Victor has not only treated the monster with heartless emotions but has repudiated Frankenstein, this helps express your sorrow. “I beheld the wretch- the miserable monster whom I had created.” Not only does it show Victors distaste but his abandonment towards the monster, which attract pity towards Frankenstein. The way Mary Shelley uses the term “monster” to address Frankenstein only adds to the feeling of neglect created by Mary Shelley. At the beginning of chapter 5 she describe the creation of Frankenstein, the way Victor discarded Frankenstein as if only a mere tool makes the reader feel a throbbing pain. The reaction of Victor changes the role between him and Frankenstein, making Victor the monster.
‘Frankenstein’ and the so called ‘Monster’ Mary Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein’ examines human nature. A first time reader may be used to the unfaithful Hollywood adaptions of this timeless masterpiece but can find profound levels of depth and meaning in the art of Shelley’s storytelling. The creature in the story is a creation of Victor Frankenstein who is obsessed by "a fervent longing to penetrate the secrets of nature" (Shelley 21). It is the creatures treatment by society and his creator Frankenstein that leads him to indulge in vengeful and evil behavior. Although this behavior is horrible and not at all sane or acceptable, it does not mean that the creature is an animal or ‘monster.’ Some people, legally and illegally, commit and enjoy
However the monster was brought into the world, isolated, unwanted and discarded; he deserved sympathy not cruelty. Modern day Frankenstein’s can be seen as people who play God, by making or taking away defenceless creatures lives. For example Cloning is creating another creature exactly like another; this is a type of modern day Frankenstein as the creatures know that the creature is going to have many health problems throughout its life. Terrorists can also be seen as modern day
Another aspect that is interesting is the turn in behavior for the monster. Perhaps the best quote to represent this idea comes from the actualization of the monster to himself in front of Victor’s dead body “My heart was fashioned to be susceptible of love...it did not endure the violence of change without torture” showing how evil nature overcomes the good nature in human beings (Shelly, 158). Initially the monster is very amicable, however, due to continuous rejection, he seeks revenge upon all human beings. Is Shelly saying that even though even nature is good, evil eventually overcomes this good nature? Or Is Shelly saying that human nature is bad and full of rejection and isolation?
Frankenstein was the representative scary character for a long time in my memory before I really read this fiction. The image was the huge body with yellow eyes, hideous and bloody surgery scars, rotten smells, and the horrible monster itself as in the nightmare. This image would be the popular description of Frankenstein (strictly speaking, it’s not Frankenstein but Frankenstein’s creature.) because of many distorted famous movies or cartoons about it. However, I feel no more fear toward him now but only pity and sympathy.
A monster is a person who excites horror by wickedness, cruel or inhumcenperson (dictionary.com). Dr. Frankenstein is the real monster. It is clear that his obsession with creating life is what is more important to him for better or for worse. He was willing to sacrifice his family for the result of his creation. In addition, he did nothing to stop the monster of striking again because he didn’t want to destroy what he had created.
Mary Shelley’s work of literature, Frankenstein, conveys her negative attitudes towards scientific issues of her time. With the use of Victor Frankenstein and the monster, Shelley is able to depict that the curiosity of science leads to negative impacts in society. Frankenstein is portrayed as a man full of interest in natural philosophy. Although his eager learning and experimenting for science is unlimited, he builds a monster that causes low credibility, betrayal and conviction for Frankenstein and those surrounding him. Fame being one of Frankenstein’s prime motive for creating a superhuman portrays that he does not realize his motive will cause low credibility.
Compare how the treatment of similar content in a pair of texts composed in different times and contexts may reflect changing values and perceptives. Frankenstein, written by Mary Shelley and Blade Runner directed by Ridley Scott, both reflect the period industrially, socially and the technological revolution surrounding the time composition. Frankenstein and Blade Runner are products of their time with the values and ideas they represent and are understood within the historical context in which they were composed. Both texts explore and question various aspects of humanity, creation, nature, science and technology via a wide range of techniques characteristic to their medium of production. Frankenstein, written by Mary Shelley in 1818,
Analyse how a comparative study of your two texts has shown how values have changed over time Through recurrent, universal themes, texts from different contexts may successfully portray how certain values have changed over time. The values of a specific context are shaped and defined by the social, cultural and historical influences of its time. A comparative study of Mary Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein, from the Romantic Era and Ridley Scott’s film, Blade Runner, from a period of rapid globalization, reveals how these changing influences have altered the values of society. This transformation in values is greatly explored in both texts through the themes of Man playing God, greed, and the fragility of humanity. By interpreting advancements
Frankenstein/Enlightenment In the book Frankenstein the author Mary Shelly names and points out some of the problems of the Enlightenment. This was a time where science and religion were being shaped and exposed to what they could accomplish and fail. One of the Enlightenment scientists who wanted to discover some of the secrets of life was talked about by Shelly and how through his time of research it did nothing but come back to hurt him an make him look bad. Shelly’s writings break down events from the Enlightenment in which they occurred but in a way where certain things were being found that a man shouldn’t have known. Playing God would be the main mistake that had been made.