Naïve In Frankenstein

The novel Frankenstein is wonderful in various ways, from the provoking portrayal of human emotion throughout the story; to the elements of fantasy that stimulate the imagination. However, as one (anonymous) critic put it, “[T]he work seems to have been written… …on a very crude and ill-digested plan; and the detail is, in consequence, frequently filled with the most gross and obvious inconsistencies.” (The Literary Panorama). While the critic attempts to expose some inconsistencies in the story, the acerbity in his review of the novel is unfair based on the support he provides. The irony of this review is that although he tries to expose the plot’s inconsistencies, he uses a non-issue as backing, and yet misses the most glaring oversight in the novel.

Alone and eager, Victor Frankenstein desperately worked to create a different type of art. Frankenstein stepped further into the science world and did something no other human had, being so that he did have the correct mindset and objects to do so. He was on a journey to go beyond death. His motive was to push himself. What he failed to do was look further into his work and also look further into how things would work out after his experiments were successful. Maybe, just maybe, Frankenstein started an experiment that should have been left at just an idea.

When a young child touches a hot stove tears are sure to follow. Trial and error experiences like this are necessary for a child to learn from their mistakes. Some things, however, are taught by parents and guardians. A lack of parenting and guidance can have a dramatic and negative effect on the development of a child. In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, the monster that Victor creates is similar to a child. The monster can not speak initially and immediately feels abandoned when Victor goes to bed for the night. He is very emotional over the smallest of issues and shows many more signs of immaturity. Viewing the monster as a child causes the reader to feel empathetic for him like a child without parents.

Mary Shelley’s ability to create such multidimensional characters in Frankenstein proves that writing is a powerful tool that has the ability to provoke vastly different opinions amongst readers. Even though each individual reading the story is reading the exact same words, their interpretation of those words often leads to opposing views in regards to the fate of the characters. The creature, in particular, has been a popular topic of discussion when conducting a close read of the novel due to his arguable versatility as a victim and villain. The concept of the villain has evolved over the years, however its basis still rests upon the simple fact that as a character in the story, their actions are a result of malicious intentions

Human nature is unchangeable. Human nature also applies to just about every living thing. Human nature isn’t so human, is it? In Mary Shelley’s groundbreaking novel, Frankenstein, it is shown just how universal human nature is. In Frankenstein, Robert Walton tells the story of Victor Frankenstein through a series of letters to his sister, Margaret Saville, in different perspectives. Upon his ship on an expedition to the North Pole, Robert befriends a scientist, Victor Frankenstein. He reveals that he is looking for his creation, a being that was never truly alive, whom he bestowed life upon. He then tells an account of his life until it switches in perspective to the monster’s, followed by a switch to the present. In his tale, Victor tells of his early childhood, where he was an avid bookworm, and became enraptured by science. This led to him delving deeper and deeper into the world of science until he became a man obsessed. He dedicated himself to science and conducted an experiment to see whether he could bring life to a being that never had life in it before. Rather than being overjoyed at his successful experiment, he was disgusted. He came out with a humanoid resembling a monster. This disappointment led to Victor abandoning the Creation, leaving him to find his own way in the world. Given the proper care, the Monster could have succeeded, but Frankenstein's monster will not because the neglect from Victor, treatment by others, and the internalized self-hatred deign a

In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go, alchemy and the science of immortality as well as lies and deceit play an extremely meaningful role in the plot. Frankenstein’s protagonist ruins his life with this physcological obsession of reviving the dead and deceit in form of secrecy. In Never Let Me Go, the characters are clones that live this tragic, short life to help other people become immortal. They live a life of ignorance and order where they’re not really supposed to know what their dystopian life leads to. Lying and deceit are prominent in both novels because this horrific process is not one accustomed to in society nor in contempary society; therefore, it was kept a secret to

Winnie sighed. She had been waiting for Mr. Scamander to come back for a few hours. The minute he had left, she started wandering around, looking at the beautiful, strange creatures around her. But she began to get bored. Not that anyone could get bored of these animals, each one was as fantastic as the one before. She was bored because she was a people person, and she had no one to talk to, unless you counted the jarvey, which Winnie certainly did not. So after a few minutes, she found her way back to the room she had originally fallen into. She sat right beside the ladder, glancing up every few minutes, hoping that he would come. She didn’t know how long it took to get to Saint-Pierre, but she imagined it couldn’t be longer than half a day.

