The Destruction Of Humanity In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
In Frankenstein, Mary Shelley portrays a negative light on humanity from the characters’ insults and malice towards one another. Shelley’s characters lack redeeming qualities shown through society’s abuse of Justine, humanity’s disgust and neglect of the Creature, and Victor’s determination to kill the Creature. Overall, Shelley’s characters display qualities of cruelty, vengeance, and betrayal causing them to deserve none of the reader’s sympathy.
Society’s abuse of Justine Mortiz shows an evil aspect of humanity. It begins when Justine’s mother abuses her following Justine’s father death. As a result of Justine’s abuse, Caroline adopted and welcome Justine into the Frankenstein family. Although, Justine was saved by Caroline’s maternal instinct,
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When the Creature is first created Victor Frankenstein is disgusted and explains that “breathless horror and disgust filled his heart”(Ch.V; pg 51). The hard work put into this creature did not receive the sense of relief and accomplishment it deserved from Victor as its creator. Instead, without even knowing or learning about the Creature, Victor is filled with hatred demonstrating the malice in humanity. In addition, the Creature presents itself to the cottagers in hopes of acceptance and welcome. However, the cottagers immediately were frightened and struck the Creature. The cottagers did not seem to care about the Creature’s feelings nor its intent, displaying humanity’s malice. Similarly, the Creature dives in the lake to save the girl from drowning. When the Creature comes out of the water with the girl, he is shot and victimized for saving a helpless girl. The Creature says, “I had saved a human being from destruction, and as, a recompense, I now writhed under the miserable pain of a wound, which shattered the flesh and bone” (Ch. XVI; pg 125). Although Shelley includes companionship between some characters, the disgust and maltreatment Shelley’s characters display to the Creature overcomes places society in a negative
Examples Of Loss Of Innocence In Frankenstein
722 Words | 3 PagesAfter conversing with William Frankenstein, Victor's younger brother, the creature lashes out in anger and exclaims, “Frankenstein!”(Grimly 113). From this, some may conclude that murdering William makes him a monster; however, the only reason the creature felt the need to murder William is because of how Victor treated him so horribly. If Victor had cared for and tended to his own creation, then the creature would not have hate in its heart and would instead be peaceful. Similarly, following the murder of Elizabeth, Victor falls into a deep state of despair and recalls, “I was answered through the stillness of night by a loud and fiendish laugh”(Grimly 171). The opposing side would argue that the creature cruelly sought out revenge and made Victor’s life miserable, showing his deplorable behavior, making him a monster.
Elizabeth And Frankenstein Comparison
1292 Words | 6 PagesThe monster shows his sorrow after being rejected by the cottagers; “I continued for the remainder of the day in my hovel in a state of utter and stupid despair. My protectors had departed, and had broken the only link that held me to the world. For the first time the feelings of revenge and hatred filled my bosom” (Shelley 97). The creature leaves where he was abandoned to a cottage of the Delacey’s there he learns about humanity. After learning he accidentally drives the Delacey’s apart from him, causing great depression and anger (Frasait).
How Is Frankenstein Related To Justice
348 Words | 2 PagesThe novel Frankenstein, with its abundant characters, all represent some form of injustice or justice significance. However, one character in particular, was of impeccable representation to the justice system. Moreover, this precise person fell under because of the justice system, and it is very closely related to today’s corrupt society. Although it was character’s decision to fall under the justice system, this individual still strongly represents the significance to justice and injustice. First of all, Justine, the ideal person for this representation, was accused for the murder of Victor’s brother in the novel; there was discovered evidence.
Why Does Mary Shelley Use Of Personification In Frankenstein
656 Words | 3 PagesShelley describes the morning after Frankenstein creates the monster and runs away- "Morning, dismal and wet, at length dawned, and discovered to my sleepless and aching eyes the church of Ingolstadt…”. This dreary scene adequately depicts Victor’s miserable, downcast feeling toward the ugly monster he has just created. Shelley also uses the imagery element to bring into view Frankenstein’s painful emotions over the result of his creation. Immediately following the verdict of Justine’s death, a deep feeling of remorse washes over Frankenstein. "The blood flowed freely in my veins, but a weight of despair and remorse pressed on my heart, which nothing could remove.
