The Monster's relationship with humanity in Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein is indeed a constant struggle, and his actions of vindictiveness towards humanity can be seen as somewhat justified due to his own plight. The Monster's creation and subsequent abandonment by Victor Frankenstein, his creator, leaves him in a state of profound loneliness and rejection, which fuels his sense of bitterness towards humanity. As the Monster himself expresses, "From that moment [his creation], I declared everlasting war against the species, and more than all, against him who had formed me and sent me forth to this insupportable misery" (Shelley 121). This quote illustrates how the Monster's vindictive behavior towards humanity is a direct result of his own suffering and anguish caused by his abandonment by his creator. …show more content…
When he attempts to interact with humans and is met with fear, hatred, and violence, the Monster is pushed further into a state of rage and despair. As he reflects, "I am malicious because I am miserable. Am I not shunned and hated by all mankind? You, my creator, would tear me to pieces and triumph; remember that, and tell me why I should pity man more than he pities me?" (Shelley 139). This quote highlights how the Monster's vindictiveness towards humanity is a result of his own misery and the mistreatment he receives from humans, which leads him to question why he should show them any pity in
Secondly, when the monster confronts Victor Frankenstein, it declares, "I am malicious because I am miserable" (Chapter 16). This statement shows that the monster's actions are motivated by its suffering
Humans are very complex beings; their motives and reasons for being are always different and sometimes difficult to understand. In the novel Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, she depicts the monster created as a very curious and caring creature that soon discovers his inevitably lonely fate which, upon realization, turns him into a vengeful savage. Mary Shelley illuminates the idea that no one is entirely pure nor evil, but a complex mixture of both. In the beginning of the novel, Frankenstein creates his monster and abandoned it out of fear and disgust.
From the monster's point of view, isolation is a negative aspect in which he suffers from loneliness as a result of being rejected by society. Moreover, his disfiguring image makes it impossible to have any hope of socializing with a human, thus making him a destructive being. Unlike Victor, nature reveals his grotesque form to him, notably when he sees his reflection in the “transparent pool” and becomes “fully convinced that [he is] in reality the monster that [he] is” (Shelley 80). Unfortunately, the monster has the potential to be a loving human, but his attempts to make himself acknowledged in a society that is "structurally antagonistic to his efforts" have turned him into a hateful individual (Bernatchez). Thus, it is evident that both the monster, “an abandoned child,” and Victor are victims of alienation and isolation, despite the monster being forced into this position and Victor desiring it (Oates).
Inflamed by pain, I vowed eternal hatred and vengeance to all mankind. But the agony of my wound overcame me; my pulses paused, and I fainted. (Frankenstein)" The Creature, after experiencing pain and suffering at the hands of the very being that had gave him life, decided what little compassion he had to save an innocent child. However, even that gesture of good will was not satisfactory for humankind, for they had gave the Creature more pain and suffering in return. Society's rejection of the Creature illustrates the negative impact that isolation has on the Creature because although the Creature wants to integrate into society and be accepted by them, mankind's constant rejection of him prevents him from ever feeling loved or accepted, and it only continues to drive the Creature both physically and emotionally from the very people he wishes to be loved and accepted
It was acutely aware of its own otherness and the fact that it would never be accepted by the rest of society. This feeling of isolation and rejection made the monster want to seek revenge against its creator, as it saw him as the source of all its pain and
Upon hearing this the monster exclaimed “Frankenstein! you belong then to my enemy--to him towards whom I have sworn eternal revenge; you shall be my first victim." (Chapter 16, pg. 30) He then began slaughtering all those who shared a relationship with Frankenstein. His anger, while justified, does not condone the malevolent slaughter of those that have never done anything wrong to the
Society Made Monsters Societal isolation is not talked about as much as it should, it creeps into a person’s mind and fills them with apathy towards their fellow man. No quote better emulates this than in Chapter Seventeen of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, “I am malicious because I am miserable. Am I not shunned and hated by all of mankind?” The Creature is beseeching Victor Frankenstein to end his loneliness by providing him with a woman like him.
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 monster desiring to find personal connections was rejected by humanity. Every confrontation with “humans had quickly caused panic” (Phy). When the monster went into the village everyone “was roused, some fled, some attacked” him (Shelley 112). In seeking human relations, the monster was only met with fear and revulsion. Becuase of the monster’s exclusion, he becomes “ruthless and bitter after his negative reception in society” (Knowledge).
In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein brings his creation to life and has to endure the repercussions of his actions. While Victor is in fact human, the question of whether the creature or Victor is more human still stands. Humanity is demonstrated as compassionate in the book and monstrosity is the opposite. The creature is more human because of his developed personality and desire to be human. Victor, although born into a humane family, evolved into everything bad about humanity; he developed obsession, resentment, and manipulated life to conform to his idealities.
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 Monster's physical appearance sets him apart from society, causing people to recoil in fear and disgust. This constant rejection and isolation lead to the Monster's deep sense of insecurity and self-loathing. He becomes convinced of his own inherent monstrosity, unable to find acceptance or belonging. The relentless rejection he faces fuels his anger and despair, ultimately driving him to seek revenge against his creator and society as a whole.
The monster continues by reassuring the creator of his independent intelligence and power over the creature by telling Frankenstein, “This you alone can do”. Here, the creature assumes a role of submissiveness and reliance on Frankenstein. Frankenstein’s monster gains the sympathy of the reader who, despite condemning the murder of innocent people, commiserate with the lonely creature who is in search of an acquaintance, which he will likely never find. The monster also displays power and aggressiveness over Frankenstein; “You are my creator; but I am your master; obey!” The monster wants to desolate Victor’s heart, not by killing him directly,
Mary Shelley shows the endless amount of revenge and that it is driven by pure hatred and rage. The monster was not created to be vengeful, he was kind hearted but when he was poorly treated by Victor and then by the Delacey family, he turned cold. In her novel Frankenstein, Mary Shelley displays the immorality and destructive effects that revenge can have through Frankenstein and his pursuit of the creature. Immediately after the monster had awoken, hatred thickened and would drive the plot to be all about revenge. The creature illustrates this hatred as he says to Victor, “Everything is related in them which bears reference to my accursed origin; the whole detail of that series of disgusting circumstances which produced it is set in view;
You, my creator, would tear me to pieces and triumph; remember that, and tell me why I should pity man more than he pities me?" (175). At this moment, the reader and Victor Frankenstein realize that the reason for the monster's malicious acts is due to the suffering that he has endured while attempting to gain acknowledgement from humans. The reader is once again reminded of the dangerous outcome the path of knowledge leads to. Deol 5