Mary Shelley's Frankensteing

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Frankenstein Frankenstein is among one of the most iconic novels written during the early 19th Century. This novel was written by a distinguished Mary Shelley and first published in the year 1818. Shelley’s story is considered to written before its time as it challenged many themes and ideas of humanism, natural science, ambition, abortion, etc. The novel itself sparked many controversies and debates as numerous different topics are challenged and discussed throughout the novel. Shelley flawlessly executes the story as she writes in a dramatic gothic drama tone and allows the reader to step into different views of the story by changing perspectives. Shelley’s main purpose of writing Frankenstein was to challenge the idea of being overly ambitious, define the importance of love and affection, and discusses the consequences of abortion. The novel begins with a series of letters written by Robert Walton, the captain of a ship bound for the tundra North Pole. Walton has set a goal for himself to reach the North Pole, a task that has never been accomplished before. This ruthless ambition to go somewhere where no man has ever been before sparks one of the first themes that are visited in the novel. The journey was successful early on in his travels; however the mission is soon jeopardized by the sheets of ice that halt any further movement of the ship, trapping him and his men in the frozen tundra. And as the story progresses, the reader can clearly identify the similarities between Walton’s pursuit to reach the North Pole and Victor Frankenstein’s desire to create life. Both pursuits of knowledge prove to be incredibly dangerous as Victor’s creation eventually results in the cruel destruction of everyone dear to him, and Walton fi... ... middle of paper ... ...g miseries will be extinct. I shall ascend my funeral pile triumphantly, and exult in the agony of the torturing flames. The light of that conflagration will fade away; my ashes will be swept into the sea by the winds. My spirit will sleep in peace; or if it thinks, it will not surely think thus. Farewell.” (197) These were the last words that were said by the creature. He tells Walton that he regrets being the creature that Victor had created him to be and that since his creator is now dead, he has no other reason to live and that he is ready for death. This ending is suitable for the novel; however I personally find that the end of the creature’s life and his life as a whole is tragic. His last speech to Walton was heartbreaking and gathered sympathy from the reading audience. Conclusively, if there was anything that I could change, I would alter the ending.

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