Frankenstein Reflective Essay

Several fields have studied the relationship between creator and creation. The most significant aspect of this research considers the difference between nature and nurture. Sociologists, psychologists, scientists, and other professionals have tried to pin down the exact distinctions between these two types of upbringings. In literature, the same questions have been asked and studied using fictional characters, most famously in John Milton’s Paradise Lost, in 1667, and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, in 1818. The complexity of the characters in these texts creates the theme of nature versus nurture before they diverge and arrive at differing conclusions.

Frankenstein, written by Mary Shelley, explores the theme of the pursuit of knowledge and scientific discovery through the main characters; Victor Frankenstein, the Creature and Robert Walton. This pursuit of knowledge drives the plot of the novel, leading Victor to create the Creature in his attempt to break down the mortal barriers that surround him and unlock the secret of life. Robert Walton’s quest for discovery leads him to the North Pole, far beyond the reach of Humans at that time. Ultimately Victor’s thirst for knowledge and scientific discovery did him more harm than good with Victor’s hatred of his creation driving him to death. Frankenstein’s message to the modern is age is simply put as “humans should not meddle in the business of the gods”. Mary Shelley’s is using Frankenstein and the actions of the characters in the novel to warn us that although we have the technology to for example, create a human being, some things are better left to nature. In our quest for knowledge we can do ourselves more harm than good. Through her novel Shelley tells us that on our path of scientific discovery there are some trails better left unexplored.

Friends will determine the direction and quality of your life. Loneliness is a battle that all people will once face at a certain point in their life; it is how they handle it that determines the outcome of that battle. In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein loneliness is the most significant and prevailing theme throughout the entire novel. Shelley takes her readers on a wild journey that shows how loneliness can end in tragedy.

     There are many different themes expressed in Mary Shelly's Frankenstein. They vary with each reader but basically never change. These themes deal with the education that each character posses, the relationships formed or not formed in the novel, and the responsibility for ones own actions. This novel even with the age still has ideas that can be reasoned with even today.

“You won’t understand and will only suffer misery… on my account! Well, you are crying and embracing me again. Why do you do it?... And can you love such a mean wretch?” (325). This is when Raskolnikov is beginning to tell Sonia about his murders. He believes that Sonia would leave him and not love him anymore. This is important because it shows Raskolnikov’s guilt.

When man decides to assume the role of God, consequences are bound to plague such an ambition. In the case of Victor Frankenstein, the protagonist in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, the product of such an ambition is a creature born of the dead. Despite the frightening process of his creation, the creature wakes into the world as a benevolent being. He simply longs for acceptance and friendship, but due to his unsightly features, the world is quick to condemn him as the monster he appears to be. With an unbearable sense of rejection in his heart, the monster begins to turn wicked. Soon enough he is responsible for multiple deaths in the name of revenge. Although many treat him unfairly, the monster is fully aware of his actions

The novel “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley involves the complex issues with the creation of life through an inanimate life. Shelley uses these character archetypes to develop a deeper meaning of the characters intentions. Shelley does an excellent job at allowing the reader to have a peak at the characters inner thoughts and feelings. The archetypes presented in Frankenstein allow readers to identify with the character's role and purpose.

The above quote by Bloom is an explanation of the view that all the gothic novels are interpretation of psychological and social factors and this is especially true in the case of Mary Shelley. Shelley began her novel at the age of 18 when the most prominent materials in the consciousness and unconsciousness of Shelley were concerned with the conflicts stemming from the death of her mother. Frankenstein is the outcome of Shelley’s unresolved grief for the death of her mother which was the crisis she needed to work through to forget her own adult identity.

Nineteen-year-old Mary Shelley didn’t know when she began it that her “ghost story” would become an enduring part of classic literature. Frankenstein is an admirable work simply for its captivating plot. To the careful reader, however, Shelley’s tale offers complex insights into human experience. The reader identifies with all of the major characters and is left to heed or ignore the cautions that their situations provide. Shelley uses the second person narrative style, allusions both to Coleridge’s “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” and the legend of Prometheus, and the symbols of both light and fire to warn against the destructive thirst for forbidden knowledge.

Mordecai sat at the dinner table quietly reading the newspaper. That was until the paper burst into flames in his hands. He sighed and rolled his eyes before calmly tossing the paper into the sink and turning on the faucet as if he’d done it a hundred times. He then turned to focus his attention on the producer of the flame. On his chair perched a dragon about the same size as a house cat. It had shimmering aqua scales and a tiny horn hooked up at the bottom of it’s snout. The dragon flared its wings, excited to finally be noticed. Mordecai couldn’t help but smile at the joyful little reptile.

The whole poem is free verse, which signifies the freedom the poet now feels. She has transformed into a stronger creature, that is more threatening and free than the woman she was before has been. She has progressed; she looked in the mirror, and saw a ‘dragon’, this shows how she herself feels that she changed; she has become more powerful.

I couldn't tell if I was dreaming any more. All the past nights were blended into a collage of questions. As always I was in the old blue pickup but this time I was the driver. In the blazing desert on the small highway. I was approaching the roadmark, I was about to wake up. I heard the whoosh of wings, this is when I should wake up. But this time I didn't wake up, and the monster didn't stop chasing me. I waited for it to attack me but it didnt, it didnt do anything but fly. I must have been dreaming because I couldn't stop driving, and the road never ended. It was almost peaceful if it wasn't for the dragon.

The thought of the weeks Sisel has had to spend in captivity is outrageous! I must return her home. I must save her. Taking a deep breath, I calm down. I need to think. Most likely, they will return. Dragon sightings are reported often enough that they have probably left the cave before. However, I’m sure they will return because the sightings are in the same area. Now that I have reassured myself, I must discover where the dragon’s lair is. I quietly go to the clearing that is the dragon’s landing and launching pad. Searching around the area I find a trail. It appears to be a human made trail. Strange, Sisel probably made it, but why would the dragon give her enough freedom to walk by herself? I follow the trail and sure enough, I end up in front of a cave. Cautiously entering the cave, I see strange sights. I spot a human sized bed, a table, a fireplace, and a giant dragon sized bed. The dragon seems to be taking remarkable care of Sisel. Pushing the strange items out of my mind, I scrutinize the entire cave. There are two sections not including the main part where the beds are located. One houses food, and the other contains an assortment of furniture. I return to the front of the cave and find a place to hide. I shall wait for the dragon to return.

It lands on top of a mountain with a huge flat area. To the left, a massive cave, almost three times bigger than the dragon. The the right, a cliff. Shivering, I climb off the dragon, having to walk down it’s thigh so I don’t hurt myself. I then walk around it, inspecting it’s massive wings. A lighter and more greenish color than the rest of the dragon, its wings are almost translucent, I can see the veins and bones. Hesitating, I slowly stick my hand out, then decide that its probably not the greatest idea. I start trotting alongside it, each step bringing my closer to the massive creature’s head. I finally come to a stop, and stare at it. A huge green eye looks over at me, its color like leaves on a maple tree. We make eye contact, and a warmness floods through me. I am not alone, I now have something. The huge eye blinks slowly, then peers at me again. I notice this time, its thoughts seem to reach out to me, and with the flick of its tongue, it smiles ever so slightly. Relief flowing through me, I walk to the front, right before its snout. bowing its head down, the dragon looks at me, watches as I reach my hand out, and then closes its eyes and faintly purrs as I make contact with its

As she cut off the beam, the form of a small dragon became visible at the heart of the vortex, corruption flowing into its form, forming its bone, flesh, and scales. When the last of the corruption reached it, the fledgling dragon opened its eyes and let out a shuddering breath.