Frankenstein Essay Frankenstein shows us the importance of understanding others. Discuss. (Belonging and Acceptance) Nathanim Gebremedhin 215261 8I ‘Frankenstein’ is an award winning novel by Mary Shelley that was published in 1818. It tells the story of a committed young science student, Victor Frankenstein, who performs an unorthodox science experiment, consequently creating a malformed but sentient creature. In his attempt to satiate his hunger for success and acceptance, he brought forth the story of the monster, who similarly sought to belong and be understood by those around him, coming across Felix and Agathe in his pursuit, who were excluded from society and lived in segregation, also wanting acceptance. The importance of understanding …show more content…
The unjust treatment that the creature received from humankind was harsh and unreasonable as he wasn’t allowed the opportunity to prove his intentions were far from malicious. His loneliness, isolation and injustice from those he tried to befriend turned him into an actual monster, evidently his perspective and personality changed after being excluded. The monster had been treated unfairly by humanity “I desired love and fellowship and I was spurned. Was there no injustice in this? … Am I to be thought the only criminal when all human kind sinned against me?” (Ch.8) and without the acceptance he yearned for, he became bitter and resentful, acting out ruthlessly. The monster was completely misunderstood and at no stage a welcome guest. In spite of his benevolent and kind spirit, he was beaten up and even shot at. No one was willing to attempt to understand him except for Agathe who was blind, but even that was short lived as Felix was quick to attack the creature. Although labelled as a horrifying monster, nothing but his exterior fit this description, until he was discriminated by society. Only then did he become the name he was given. Ultimately, acceptance and understanding from society were all that the monster sought, and being denied of this was the cause of his downfall, his heart transforming from pure to tainted (taint) with
Toby Litt uses the monster character to reflect how we try to avoid discovering ourselves because we fear what we might find. The monster expresses how it avoids contract with other monsters. “And this it gained socially from the kinds of monster which most commonly approached it with what seemed to be sexual intent, meaning an intent to sexually describe” (Litt 250). Pitt wants readers to understand that the monster
The vivid description of the monster’s emotions highlight the impact that society’s actions towards the monster had on his motivations for revenge and acts of violence. Society’s hostile actions towards the monster lead the monster to feel completely isolated and alienated from society. He is seen as ‘the other’. He was not seen as a creation, a creature, or a living being, but as a monster. All the monster required was love and companionship.
The monster has felt the pain of rejection from human society. He understands what it is like to be hated because of his appearance. This is the start of the monsters downfall, he lets the rage he feels consumes him: “Cursed, cursed, creator! Why did I live?” (138).
He is not given the opportunity to explain himself, who he is, or what his true motives are, but others continue to ridicule and reject him just because of his appearance. This is why he kills so many people, and he realizes that no human would ever care for him; therefore, he wants vengeance and is saddened and enraged about how people treat him. Overall, the creature exhibits a number of behaviors that lead to an understanding of his
A kind, empathetic, and loving creature transforms into a terrifying and cruel monster after the sharp edges of society shape him as they see fit. Societal monsters are products of injustice. They do not fit in and for that, society ridicules them. In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, there are many instances of societal injustice. This prejudice can be traced back to other monsters in real life society.
When he reached a village, immediately: children shrieked, and one of the women fainted. The whole village was roused; some fled, some attacked me, until, grievously bruised by stones and many other kinds of missile weapons, I escaped to the open country and fearfully took refuge" (Shelley 95). Initially the being had been delighted by the sight of the village, but he was brutally driven from it for no reason other than his appearance. Because he appeared abnormal, they assumed he was evil. Just as society fears the creature, the creature fears society.
The gothic fiction novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley centralizes on humanity and the qualifications that make someone human. The content of the novel Frankenstein depicts a monster displaying human traits that his creator Victor does not possess: empathy, a need for companionship, and a will to learn and fit in. Throughout the novel Shelley emphasizes empathy as a critical humanistic trait. The monster displays his ability to empathize with people even though they are strangers. On the other hand Victor, fails to show empathy throughout the novel even when it relates to his own family and friends.
Regardless of who we strive to be, or who we dare not to be, those who we respect and look up to will be the ones who leave an impression on our lives. To the Monster’s credit, it continued to pursue a life of good deeds until the people it idolized turn on it. Because of the influence made on it by its parental figures the Monster behaves like an outsider, and as an outsider it gains new role models and is governed by new emotions such as anger and hate. The monster should not be blamed for its malicious nature, rather, the people who taught it hate and the Doctor who created it without a true intent of being its
The rejection of the cottagers, who the creature so cared for left him in despair. If the cottagers the creature had done so much for could not accept him, how could the creature accept himself if all the creature knew was that he was a horrific being that nobody cared for. The creature has no sense of belonging in the world or within himself. Not only does the creature not accept himself, but this also leads to the stunt in the creature's psychological growth. “ I am alone and miserable; man will not associate with me; but one as deformed and horrible as myself would not deny herself to me.
The monster depicts his otherness when he wonders: “Was I, then, a monster, a blot upon the earth, from which all men fled and whom all men disowned” (Shelley 85). The monster evidently remains in isolation and is dehumanized. The monster attempts to get integrated into his society but his appearance and lack of social skills hinder his success. The monster strives to be accepted but is incapable of acceptance. The monster reiterates this feeling of isolation as he says: “I felt as if I were placed under a ban- as if I had no right to claim their sympathies – as if never more might I enjoy companionship with them” (Shelley 108).
He then gathers food and cuts firewood for the family and leaves it at the front of their house as a nice gesture to make up for what he has done. When Felix gets back with the rest of his family he starts beating the creature to ‘save’ his blind father, in which the creature did nothing to him but have a social connection with the father. The creature does not strike back but, runs away without physically contacting him. Another way he shows his kindness is when he notices a young girl drowning and tends to her. The companion of the little girl not knowing what is happening shoots the creature assuming he was attacking her.
Frankenstein’s creature initially shows no signs of ill will or malice when first encountering human beings (Shelley 72-73). On the contrary, through careful observation he is able to learn more about human society and personal relationships. He begins to admire the close connection between the people he observes and respects their virtue. This, however, makes him realise what he is missing. Observing the love and affection between others only increases the effect his own solitude has on him.
The creature’s mental knowledge is very small-minded and intolerant, causing his understanding of justice to be exceedingly narrow. The monster’s isolation from society is forced by its fate. Nobody could with handle the hideous looks given by the creature 's appearance, this made it nearly impossible for the creature to have any interaction with any sort of human. To illustrate, the creation said while reciting his tale to Victor “And what was I?
The Monster sees himself as a monster, a horror, because of his actions. He sees how he caused pain and misery, and he shows regret for what he has done. The Monster’s view of himself reveals how he sees truth in the world. Throughout her novel, Shelly uses diction to show how ego distorts reality and exposes unnecessary danger into the world.
Although he comes with friendly intentions, the Monster is treated violently and with contempt, essentially being forced into his alienation to survive and becoming the “monster” he is already thought of as a result. The Monster’s actions are a response to the treatment he has received from others, everyday villagers and Victor alike. With little known about his origins and no way to explain himself, there is no hope for the Monster to assimilate himself. This is present in other characters of the novel as well, for example, Richard Walton, who has self-alienated in order to gain distinction and knowledge. The Monsters origins and appearance develop these themes of alienation throughout the novel, themes that are further developed by other characters and play an important role in delivering the message of