In the novel Frankenstein, author Marry Shelley depicts character Victor Frankenstein as a scientist with a strong passion for forbidden knowledge and finding the answers to life through science. Though his intentions are good this leads him to the creation of a monster. Throughout the novel Frankenstein is constantly encountered by obstacles that test his passions for science and responsibility for his creation. For Victor it seems that the choice to abandon the monster is the easier path, rather than taking care of his creation. In the beginning of the book, right after the creation of the monster, Victor fled his home to get away from the creature, only to return and find that it had escaped.
The instance when Mina drinks from Dracula’s breast is the strongest example of this; where the reader to this point is accustomed to Dracula doing the “biting”, and suddenly Mina has the power to penetrate a male. Both Lucy and Mina, when they carry out a relationship with Dracula, become sexual beings, as opposed to when they are mortals and are forced to obey the social boundaries of their society. By expressing this sexuality, they become threatening to the men. Mina is intelligent, and despite the strong aversion she has to the “New Woman” or the “Modern Woman”, she is, in fact, a sort of modern woman; connected with modern ways, a schoolteacher with secretarial skills, she possesses a “man’s brain”. It is this very brain, which is ultimately used to aid in Dracula’s downfall.
Victor Frankenstein was an arrogant and ambitious scientist that wanted to play with the powers beyond human understanding and answer the ‘secret of life,’ with his “human endeavour to mock the stupendous mechanisms of the Creator of the world.” Frankenstein effectively achieved this by “bestowing animation on a lifeless matter.” Shelley throughout the fourth chapter expresses the excited and ambitious scientist during the process of seeking his answers, he thought he was about to create “a new species [that] will bless [him] as its creator and source.” However this is juxtaposed with the decline of the individual which is revealed in the next chapter, “Now that [he had] finished” he realised “the beauty of the dream had vanished and breathless horror and disgust filled [his] heart.” By answering the ‘secret of life,’ Frankenstein is forced to accept the consequences from releasing the ‘monster’ on the world. Shelley uses techniques of imagery to describe the unnamed monster “I had gazed on him while unfinished; he was ugly then, but when those muscles and joints were rendered capable of motion, it became a thing such as even Dante could not have conceived.” Shelley makes constant references to the physical and emotion price paid as a result of the individual, Victor
Love, hate, revenge, and murder. All of these themes impact the way a book can be read and will be read. Frankenstein is a novel that is full of devices that constantly make reader question the entire motive for characters. It features dynamic characters, who exhibit their humanity in the most exciting ways. They exhibit humanity, by loving each other, hating the monster, the monster murdering his creator’s friend and loved ones, and Frankenstein path to avenge the loss of his family to the monster.
In an interview, Lady Gaga announced, “’Born this Way’ is about being yourself, and loving who you are and being proud” (Setoodeh). Gaga’s zombie zealots are subconsciously comforted when Gaga publically encourages independence; this proclamation implies that she appreciates and approves of her Little Monsters. Although Gaga’s followers are initially fiercely independent thinkers, they ultimately conform and rely on the muse of monsters for sympathy and strength. Thus, in becoming a Little Monster, the individual ultimately transforms into the contradiction of his or her original being and is imprisoned in a diva
When Frankenstein collects the ‘instruments of life’ around him it would have shocked the readers of the time; this suggests that he had body parts in his home - this would certainly create suspense and tension. What will he do with them parts? Why has he got human parts to begin with? The general genre which the opening is suggesting, so far is horror. She also cleverly uses the weather and surrounding to mould the correct atmosphere, which influences our views on whatever aspect she concentrates on.
In Frankenstein, “The Monster” is Frankenstein's creation. The creature possesses all of the qualities that humans suppress, or should suppress, as children: villainy, murderous thoughts, revenge, etc. Some people would have thought that Frankenstein wanted to replace his dead mother. Instead of doing what every other man does, marry someone like his mother, Frankenstein rejected Elizabeth, who was physically like his mother and had a history like that of his mother. Frankenstein wanted to recreate his mother, but instead he made a creature comprised of the socially repressed elements of Frankenstein (the monster) and his wish for his mother.
In Ray Hammond’s critical essay, he saw the novel as Mary Shelly’s “means of expressing her innermost fears about life and death in a tangible form (Hammond).” Both Shelly and her mother suffered “birthing horros which are echoed in Frankenstein (Hammond).” Shelly’s novel can be seen as a critique on amoral science, or science without forethought. In Mary Shelley's novel, Frankenstein, the character of Frankenstein shows the danger of playing God and the ethical questions presented when man does not consider the ethical questions his experiments present. The pursuit of knowledge is at the heart of Frankenstein, as the good doctor attempts to go beyond anything ever attempted and discover the unthinkable: the secret of life. Frankenstein’s experiment is made with good intentions, as he believes his creation will help humanity. "The accomplishment of his toils" is the creature, created from human body parts Frankenstein harvested from graveyards (34).
Perhaps it is true and applies to this “double” situation when they say “you are who you marry.” This brings meaning and relates to Frankenstein in the sense that unconsciously, Frankenstein creates a creature that possesses and resembles Frankenstein’s most deep and inner thoughts and desires. He is able to mimic himself through his own creation and therefore cannot grasp to lose the connection he shares with the monster. Subtly and indefinitely, Frankenstein is depicted to share a bond with the monster by exhibiting the uncanny, raw and, monster-like characteristics, while the creature shares both the emotional and unrefined aspect of his creator. Throughout the novel, there are constant references to elements of the non-living and/or the re-creation of man and/or human form. Victor Frankenstein proves to posses an uncanny passion for the dark and paranormal.
The story shows that Dr Frankenstein created his monster in order to indulge in his want to be like a god, a bringer of life so “a new species would bless me as its creator and source; many happy and excellent natures would owe their being to me”[1] this creation of a being who’s natures were owed to man from a feminist perspective can be considered a representation of female intellect and intelligence. Many women at the time of the novels conception, were educated to solely for the purpose of marriage, their minds were formed and educated with the patriarchal expectations of idealised feminine models. These ladies would then marry into lives of general servitude and obedience. Unable to advance themselves further than the four walls of the family home they were expected to ignore this intellect and express themselves through their household and children. They had been given the tools of education but no direction as how to express or use them.