The Developments and Changes the Monster Undergoes in Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley FRANKENSTEIN ‘Frankenstein is full of ideas and warnings which are relevant to a modern audience.’ -Discuss the enduring appeal of the novel. Introduction: Despite being over a century old, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein has continued to hold public interest for nearly two hundred years. The novel was published 1818 and is one of the most acclaimed gothic stories in the history of literature.

Throughout these chapters, he talks about his “upbringing of life” and how and why he created the monster. In chapter 12 it zooms into the monsters perspective, while he meets new cottagers. Throughout his narrating, he “learned and applied the words; fire, milk, bread, and wood. Victors perspective and narration is important to inform the reader how and why the monster was created. In my opinion, his part is the most valuable/important because the whole story is based off of his creation, the monster.

Frankenstein by author Mary Shelley is a Gothic science fiction novel written in Switzerland between 1816–1817, and published January 1, 1818. Set in eighteenth century Geneva, Frankenstein tells the story of a young man named Victor who goes away to college to study natural philosophy, chemistry, and alchemy. When armed with the knowledge he has long been seeking, Victor spends months constructing a creature out of old body parts, and in the secrecy of his apartment, brings his creation to life. The monstrous abomination later disappears, and when a mysterious series of deaths start to occur in Victor’s family, he is certain his creation is the cause, and devotes his life to vanquishing the savage fiend. Mary Shelley makes full use of popular themes during the time she wrote Frankenstein such as the invasion of technology into modern life, and the restorative powers of nature in the face of unnatural events. She also addresses the complex role of Christian allusions in the text which convinces the reader to believe that Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein has a strong biblical allegory and portrays the dangers of playing God.

Throughout the novel, “Frankenstein,” the “monster” was seen as hideous. As a result, many including the creator himself did not give the “monster” a chance and portrayed him as evil. Rather than looking at his personality, they looked at his outward appearance, which scared them off and made them assume he was a “monster.” When readers, including myself, read this story, we feel disappointed about how during this time everything revolved based upon looks and not on what really mattered like charisma. Overall he is portrayed as an evil, scary creature. When Victor describes him he is so harsh and cruel it makes him seem to be a monster. “He held up the curtain of the bed; and his eyes, if eyes they may be called, were fixed on me. His jaws opened, and he muttered some inarticulate sounds, while a grin wrinkled his cheeks,” (Shelley 59) this phrase proves how when Victor describes the monster he did not care to think about what the monster was trying to say because he was too scared of his horrible looks.

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.

Victor Frankenstein desire for knowledge to become the ‘man of science’, causes him hunger for the unknown. As he studies natural philosophy and chemistry he discovers ancient scientists, yet is not satisfied with their work and decides to conduct his own. Victor builds from previous discoveries of others and his experiences; however, his obsession and success of bringing a creature to life also destroys his family and life. Mary Shelley, the author, uses Victor’s lack to assume responsibility for his choices and ambition, along with the town's fearful reaction to the Creature as a way to show how it is better to determines ones own view of right or wrong rather than conforming.

Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” is about Victor Frankenstein’s excessive knowledge in the sciences and his refusal to accept his own creation. Frankenstein starts with a healthy curiosity in the sciences that eventually turns into an unhealthy obsession he can no longer control. He undergoes a drastic transformation because of making experiments that eventually result in his biggest one yet; the monster. Shelley applies the themes: the danger of too much knowledge, ambition, monstrosity, isolation, and Nature vs. Nurture throughout the novel with the characterization of the monster and Frankenstein.

In the Kenneth Branagh’s film, “Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein”, it can be argued that either Victor Frankenstein, or the monster he creates is more frightening. The fact that the characteristics of the monster’s personality mirrors Frankenstein’s inability to control his own emotions makes both of them even more fear-provoking.

He speaks of his interests of study and what past events have sparked his curiosity. At this point in the novel, Victor Frankenstein is portrayed as a highly intelligent and driven person, though a bit obsessive. Victor is extremely interested in his studies and, as a result, devotes the majority of his time to them. This can be seen at the the beginning of chapter four, “From this day natural philosophy, and particularly chemistry in the most comprehensive sense of the term, became nearly my sole occupation,” (Shelley 42). The fact that Victor is so largely consumed by these studies eventually becomes almost frightening to the reader. As the novel progresses, and as the monster is closer to being stricken with life, it appears to the audience that Victor Frankenstein is ignoring most social interactions. He continues to interact solely with professors he finds to be helpful in furthering his knowledge towards his particular goal. It becomes apparent to the reader that Victor is obsessed with the idea of reanimating the once lifeless creature he has created to the detriment of all else in his life. This becomes the character that Shelley leads the reader to

