ipl-logo

Victor Frankenstein Research Paper

1662 Words7 Pages

Victor Frankenstein’s Creation and the Role of God The main character in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, who is Victor Frankenstein, is regarded by literary scholars as imitating the role of God through his acts of creation. David Soyka describes Victor Frankenstein’s creation as “[being] much the same way as God create[d] man in [h]is own image” (168). Frankenstein is accused by many as playing God due to, not only, his purposes for the creation, but also his initial reactions to his own creation. This paper will analyze Frankenstein’s reasons for the creation of the creature and how it correlates with him portraying the image of God. Victor Frankenstein, since his youth, expressed an interest of the sciences and, as an adult, he pursued this …show more content…

The monster had wondered for seasons in the wilderness and discovered a cottage, where an old, blind man would live with his family. The old, blind man showed the creature no disrespect, however, his family did upon returning to the cottage. “Felix darted forward, and, with [such a] supernatural force [,] tore me [away] from his father, to whose knees I clung: in a transport of fury, he dashed me to the ground, and struck me violently with a stick” (Shelley 135). Upon the return of the old man’s child, Felix, the creature was violently beat, and, thus, he was forced to continue his journey. By the actions of Felix when he discovers his father with this creature, the monster was met with repulsion from the old man’s family. The repulsion that was subjected onto him was, in fact, very similar to the repulsion from his creator, Victor Frankenstein. While forced to continue his journey, the monster was met with more repulsion and abandonment by society. “[U]gly wretch!” and “[h]ideous monster” were examples of words used, by society, to describe the creature (Shelley 142). It is here, where Victor Frankenstein’s creation soon discovers that he will never be able to live within society and will be forced to live …show more content…

As it can be determined, Victor Frankenstein did an extremely poor job on playing the role of God. God, as the creator, is usually depicted as being loving and caring towards his own creations, however, Frankenstein as the creator of the monster was anything, but loving towards his own creation. Furthermore, God creates a female companion, Eve, to aid Adam’s loneliness, which paints a picture of a nurturing creator. Victor Frankenstein does no such things for his creation. Frankenstein, as the technical creator, should have cared for and nurtured his new creation, but, instead, he becomes so repulsed by his project’s results, which he extremely regrets ever creating, that he abandons his creature. While, society did, in fact, aid in the contribution to the monster’s evil, his creator, Victor Frankenstein ultimately caused it due to his actions as the creator. If Frankenstein would have properly played the role of God and creator, the monster may just have turned out

Show More
Related

  • Examples Of Moral Ambiguity In Frankenstein

    790 Words  | 4 Pages

    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. Victor tries to prove himself as a good moral character in the relationship between his creation and himself.

    Read More

  • Why Does Mary Shelley Use Of Personification In Frankenstein

    656 Words  | 3 Pages

    Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is a gothic novel that tells the story of scientist, Victor Frankenstein, and his obsession with creating human life. This leads him to creating a gruesome monster made of body-parts stolen from grave yards, whom upon discovering his hideousness, the monster seeks revenge against his creator, causing Victor to regret the creation of his monster for the rest of his life. Shelley uses the literary elements of personification, imagery, and similes to give a vivid sense and visualization of Victor Frankenstein’s thoughts and feelings as well as to allow us to delve deeper into the monster’s actions and emotions. Throughout the novel, Shelley uses personification of various forces and objects to reflect the effect in Victor’s actions.

    Read More

  • Scrutinize The Punishment In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

    1049 Words  | 5 Pages

    In Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, it scrutinizes the punishments when a man creates life, and plays the role of God. Victor Frankenstein, is at fault for the creature’s actions. Victor was looking for some honor and triumph, but when he accomplished his experiment, not only did it bring terror to Victor, but to the whole world. The monster never learned right from wrong and was never raised correctly, his first moment of life, all he experienced was the fear in Victor's emotion, and was abandoned right from the start. Victor selfishly isolated himself from society and ran away from his responsibilities which caused destruction to the people Victor cared for and loved deeply.

    Read More

  • Prometheus And Frankenstein Comparison Essay

    743 Words  | 3 Pages

    Throughout Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, a great comparison is shown between Victor Frankenstein, the main character, and Prometheus, one of Greek mythology’s greatest Gods. Shelley borrows from the tale of Prometheus a consequence resulting from searching for a great source of enlightenment and power. In creating a being and giving it life, Frankenstein seems to take on the remarkable role of God which leads him to thinking that a power that is so heavenly cannot be played with by mankind. During his quest to expand his creative knowledge, abilities, drive, and ambition to know the origin of life, he puts himself in conflict. Frankenstein gambled his way into the godly realm without realizing he committed a sin by creating the monster, and

    Read More

  • Ambition For Knowledge In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

    1278 Words  | 6 Pages

    Frankenstein did not take into account the feelings of the creature. Frankenstein wanted to be the first to create the life, but did not think ahead. His initial ambition is to help the people, and perhaps his creation will benefit the humankind, however, he lets his ambition take over, and does not think of what the creature will act like or do. He creates the creature but only to suffer and in return he suffers as well. Frankenstein’s actions to not take care of the creature causes the death of those around him.

    Read More

  • Annotated Bibliography On Frankenstein

    1439 Words  | 6 Pages

    After successfully creating the monster, Frankenstein is perplexed by what he has created. Due to the monster’s annoyance with Frankenstein, he acts back against Frankenstein mostly due to his lack of parenting and responsibility. Shelley’s novel strongly connects with the act of parenting. It is clear that Victor Frankenstein did not complete his role as a parent. Due to this, it further led the monster to misbehave and feel as if he does not have a purpose in life.

