Frankenstein, By Mary Shelley

Victor Frankenstein and his creation surprisingly share many of the same characteristics. Even though Frankenstein is an ugly, unwanted creature, he and Victor withhold an obvious connection throughout the novel. However, Victor and Frankenstein also share their differences as well.

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein has undoubtedly withstood the test of time. Frankenstein’s direct association with fundamental Gothic literature is extremely renowned. However, the novel’s originality is derived from the foundational thematic values found within the relationship (or lack there of) between Victor Frankenstein and the monster he had created, in combination with a fascinatingly captivating plot. Understandably, Frankenstein can often be associated with a multitude of concepts; however, in this particular instance, the circumstances in the book seemed remarkably coherent with Shelley’s Romantic beliefs in preserving the natural world, and one’s natural existence. These values present themselves as metaphorical symbols that

Although humans have the tendency to set idealistic goals to better future generations, often the results can prove disastrous, even deadly. The tale of Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, focuses on the outcome of one man 's idealistic motives and desires of dabbling with nature, which result in the creation of horrific creature. Victor Frankenstein was not doomed to failure from his initial desire to overstep the natural bounds of human knowledge. Rather, it was his poor parenting of his progeny that lead to his creation 's thirst for the vindication of his unjust life. In his idealism, Victor is blinded, and so the creation accuses him for delivering him into a world where he could not ever be entirely received by the people who inhabit it. Not only failing to foresee his faulty idealism, nearing the end of the tale, he embarks upon a final journey, consciously choosing to pursue his creation in vengeance, while admitting he himself that it may result in his own doom. The creation of an unloved being and the quest for the elixir of life holds Victor Frankenstein more accountable for his own death than the creation himself.

In the novel Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, Victor Frankenstein is as much as a monster as his creation. They are related in many different ways such as the fact that they are both isolated from society. While the monster isolated from society due to his physical features, Victor is isolated from his family and of his creation of the monster.

Find the definition of what a monster is and it means multiple things. Two definitions that are applicable to Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein define monster as an imaginary monster that is large, ugly, and frightening or; as a person of repulsively unnatural character that exhibits extreme cruelty or wickedness as to appear inhuman (Oxford English Dictionary). While both meanings differ, the latter definition seeks to give negative character traits to an inhuman monster. However, the creation of a monster should not imply that monsters are inherently cruel or wicked. The traits associated with the term monster are a construct of what people believe inhuman monsters possess. By this logic,

What purpose does it serve to have multiple narrators telling a story? In Mary Shelley’s gothic novel, Frankenstein, three main narrators tell the story about the creation of a monster and the events that follow. The job of narrator shifts between Robert Walton, Victor Frankenstein, and the monster that Victor creates. As each narrator shares his own recollection of the events that occurred, new facts are introduced to put the pieces of the puzzle together. Although Frankenstein uses multiple narrators to tell the story, it is important to look at the effects it might have on the stories accuracy. In this essay, I will closely examine the motives, differences, and similarities of each narrator to see what influences, if any, they have on the narrative.

To begin with what is an individual? An individual is a single human being as distinct from a group, class, or family. According to a person’s nature and character can be impacted by their way of life, society, parental influences, freedom and isolation. These factors can be seen in Mary Shelley’s novel Victor Frankenstein. Does being a neglectful parent leads to someone being dangerous in society. Victor Frankenstein is Genevese by birth and he came from very privileged background. Victor describes his parents to have a positive influence on his life: “my mother’s tenderness caresses and my father’s smile of benevolent pleasure while regarding me are my first recollections” (Shelley #31). As Victor describes some

“During my first experiment, a kind of enthusiastic frenzy had blinded me to the horror of my employment; my mind was intently fixed on the consummation of my labour, and my eyes were shut to the horror of my proceedings. But now I went to it in cold blood, and my heart often sickened at the work of my hands.” (Shelley, 178) The Romantic Movement began in the 1970’s and ended in the 1850’s. One of the key ideas shared by Romantics was that a literal and metaphorical return to nature was necessary. They believed that the individual was the most important part of society. Romantics rejected the Scientific and Industrial Revolution. They believed that cities prevented individuals from discovering the sublime. Mary Shelley’s Romantic and Gothic novel, Frankenstein, opens with a series of letters from Robert Walton, an explorer, to his sister. Throughout these letters, Victor Frankenstein’s story is told. He was born into a wealthy family, and studies at a well-known school, where he develops an interest in biology. Eventually, Frankenstein is able to bring corpse back to life. He is horrified by his creation and abandons the monster. The monster eventually kills everyone that Frankenstein loves and in doing so, he also indirectly kills Victor. The monster then feels guilty and kills himself. Frankenstein reflects the Romantic views of Mary Shelly. There are many Romantic elements in Frankenstein. There is the evident dehumanization of the Industrial Revolution. Shelley also

