The full title of Mary Shelley's most recognized novel is Frankenstein; or the Modern Prometheus. A fitting parallel, the Titan Prometheus is credited with the formation and enlightenment of man and was harshly punished, being doomed to eternal anguish for his actions. Prometheus, whose name stems from the Greek word for forethought, is representative of the consequences of overreaching and the many dangers of seeking knowledge. Victor Frankenstein's own search for enlightenment is strikingly similar to that of Prometheus and likewise results in seemingly endless torment. Warning others of the dangers resulting from awareness, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein argues that the blind pursuit of discovery overcomes one's code of ethics and that the …show more content…
Victor Frankenstein, reflecting on his obsession with his creature, states that "a human being in perfection ought always to preserve a calm and peaceful mind, and never to allow passion or a transitory desire to disturb his tranquility...If this rule were always observed; if no man allowed any pursuit whatsoever to interfere with the tranquility of his domestic affections, Greece had not been enslaved, Caesar would have spared his country; America would have been discovered more gradually; and the empires of Mexico and Peru had not been destroyed" (34). Although Caesar, the Spanish conquistadors, and other similar figures are now credited with bringing destruction upon vulnerable populations, they believed themselves to be innovators who would shepherd in a new era of history. While the consequences of their actions were not, in some cases, realized until a much later date, the unbridled ambition that ''[interferes] with the tranquility of [man's] domestic affections" leads to disastrous and unexpected consequences. In the case of Frankenstein himself, upon completion of his monster, "the beauty of the dream [vanishes], and breathless horror and disgust [fills his] heart" (36). Since, during his labors, Frankenstein's judgment is clouded by his own ambition, the horrifying reality of what he has created comes as a surprise. Victor, who once thought he would become a god, becomes the unwilling creator of a demon. The same demon, Frankenstein's monster, succumbs to ambition due to the unfortunate circumstances surrounding his creation, stating that "[his] heart…, when wrenched by misery to vice and hatred, it did not endure the violence of the change without torture" (158). Illustrated through various attempts to bring misery to Victor, the monster, who was initially disdainful of the violence wrought by man, degrades
Victor Frankenstein was eager to learn and discover new things. Ever since early childhood he had a strong desire to further his knowledge. Self-taught knowledge in science lead him to want to become well known like the great scientists that he had studied. This longing to become one of the greats lead him to the creation of “the monster” that he believed would earn him fame and glory.
“How can I describe my emotions at this catastrophe, or delineate the wretch whom with such infinite pains and care I had endeavoured to form?” (Shelley, 42) In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein, who has spent two long years laboring in Ingolstadt to create this scientific marvel known only as “the monster,” wrongly assumes that his creation is pure evil. Frankenstein reaches this conclusion without even allowing the monster to demonstrate his kind heart. Eventually, the monster goes on a mass killing spree because of Victor’s detrimental psychological neglect. Victor’s neglect is caused by his hatred of anyone who is unlike himself. Victor also disregards the monster’s right to a true name, only referring to him using despicable names, such as “wretch,” “thing,” and “catastrophe.” Thus, the monster’s humane qualities, including compassion, loyalty, and intelligence contrast to the wretched traits of his creator, making the horrible references much more suitable for Victor. Unlike Victor, the monster shows great compassion despite his appalling appearance.
Throughout the course of the creature's isolated and pathetic journey, he is never given the opportunity to participate in human interaction, as he so deeply deserves. Upon his creation, the reaction of Victor, his maker, is so vividly appalling; one forgets that this is actually the birth of a human being. His 'father', Victor, is so selfish and has such a lack of responsibility and foresight, that he creates a human being for the simple purpose of recreation, intellectual stimulation, and the thrill of 'the chase'. Frankenstein himself refers to his own creation as, "...the life which I had so thoughtlessly bestowed" (88; ch.1; vol. 2). Victor is solely interested in the beneficial aspects on the surface of creating, just as his interest in the exterior 'monster' is superficial. Not only is Victor's quest selfish, but his goal is frivolous as well. Victor's initial opinion of...
When His Creation comes to life and after Years of running away, Leaving in the shadow he comes out and wants to obligate with the monster but he doesn't accept it which again hint out how moral and irresponsible is Victor Frankenstein, he does not even teach the elements like love, caring, sharing. Victor Frankenstein’s the real monster because of his strong knowledge which turns out its his passion, considering the time period and he's revolutionary idea for that period of time. The appearance is not what make us Monsters its What in our hearts, The creature is what an unsocialized human would be like after being hurt and treated bad by the society and not being away of how to handle his emotions, feeling, thoughts.