    Read More

  • Victor Frankenstein Playing God Analysis

    699 Words  | 3 Pages

    Is Victor the Ruling God? One does not simply “play God” in this world, that role is more than just a dress up and act thing. Many people say that Victor in the novel Frankenstein tries to “play God” which is absolutely true. As the novel progresses the characteristics of the creator “playing God” become more obvious to the eye of the reader. Victor “plays the Lord” when he creates the creature, when he decides what to do with the orders of the creature, and when the monster creates the connection when reading the book Paradise Lost.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Rationalization In Frankenstein

    503 Words  | 3 Pages

    In 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

    Read More

  • Social Belonging In Frankenstein

    987 Words  | 4 Pages

    The moment Victor Frankenstein successfully infuses life into his creation he is overcome with horror and disgust. Without further examination he is certain to have created a monster, not a human being (Shelley 35-36). However, despite his grotesque appearance, Frankenstein’s creature was not born malicious. During the first stages of his existence, unbeknownst to Frankenstein himself, his acts are motivated by innocence and virtue, which even earns him the title “good spirit” (79). Frankenstein did not create a monster.

    Read More

  • Jealousy In Frankenstein

    1021 Words  | 5 Pages

    “At first I started back, unable to believe that it was indeed I who was reflected in the mirror; and when I became fully convinced that I was in reality the monster that I am, I was filled with the bitterest sensations of despondence and mortification”(Shelley 80). The Creation of Frankenstein woke up in a world of hate. Since he looked different, the Monster never fit in with normal people. He would become isolated and feared because of his looks. Because the Monster was a hideous creation from Frankenstein, he was isolated and hated by his looks and behaved in an ethical manner when he began his path of vengeance.

    Read More

  • The Villain In Frankenstein

    882 Words  | 4 Pages

    Over the past century, Frankenstein has been analyzed and interpreted in seemingly infinite different forms of literature, film, and television shows. Once solely recognized as the story about a brilliant scientist who creates a creature in whom he regrets making after the creature turns out ugly, Frankenstein now represents an internationally recognized and commercialized pop culture symbol for Halloween decorations and costumes. When analyzing and appreciating the true literary essence behind Mary Shelley’s original Frankenstein, one of the most important comparisons to consider remains the underlying influences behind the Creature’s immoral actions and whether or not the blame for these actions belong to Victor or the Creature. When exploring the dichotomy of the Creature versus Victor Frankenstein, one of the biggest and most widely debated questions remains whether Victor should be blamed for the Creature’s destructive actions or if the Creature should be considered guilty for his actions based off of his own free will. Many consider Victor Frankenstein the villain of the story due to his repetitive decisions to abandon and avoid his own “mistake,” the irresponsible choice of creating the monster in the first place, and his obvious negligence of the Creature’s feelings.

    Read More

  • Comparing Frankenstein And Frankenstein In John Milton's Paradise Lost

    823 Words  | 4 Pages

    Throughout Frankenstein, Shelley uses Victor to warn the reader of the dangers of aspiring to godliness, and the consequences one faces in the aftermath doing so, even going as far as to compare Victor to Satan, tempting the crew of Walton’s ship, in the book’s final pages. The Victor Shelley creates is very similar to the Satan created by Milton in his book, Paradise Lost, which explores the biblical tale of Adam and Eve. In Frankenstein, Victor speaks of his desire to create the Creature, saying, “I deemed it criminal to throw away in useless grief those talents that might be useful to my fellow-creatures.” (152). Shelley’s diction choices, such as the word “useless” exemplify Victor’s excessive hubris, portraying him as a man who creates his Creature for, in his mind, the good of society.

    Read More

  • Outline For Frankenstein Research Paper

    516 Words  | 3 Pages

    Frankenstein’s Monster is not categorized as evil by his malicious behavior and is sympathized with due to his creator abandoning him and the role of nature versus nurture taken place II. Monster’s Nature and alienation A. Monster originally had an inquisitive nature yet gentle nature a. Information on the German family was “each interesting and wonderful to one so utterly inexperienced as [he] was” (105) B. With the rejection and alienation from society, the only interactions the monster experiences, he becomes full of hatred a. Rejected by De Lacey family by his looks and labeled a monster b. Tries to save a child but is shot by child’s father C. Reader may feel sympathy towards the Monster’s actions because the readers know that his true nature was not evil and he was misjudged III.

    Read More

  • Mary Shelley's Use Of Biblical Allusions In Frankenstein

    1359 Words  | 6 Pages

    In many novels symbolism functions as a way to reveal much of what is intended for the reader to understand about characters and the work as a whole. Symbols can be ideas, objects, or actions that constitute multiple interpretations or meanings. This is also true for many older novels including Frankenstein. Throughout the gothic fiction novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, the use of symbolism and the role it partakes in the entirety of the story signifies its importance. There are many symbols throughout the novel some including light and fire, the creation story, and exploration.

    Read More

  • Character Development In Frankenstein

    1921 Words  | 8 Pages

    Such passion is seen in Victor’s ‘noble intent’ to design a being that could contribute to society, but he had overextended himself, falling under the spell of playing ‘God,’ further digging his grave as he is blinded by glory. His creation – aptly called monstrous being due to its stature, appearance, and strength – proved to be more of a pure and intellectually disposed ‘child’ that moves throughout the novel as a mere oddity, given the short end of the stick in relation to a lack of familial figures within his life, especially that of parents. Clearly, Victor Frankenstein had sealed his fate: by playing God he was losing his humanity, ultimately becoming the manifestation of Mary Shelley’s hidden desires, deteriorating into The Lucifer Principle by which the author Howard Bloom notes social groups, not individuals, as the primary “unit of selection” in human psychological

    Read More

More about Victor Frankenstein Research Paper

Open Document