A hero is someone who remains seen in literature as a person with great courage and strength, yet though not always the case. The hero usually takes risk for the greater good. The Romantic hero becomes a type of literary idol with different morals. They are passionate about what they love, becoming obsessed with their newfound passion and become determined to perfect at what they do. They eventually become tragically doomed through creating their own individual moral codes by struggling with their internal battles within their minds. Mary Shelley presents us the first persona of a romantic hero through Victor Frankenstein in her book Frankenstein. Shelley fabricates Victor as the main narrator throughout the

It is proven that our demons are struck from heaven and soar from below us. In Mary Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein, lectures about the results of an abandoned child. In the beginning of the novel the main character, Victor Frankenstein was obsessed with knowledge. Victor was thrilled to work on his new experiment, on creating life. When his project was complete it was described hideous and Victor abandoned his creation. When a child is abandoned it is natural to develop internal fear. The child has a message from abandonment making them feel useful and unwanted. If a child does not receive the protection and nurture of a parent, children will seek the answers on their own. The monster discovered how to survive, and learned different

Throughout the novel Frankenstein, Mary Shelley shows the creature and his creator Victor Frankenstein as similar in many ways. Through these similarities, Shelley tries to express to the reader how they can find similarities with others around them, and relate to one another. Especially as the novel progresses, Shelley reveals these similarities as the characters develop. Though on the surface they may seem on two opposite ends of the spectrum, digging deeper shows that the creature and Frankenstein share many characteristics. They both share a trait of seclusion, a wanting for vengeance, as well as a drive to gain more knowledge about certain topics. Shelley purposefully put these similarities in the book to show how humans can relate to one another, regardless of how different they seem.

In Frankenstein, Mary Shelley introduces Victor Frankenstein’s creation known as the Creature. The Creature is portrayed as a morally ambiguous character, exhibited as neither purely malicious nor benevolent as his actions truly are malevolent yet his intentions and reasons can be understood to say the least. The Creature’s moral ambiguity is significant to the text as a whole as it emphasizes the theme that humans are neither purely evil nor good and our evil impulses are typically driven by the damage done to us.

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein depicts the turbulent lives of Victor and his creation. Victor Frankenstein, who is a dedicated man of the science world and the creature, who is brought to the world because of Victor’s ability to animate become victims to themselves. Their irrational thinking and actions is a consistent reminder of their state of mind. They often times are regarded as “mad” or as a “mad man.” There is always confusion to whether or not they are truly insane. Although there isn’t a set answer, Shelley dives deep in this concept and gives us her interpretation of it. Throughout the novel, both characters undergo a series of experiences that build on each other, which consequently leads them to their insanity. Shelley’s use of

In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein the character of Creature is explored as a monster and misguided individual. Shelley introduces Creature with an unconventional birth and casts him out into the world alone with the abandonment of Frankenstein. Creature’s character then develops through a coming of age-like sequence with the cottagers as guidance and out of that experience he goes off to seek his own creator. After his ventures with Victor Frankenstein the last of Creature’s life is detailed through the end of Frankenstein’s story to Captain Walton and the letters written by Captain Walton. Creature is a complex character not only seen as monstrous but a character that demonstrates humanity through his enduring of hardships and understanding of intelligence and emotion.

Frankenstein by Mary Shelly is considered and debated as a Gothic Fiction, Tragedy, and Science Fiction Novel. I chose Frankenstein because people all over the world believe Frankenstein is the monster not knowing it is actually the scientist’s last name. I was fascinated by that and I wanted to know more about the origin of the monster. It is also one of Mary Shelly’s best known works of literature and felt like it I should read it because after looking at the history of it, the book alludes off several elements that make it unique thus giving it the unique three genres.