ipl-logo

Frankenstein Sympathy Essay

548 Words3 Pages

Andre Aloian Mr. August AP English 12 Give Frankenstein Symphathy… Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein introduces us to the character of Victor Frankenstein, a complex and morally ambiguous figure. While his actions throughout the story can be seen as evil or immoral, a closer examination of the full presentation of his character evokes a sympathetic response from readers. Through Victor's internal struggles, his pursuit of knowledge, and his remorse for his creation, Shelley skillfully invites readers to empathize with the character despite his questionable choices. The full presentation of Victor Frankenstein's character in Frankenstein engenders sympathy from readers through his internal conflicts, his relentless pursuit of knowledge, and his remorse for the consequences of his actions. Victor Frankenstein's internal struggles contribute to our sympathetic response to his character. He is torn between his ambitions and the consequences of his actions, as exemplified by his statement: "Learn from me... how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge, and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow" (Shelley 30). This quote reveals Victor's awareness of the …show more content…

He is consumed by his desire to unlock the secrets of life, even if it means pushing ethical boundaries. His obsession is evident in his words: "Life and death appeared to me ideal bounds, which I should first break through, and pour a torrent of light into our dark world" (Shelley 34). Victor's unyielding pursuit of knowledge, albeit misguided, resonates with readers who can relate to the allure of pushing boundaries and the quest for discovery. Shelley invites us to reflect on the fine line between ambition and obsession, deepening our understanding of Victor's character and eliciting sympathy for his flawed

Show More
Related

  • Frankenstein Compassion Essay

    987 Words  | 4 Pages

    Compassion to Killers What is Compassion? Compassion is sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings and misfortunes of others. Should society treat these abandoned killers with compassion? These killers, the creature from the story Frankenstein and American Serial killer David Berkowitz, also known as The Son of Sam were both abandoned by society and by their creators.

    Read More

  • Frankenstein Inhumane Essay

    512 Words  | 3 Pages

    Did Victor Frankenstein establish human life inside his science lab? In the book Frankenstein, by Gris Grimly, Frankenstein, the main character Victor had been studying natural philosophy and had the notion to create some type of creature inside of his laboratory. He purposefully designed his creature with non-human traits, like standing at 8 feet tall, and having yellow skin. When he realizes the creature can easily become descructive, he slowly realizes everything about the creature is inadequate for him and hides from the creature - ultimately regretting ever making it. In the book Frankenstein, the creature that was brought to life is not a human due to its inhumane traits.

    Read More

  • Sympathy In Frankenstein

    1045 Words  | 5 Pages

    In the 1818 edition of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, we follow the story of a scientist, Victor, who creates a being from the body parts of dead animals and humans. Victor learns that playing God comes with consequences when the creature comes to life and is not what he imagined it to be. We as the readers learn how the power of uninterrupted knowledge can corrupt a person and how neglect can lead someone to commit unfathomable crimes. Mary Shelley tests her audience’s morality and lets them decide whom they think deserves pity and who they think is to blame for the destruction that takes place in her book.

    Read More

  • Frankenstein Enlightenment Essay

    997 Words  | 4 Pages

    Victor is fascinated by science at a very young age and his love for science only grows deeper throughout his life as he grows older and continues to learn even more about how the world works around him. Although fascinating, Victor’s love for science became obsessive which caused him to work day and night on perfecting his experiments. Overall, it can be seen that there were many influences and consequences that are portrayed as themes of the Enlightenment in Mary Shelley’s

    Read More

  • Who Is Victor Frankenstein A Hero

    1105 Words  | 5 Pages

    His fervent longing and excitement prompt him to the point at which he announces, “What [has] been the study and desire of the widest men since the creation of the world [is] now within my grasp”(53). Thirst for recognition clouds rational perceptions of what is impossible and what is possible. Indeed, Victor’s ambition leaves no room for his acknowledgement of human limits. The prognosis of glory allures Victor to sacrifice his connection with the outside world, health, and diet while staying desolated in the laboratory. After Frankenstein figures out what gives life, he assembles body parts from the corpses that he collects and starts to construct a human being.

    Read More

  • Frankenstein Loneliness Essay

    880 Words  | 4 Pages

    When Victor leaves for University, he dedicates all of his time to science and neglects his friends and family. Victor is used to being “surrounded by amiable companions, continually engaged in endeavoring to bestow mutual pleasure—[he] was now alone” (Shelley 30). By devoting himself fully to his studies, Victor inflicts isolation on himself. As the novel progresses, Victor’s family members and friends are taken from him by the monster.

    Read More

  • To What Extent Is The Real Monster In Frankenstein

    575 Words  | 3 Pages

    When Victor’s lack of judgement leads him to create a misshapen being, his self loathing for the results of his creation becomes hatred. Victor procrastinates in dealing with the monster for as long as possible, but to no advantage. When Victor returns to the apartment, he notes that ‘I imagined that the monster seized me.’ Victor’s lack of guidance and nurturing towards his creation is the predominate reason why, ‘[He is] malicious and miserable’ and is at the forefront of Shelley use of Victor to show that avoiding the responsibilities of a creator is a serious sin that will destroy himself and others. Shelley does not condemn creation, knowledge, or science.

