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Acquisition Of Knowledge In Frankenstein Research Paper

528 Words3 Pages

In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, the creature's knowledge acquisition profoundly alters him, ultimately driving him toward vengeful and destructive behaviour. Knowledge alters the fates of all three primary perspectives in Frankenstein, deterring the path their lives take. The creature's journey is one of innocence to torment. Initially, he is blissfully unaware, driven by basic survival instincts. However, his path takes a drastic turn as he delves into the realms of humanity, religion, war, and societal norms, transforming him into a tortured being. Frankenstein's monster is freakishly disfigured and abominable, to the degree that people experience unfathomable fear upon seeing him. Victor had strongly desired to create a human, but now states, "...the …show more content…

Through his horrid expressions and denial of accompaniment, he succumbs to a pitiful and wretched mindset. The creature's deformity stems from his unnatural and inhumane birth. Through gaining knowledge, he laments that he will be subject to a life of loneliness as he is the only one of his kind. Comparing his own life to Paradise Lost, he associates himself with both Adam, in jealousy of his companion, and as Satan through his creator's abandonment. The creature grieves over how Adam "...had come forth from the hands of God a perfect creature, happy and prosperous," but lives in misery as he considers Satan more agreeable, as "...like him, when I [he] viewed the bliss of my [his] protectors, the bitter gall of envy rose within..." (Shelley, 92) As he learns about his unethical nature, he questions why "...did I [he] not extinguish the spark of existence which you had so wantonly bestowed?" Shelley, 97, longing to have passed before possessing the knowledge he currently has. The creature's self-awareness of his deformities drove him toward vengeful misery, envy, and an unfulfilled longing for companionship and

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