Shelley 49]. Examining the monster’s body language as though an impressionable infant, its actions can be read as a child-like plea for its father though the absence of speech not yet learned. Instead, its unattractive appearance causes Victor to run, leaving the creature alone with no information about himself or his surroundings. Therefore, Victor’s abandonment is a crucial justification of the monster’s negative experiences with society and nature and actions in desiring community. The monster’s alienation from family is the missing first school of human nature, and the first lesson where he learns he does not belong. The creature leaves into the wilderness to learn about the world and himself on it own, only to understand his interactions are
We are introduced to Victor who is found by Robert Walton, now when Victor begins to retell his tragic story he gives us a general view of who he is, where he was born, and what has happened in his life. We then progress through the story and arrive at the rising action which is when Victor returns back to school after his mother’s death and sisters recovery of scarlet fever. Victor sets out to create a living thing upon his return and this is when it all goes down hill, he successfully creates the monster but he is horrified at the site of the creature he then runs like fearful gazelle leaving the creature/monster to wander (very smart Victor). Skipping ahead the monsters causes quite a bit of trouble and strangles a lot of people, and this is all caused by him not being provided with a connection with anyone. Now before he really starts his strangulation spree he spies on a family (the Delacy’s) that teaches him unknowingly how to speak, read, and of general human connection and relationships. This moment of distant watching and learning has left him wanting things even more, he then reveals himself the Father who is blind and he is kind to the monster when the children arrive they terrified and reject the monster. Throughout the tale of the monster is reminded of his indifference by others resulting in him
This particular lyric pointed out the need humans seek for love and attention. Society feels like enable to be happy there needs to be affection given to a person. The monster is the same way; he craves for some kind of affection. Whether the affect were to come from Victor his creator, or the cottagers he sees as his friends. This crave for attention, love, affection, anything becomes stronger throughout the book. When the monster said to Victor, “My companion must be of the same species, and have the same defects. This being you must create.” He starts to understand this would be the only way he will be...
Certain needs must be fulfilled for one to achieve a life of tranquility and fulfillment. As we see the relationship between Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs with the treacherous creature from Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein”. There are many connections between the two as for the creature’s life of continuous hell from his outcast from human society and civilization due to his abandonment at birth from the creature’s creator, Victor Frankenstein. As we interpret and show the connections between the hierarch of needs and the creature, you will ultimately see the main reason for the creature’s terrible life, is the hideousness of his physical appearance. Human nature is shown to be one of evilness and misunderstanding due to the popular
Abraham Maslow, an American psychologist, wanted to understand what motivates human behavior. Maslow developed his hierarchy of needs to explain how human actions are motivated in order to achieve certain needs. When basic needs are fulfilled, a person moves to more advanced needs, or levels, illustrated in his model. As Maslow discusses in his hierarchy of needs, human will not reach full development when the progression of levels is prevented. In Frankenstein, Mary Shelley reinforces the restrain of one’s full potential through the development of the creature who has been denied the need for belonging as he begins his path of destruction. When the monster is created, he begins at the first level of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is a psychological theory published in 1943 that organizes a person’s need in a neat pyramid; after food, water, and shelter exist psychological needs, such as the need for love and belonging, self-esteem, and finally, self-actualization, or the realization of one’s full potential. The 1941 hardboiled drama Mildred Pierce by James M. Cain is an exploration of the psyche of its eponymous protagonist as she is deprived of the crucial feeling of being important in the world around her as described by Maslow’s hierarchy. While Mildred Pierce has deluded herself into thinking that pure love for her highly successful daughter is her true motivation for her obsession with supporting her, it is a need to feel in control
From the beginning, the monster was abandoned by his creator Victor, the only man he's ever had a relationship with. He was made eight feet tall and very grotesque. At first sight, his creator rejects him. The monster tries to integrate himself into society, only to be shunned universally. When the creature goes to the village, he is attacked because of his horrifying appearance. He assists a group of poor peasants and saves a girl from drowning, but because of his outward looks, he is rewarded only with beatings and disgust.
In most novel and movies monsters are known to be evil, committing numerous crimes against humanity and are normally the ones that we don’t sympathize with. However, this novel carefully shows the reader that monsters can be good creatures, with a decent heart and act based on the actions of others. The novel shows how the monster should be pitied, rather than criticised. Mary Shelley's “Frankenstein” manages to create sympathy for the creature through speech, actions and mistreatment the creature suffers.
How can such disparate characters, that are even resentful towards one another, be so consubstantial? Though Victor and the monster do not share the same physical or social traits, they have many of the same personality traits. Victor and the monster are analogous with their desire for knowledge, relationships with nature, and with desires for family. The author uses complex diction, symbolism, and syntax to emphasize these similarities. Throughout the plot, these similarities become more apparent and as this occurs their relationship worsens.
In the novel Frankenstein or the Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley the motif of cruelty functions as a motive and mode of retaliation. Both Victor and the Creature portray the roles of the perpetrator and victim of cruelty as seen through the rejection the Creature receives from the humans, Victor’s betrayal to the Creature, and the revenge sought out by the Creature.
The monster does not resemble Victor physically; instead, they share the same personalities. For example, Victor and the monster are both loving beings. Both of them want to help others and want what is best for others. Victor and the monster try to help the people that surround them. Victor tries to console his family at their losses, and the monster assists the people living in the cottage by performing helpful tasks. However, Victor and the monster do not reflect loving people. The evil that evolves in Victor’s heart is also present in the monster.
Mary Shelley shows how both Victor and the monster create sympathy for one another. They are both victims, but they are also wrongdoers. They bring a great burden of suffering to each other lives, causes hatred to be created for the characters.
In the novel, Victor is raised up by two happy parents in caring and indulgence. He receives a sister, an education, affection, and a wife from his family. However, unlike Victor, the Monster does not have any maternal or paternal figure to care and teach him values. When the Monster first escapes from Victor’s apartment and enters into the forest, he lives like an animal. He eats berries, drinks water from the streams when he gets thirsty, and sleeps in anywhere. These actions illustrate the Monster’s natural impulse for needs of food and shelters.
Tragedy shows no discrimination and often strikes down on those undeserving of such turmoil. In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, a creature more repulsive than one can imagine is brought to life by a young scientist. Although this creature is horrifying in sight, he is gentle by nature. Unfortunately, the softer side of the creature is repeatedly overlooked and the so called “monster” is driven to a breaking point. Even though the Creature committed many crimes, Mary Shelley’s Creature was the tragic hero of this story because of his efforts rescue the life of a young girl and helping destitute cottagers.
Huitt, W. (2007),Maslow's hierarchy of needs, Educational Psychology Interactive. Valdosta, GA: Valdosta State University, (http://www.edpsycinteractive.org/topics/regsys/maslow.html), [Accessed 29 December 2013].