...The first scientist who created life, do you think he would be the most important character in the novel? Yes, Victor Frankenstein is the most important character in the novel Frankenstein. One reason why victor is the most important character thus far is because he was introduced at the very beginning of the story. "It was, in fact, a sledge , like that we had seen before, which had drifted towards us on a large fragment of ice. Only one dog remained alive; but there was a human being within it whom the sailors were persuading to enter the vessel" shows that Victor was introduced by boarding Robert Walton's ship. This connects to my topic of why he is the most important character because since he is introduced at the beginning readers will infer that he is a main character. Another reason why he is an important character is because his thoughts and emotions have been mentioned multiple times throughout chapters 1-10. One example of when his emotions were mentioned was on page 43 when Victor says "I had desired it with an ardour that far exceeded moderation;but now that i had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filed my heart" (Shelley,43). This relates to my topic because the book has mentioned his emotions and feelings more then it has for any other character. Throughout chapters one through 10 different aspects of Victor's life are shown. For example, his family, childhood...
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...Mary Shelly’s “Frankenstein” Essay Introduction: Mary Shelly’s “Frankenstein” has is more than just an ordinary novel. It is a book that carries a profound philosophical message. The novel touched me to my very soul. It turned out to be a book not about a struggle against a monster but a tragedy of a scientist, who reached the goal of his work and life and realized that breathless horror and disgust filled his heart but all of these is on the surface. The deepest philosophical thought is covered and hidden, but is very deep. The author tries to say that life is a gift. After this gift is given no one can take it away and it becomes the responsibility of the creator. The novel makes the reader concerned with the question: “Is a human being able to take responsibility to give life?”. “Frankenstein’s” philosophy is a conflict between the value of human life and the value of a scientific discovery. This story is not only the tragedy of Victor Frankenstein but also of his creation. It is the tragedy of loneliness and fighting alone with the world.The tragedy of Viktor Frankenstein was a tragedy of him being a toy in the hand of his own parents for the believed that he “was in their hands to direct to happiness or misery”[p.34]. The next quote shows exactly how he grew up: “they were not the tyrants to rule our lot according to their caprice, but the agents and creators of all the many delights which we enjoyed…”[p.37]. This subconsciously led him to the desire to have somebody...
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...outside world one lives through many experiences where knowledge is accepted. Encountering other human beings reflects upon ones perception and brings about ones self decisions. Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein demonstrates characters that through an obsessive desire for more knowledge ruin their own lives. Victor Frankenstein is a scientist, who creates a monster to life through his extensive knowledge of science, but the creature he creates brings terrible demise and Victor loses everything that was once close to him. The monster himself craves knowledge through his learning experience. He is fascinated by human nature and language and seeks to be a part of it. His desire to gain too much knowledge leads him to lose self control and destroys the lives of many people. Watson, similar to Victor, is an explorer who travels to the North Pole and chases after the idea of making a discovery. Watson serves as an example of being at risk for destruction, but after hearing about the deadly consequences of exploration he stops himself from making the same mistakes Victor did. The obsession of gaining too much knowledge causes a loss in self control and allows ones desires to take over, resulting in destruction. The desire of extensive knowledge is first seen through Victor Frankenstein. At the beginning of the novel, a young boy named Victor grows up in Geneva “deeply smitten with the thirst for knowledge” (Shelley, 22) and to him the world was a secret which he desired to discover...
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...Social and Individual Responsibility in Frankenstein Mary Shelly wrote Frankenstein in a time of wonder. A main wonder was whether you could put life back into the dead. Close to the topic of bringing life back into the dead was whether you could create your own being, like selective breeding but a bit more powerful. Looking after something you create is one point that shows up in the story. Frankenstein created his creature so he should have looked after it but instead just because he didn't like the way it looked he ran away. He never taught his creature anything so for all that the creature knew it could have been okay to kill people and suchlike. That relates to today as some children who were not taught right from wrong by their parents and have to learn on their own, but by the time they learn, they might have messed up to immensely to fix it. This point could also be known as teaching a child or creation right from wrong. Responsibility towards family is another point Frankenstein brings up. This point can be taken in two ways that Frankenstein was irresponsible to his creature or that the creature was irresponsible to Frankenstein. Frankenstein was irresponsible to his creature by running away and to his creature Frankenstein was his family and Frankenstein was responsible for teaching him the ways of life. Instead he ran away. The creature was irresponsible to Frankenstein as when Frankenstein left he should have done his best to fend for himself. The...
