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Child Abuse In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

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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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From the very beginning of Frankenstein's creature’s existence, the creature expresses a resolute plea for Victor, his “father”, his “creator”, to accept parental responsibility for him. He questions his creator, “To whom could I apply with more fitness than to him who had given me life?” (Shelley ) The creature’s appeal is the most natural of appeals- for a father to accept his obligation to provide and care for his child. In doing so, the creature offers a paradigm of humanity, indicating each person’s innate set of duties and responsibilities present in their very being.

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“Dad, you are not an anchor to hold us back, nor a sail to take us there, but a guiding light whose love shows us the way” (Jane Lindsay). Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” is a piece of literature that explores the pent-up resentment in a maternal-like relationship between a shamefaced creator, Victor Frankenstein and his neglected creation, the “monster”. The central plot and main characters revolve around the taboo theme of desertion and shame. Characteristic behaviors and emotions found in the story reflect back to Mary’s own inner dark struggles and memorable moments, in the sense that they are coordinated in a haunting family-like dynamic. Uncoincidentally both the author and multiple written characters share qualities and encounters similar

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After leaving his creator, the creature goes on to kill Victor's best friend, Henry Clerval, and later kills Frankenstein's bride, Elizabeth Lavenza, on their wedding night, whereupon Frankenstein's father dies of grief. The Monster

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792 Words | 4 Pages

The creature’s only request for Frankenstein to make him his own Eve, a “companion…of the same species and… defects”, serve as the final chance for the creature to have a life worthy of living (105). But Frankenstein destroys the monster's partially finished female companion, solidifying his creator’s fate as Frankenstein vows to hunt the creature down after killing his wife. While the monster resents his creator, as he himself is a reflection of Frakenstein’s sins, the cursed relationship between creator and created remains the only connection he has to another being. So when Frankenstein dies, the monster decides to “no longer feel the agonies which consume” him, and he fatefully jumps from Walton’s ship into a watery grave

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He threatens Frankenstein by telling him “I may die, but first you” which shows that the creature is not afraid of dying as long as he can inflict as much pain as possible on Frankenstein first (Shelley 123). This alone is a monstrous way to act and it shows that the creature felt compelled to take on the role that society gave him. The consequences of the creature being villainized because of his appearance ended up threatening the lives of Frankenstein and everyone he

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549 Words | 3 Pages

The creature strangled his creator, William, out of jealousy when he stated that his father was Frankenstein. The creature had an idea that his

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Parents need to love their children and show them right from wrong. Without care from a parent, children may feel lost or lonely like the monster did in Mary Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein. Shelley analyzes the psychology of parenting through Victor Frankenstein and his creation, the monster, by comparing their behavioral and psychological development as a result of the parenting they receive in their childhood. Because Victor was loved and had a great childhood, he was able to grow as a person, psychologically and emotionally. As though Victor had a good childhood,

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The creature then ventures into the outside world to attempt to live his life independently. Frankenstein, paranoid that the being may cause harm to others, makes it his personal goal to end the creature’s life. The being is good at migrating on it’s own, causing the chase to proceed for a long period of time. In this time, Frankenstein’s entire life is put on hold, as he is preoccupied with this task.

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The creature was known as a monster and was doomed due to his appearance. The crimes were done by the creature due to the revenge he sought out for towards Victor. The creature cannot be to blame for his behavior, Victor Frankenstein is the only one at fault for the murderers and wrong doings of his creature.

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11 January 2023 Throughout the novel Victor Frankenstein spends most of his life trying to create a creature that will be something to behold. During the creation of the monster Frankinstin creates the creature with reckless abandonment causing many ethical and moral issues along the way. Frankenstein’s obsession and his ambitions drives him to create a creature which causes the creature to go on a murderous rampage. During the early parts of the book Frankenstein is enamored with the prospects of creating something alive. This drove Frankenstein to go completely insane causing him to lose all sight of any and all interactions.

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Throughout all of Frankenstein’s Monster’s attempts to enter society, he faced rejection every time, whether it be by Frankenstein, numerous village people, the Delacey family, and finally, the young Frankenstein boy. When the Creature faced his creator, he was met with abhorrence and the exit of Frankenstein. As soon as the Creature encountered another being, rejection followed shortly, and he was left on his own. During Frankenstein’s time in history, the importance of a nurturing childhood was known, but despite Frankenstein’s education, the Creature “notably lacks” a childhood (Reese 49). Regardless of the absence of Frankenstein, the Creature is still able to develop a moral framework in which he regards the world, as he was disgusted

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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.

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Childhood is a time in a person’s life where the most growing occurs, not only physically but also mentally. The human brain is nourished and maintained by the love and affection children receive from both parents and it continues to do so for the rest of their lives. The creature’s inability to build up courage and try to interact with society as well as his constant questioning of his existence is a direct result of an inexistent childhood as well as the absence of a loving family. Frankenstein’s mother and Elizabeth were both orphans so he was well aware of the importance of love and nurturing for people of all ages, yet he denied the creature the opportunity to receive affection of any sort. “No father had watched my infant days, no mother had blessed me with smiles

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1335 Words | 6 Pages

The creature is wretched from the moment he is given life, and is immediately abandoned by his creator (34). He is rejected and hated, for no reason other than the fact that he exists, by no choice of his own, but rather as the result of Frankenstein’s obsession with knowledge. The first time he is even privy to any show of kindness is after he has fled and hidden himself in a cellar. He has no capacity for language and has only known fear and disdain. He receives his education by watching a poor, but gentle family as they interact with one another.

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