Morality In Frankenstein
Centuries ago, a sixteen year old girl undertook a literary challenge that unbeknownst to her would deeply resonate with society and become one of the few “timeless tales” that have been written throughout history. A story of a man and his monster transcends the torrents of a multitude of interpretations and retellings, consistently containing key elements which enlighten the reader/viewer to the recurring themes and moral ambiguity of the story. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, a gothic tale set in pre-modern Europe, brings to light many moral questions still existing in the present day. Questions are posed such as when does life begin and end; to what extent should scientific progression be allowed to tamper with creating life and bringing once …show more content…
Frankenstein and its closely related story-plot-cousins captivate audiences throughout the world and throughout time due to the situations that cause the reader/viewer to question their stance on morality and ethics revolved around the “Frankenstein Creature”.
When reading Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, readers approach, reach, and have to double back to make sure the monumental scene of the Creature coming to life was really just those miniscule few lines fit snugly inside the many paragraphs much like the rest of the novel. The scene which holds such significance in the vast majority of Frankenstein’s reinterpretations is over before it seemed to have even begun in the novel. Reinterpretations, however, take artistic liberties to dramatize the moment. There is an ongoing debate of “where does life begin and end?” Frankenstein, while not revealing the precise methodology behind the Creature’s creation, does compel the reader and/or viewer of an interpretation to wonder how one can create life? Thoughts such as
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Robotic limbs and stem cell research is moving forward by leaps and bounds. Researchers are coming up with many agriculturally and medically beneficial discoveries at astounding rates, but to what end? At this rate of progression, will scientists be able to help themselves from attempting a Frankenstein Creature of their own? Joan Slonczewski expresses in Stem Cells and Human Cloning: The Postmodern Prometheus a much more in depth analysis of where the idea of a Frankenstein Creature can take the world. Among discussing the history and vast progression of transgenesis and genetic research, Slonczewski addresses serious moral and political dilemmas relating to the extent humanity should be allowed to achieve in meddling with the creation of living organisms. Professor Leon Kass, an advisor for United States’ President Bush, was referenced in her analysis when Slonczewski asks “Why is cloning so bad? Kass speaks of the ‘narcissism of those who would clone themselves,’ and the ‘grotesqueness’ of those who would clone others” (Slonczeski). Dolly the lamb was disregarded as an accidental success, but since her creation, “all kinds of mammals have been cloned, including a monkey and twenty-four "perfect" cows” (Slonczewski). Cloning in the agricultural industry has aided both in the plant and animal domains. However, these clones have been made with a certain amount of self interest in
Basil Gogos And Logos In Frankenstein
112 Words | 1 PagesThe Gothic novel, Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley follows the life of scientist Victor Frankenstein, who generates a creature that is not far-out from a “normal” human being. Although the creature is tralatitious, modern art, music and movies portray the creature Basil Gogos, an illustrator, was born in Egypt but moved to America when he was only 16 years old. Gogos attended many schools including the National School of Design, the Phoenix School of Design, and the School of the Visual Arts. Gogos career took off when his artwork made the cover of the 1959 book, “Pursuit”. Gogos has also painted for CD covers such as the one pictured above titled Electric Frankenstein.
Why Does Mary Shelley Use Of Personification In Frankenstein
656 Words | 3 PagesFrankenstein by Mary Shelley is a gothic novel that tells the story of scientist, Victor Frankenstein, and his obsession with creating human life. This leads him to creating a gruesome monster made of body-parts stolen from grave yards, whom upon discovering his hideousness, the monster seeks revenge against his creator, causing Victor to regret the creation of his monster for the rest of his life. Shelley uses the literary elements of personification, imagery, and similes to give a vivid sense and visualization of Victor Frankenstein’s thoughts and feelings as well as to allow us to delve deeper into the monster’s actions and emotions. Throughout the novel, Shelley uses personification of various forces and objects to reflect the effect in Victor’s actions.