As he dove deeper into studying life and death and created the monster, the darkness the knowledge produced consumed him. All of his energy was directed towards his quests, to the point where he “seemed to have lost all soul or sensation but for [that] one pursuit”, consequently placing him in an abnormal place mentally, emotionally, and even physically (line 30-31). Although Victor describing his creation process as something he was wholly devoted to can arguably be justified due to the common believe that full dedication to one’s craft is needed to be productive, Frankenstein looks back on his devotion with trembling lips, showing even his recognition of the negative impact the dangerous studies had on him. Frankenstein’s inclusion of his feelings of regret and fear in the retelling of his experience show his awareness of the transformation he endured due to the knowledge. The acquisition of the dangerous knowledge created a deep infatuation in Frankenstein, causing him to neglect his family, his friends, and even himself until his work was
The monster was thrown blindly into the world with no one to look to for support. He was left to fend for himself, wandering the countryside. The entire time his hatred for Victor, who is responsible for his miserable existence, grew. The monster was continuously rejected by society due to his horrifying appearance and the way he reacted to such rejections. He was not created evil; he was shaped into the monster society sees him as. The monster has a personality that cares for others and longs for acceptance and a family. His personality really showed when he stayed in hiding near a small cottage owned by the De Lacy family. The monster observed the family for a long period of time, growing attached to their lives. He was able to learn how to read and speak as well as how to act properly. The monster began to feel like the he could trust the family. The monster confronted the family and, as expected, the family reacts negatively. The monster felt that he had been created out of hatred and, believing that the entire human race believes the same, swears vengeance on Victor Frankenstein. All he wanted was for someone to accept him, and his only chance of getting someone to make him happy was destroyed in front of his eyes. The monster was able to threaten Victor, forcing him to create a female companion, but before she was complete, Victor changed his mind and destroyed the second creature.
After Frankenstein discovered the source of human life, he became wholly absorbed in his experimental creation of a human being. Victor's unlimited ambition, his desire to succeed in his efforts to create life, led him to find devastation and misery. "...now that I have finished, the beauty of the dream had vanished..." (Shelley 51). Victor's ambition blinded him to see the real dangers of his project. This is because ambition is like a madness, which blinds one self to see the dangers of his actions. The monster after realizing what a horror he was demanded that victor create him a partner. "I now also began to collect the materials necessary for my new creation, and this was like torture..." (Shelley 169). Victor's raw ambition, his search for glory, has left him. His eyes have been opened to see his horrible actions, and what have and could become of his creations. As a result, Victor has realized that he is creating a monster, which could lead to the downfall of mankind. His choice is simple, save his own life or save man.
Frankenstein is a novel written by Mary Shelley in the year 1818. The main concern with Shelley is to demonstrate how knowledge can be used for evil and good purposes, how uneducated are treated and the influence of technology into the modern life. Moreover, this novel demonstrates how nature can be restorative in encounters with unnatural events. Shelley succeeds in addressing each and every concern in this novel ranging from education, nature, science, to family (Shelly, 150). Education is the most significant theme addressed by Mary Shelley in her Frankenstein’s work.
When Victor Frankenstein gives life to his monster, Mary Shelley shows the reader how disappointed Frankenstein is with the outcome of the monster, "How can I describe my emotions at this catastrophe"(Shelley 55), these descriptive words show how Frankenstein is disgusted with the monster that he has created. He is disappointed because he wanted his creation to be something beautiful, instead, he creates an ugly monster. The monster enters the world and is immediately unloved by his creator. Frankenstein does not take responsibility for his creation instead he abandons him, leaving him to fend for himself. The monster did not start out more evil than anyone else, “He does acts of evil, yes, but they can be equated to tantrums from a lonely
The Modern Prometheus or Frankenstein written by Mary Shelley is arguably one of the most memorable classical novels to emerge from the 1800s. A dark tale full of betrayal, horror, and fatal flaws mixed with scientific miracles has captured readers for centuries. It follows the story of Victor Frankenstein a viciously determined scientist on his quest to create life. After years of work he finds himself victorious creating a creature out of human body parts and electricity. Although at what price?
The same applies to Victor Frankenstein as the story progresses. The reader first sympathizes with Victor as he explains how difficult his life became after creating a human that is the cause of the guilt that eats away at him. Shortly thereafter, one begins to feel irritated by Frankenstein’s personality and his attitude towards his creation. The first instance where one may question his or her opinion of Victor is when he describes his immediate regret of producing life. He states, “…breathless horror and disgust filled my heart. Unable to endure the aspect of the being I had created, I rushed out of the room…” (35). The reader’s initial response is “If he was going to regret creating a human, why did he not think this through completely?”. The second time is when his creation kills a child and frames another for the murder. Victor does nothing to help the child, such as explaining the truth of the matter, and lets her get executed for a murder she did not commit in order to keep himself from being shamed by the public for his previous doing. One then has to agree that Victor is not the sort of person a reader would want the main character to be. Finally, when the monster reaches out to Victor Frankenstein and asks to help him live a comfortable life, this is Victor’s response: “’Devil, cease; and do not poison the air with these sounds of malice. I have
Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus, is written by Mary Shelly in 1818. It is a science fiction describing a brilliant scientist intends to create life as human but a monster is created instead. Themes such as ugliness of the Creature, wrong attitude towards science of Victor Frankenstein, and the support of feminism will be discussed in the essay.
In the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley a scientist named Victor Frankenstein creates a ‘monster’. He spent years trying to create life, and when he finally did it, he disowned the creature because of its hideous appearance. “I beheld the wretch--the miserable monster whom I had created” (43). The creature just wanted his creator's acceptance, but he shunned him. When the creature is on his own, he quickly learns that society doesn’t accept him because of his looks. After getting continually getting rejected despite his good deeds and intentions, he finally loses it and wants revenge on Victor for bringing him into this world. The monster kills everyone Victor cares for, leaving him with the pain and suffering. Victor was focused on the glory of his breakthrough: having a species look at him as a god, but he did not think of the consequences that followed. Just because he possessed the technology and had the capability to do something extraordinary, doesn’t mean he has to do it without extensive thinking. Victor’s creation lead him to his