Frankenstein’s close-mindedness can definitely cause the reader to think of the creature as a “demon” and a “monster.” From Frankenstein’s perspective, the creature is ugly and vile. However, when the reader finally gets to understand the creature’s struggles, he or she is able to empathize with the creature. For instance, when the creature exclaims “’All men hate the wretched; how, then, must I be hated, who am miserable beyond all living things!’” the reader is able to comprehend that people continuously judge him based on his appearance (113). The creature wants nothing more than to be loved and accepted, but instead he is “miserable” because of the “barbarity of man” (123). The creature cannot foster relationships with people because society

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is a Narrative which tells of Victor Frankenstein and his inhuman creation which he calls, a “wretch.” She writes entirely the book in modern english, which suits the setting and time frame of the story. Shelly utilizes approximately five people to narrate her book. The letters in the first twenty-five pages and a majority of Frankenstein is narrated by Robert Walton. Chapters six through eight, through letters, are mainly narrated by Elizabeth Lavenza and Alphonse Frankenstein. Chapters eleven through eighteen are composed of Frankenstein 's creation narrating his own story, and of Frankenstein speaking very little. Chapter eighteen through the closing of the book is narrated by Victor Frankenstein as he tells

“Learn from me, if not by my precepts at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge and how much happier that man is who believes his native town the world, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow.” (31) In Mary Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein, in the beginning readers are introduced to the characters of Walton and Frankenstein. Walton reflects Frankenstein because Walton ardently desired the acquirement of knowledge just like Frankenstein did once. (13) However, Frankenstein acquisition of knowledge led to many misfortunes as well as for the creature he created. Frankenstein’s tale is later unraveled as a warning for Walton.

Q: “Examine the effect of the epistolary form of writing throughout the novel Frankenstein. Do you think the epistolary novel form of writing are an effective form of telling the story? How does the epistolary form affect plot development and character development?”

In the ultimate downfall due to his hubris, which shows through his quest for knowledge, Frankenstein experiences a steady decline in the loss of his innocence throughout the story. First tracing Frankenstein’s fall of innocence to his early days upon the discovery of scientific theories, he ‘Sometimes I grew alarmed at the wreck I perceived that I had become; the energy of my purpose alone sustained me: I believed that exercise and amusement would then drive away incipient disease; and I promised myself both of these when my creation should be complete” (57). He lays himself a foundation of scientific fascination that alone were mostly harmless, but eventually grew with his learning in the modern sciences into ardor to create life from death.

Tragic hero’s can come in all shapes and sizes. They may appear as a villain in multiple works of literature. In the novel, Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, the tragic hero is the creature. He is a main character whose faults led to his overall downfall. Often, the creature is misinterpreted by people to be named Frankenstein because he is such a prominent character. While the creature is able to identify the faults in mankind it is only after extreme suffering on his own part.

What makes us human? Is it a beating heart and living flesh? Is it encompassing advanced psychological and social qualities? The classic gothic novel, Frankenstein, written by Mary Shelley and the modern horror novel, Warm Bodies, written by Issac Marion have lead many readers to question the complexity of human nature. Both novels explore several principal themes that develop the reader’s understanding of what it means to be human. We are miraculous creatures who are capable of both good and evil; humans are intricate beings who depend on love for survival, some can be troubled by or lack remorse, and in some cases, our actions can be motivated by fear. Throughout both novels, the main characters struggle with these aspects of human nature.

Frankenstein was a story written by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley while she was on her vacation in Switzerland with her husband. The story got published in 1818 without letting the public about the author. It was in 1831 when the novel revised edition was out and Mary Shelley name mentioned as an author. The novel focused on social, cultural and political facet of the societies during Mary’s lifetime. The fictional character in the novel clearly shows the battle against the pre-established people’s attitude during that time. Religion and science always create a controversy in the society with religion always differencing from any scientific principles and experiments. Shelley’s tried to addresses the above controversy and showed how science and modern technology is sometimes wrong. She tried to show how scientists and inventors are sometimes selfish only care for achieving their plan without evaluating the end result.