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.
Was I, then, a monster, a blot upon the earth, from which all men fled and whom all men disowned?” (Shelley 108). The self-analytical and reflective words of the monster are important to chapter 13 of Frankenstein as readers are able to understand the character development of this creature. Essentially, this specific chapter is meant to display the contrast between the monster and his creator, and how he has evolved from living in the shadow of society. For instance, this passage affirms the magnitude to which the creature idealizes his highly regarded De Lacey family and all that is affiliated with them. Through his new found worship for them, he longs for their love, and most importantly, acceptance, as he says “[w]as I, then, a monster, a blot upon earth, from which all men fled and whom all men disowned?” (Shelley 108).
He is rejected by the De Laceys and Frankenstein and ponders the question: ‘Am I not alone, miserably alone?’. The monster is represented as the dark side of Frankenstein. Shelley depicts Frankenstein as the real monster of the novel. Frankenstein appears to look like a nice person but Shelley creates him as a blasphemous person whose arrogance and obsessions with science end up costing him dearly. In contrast, the monster appears to be a nasty, unapproachable beast but actually appears to be well-educated and is knowledgeable about the world around him.
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 book is the start of the monster’s abhorrence to man, as the monster thinks that he cannot fit in with people because he does not own any property and does not know he was born. So, the monster begins to believe that he is an outcast. I would replace this book with The Ugly Duckling. Ruins of Empires causes the monster to lose self-esteem. The Ugly Duckling is well renowned for creation of self-esteem in children.
Victor represents society intent on pushing the boundaries and themonster represents the product of this curiosity; of technology gone wrong;technology without ethics. “Accursed creator! Why do you form a monster so hideousthat even you turn away from me in disgust?” The monsters constant rhetoricquestioning addresses these ethics and illuminates the monster as a symbol of innocence in the face of corruption. Victor’s relationships also allow insight into themoral dilemma of creation. Victor’s positive family relationship is juxtaposed againsthis spite for the monster, a somewhat child of his.
At the heart of Mary Shelly’s novel, Frankenstein, lies the life story of protagonist Victor Frankenstein. One gets an insightful glimpse into his moral character through his evolution from an innocent young man enthralled with the exciting world of science into a cynical, guilt-ridden individual determined to annihilate the fruits of his scientific experiments. Though the lasting impression of his morality might make it easy to admit that Frankenstein certainly had a few minor character flaws, based on his motives, intentions, and actions, it is almost impossible to claim that he was evil. One can imagine that unfortunate events in life such as perhaps poverty and abuse at a young age could lead to an individual taking a very grim perspective of the harsh realities of life and resorting to evil. Frankenstein was neither poor nor was his childhood one full of misery and suffering.
Primarily it is not Frankenstein who has to suffer the consequences of his creating life, it is the Creature. But for this suffering he makes Frankenstein notice the pain he has caused the Creature by taking revenge and killing the people Frankenstein most cares about. In Frankenstein, the neglect of duty never leads to anything good. Having abandoned his duty of care towards the Creature, Frankenstein then has to learn from his mistakes by suffering the consequences of this
When the monster confronts Dr. Frankenstein before his wedding, he says “You can blast my other passions, but revenge remains-revenge, henceforth dearer tan light or food! I may die, but first you, my tyrant and tormentor, shall curse the sun that gazes on your misery. (175)” Because of his creators constant scorn of him, the monster feels that all that is left inside of him is revenge and hate. Therefore, due to this lack of compassion from his creator, the monster promises to make Dr. Frankenstein’s life a nightmare, and follows through with said
Scientists have also begun looking at adult specialised cells, and figuring out how to make them unspecialised again so this ethical problem won’t be an issue anymore. We know that stem cells become specialised when certain genes in that cell are switched on. If we can figure out how to turn off these