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...Alienation. “It is used to refer both to a personal psychological state and to a type of social relationship” (Kalekin, 1) Many may have heard of Marx theory. Karl Marx, a well known philosopher in the twentieth century went and pursued his calling. “[His] works inspired the foundation of many communist regimes” (“Karl”, 1). Istvan Meszaros clearly states Marx theory on the origination of alienation in a way that no man can ever forget. “It must be made equally clear, however, that such influences are exercised in the dialectical sense of ‘“continuity in discontinuity”’ (Meszaros, 1). There is very much “continuity in discontinuity” in literature, media, and the arts of today. In Mary Shelley’s book, Frankenstein, the hideous ‘monster’ that was created by Victor Frankenstein was frowned upon, fled from, and even abandoned by his own creator. This shows the inhumanity that society shows towards those who are different. “There was none among the myriads of men that existed who would pity or assist me; and should I feel kindness towards my enemies?” (Shelley, 115) The creature had merely a different look, but his emotions and desires were no different than any other human: love, companionship, and a sense of belonging. Many cast him away because his looks rang out evil. "I am alone and miserable; man will not associate with me; but one as deformed and horrible as myself would not deny herself to me. My companion must be of the same species and have the same defects. This being...
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...The dangers of the pursuit of knowledge is a main theme in the novel Frankenstein. This theme is most evident in the main character Victor Frankenstein. He suffers because of his pursuit of knowledge and his creation ultimately destroys his life. As the novel progresses the creature begins to change as he gains knowledge. The creature at the start is innocent and means no harm. As he gains knowledge, however, he begins to learn that he does not fit in and becomes angry. We will take a closer look at how knowledge hurts these characters throughout the novel. The knowledge that Victor is pursuing and the knowledge the creature is pursuing have fundamental differences. Victor is working to try to figure out how to cheat death. This knowledge pushes the limit of what is accepted by society. This project is an unknown realm of science and the possible consequences of success are a mystery. Victor becomes so involved with the idea, however, that he fails to consider possible consequences. Creating a menace to society had not crossed his mind. His creature is at a different intellectual level. The creature does not understand the language of humans or how human society is structured. He observes and studies human behaviors and interactions. He learns the language and more about how humans work. He is surprised about what he learns and is angered by it. The creature is not accepted in human society, and his knowledge of this changes his personality into an angry outcast seeking revenge...
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...every story told of good versus evil, the protagonist is hailed as the hero who vanquished the heartless villain? Yet no one ever cares to think of the antagonist at a personal level, and actually try to understand what they are feeling. In Mary Shelley’s, Frankenstein, Dr. Victor Frankenstein’s creation commits crimes that portray the creature as an evil and immoral being, and based solely on its actions the reader cannot help but hate the creature to a certain degree. However in this story the reader is allowed to know what is happening within the mind of the creature and is able to find reason behind its actions. Knowing the origin of the creature’s feelings, showing that is more than just a grotesque hunk of flesh, allows the reader to sympathize with the creature and to understand its reasoning behind its actions. There are many stories where a reader is only vaguely informed of the past of the antagonist and the reader is unable to feel a connection between both the antagonist and protagonist. Most likely the reader will side with the protagonist because their feelings are more easily understood and accepted and the reader will not even give a second thought about the antagonist. Luckily for the reader, Frankenstein is not like that, Mary Shelley allows the reader to understand the creature by giving the full presentation of the character. “Listen to my tale: when you have heard that, abandon or commiserate me, as you shall judge that I deserve.” (Shelley 69). By allowing...
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...Humanity has many definitions. One definition is kindness or compassion to other humans. In Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein, many themes are explored but one is highlighted through out the book. The strongest of all the themes explored is isolation and the impact it has when humanity is lacking in ones life. This major idea of isolation and the absence of humanity is demonstrated through out the book. Victor isolates himself from his family and fellow students, as well as his friends. The monster is isolated and treated cruelly from beginning to end. Victor is one of the characters who isolates himself from the other characters in the book. This is shown due to his hunger in the pursuit of knowledge, and the immense amount of time in which he spends in carrying out his scientific experiments. Although the whole time Victor blames the monster for his isolation, he in fact chooses this path for himself. Mary Shelly writes, “From this day natural philosophy, and particularly chemistry,… became nearly my sole occupation.” (pg 45) By never visiting his family or corresponding to them he shows that this is his choice alone. Shelly exhibits this also, “Two years passed in this manner in which I paid no visit to Geneva, but was engaged heart and soul, in the pursuit of some discoveries, which I hoped to make.” (pg 45) Most of victor’s life struggles and problems stem from his isolation towards his family unit. The creation of the monster and the fact that he kept it a secret ends...