How Does Frankenstein Influence Pop Culture
1267 Words | 6 PagesIntroduction First published in 1818, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein busted its way into popularity as one of the first science-fiction novels. As Shelley trudged her way into the literary canon, Frankenstein’s preliminary success was surpassed by a wave of Frankenstein-esque characters. Shelley’s great influence and success caused a whirlwind of Frankenstein references throughout pop culture. The many allusions to Frankenstein in pop culture arguably molded the text into a cult classic; inevitably making it’s mark on literature and the arts for centuries. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein influenced and inspired numerous beloved characters, portrayals, and adaptations in America’s pop culture.
The Villain In Frankenstein
882 Words | 4 PagesOver the past century, Frankenstein has been analyzed and interpreted in seemingly infinite different forms of literature, film, and television shows. Once solely recognized as the story about a brilliant scientist who creates a creature in whom he regrets making after the creature turns out ugly, Frankenstein now represents an internationally recognized and commercialized pop culture symbol for Halloween decorations and costumes. When analyzing and appreciating the true literary essence behind Mary Shelley’s original Frankenstein, one of the most important comparisons to consider remains the underlying influences behind the Creature’s immoral actions and whether or not the blame for these actions belong to Victor or the Creature. When exploring the dichotomy of the Creature versus Victor Frankenstein, one of the biggest and most widely debated questions remains whether Victor should be blamed for the Creature’s destructive actions or if the Creature should be considered guilty for his actions based off of his own free will. Many consider Victor Frankenstein the villain of the story due to his repetitive decisions to abandon and avoid his own “mistake,” the irresponsible choice of creating the monster in the first place, and his obvious negligence of the Creature’s feelings.
Duality Of Human Nature In Frankenstein
819 Words | 4 PagesDuality is shown in Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein, a gothic tale of a scientist whom looks to advance the life-giving qualities of mother nature. Through this novel, Shelley proves that good and evil in human nature is not always simple to define, and that everyone has both of these qualities within them. The duality of human nature is shown through the characters of Victor Frankenstein and his monster, who are both heroes in the novel while simultaneously displaying anti-hero qualities. Shelley forces the reader to sympathize with them both but also creates gruesome ideas of the two. Frankenstein’s creature places himself in a submissive position when he begs his creator to have mercy on him and asking the creator to “create a female for [him] with whom [he] can live in the interchange of those sympathies necessary for [his] being.”
Victor Is The Real Monster In Frankenstein
596 Words | 3 PagesWhen people hear the word “monster”, most people imagine a massive, horrid, and grotesque figure that haunts people. While pondering what a monster is, mankind thinks of the outward appearance. Seldom do people think of man’s internal qualities as being barbaric or gruesome. Authors allow readers to create their own images of these terrifying beings. Frankenstein is a thought-provoking novel that empowers readers to have their own opinions about who the actual monster is and what it looks like.
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein: The Pursuit Of Knowledge
1420 Words | 6 PagesENG-3U0 November 20 2015 Frankenstein: The Pursuit of Knowledge Throughout the course of their individual journeys, Victor Frankenstein’s extreme passion for gaining knowledge about creating life, Robert Walton’s curiosity to discover land beyond the North Pole and the monster’s eagerness to obtain knowledge about humans was the principal cause of each of their suffering. As such, In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, the pursuit of knowledge is a dangerous path which leads to suffering. Victor Frankenstein develops a keen interest in discovering knowledge about living beings which ultimately results in his personal suffering as well as others suffering. To begin with, Victor embarks on an assignment through combining body parts and following various
Social Criticism In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
291 Words | 2 PagesMary Shelley’s Frankenstein presents important social criticism. Shelly focuses, in particular, on importance of forgiveness, betrayal, acceptance in society. Learning to forgive yourself and others is an important thing to know how to do or you’ll be holding on to useless hatred and pain all of your life; the same way the monster, Frankenstein, was doing. “Forgive me. Everywhere I go, they hate me”.
