“Anguish and despair had penetrated into the core of my heart; I bore a hell within me, which nothing could extinguish.” (Shelley 75) However, Victor cannot explain the truth because he is afraid people will think he is crazy. He is convicted knowing that the monster caused the death of his own family member and the execution of Justine. Shelley conveys that the scientific attitudes of Victor creating the monster made Victor feel
Outward appearances are deceiving in this novel because the real monster is not in physical form. By trying to create life artificially and destroy death itself, Victor rises against natural laws; which have been ruling the world for millions of years and continues to til this day. Victor, at first, has this “God-like” perception of himself when he is successful at giving artificial life to his creation. But that soon changes when the physical attributes of his creation is in monster form. He then becomes afraid of the monster and treats him as an outcast like the rest of community does.
Through this, Mary Shelley illustrates different forms of power as an unchecked capability of society, and expresses their dangers to humanity. In understanding her context, we see Shelley’s intention to compose a didactic message regarding the limitless ability of nature and man, and the threats it poses to humanity. Blade Runner, created almost two centuries later, was composed under vastly different circumstances, yet still voices the same concerns. Through its discussion, we see how Ridley Scott evolves from Shelley’s ideas to present a speculative, dystopian film where humanity has failed to adhere to Shelley’s message, and warns of the consequences when the power she describes is not used responsibly. One of the most dominant concerns shared between Frankenstein and Blade Runner is humanity’s defiance and disrespect to nature and the environment.
As a result of Frankenstein's reckless ambitions, he commits acts of injustice by casting away the creature and labelling it "wretched and abhorred." The creature's melancholy speech towards Frankenstein is reflective of the suicide note written by Shelley's half sister Fanny Godwin; "The existence of a being whose birth was unfortunate" and the creature "yet you, my creator, detest and spurn me." Not only is the creature's abandonment reflective of Shelley's half sister, but also of her father William Godwin's abandonment of Shelley herself. This creates skepticism, as to who is the real monster; Frankenstein or the creature? Furthermore, Scott highlights the lack of ethical and moral responsibility of the parent in Blade Runner through Tyrell and the replicants, specifically Roy Batty.
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.
In pursuit of knowledge and technology, society begins to lose a sense of humanity. The 1818 gothic novel, Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and 1982 science fiction film, Blade Runner directed by Ridley Scott although composed over one hundred years apart contain the same concepts on the nature of humanity. Through context and a variety of film and literary techniques both composers were able to convey their purpose of a cautionary warning about the consequences of playing God. This was achieved through the dislocation of the natural world and mans attempt to play God. The texts present a view that questions the ethics of science which progress is unchecked.
Victor Frankenstein’s claim that there can be no ‘community’ or overall , kinship between the creature and himself basically means that he does not want any sort of relation with his creation as he considers him less of a human and more of a monster. My opinion on this is that I completely disagree with his claim. Mainly on the basis of the most obvious reason which is it’s his creation and as the maker he has a certain responsibility for the creature. Not only this but the creature craves attention just like a child from his parents, Frankenstein rejects him which throws the creature in a spiral of hatred to mankind. On the basis
Frankenstein is repulsed by the creatures physical appearance and immediately rejects him, leaving the creature, recently created and new to the world, to fend for himself. This creature contemplates and muses like a human being, appealing to his creator Frankenstein, and even asking himself: “Was I, then, a monster, a blot upon the earth, from which all men fled and whom all men disowned (Shelley 85)?” The fact that the creature is commonly perceived as an inhuman ‘monster’ may be due to his evil, murderous actions. The way the story is narrated may influence the reader to believe this as well. The story is not told directly from the creatures own words, but through words of another. Like any other story when one does not experience the events himself it tends to sway towards the story tellers point of view.
Frankenstein was composed during the Romantic period; which involved challenging previously accepted, scientific statements, regarding the practical and ethical possibilities arising from human enquiries into the sources of life and human knowledge in general. Romantics such as Shelley held firm views in the rejection of science and rationalism, espousing the sublimity of nature and emotional experiences. This ideology involved the concept that mechanical production, such as seen through the Industrial Revolution, led to the alienation of man from essential human nature. Shelley’s Gothic writing style was heavily influenced by such ideologies; evident through her use of vivid imagery, juxtaposing the beauty of natural elements and the hideousness of scientifically manufactured beings, a symbol of the Enlightenment; “I watched
It is ironic to note that in society’s desire to drive away the ‘wretch’ and monster, they themselves have become ‘monstrous.’ Victor in particular, with his ruthless neglect and lack of paternal feeling towards the Creature, epitomizes society’s merciless and brutal prejudice. With his unchecked ambition, fatal hubris and inability to empathize with the Creature, Victor is perhaps more the monster than the Creature is. He