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...Prometheus' creation of the human race during the creation of the universe was for the sake of humanity, Victor's creation of the creature was for his sole knowledge to only better his curiosity. Some may say Victor Frankenstein does not portray a modern Prometheus. Although he may not be a god, he is to the creature. In Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein is the modern Prometheus. Victor seeks for enlightenment and power, in which, Prometheus does as well.Victor does something forbidden; creating human life. Prometheus also does something forbidden; giving fire to humans. Victor, in return, serves a torturous death, as does Prometheus, although Prometheus cannot die. For these reasons this novel, Frankenstein, shows how Victor is the modern Prometheus. Undoubtedly both Victor Frankenstein and Prometheus seek for enlightenment and power. In the beginning of this novel Victor starts his childhood yearning for knowledge and reading books of science. The quote, “...eager desire to learn,..., secrets of heaven and earth that i desired to learn,..., my inquiries were directed to the metaphysical,…, the physical secrets of the world” (Shelley, 23). It shows how ambitious Victor was to learn as a child and how the start of his seeking for enlightenment and power came to be. Victor also foreshadows how misfortune had tainted his mind, “...misfortune had tainted my mind and changed its bright visions of extensive usefulness into gloomy and narrow reflections…”(Shelley...
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...The novel “Frankenstein,” written by Mary Shelly, is a horror story that depicts what happens when one man's desire for scientific discovery and immortality goes horribly wrong, and ultimately what happens to society's outcasts. The novel is essentially responsible for the genre of science fiction, has seared a collective cultural imagination, and is now considered a legendary classic. While evaluating the novel, the reader will notice that the idea of gender is an underlying theme throughout the story. There is a broad structural duplication in the novel that correlates to this idea of gender which reaffirms this strong theme and how it affects the story’s outcomes. For example, according to Shelly, the time it took to complete the novel consisted of nine months, Walton’s journey lasts nine months, and Victor takes nine months (winter, spring, summer) to create the Creature. This, all of course equal to the time it takes to create human life; the length a woman is pregnant with a child. Although it may not appear to be important to the novel, Shelly makes sure that reproduction by implication becomes a central motif of the text, as we will discuss later. As the narrative is written from the perspective of three men, the women follow more of a romanticized, idealized figure as compared to the male characters present throughout the story. Shelly characterizes each woman as passive, disposable and serving a utilitarian function, while the men are portrayed at the ultimate being...
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...In Mary Shelly’s novel Frankenstein: The Modern Prometheus, Shelley alludes to many other pieces of work such as Rime of the Ancient Mariner and biblical stories such as Paradise Lost constantly throughout the book. All of these allusions carry a compelling meaning between Frankenstein and the other literary work. Shelley’s reasoning for using various pieces of literature in her novel was to compare the characters in her novel to the other characters in the other works. The main characters in Shelley’s novel all portray other characters form the literary works in a way due to their actions and thinking. Frankenstein alludes to the literary works of Prometheus, Paradise Lost, and Rime of the Ancient Mariner to emphasize the certain actions that occur in the novel and how they are similar to the alluded works. All of these allusions provide insight to the actions of the characters and the characters in general. Many of the literary pieces alluded to in the novel are referenced by the protagonists in the story. In fact, the monster is taught how to speak by reading Paradise Lost, after stealing it and through this; he learns the concept of good and evil. The characters are aware of these works and realize that their actions are similar to those of the characters in the other literary works. All of the literary works deal with great tragedy but the protagonists in Frankenstein don’t seem to realize that even though they are acting a lot like the other characters in the literary...