Frankenstein Revenge Analysis
1140 Words | 5 PagesFrom the beginning, Victor Frankenstein’s abandonment of the creature
Human Relationships In Frankenstein
1221 Words | 5 PagesMary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein, is one of the most important and popular novels in the Romantic genre to this day. The novel was originally controversial because it touched on many fragile subjects such as the human anatomy and the development of science. The structure of Frankenstein begins as an epistolary, narrative story told by Robert Walton to his sister in England. Walton’s letters tell us that he is exploring, searching for what lies beyond the North Pole, and he eventually connects with Frankenstein. Shelley creates the protagonist, Dr. Victor Frankenstein, who has a fascination with life and death.
Conflict In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
966 Words | 4 PagesFrankenstein In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, a conflict as old as life itself emerges as the story progresses; parent versus posterity in a struggle for reconciliation. Victor Frankenstein and his creation become tied up in a constant battle as the creation seeks his origins, finding a horrifying truth; the creator had abandoned the creation. This central conflict derives from the creation of the creature, inability of Frankenstein to appreciate his creation, and the creation’s need for a parental figure. The conflict addresses themes of the book such as human desires for prestige, acceptance, and the intimacy of a relationship with one’s creator.
Character Development In Frankenstein
1921 Words | 8 PagesThe fictional horror novel of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is driven by the accentuation of humanity’s flaws. Even at the very mention of her work an archetypal monster fills one’s imagination, coupled with visions of a crazed scientist to boot. Opening her novel with Robert Walton, the conduit of the story, he also serves as a character to parallel the protagonist’s in many ways. As the ‘protagonist’ of the story, Victor Frankenstein, takes on the mantle of the deluded scientist, his nameless creation becomes the embodiment of a truly abandoned child – one left to fend for itself against the harsh reality posed by society. On the other hand, Walton also serves as a foil to Victor – he is not compulsive enough to risk what would be almost
Similarities Between Frankenstein And Prometheus
722 Words | 3 PagesMary Shelley's Frankenstein depicts the remarkable resemblance to the “modern” myth of Prometheus. The intertextuality used to connect these two stories, allow Shelley to bring out the most prominent themes of Power and suffering. As both of the characters deal differently with the struggle to resist the power that comes with creating life, the inevitable end for both characters are the same; they fall at the hands of their own creations. Shelley carefully utilizes the legend of Prometheus to express the connection between punishment and creation.
Importance Of Romanticism In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
963 Words | 4 PagesIn Mary Shelley’s Romantic novel, Frankenstein, an over-ambitious young scientist, infatuated with the creation of life without a female and the source of generation, breaks the limits of science and nature by conjuring life into a lifeless form constructed from stolen body parts. The young experimenter confesses his monstrous tale that defies nature to a captain who shares his desire for glory and the pursuit of knowledge. Though a Romantic novel itself, Frankenstein serves as a critique of part of the philosophy behind Romanticism, that is, the promotion of radical self-involvement that celebrates the individual’s pursuit of glory and knowledge. Both the lone captain and the young scientist seek glory from their quest for knowledge but ultimately their pursuits end disastrously. Throughout the novel, Shelley warns against excessive self-confidence, the ambitious overreaching in the acquirement of scientific knowledge, and the arrogant pursuit of glory, using the young scientist as a forewarning to the lone captain against his
Frankenstein Critical Analysis Essay
883 Words | 4 PagesMary Shelley’s Frankenstein Critical Analysis About the author Naomi Hetherington is a member of the University of Sheffield, the department of lifelong learning. She is an early researcher in sexuality, religious culture, the 19th-century literature, and gender. She holds a BA in Theology and religious studies, an MA and a Ph.D. in Victorian Literature. She currently teaches four-year pathway literature degree at Sheffield University for students who have already attained foundation degrees. Among the books, she has written the critique of Frankenstein.
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