Identity in Frankenstien , Beowulf, and Sir Gawin and the Green Knight

Immediately following the loss of innocence and the gain of knowledge in the soul of the monster, he becomes analogous to Satan, God’s enemy, in Paradise Lost. “I gazed upon my victim, and my heart swelled with exultation and hellish triumph” (144), he states as William lies dead at his feet. The monster even recognizes that he is like Satan. He says, “I ought to be they Adam, but I am rather the fallen angel [Satan], whom thou drivest from joy for no misdeed” (103). Just as the monster parallels Frankenstein in his quest for knowledge, he also does so in his being as Satan. He is the personification of the devil that is inside all in the form of sin. The monster and the devil share an experience in which it is obvious that one parallels the other. In igMalice, and with rapine sweet bereav’d

Throughout her novel Frankenstein, Mary Shelley consistently used other characters to show who Victor Frankenstein was as a person. She used his mother, best friend, future lover, creation, and Robert Walton to demonstrate how he reacted to certain situations and how he needed other people around him to show his true character. Although Shelley wrote in multiple foils for Frankenstein, Walton and the monster both consistently had Victor show who he truly was. In a way, Walton is the best foil for Frankenstein because they are both so similar and both craved glory for their discoveries, but Walton never shared the same weaknesses as Frankenstein. The monster was a part of Victor. He was Frankenstein’s creation, and shared parts of him that no

Victor Frankenstein’s original motive was to help people not have to go through the pain of death. Once he figured out he might really be able to bring people back from the dead, he began to think that he could become well-known around the world. He wanted to become like a God to

Frankenstein’s creation was lost in the world with no one who could have understood him . It felt sorrowful and unfulfilled emotions as seen in this quote. Betrayal by Victor leaves a large impact the monster carried, which, turned into a monster full of hate and dissatisfaction. Victor’s creation was not a monster , but new born baby in a grown horrific body that was not to be called his own . It becomes a monster both mentally and physically, who will be feared by all . Victor not giving him the love he needed gets the monster enraged, which leads the monster to cause series of events that affects Victor unforgivably. .

This need of power led Victor to create what he believed would be a beautiful human being. But he failed to see that combining the most beautiful human features does not necessarily create a beautiful human being. He was inspired by scientists who ...acquired new and almost limitless powers... (Shelley, Frankenstein, P. 47). Victor sought this unlimited power to the extent of taking the role of God. He not only penetrated nature, but also he assumed power of reproduction in a maniacal desire to harness these modes of reproduction in order to become acknowledged, respected, and obeyed as a father. While bringing his creation into the world he was himself alienated from society, and isolated himself from the community. Isolation and parental neglect cause viciousness within man. Because of his upbringing, Victor had no sense of empathy, and therefore could not realize the potential harm he was creating towards himself and his creation. The sole purpose of his project was an attempt to gain power, but instead of power Victor realized that a morally irresponsible scientific development could release a monster that can destroy human civilization.

This experiment places him out of society and in isolation for months, showing his obsession with creating something that is his own. In addition, Frankenstein knows he has the ability to create the monster where he "[emphasizes] the necessary deference to nature that empirical science lacked, [Shelley] found her portrayal of Victor's artificial human complicated by the materialism of his genesis" (Willis 2). Victor's arrogance in knowledge led him to create the monster only because he knew he could. The monster is purely experimental and Victor creates the monster because his knowledge overcame his decision between morals and achievements.

Who is the real monster?” acts as the dominant question throughout the novel “Frankenstein” written by Mary Shelly as the reader explores the protagonist Victor Frankenstein and his nameless creation. As the novel progresses, the reader notices how the relationship between the two characters goes far beyond a neglectful creature and resentful creation, for the two influence the thoughts, actions and emotions of each other. Furthermore, the creature’s physical appearance acts as his purpose throughout the novel as well as a mirror of Victor Frankenstein’s true identity. Additionally, the creature’s lack of identity begins to initiate Frankenstein’s shame towards his own identity, revealing the flawed character of Frankenstein and determining the resolution to the question “Who is the true monster? Who is the true catalyst of destruction?” During the novel, the reader is able to identify the creature as the most effective foil for Victor Frankenstein because the creature causes: Frankenstein to view the action of the creature as his own work, the shift between pride and shame in Frankenstein, and his physical appearance demonstrates his purpose to reveal the true character of Victor Frankenstein.

