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Frankenstein Humanity Analysis

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How precious is life in the eyes of a God? The theme of humanity explored in the play Frankenstein. – (1001 Words)
Nick Dear’s adaptation of Frankenstein is a triumph to modern day theatre. Dear’s concept of setting the classic novel from the Creature’s point of view allows the theme of humanity to be considered in a well thought out way. The play raises the major question of, ‘How precious is life in the eyes of a God?’
The idea of double casting the roles of Frankenstein and The Creature with the same two actors is a remarkable concept. Cumberbatch and Miller take on the iconic roles in a new and exciting way. What is interesting about this is that both the actors take on a different, yet similar approach in both the conflicting roles, (the …show more content…

“The monster and Safie are both community seekers and representative of the unfamiliar: they are foreigners who arrive unexpectedly at the cottagers’ door hoping to gain access to their small society.” The author later goes on to say that Safie is less qualified to work for the cottagers’ than the Creature yet she still gets a sanctuary with them. This is a very interesting view point when considering the theme of humanity. Both were travellers looking for shelter yet when the better person gets turned away does this then challenge the cottagers’ humanity?
The way in which Bentley conveys her thoughts on humanity within Frankenstein, is done through a range of good examples, looking at both sides of an argument on humanity and also backing herself up with what the author or the novel Shelly writes about her own work. “Mary Shelly saw the Creature as potentially monstrous, but she never suggested that he was other than fully human.” This is a good example of how author has explored a range of sources to back up her statements. This quote taken from Anne K. Mellor shows how Bentley is using both the ideas of another and the ideas of the author the strengthen her …show more content…

The author has a strong range of sources, quotes and ideas from others to back up her statements all of which strongly back up the theme of humanity within Frankenstein.
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein A Sourcebook raises very interesting points to the question of humanity. Timothy Morton makes concessive and valid points within the academic book such as is origin essential? Where did we come from? Is kindness a human trait at all?
When looking at some of the issues that Morton raises about humanity it is very interesting to note that he brings up the debate nature or nurture. “…his body is one thing, his mind is another”, this quote from Morton is a very interesting point to consider the play of nature and nurture on the Creature as he has the mind of any human however the body of a monster. The nature of this being his body and the nurture being his mind is an interesting concept to explore and Morton makes the interesting point in focusing on

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