Examples Of Cruelty In Frankenstein
687 Words | 3 PagesThe novel Frankenstein brings to light many problems and situations that shed light on the faults of mankind. Cruelty was a huge factor in the novel; throughout Frankenstein is cruel to his body and to his creation. When he first makes the creature he runs from it, leaving the creature to fend for himself; even when reuniting with the creature he continues displays cruelty. The creature, in turn exhibits Victor cruelty right back. Within Frankenstein cruelty can be attributed, often affecting both Victor and the creature; serving as a crucial motivator and revealing their anger, pain, frustration till eventually both die.
Empathy In Frankenstein
929 Words | 4 PagesThe gothic fiction novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley centralizes on humanity and the qualifications that make someone human. The content of the novel Frankenstein depicts a monster displaying human traits that his creator Victor does not possess: empathy, a need for companionship, and a will to learn and fit in. Throughout the novel Shelley emphasizes empathy as a critical humanistic trait. The monster displays his ability to empathize with people even though they are strangers. On the other hand Victor, fails to show empathy throughout the novel even when it relates to his own family and friends.
Frankenstein: Selfish And Selfishness In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
1135 Words | 5 PagesThe creature becomes defensive. "Life...is dear to me, and I will defend it" (Shelley 96), this is ironic because not only does the creature kill others showing his selfishness, which he is mirroring Victor 's earlier selfish intentions for creating the creature, but earlier he was suicidal. Now the creature has to ask permission for a better life from a person that doesn 't even seem to value it. The creature also reminds
Loss Of Humanity In Frankenstein Essay
1019 Words | 5 PagesIn 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.
Examples Of Rationalization In Frankenstein
503 Words | 3 PagesIn the protection of his image of self, which is a direct result of a god complex, Victor Frankenstein rationalizes his arguably terrible choices to combat the guilt that stems from his involvement with William and Justine’s
Social Belonging In Frankenstein
987 Words | 4 PagesBy denying both main characters the sensation of domestic affection, or any other kind of social belonging, Mary Shelley highlights the importance thereof. The resulting isolation became the driving force behind both Frankenstein and his creation’s abominable actions which, in turn, shows that trying to avoid isolation and seeking the feeling of social belonging is the primary message of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and of
The Importance Of Family In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
395 Words | 2 PagesChildhood is a time in a person’s life where the most growing occurs, not only physically but also mentally. The human brain is nourished and maintained by the love and affection children receive from both parents and it continues to do so for the rest of their lives. The creature’s inability to build up courage and try to interact with society as well as his constant questioning of his existence is a direct result of an inexistent childhood as well as the absence of a loving family. Frankenstein’s mother and Elizabeth were both orphans so he was well aware of the importance of love and nurturing for people of all ages, yet he denied the creature the opportunity to receive affection of any sort. “No father had watched my infant days, no mother had blessed me with smiles
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.”
The Nature Of Revenge In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
1240 Words | 5 PagesBeginning with Victor abandoning the creature at birth, the series of revenge and hatred-filled events begin to occur as both attempt to find justice and retribution. The creature stole the lives of everyone beloved by Victor, and Victor stole the monster’s chance at happiness by abandoning him. As the characters continuously harm each other, their isolation increases as well as their sanity. In the end, numerous family members perish, Victor Frankenstein dies of physical exhaustion, and the creature conveys his desire to
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
Role Of Women In Frankenstein
977 Words | 4 PagesThe presentation of women in Frankenstein Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein”, first published in 1818, was written in a time period where society’s general opinion was that a woman’s role was predominately to be a loving, caring mother and a faithful, docile companion to her husband. This attitude is reflected in Shelley’s portrays of women in her novel as passive, self- sacrificing, loyal, and completely dependent on men. They are a means by which emotions are invoked within male characters and serve only as companions and beautiful possessions. Caroline Beaufort, mother of the protagonist Victor Frankenstein, is an example of the embodiment of this ideal. She is the wife of Alphonse Frankenstein and within the novel plays the role of a perfect daughter, wife, and mother.
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