It takes a true person to look past the horror and terror of the monster Grendel. This shows that our society is quick to judge things that they are unfamiliar with. Grendel is a horrifying monster, but acts like this because that is where he comes from. He receives no love and attention from the human society in which he wants to be a part of, so his actions are taken out on that, depicting him as a savage beast. If our society wasn’t so quick to judge from the outside appearance, maybe they would see a lost, lonely creature, just craving and searching for a way to fit
To the reader, it seems that Shelly consistently reminds us of the lack of responsibility on the part of Frankenstein, and the monster’s inherent innocence, who is only made evil by his circumstances. But like the reader, Shelley too, is unclear about whose behaviour is most unjustifiable and unpardonable. With reference to David Punter’s essay “Gothic and Romanticism”, Victor Frankenstein can be compared to the ‘Wanderer’, the Wanderer’s essential characteristics being that he is hero and victim both, who defies God by crossing the laws of mortality and dares to touch the untouchable. The Wanderer is never satisfied with the restrictions placed on him by an ordered society, and he ultimately suffers for his disobedience. Victor clearly fits the description of the Wanderer, as his obsessive need to create life and be its sole creator has a hint of an unnatural desperation to satisfy his ego and attain gratitude.
One of the key features Mary Shelley explores in her novel 'Frankenstein' is the dark side if the human psyche. This can be demonstrated through the characters of Frankenstein, Elizabeth and the monster via the desire for forbidden knowledge of science. Shelley also explores the sexual repression of Victor Frankenstein which could ultimately lead him to a 'dark side' of his human psyche. Therefore it can be said that Mary Shelley does explore the latter to a large extent. One of the ways Shelley explores the dark side of the human psyche is the suppressed and forbidden knowledge which Victor Frankenstein is hungry for.
The only flaw is the dark, not-so-happy secret that they all share. In order to maintain this happiness, there must be one who suffers, specifically a child. The child is treated worse than an animal, and is often treated as if it were an act in a freak show. The people of the town know of the child and most have seen it, but the fear that their happiness will be taken from them prevents them from acknowledging that anything is wrong. There are a few individuals, however, who have acknowledged the inhumanity going on, and they are the ones who walk away from Omelas.
When reading Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, one cannot help but notice that the women characters seem to have little substance compared to the male characters. This may have been caused by the time period in which she wrote: one in which females were considered inferior to males. This difference between the sexes can be looked at using a variety of different perspectives. Johanna M. Smith, a professor at the University of Texas at Arlington, discusses this issue using feminist eyes in her essay entitled "'Cooped up': Feminine Domesticity in Frankenstein." The main points in Professor Smith's essay are that the female characters are there only to reflect the male characters, and that the Frankenstein family has a weird style of living, which she describes as a "bookkeeping mentality" (Smith 279).
H.G. Wells reveals the shortcomings of England’s ethos through the Time Traveller’s character. His selfishness, lack of morality, sexism and classism is displayed through his attitude toward Weena and his partisanship toward the Eloi. His desire to bring Weena back to his time is a reflection of a prevalent attitude in white culture that does not respect ones surroundings but sees them merely as a resource. The Time Traveller does not see Weena as a fellow living being, he sees her as research material.
When ‘Frankenstein’ was first published, the response to the idea of creating life would have been different to the reaction of the present readers as in comparison to the present year there was little scientific knowledge. The description of the Creature then creates a further element of fear within the reader; his looks are illustrated as abnormal yet still resemble the frame of a man. Frankenstein labels the Creature as a ‘wretch’, this description frequently appears throughout the novel emphasising his harsh appearance, the reader is able to build a clear image of the Creature, his ‘yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles’ reintroduces the truth of the circumstances that he is barely human and has been created from a dead body, this evokes further fear and horror as
Besides, all kind of illegal or immoral activities would remain and root deeply in the society if most of citizens are ignorance. In the play, ignorance is apparently portrayed and paralleled to the compact majority. The compact majority can be compared to un-educated people who are generally seen in many developing countries. Compared the Bath to technology development or social development, the city cannot accomplish this development surely since the compact majority is ignorance. Ibsen, faithfully, wrote the play as a way to criticize Europe society at the times when people were not interested in any technologies and truths.
The decisions the creature makes out of his suffering, or his characterization, show that one may not overcome suffering. The creature is also turned away without being taught a thing and suffers from the confusion over the world. The conflicts with Victor continue on multiple occasions in Frankenstein. Once the creature learns that it is his appearance that causes people to flee and reject him, he despises himself, but even more Victor. His suffering over his rejection in society had fueled his angry making him hostile.
Both Hindley and the Lintons treat him as an unwanted interloper and this obviously affects Heathcliff’s behaviour and attitudes within the novel. Subsequent to the death of Mr Earnshaw, Hindley is able to treat Heathcliff in any way he desires and therefore relegates him to the status of servant and seems to encourage others to do the same. Whilst Heathcliff wishes (if only temporarily) that he ‘”was dressed and behaved as well”’ as Edgar, he cannot avoid acting out his violent nature when Edgar is rude to him. Heathcliff seems to have learned some of his bad behaviour from Hindley whose ‘bad ways and bad companions formed a pretty example for Catherine and Heathcliff’ after the death of Frances. I believe that, whilst the treatment meted out to Heathcliff by these characters is obvious prejudice, it does not particularly affect him.