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...Shelley, who was renting a house nearby, is a frequent visitor. Due to bad weather, in June 1816, the famous group spent three days together in the creation stories to tell each other, two of which have been developed into the landmark works of the genre Gothic horror: Frankenstein Mary Shelley and the Vampyre, the first modern vampire story, by Polidori. In May 1816 the poet Percy Shelley, together with Mary Godwin and their son William travelled to Geneva. The journey across the French border and into Switzerland involved travelling through bleak, wintry landscapes. As Mary recorded afterwards in her travel volume History of a Six Weeks: Tour through a part of France, Switzerland, Germany and Holland (1817): “Never was a scene more awfully desolate. The trees in these regions are incredibly large, and stand in scattered clumps over the white wilderness; the vast expanse of snow was chequered only by these gigantic pines, and the poles that marked our road: no river or rock-encircled lawn relieved the eye, by adding the picturesque to the sublime”. The landscape, with its frightening, lonely and bleak aspect, clearly haunted Mary, and she would describe similarly desolate locations in her novel Frankenstein, a book that both begins and ends amidst bleak snowy wastes. Within 10 days of the arrival of Percy Shelley and Mary Godwin in Geneva, Lord Byron himself arrived in a suitably dramatic fashion, drawing up at his hotel around midnight in a Napoleonic carriage fresh from...
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...Prompt 2: Victor Frankenstein is more alienated than the monster he creates. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, written during the Romantic period, tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, whose hunger for knowledge of the scientific universe drives him to create a human monster. Throughout the novel, Frankenstein describes his experiences with the monster to Robert Walton as horrifying and frightening. Shelley successfully demonstrates the Romantic concept of focusing on the self through the nature of the monster and Frankenstein, as well as through nature itself. Though both the monster and Frankenstein elicit forms of isolation, Frankenstein’s memories and experiences with his family and decision in toying with science and nature proves him more alienated than the monster he creates. Frankenstein’s memories and experiences with his family prove him more alienated than the monster. When Frankenstein receives a letter from his cousin, Elizabeth, she writes: “My dearest Cousin, you have been ill, very ill, and even the constant letters of dear Kind Henry are not sufficient to reassure me on your account” (Shelley 48). Elizabeth expresses concern for Frankenstein’s health, giving him a sense of love and care. Because Frankenstein holds a special connection to Elizabeth, someone he loves dearly, the thought of losing her terrifies him. Frankenstein’s bond to Elizabeth makes the monster’s murdering of her overwhelming and horrifying...
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...HUMN 303 Week 7 Assignment Sheri A. Green DeVry University Professor Gessford August 23, 2014 Frankenstein, a novel first published in the year 1818, stands as the most talked about work of Mary Shelley’s literary career. She was just nineteen years old when she penned this novel, and throughout her lifetime she could not produce any other work that surpasses this novel in terms of creativity and vision. In this novel, Shelley found an outlet for her own intense sense of victimization, and her desperate struggle for love. Traumatized by her failed childbirth incidents, troubled childhood, and scandalous courtship, many of Shelley’s life experiences can be seen reflected in the novel. When discussing the character and development of the monster, Shelley launches an extensive discussion on the need for a proper environment and education for a child’s moral development. When we explore the novel in depth, we can see that it exudes the true horror of childbirth felt by Shelley, and articulates the fears and anxieties she had regarding her reproductive and nurturing capabilities. Shelley’s life was marked by a series of pregnancies, miscarriages, childbirths, and deaths. Her firsthand experience of a bereavement started early in her life, when her mother died when she was eleven days old, because of a puerperal fever contacted because of childbirth. This marked her first encounter with pregnancy and related complications, but unfortunately, it was not the last...
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...World domination. It may simply begin through the depths of an evil scientist, but in reality, standardized tests are the culprit. Standardized Testing: two words that as soon as teachers, their students, and administrators hear this, they fret. The day where all outstanding abilities acquired throughout the year is assessed at once. All this joyful news of how standardized testing supposedly creates miracles of our knowledge, increasing student achievement, may be proven wrong or right, but that is not our deepest concerns. A student’s mental/physical health and future as an authentic learner is most at risk here. No matter how many cries from multiple students are heard, they continue to be silenced. Simply put, all standardized testing should be abolished for they are hurting students both in and out of classrooms. As students we deserve the ability to access authentic learning, however, with standardized testing heavily relied on, students are deprived of this interaction. In order to comprehend the authenticity being compromised, we must first understand, what is authentic learning. Steve Revington, awarded The Prime Minister's Award of Teaching Excellence, the highest honor a teacher can receive in Canada, concludes that authentic learning, “engages all the senses allowing students to create a meaningful, useful, shared outcome..” (Revington) Through authentic learning, students obtain sets of skills that enhance their creativity and wonder, traits absent through...
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