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Child Abuse In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

3034 Words13 Pages

In Mary Shelley’s Gothic Frankenstein, neglect is an essential characteristic of Victor Frankenstein and the creature. Neglect is child abuse that occurs when a child’s basic needs for love, support, and protection are not met (Font and Kennedy 371–396). The parents of Victor Frankenstein, the protagonist of the story, are neglectful. His mother dies when he is young, and his father does not give him the emotional support he needs to grow up. Neglect inspires Frankenstein to become a scientist to create someone who extends love to him, something Frankenstein has missed his entire life. When Frankenstein creates life, he runs away from the creature he just created, just as his parents had done to him when he was young. The innocent and curious …show more content…

He did it out of impulsiveness and anger, which are symptoms of ASPD. He did it in a way that it looked like Justine Moritz, who had been adopted by the Frankenstein family, murdered William. Justine was the person in charge of taking care of little William. The way that the creature blamed Justine was that he took the locket with the picture of Caroline Frankenstein that William always kept with him and put it in her pocket. The creature used manipulation to get away with the crime, ignored right and wrong, and used aggressive behavior, which are all symptoms of ASPD. When the creature murders little William, he likes the feeling and feels no remorse or empathy, which are other symptoms of ASPD. The creature finds Frankenstein and tells him how lonely he is and that he wants a she-creature. Frankenstein agrees but later destroys the she-monster, leaving the creature again with no one. The creature lashes out and kills Henry Clerval, Frankenstein’s friend. After Frankenstein’s father dies, he only has his fiance and adopted cousin, Elizabeth Lavenza. When Frankenstein and the creature meet, the creature tells Frankenstein that he will be with him on his wedding day. Thus, as final revenge, the creature murders Elizabeth, leaving Frankenstein in the lonely state that he started and ended in. Once Frankenstein dies after an epic chase over snowy mountains in the Arctic, the creature decides to end his own life. The creature experienced neglect which led to ASPD, which led to a life of a

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