Frankenstein managed more successfully to rein in the excesses of the story’s multiple significance by exhibiting the monster as an awful warning, there remained a sphere in which the monster could live on in the less prejudicial condition of eloquent invisibility: the literary tradition.” (Baldick). The critics have considered Mary Shelley’s writing as successful in its meaningful message and significance. The novel that has allowed the approval of Shelley’s work is Frankenstein. The novel commences with a series of letters written by a ship captain, traveling to the North Pole, to his sister recounting the whole voyage. The captain writes the encounter with a man, Victor Frankenstein, who is in an ill condition. Being aware of his worsening condition, Victor expels all the aching truth of his life. He tells the tale of his creation, a monster who is brought to life by a synthesis of various dead bodies. As the telling of tale begins with the early life of Victor and his family, through the use of foreshadowing, Victor’s most loved possession is introduced; his stepsister or later his wife. Coping

The ability to create and destroy through the use of science is one of many driving forces that lead people to choose this field of study. Mary Shelley creates a thought-provoking storyline through the eyes of scientist Victor Frankenstein in her novel Frankenstein, who experiences these driving forces. In her world-known novel the scientist fulfills his goals of giving life to a spirit-less body, playing God. Shortly after, he becomes frightened of the creature he created, making him flee his home. In doing so, the monster leaves the home and kick-starts a bloody journey of attacking his family as revenge for the lack of compassion and love he received from his creator. After the death of his youngest brother, William, and the wrongful conviction of a family friend, Victor Frankenstein is forced to protect his family and friends by trying to end the life of his creation. The purpose of Shelley’s writing is to reveal the dark workings inside the human mind. She uses this story to display a new writing style, describe the influence science can have on the mindset of scientists, and the disturbing outcomes that can occur with its use.

“Did I request thee, Maker, from my clay To mould me Man, did I solicit thee From darkness to promote me?” (Important Quotes Explained). With Frankenstein being written in the early 19th century, the Romantic movement, being as popular as ever, was clearly evident in Shelley’s writings. Shelley’s mom, an active feminist, died during childbirth, leaving Mary to grow up with a radical political philosopher and novelist, William Godwin, as her father. Victor Frankenstein, the main character, has a strong desire for the pursuit of knowledge, which he eventually learns is more harmful than helpful. The creature of the story, who remains nameless, is Victor’s creation who although is seen to be evil by others, actually has a pure heart. Robert Walton is the narrator of the book, telling Frankenstein’s story, who also shares his dangerous desire for knowledge. If Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel, Frankenstein, has survived for nearly 200 years, it may be due to the historical context of the romantic movement, the way that the story stems from the author’s own personal life, and the characters who portray the idea that knowledge may be treacherous.

Mary Shelley wrote her gothic novel after a terrifying nightmare in her home at Lake Geneva. In her Novel, Walton introduces Victor Frankenstein story and provides background through a series of letters to his sister. Victor has a joyful childhood with his friend Henry and his adopted sister Elisabeth. However the situation soon turns sour after the death of his mother from scarlet fever. Following the death of his mother Victor father, Alphonse sends him to university in England. Victor soon becomes interested in science and biology, specifically the creation of life. His studies lead Victor to conduct a creation experiment. After months of work victor is disgusted by the creation of his monster and soon avoids the monster due to his guilt. A short time

Frankenstein was written two hundred years ago by Mary Shelly when she was eighteen years old. A science fiction novel but often read as a gothic horror story and ominous warning about the ramifications exceeding boundaries of science. The main character, Victor Frankenstein, at a young age has been fascinated by life and death and classical experiments of the alchemists, thus creating his first subject the Monster. Frankenstein epitomized the climatic change in the study of science during the eighteenth century. The time is characterized by important experimentations and rise of scholars such Faraday, Dalton, and Benjamin Franklin. There were signs in the novel that it was influenced by scientific discovery of our modern understanding of electricity. Shelly attempted to uncover the limits to which science can surpass morals. Frankenstein who attempted to attain powers through science by his display of creation of life and death, has forbidden limitations and unforgiving ramifications.

*Frankenstein, written by Mary Shelley, is a fiction novel published in 1818. Frankenstein illustrates the story of Victor Frankenstein creating a human being out of dead body parts. When Victor creates the monster, the monster goes against Victor’s wishes and expectations by demanding a companion. If Victor doesn’t follow the monster’s orders, the monster will murder Victor’s whole family. Frankenstein doesn’t heed to the normal, standard expectations of literature. Shelley’s intelligence goes beyond the ordinary by expanding her horizon on the capacity of humans. Shelley gives a human the qualifications to create life of which literature hasn’t expanded upon.