Similarities Between Frankenstein And Sir Gawain

“The idol of today pushes the hero of yesterday out of recollection; and will, in turn, be supplanted by his successor of tomorrow,” (“Heroes”). What this quote by Washington Irving is saying is that heroes generally tend to last only until the next hero takes his place. However, literary heroes have the luxury of being embedded into timeless classics. Sir Gawain of “Sir Gawain and The Green Knight”, Beowulf of the epic poem by the same name, and Dr. Victor Frankenstein from the gothic novel Frankenstein are all heroes; however, they are developed by their authors inn diverse and complex ways. It is through the ways they are introduced, the challenges they face, and the way they impact the society in which they were intended and continue to

When Sir Gawain is introduced, the first thing he says is this very humbling quote. “My life would be least missed, if we let out the truth. Only as you (King Author) are my uncle have any honor,” (Sir Gawain 235). This is humbling, because Gawain is explaining how he believes everyone else’s life is more valuable than his. After he says this Gawain offers to have his head cut off to spare his king, which in turn sets him up to deify odds and show his heroicness. Next, Beowulf’s nobility is shown by third parties first remark about him. “My lord, the great king of Danes, commands me to tell you that he knows of your noble birth,” (Beowulf 47). This noble birth is widely known, and helps get him the opportunity to show how superhuman he is. Lastly, Dr. Victor Frankenstein tells of his much respected background when he introduces himself. “I am by birth a Geneverse, and my family is one of the most distinguished of that republic,” (Shelley 16). This background has a huge impact on Victor’s heroicness because his family’s wealthy allows him to go to school and become the amazing inventor he is known to be. Altogether, a character’s background will allow him to develop into the hero society perceives him to