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Selfishness In Frankenstein

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What is the point? Everyone has an erred of self-centeredness. It’s natural to take the world in from an internal perspective, but what happens when one’s perception of the outside world is deranged? Mary Shelley answers this question in depth in; Frankenstein. Shelley uses a flawed external perception to motivate a creature to commit horrible acts that in return inspire Victor Frankenstein to continue living and to tell his cautionary tale. However, what is the point? What is the point of the creature’s motivations being driven by selfishness or that Frankenstein’s own purpose in life is spurred on by the creature’s actions? Mary Shelley uses egocentrism to motivate the creature in order to control Frankenstein’s life so she can, in the end, establish …show more content…

This is also Victors only drive to live because of the loss of his loved ones, which is once again the undoing of the creatures selfishness. The creature’s tragic struggles with humanity, ironically becomes the worst part of humanity. This drives Victor to; “seek one who fled from him” (Shelley.10). The selfishness that motivates the Creature to continue living and commit such immoral acts against humanity is the very thing that fuels Frankenstein’s vendetta. However, when Frankenstein sees that Walton’s own ambition is mirroring Frankenstein’s own guilt-wrenching past, he makes the decision to share his misfortunes. “I had determined, at one time, that the memory of these evils should die with me but you have won me to alter my determination” (Shelley.13). In all, the creature’s own selfishness for ruining Frankenstein’s life influences the way that Frankenstein continues to live on. This is portrayed within Victor’s cautionary tale to Walton. This tale is attempting to ensure that no one else will make the same mistakes he has made or be consumed with the same ruinous ambition that Frankenstein

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