Some may believe in a higher power that already has our lives planned out to every detail and it is our destiny to continue on the path already cleared for us. The main character in the novel Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein, believes in this theory. Throughout the whole novel he continuously blames his mistakes and misfortunes on fate. However Victor Frankenstein's own destruction was not caused by destiny or fate, although he seems to think it is; rather failure to accept and take responsibility for his own actions.
Since the dawn of humanity, people have acted with various intentions and various degrees of judgement. For centuries, people have considered the necessity of considering the outcomes before action. In “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner”, Samuel Taylor Coleridge argues that one should avoid impulsive action. Similarly, Frankenstein by Mary Shelley concerns the importance of contemplating the outcomes before action. One should never act without consideration, instead avoiding impulsive behavior.
Children have never been very good at listening, but are very good at intimidating. In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Victor, after obtaining an abundance of knowledge unknowingly created a creature that would soon seek revenge due to his feeling of rejection. Victor had been loved unconditionally by his parents. However he was not given the direction and reinforcement he desired while he was growing up. Victor was allowed to quarantine himself by his parents, rather than being educated to a better life. Throughout the story Mary Shelley presents the idea of knowledge and how much of it Victor Frankenstein has. This enormous supply of intelligence will have a consequence on the product of his scientific actions. Frankenstein has been engrossed
Guilt can either be an emotion that makes a person feel remorse for his or her’s actions toward another, or can be the conduct involving the executions of such crimes and wrongs. In the novel, “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley, both definitions of guilt were the common theme. However, the main problem was whether the creature or the creator, Victor Frankenstein, were guiltier for their actions. The one presumed to be more guilty was Victor Frankenstein who created the monster in the first place causing his family pain and failed to take responsibility for the monster’s actions. Although he didn’t directly kill his family, the monster is guilty too. Victor Frankenstein caused his own misery and destruction, which is why he is to blame for what
Victor Frankenstein is selfish. The novel portrays Victor as a selfish character who is only concerned about his own well-being. Frankenstein wanted to manipulate the power of life. He abandons his creation because of the creature’s appearance and also withholds information or lies about his creation. Due to Victor 's selfishness, readers feel sorry for his creation.
In the novel, Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, the two main characters, Victor Frankenstein and his creature, both display a sense of moral ambiguity. Each character has committed both good and evil alike, and neither knew the consequences of what they had done. However, Victor Frankenstein is generally the morally ambiguous character by his treatment of his creation and his own imperious personality. He wanted to be able to help science by recreating life or bringing it back, but at the same time, he did not want to consider the consequences of doing so.
Knowledge has the capability to be used for both good and evil. In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, there is a consistent message throughout the novel showing the dangerous and destructive power that knowledge can have. Two key characters, Victor Frankenstein and his monster, are shaped through their obsessions with knowledge and the power and responsibility that it brings. Ultimately, Victor’s downfall is a result of his uncontrollable thirst for knowledge, and is brought about through the monster which is the embodiment of his obsession.
In Frankenstein, a novel by Mary Shelley, the story begins with a man named Robert Walton adventuring off on a expedition to the North Pole. While on his journey, Walton and his crew finds a weary man, who is close to death, Victor Frankenstein. From that point forward the story goes on to talk about Victor's life. Victor had a kind and loving family, as well as an innocent childhood. He had a passion for science, and was especially interested in electricity. His fascination becomes an obsession, he separated himself from society and isolated himself in his studies. Victor planned to create life, and was able to accomplish his dreams. His creation was ready to be revealed, but instead of the beautiful creature he imagined, the final
In Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, self deception eclipses Victor Frankenstein and clouds his judgment. Victor’s passion in breaking the bounds of nature guides him in making the creation, but when Victor regrets giving life to the hideous creature, he deserts it. The abandonment is just the first step Victor takes to introduce the creation to malevolence followed with Victor’s assumptions of evil and lost responsibility in the results of his own zeal. Victor Frankenstein’s self deception not only forges evil into the creation, but also incriminates him for the consequences of Victor’s ambitions.
Science covers numerous viewpoints of everyday life and reality. There are numerous studies that include the study of environment, universe, and animals. Another well known study of science is the study of people and life. In “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley, Victor Frankenstein is an inspiring scientist who researched the dead. Victor hopes to be the first person ever to accomplish the impossible by giving life to the dead. He is so invested in his work that he ignores his personal life. Although, when Victor finally succeeds at achieving his goal, it is not what it seems. Victor’s creation has lead to tragedy and destruction. Hence, Victor Frankenstein is responsible for the outcome of his fate because of his fixation with being god, his disregard to humankind, and his selfishness.
What does director Tim Burton’s Edward Scissorhands and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1994), directed by Kenneth Branagh, have in common— a mutual underlying story; but their differences are what makes their tales all the more special. Edward Scissorhands is a retelling of Frankenstein, but with a slight twist. In Edward’s case instead of lacking companionship like Frankenstein’s monster, he lacks hands; and is received rather well by the surrounding community. Ironically, in both tales the characters share the same desire to be love; this ignites the question – why do humans want to be love? Are we only important as we are loved? Fortunately, Tim Burton touched basis on that intricate part of the underlying story. Although Edward Scissorhands is not a science fiction narrative in the way Frankenstein traditionally regarded it still shares the same theme and narrative elements.
Consumed with the idea of creating life, Victor did not think of the effects his actions would create. The creation of Victor’s monster completely changed Victor both mentally and physically. It also changed society because the monster was the reason why specific people were killed. The chain reaction that was started created a whole new world of chaos. The only thing that saved the rest of the world was the fact that Victor kept the secret of life to himself. The monster took over his mind before it was created, affected his life while it was alive, and was the reason Victor died.
Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. Ed. Hunter, Paul J. Norton Critical Edition. New York: W.W. North & Company, 2012. Print.
This fragment from John Milton's “Paradise Lost” makes you wonder about the creation of mankind. We never asked to be made, but here we are and we're supposed to make the best out of our lives. When Victor Frankenstein created his own human, he never thought about the consequences for his creation. He didn't think about what his creation would think, only about the success and the admiration he would get if he managed to create life. When Victor realised that his creation wouldn't give him the success he'd wished for, he ran away from the monster, and also from his responsibilities as a father figure to this
Many people say that in order to get justice they have to respond to what's been done to them. In frankenstein the creature that victor creates tends to search for justice. In this novel the way that the “monster” tends to be rejected by many and brought him to the point that he understands and gets justice by killing different persons throughout the whole book.