Throughout the story the Frankenstein’s monster is referred to as a true monster because of the different acts that he has committed, yet throughout the story the reader is made aware of the compassion and morality that Victor’s” creature possesses, like a real human. Victor is the true monster in this horror novel, because he possesses many of the characteristics that would define what a monster is. Victor Frankenstein created his monster due to his eagerness for alchemy and his unnatural obsession with being like God. Victor does not take into account the consequences of his actions. Victor rejects his creation the moment he lays eyes on it, and this caused the monster to perform the acts that he did. The cruel rejection is what begins the a journey that will soon enough be end of Victor. After Victor decides to go back on creating his monster a mate, he then destroys the half made creature which anger Frankenstein’s monster and this cause him wreak revenge on his creator. The monster tells Victor that he will be at his wedding night and the killing spree beings, Victor loses his father, and his friend Henry Clerval because of what Victor had done. In my opinion I believe that should have stuck to creating his monster a mate and this would have made things easier for him and

The reason for a decision made by “The Monster” or Victor Frankenstein’s creation, created one of the many themes “revenge”. Revenge is an interesting theme that occurs in the book Frankenstein. There are many events that occur in the story that support this theme. Revenge forms a very destructive feeling within the monster. The theme of revenge first appears when the monster was mistreated by his creator, Victor Frankenstein. The monster then was abandoned by the De Lacey family. The monster then decided to turn to revenge. The monster actions are understandable because it has been abandoned and mistreated by humanity. Revenge truly effected the monster in this novel. Revenge turned the monster into a real monster that had no feelings and made him want to destroy his creator. The monster wanted revenge on Victor because he abandoned and mistreated him. Also, Victor wasn’t a good father figure, he didn’t teach or care for his creation. “Cursed, cursed creator! Why did I live? Why, in that instant, did I not extinguish the spark of existence which you had so wantonly bestowed? I know not; despair had not yet taken possession of me; my feeling were those of rage and revenge. I could with my pleasure have destroyed the cottage and its inhabitants and have glutted myself with their shrieks and misery” (161). The monster was furious and mad at Victor from how he was treated. He asked Victor why he had lived and asked himself why he didn’t take

We also see that Victor Frankenstein has always been alone and this leads him to his madness as understood in chapter 3: “...I, who had ever been surrounded by amiable companions, continually engaged in endeavoring to bestow mutual pleasure-I was now alone. In the university whither I was going I must form my own friends and be my own protector." (46), Victor understands that he has no one is by his side and that he truly is on his own. This quote sets up his obsession with alchemy; eventually leading to him molding,building and creating a twisted version of human-kind to creating the monster.

It was made out of many dead bodies which made it look ugly. When Victor saw the creature alive in front of him, he was scared by the thought of what he ended up with. Frankenstein’s monster is like a new-born baby. It did not know how to speak or cope up with the world. When Victor turned his back on the monster, it felt betrayed. It did not get the love and support it should’ve been given. Also, when the world was reluctant to accept the creature even after it helped them, it started harming the people who hurt him. It felt lonely as it was not taken care of by the only father figure he had, Victor himself. The monster told Victor, “You had made me, but why had you not looked after me, and saved me from this pain and unhappiness?” (Page 30) This showed how much deprived of happiness the monster was, which made him take revenge from Frankenstein.

Monsters are not born, but created. In order to become a monster one must have been previously victimized or have a predisposition to violence. The monster is created because he is exposed to violence and rejection, he then breakdowns and becomes malicious. In the lines “Why did you form a monster so hideous that even you turned from me in disgust? (Frankenstein, 124)”. Shelley is showing that by turning against the creature, Victor is deserting him in a strange and uncomfortable world. The creature is miserable and all alone. In corollary, the creature hurts others, because he has been neglected and in turn a monster is created. The creature states that “I will revenge my injuries; if I cannot inspire love, I will cause fear, and chiefly towards you my archenemy, because my creator, do I swear inextinguishable hatred (Frankenstein, 138)”. I believe that the novel would have turned out differently if Victor had welcomed the creature with

In the novel, the readers learn that the main antagonist, Victor Frankenstein, is trying to reanimate life and create a “new generation” of advanced humans. Despite being successful in creating the monster, Victor would abandon his creation which forces it to have and conceive different identities and creates conflicting perspectives for the readers. This technique of giving the monster different identities is used by Shelley to portray the monster as a complex being. In the book, Victor abandons his creation because he is horribly terrified as he sees his creation is dreadful looking and says, “I beheld the wretch

Beowulf and Sir Gawain and The Green Knight are British mythological stories whose authors are unknown. The stories paint the picture of brave and selfless heroes who put the lives of their fellow men before their own. Though the stories differ in their narration, they are built on the same ideas and principles. This essay compares and contrasts the various themes in these two stories and their development. The issues discussed are the role of women, strength and courage and afterlife.