While Victor and the monster are divergent physically and socially, they have many identical characteristics. Even as they become increasingly similar, their relationship only exacerbates. They are similar in their desires for knowledge, relationships with nature, and with desires for family. These defining characteristics are what shape these characters, their actions, and ultimately the plot of the novel.
“Abhorred monster!” screams out Victor, In Frankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, passionately as he is confronted by the most detestable thing in his entire existence (Chapter 10). Thurston analytically states “A monster of vaguely anthropoid outline, but with an octopus-like head” while looking at a sculpture of Cthulhu. The word monster is used in both the above quotes, yet one is used as an insult about evilness, and the other is used as a descriptive word about the physical appearance. The same word is used two different times with different definitions bringing up the question of what makes something monstrous. Both Shelley’s Frankenstein and the Lovecraft stories feature monsters and help the reader better understand what a monster truly is. In some aspects, these authors’ definition of monster is the same, and in other ways the definition diverges.
1818 at the tender age of 18, it was often wondered how such a young
...but what Victor doesn’t realize is the monster has always felt what Victor is feeling because Victor abandoned him. The cold wasteland in which Victor pursues the monster is a strong reminder of his hatred of his creation. The only thing that Victor wants out of life anymore is revenge, he is obsessed with finding the monster and killing it.
Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein is a Gothic novel that contains two genres, science fiction and Gothicism. The novel is a first person narrative that uses a framing technique, where a story is told within a story. Shelley gives the book a distinctive gothic mood tone by the use of her chosen setting which is dark and gloomy, by doing this it reflects the hideousness of the creature; the point of views helps towards the realism of the novel; and characterization able the reader to interact with the characters and feel sympathy or hatred towards each one. To entice the readers into her suspenseful novel Shelley uses foreshadowing. The narrative structure shows a wide range of perspectives rather than just one, by doing this it provides the reader with greater insight of the characters personalities. Symbolism and imagery evokes the readers’ emotions where sympathy is concerned. Shelley has entwined these techniques to produce a novel where the readers’ sympathy jumps from character to character and moral judgements are made due to the characters actions.
In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Victor and the monster go through a journey filled with love, betrayal, and ambition. However, there are key differences between the two of them. Victor leads a good life, but has an inner spark within him that leads him to rebel against the normal world and seek glory. The monster starts off with derelict beginnings and simply wishes for the basic needs that every human gets to experience such as love, affection, and friendship. Eventually, they both face problems, and as a result, devise evil plans, and yet their motivations and rationale cause the reader to have more sympathy for the monster than Frankenstein.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is a very complex book riddled with underlying messages. From the characteristics of each individual to the main storyline Shelley depicts a world of opposites. Victor Frankenstein, a privileged young man, defies nature when his obsession with life and death has him attempting to bring someone/something to life. He succeeds and quickly goes from obsessed over its creation to disgust with its form. He then rejects his creation, which sets the stage for the terrifying events to come. This is the embodiment of a modern novel as it contains alienation, disillusionment, and a critique of science.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelly Part One = == == === A main theme in Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein is that of birth, childhood and parenthood, this is explored through Shelly’s choice of frame narrative and structure for the novel.
We as humans want to be with each other. We actively pursue this goal be finding friends and significant others. While a moderate amount of solitude can be good we crave togetherness with others. In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein isolation is a key theme in the novel. The creature created by Victor Frankenstein is driven into isolation from society based on people’s fear of him. Both the creature and Victor experience first hand the effects that isolation have on the creature's actions. Thus Frankenstein shows very clearly how lifelong isolation keeps someone from developing a moral compass and in turn makes them do wrongful deeds.
The late 18th century was a time of enlightenment for Europe. All categories of learning improved in this enlightenment period. The most impressive advances were in the sciences. Newton had developed his laws of physics, and scientific method had been tuned to a point. These improvements gave people a new outlook on life and the world. Mary Shelley tries to tackle the intimidating nature of the enlightenment period in the book, Frankenstein.
In the novel, Frankenstein by Mary Shelley the main character Victor becomes obsessed with recreating life. When Victor finally does so the outcomes are not good. The monster was assembled from old body parts and strange chemicals, animated by a mysterious spark. After Victor discovers the secret of life he bring his creation, a hideous monster, to life. The monster then proceeds to kill victor's family. His creation becomes a monster and even has the appearance of a monster. The creation was not created with the intentions of being evil. Victor changes over the course of the novel from an innocent youth fascinated by the prospects of science into a disillusioned, guilt ridden man. Victor cuts himself off from the world when he has lost his
The novel “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley involves the complex issues with the creation of life through an inanimate life. Shelley uses these character archetypes to develop a deeper meaning of the characters intentions. Shelley does an excellent job at allowing the reader to have a peak at the characters inner thoughts and feelings. The archetypes presented in Frankenstein allow readers to identify with the character's role and purpose.
The setting of the book is a time where science wasn’t so widely explored, and they still had a lot to figure out. After Victors intentions with science and discovery are shot down by Krempe, victor still continues his search for the forbidden knowledge that is life and death and why it happens and how to make it happen. Eventually, Victor thinks he has figured out how to create life, and he becomes very fascinated with it and he becomes determined to create a human. His search for the forbidden knowledge makes him gather body parts to create a giant living figure. Later in the book, after Victors creation has ran away, Victor realizes what he has created and released to roam around. Victors search for knowledge has led to this and he has created a monster. The creature then slowly starts taking action against victor in search of someone like
Within Mary Shelley’s gripping novel “Frankenstein”, Victor’s creation is a complex character due to his two dominant characteristics being in conflict with each other. Throughout, it is clear the creation’s greatest desire is to be loved by another. When he sees his creator is unable to do so, he ventures into the world looking for someone to show compassion toward him, only to be rejected over and over again. As anger arises from getting virtually no acceptance and Victor fails to build him a companion, the creation seeks revenge on those close to Victor. His battle to locate a balance between love and hatred during his existence defines him as a seemingly threat who is a truly good person.
One may come to assume that Mary Shelley intended u to derive for her novel a lesson that would be important to everyone’s existence. In her tale, Frankenstein, she depicts a monster that is hideous and wretched looking. A monster’s whose appearance prohibits anyone from going beyond his exterior qualities to reach his inner ones. The reader is the only one, besides Frankenstein, that Shelley exposes the monster’s feelings and emotions to. The other characters shield these emotions from being noticed because they presumed that his appearance told everything about him.