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Gifts In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

    1002 Words  | 5 Pages

    Mary Shelley's Frankenstein explores the consequences of playing God and the complex nature of humanity. The central characters, Victor Frankenstein and the Creature, both receive gifts that are both a blessing and a curse. Victor is gifted with an exceptional mind and a passion for science, while the Creature is given life and consciousness. However, these gifts ultimately lead to destruction and despair for both characters. Through analyzing the nature of these gifts and how they contribute to the characters' development, we can better understand the themes of the novel.

    Read More

  • Frankenstein Research Paper

    1673 Words  | 7 Pages

    Novels of the Romantic era, including Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, also known as The Modern Prometheus, were full of gothic elements, grasping yet tactful moments, and historical connections that provided accuracy to the novel. Frankenstein provides the reader with the narrative of Victor Frankenstein, a young and gifted scientist who attempts to create artificial life through the gift of his knowledge and discoveries. Through their game of cat and mouse, Frankenstein faces tragic losses caused by his very own creation, while that very creature struggles through the life that he was brought into and how he is perceived with his hideous appearance. As Victor desperately tries to reverse his actions, he experiences what it feels like to fall

    Read More

  • Cruelty In Frankenstein

    815 Words  | 4 Pages

    Throughout the novel, Victor's actions are motivated by his own desires and ambitions, often at the expense of those around him. In Chapter 7, he reflects on his pursuit of knowledge and states, "It was the secrets of heaven and earth that I desired to learn; and whether it was the outward substance of things or the inner spirit of nature and the mysterious soul of man that occupied me, still my inquiries were directed to the metaphysical, or in its highest sense, the physical secrets of the world" (Shelley 50). With this quote, Shelley shows Victor's preoccupation with his own intellectual pursuits, which take priority over his relationships and the well-being of those around him. Another example of Victor's lack of empathy can be seen when he creates the creature without considering the potential consequences for the creature's well-being. He states, "I had desired it with an ardor that far exceeded moderation; but now that I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart" (Shelley 34).

    Read More

  • Examples Of Masculinity In Frankenstein

    1670 Words  | 7 Pages

    He expresses his insecurity through his overly ambitious task of creating life as he yearns for the credit of being god-like “ I will pioneer a new way, explore unknown powers” (Shelley 76) and “ I alone should be reserved to discover so astonishing a secret” (Shelley 79) which together show how Victor wants to be the one true pioneer of creating new life and on his own will complete it. Victor's scientific dominance is a reflection of the lack of praise he gets in his life from his family members for his intelligence as he rarely communicates with them. He supplements any true relationship with his ambition. Victor Frankenstein is the embodiment of the Victorian doctor archetype as described by Kohlke “dualism of both Victorian masculinity and the period more generally, vacillating between public probity and secret vice, rigid self-control and gratuitous self-gratification”(123) as he told Walton he wanted to make this discovery to improve the world while it was only for his satisfaction and ego. He disregards the dead bodies of others, using them as mere scraps in his lab to create something monstrous that destroys any living relationships in his life.

    Read More

  • Who Is Victor Frankenstein A Romantic Hero

    1139 Words  | 5 Pages

    I had desired it with an ardour that far exceeded moderation" (Shelley) Furthermore, at a point in his obsession, he even attempts to defy nature by playing a God figure and says: "I was the secrets of heaven and earth that I desired to learn." (Shelley) Most notably, he resembles the main trait of the Romantic hero, isolation. Victor cuts communication with his family for over two years when he is working on his creation, leaving his family worried about his well-being and longing for any sort of interaction from him.

    Read More

  • Responsibility In Frankenstein

    982 Words  | 4 Pages

    INTRO: In Mary Shelly’s novel Frankenstein, there are evident themes of responsibility and personal moral standards that are prevalent throughout the book. The reader is introduced to the moral dilemma which both Victor and the creature face, and the consequences that follow. With unchecked scientific curiosity comes a mountain of consequences, but whether to face them or simply ignore them is another story and one that Victor is all too familiar with. Victor's lack of personal responsibility from the beginning ultimately causes his situation and the death of his family, friends, and finally himself.

    Read More

  • Frankenstein Human Nature Essay

    883 Words  | 4 Pages

    Victor Frankenstein's pursuit of knowledge and ambition to create life ultimately leads to his downfall, highlighting the dangers of unchecked curiosity. Additionally, the monster's desperate search for companionship and acceptance underscores the importance of human connection for emotional well-being. Shelley suggests that these traits are not only inherent to human nature but also crucial for a fulfilling life. However, she also warns against the consequences of allowing these traits to consume us, as seen through the tragic consequences of Victor's

    Read More

  • Frankenstein And Ex Machina Comparison

    750 Words  | 3 Pages

    In Frankenstein, Victor's attempts to create life are eventually useless, as his creation turns out to be a monster that he cannot control. The novel suggests that there are some things that are beyond human understanding and that the pursuit of knowledge can be dangerous. Victor says, "I had desired it with an ardor that far exceeded moderation; but now that I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart" (Shelley 56). This quote highlights the idea that Victor's creation has led to his own

    Read More

More about Frankenstein Sympathy Essay

Open Document