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Consequences In Volume 1 Of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

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In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, she clearly evaluates the extent to which actions have consequences and details this concept through the life and journey of Victor Frankenstein and his creation. Across her three volumes, Shelley develops this theme of actions having consequences through the various oversights from Victor in volume one, misdeeds by the monster in volume two, and a combined effort by these two characters in their individual pursuits of justice in volume three. In so doing Shelley effectively highlights the destructive path that a lack of personal responsibility can lead one towards. Likewise, a lack of personal responsibility concerning one’s digital footprint may lead to unforeseen repercussions. Shelley establishes the theme …show more content…

Just as Victor Frankenstein's overambition led to the deterioration of his health and the horrifying realization of the consequences of his actions, individuals today may overlook the potential long-lasting effects of their online activities. According to Alina Bîzgă in her article she states, “a negative digital trail can cost opportunities in all areas of life, from relationships and college admissions to job prospects and financial security” (Bîzgă, n.d.). It only takes a single viral bad tweet or irresponsible online behavior to ruin one's career or college application. Similar to how Victor's disregard for personal responsibility led to unforeseen repercussions, individuals need to be mindful of their digital footprints and the impact they can have on their personal and professional …show more content…

In the preceding volumes Shelley delved into the individual faults of Victor and The Creature. However, the theme of actions having consequences within this volume is reinforced through the collaborative efforts of these two characters. Consumed by the goal of enacting what they viewed as rightful vengeance, Victor and his Creation pursue each other relentlessly; To where Victor chases after The Creature and it somehow manages to elude him every time. Victor figured that it was his responsibility to end the creature’s life to atone for his wretched actions while The Creature saw his constant torment of Victor as revenge for how Victor abandoned him early on in his development. Shelley uses this intense rivalry to drive home her central theme, being how unchecked tendencies such as overambition, jealousy, and vengeance ultimately end up dictating one’s life instead of the other way around thus leaving one powerless. This idea is reflected perfectly by the development mentioned earlier, being how Victor worked tirelessly to find the creature in order to kill it, so much so , he ended up chasing after it into the middle of the arctic circle, hundreds of miles away from any life. Victor’s incapacity to exercise self control left him in such a state that he claimed, “My life, as it passed thus, was indeed hateful to me,

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in stark contrast Victor’s speeches are absurdly melodramatic, with words “expressive of furious detestation and contempt”, reflecting the violence of his feelings. Through the juxtaposition of their language, with Victor’s uncivilised, savaged passions contrasting to the creature’s eloquent, harmonious arrangement of words, Victor’s superiority and intelligence is usurped by his creation. (Through Shelley, we come to a heightened understanding of the significant dangers of humanity’s flawed nature as it provokes a lack of

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Shelby Brock Mr. Walter English IV 21 April 2023 Frankenstein Essay All organisms use judgment to make sense of the world and determine our place in it. We can identify what we enjoy and strive to be as well as what we don't like and want to avoid when we create opinions on others. When it comes to other members of the human species, individuals view them as chaotic, irrational situations where they are not allowed to live, be free, or allowed to have a voice. Even while it is fascinating in and of itself, Shelley's famous book and scientist actually makes progress toward understanding what it means to be human. Shelley's book, which takes inspiration from her mother Mary Wollstonecraft and contributes to the current conversation concerning

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George Washington once said, “happiness and moral duty are inseparably connected”. A person must be able to cope with their actions and decisions if they wish to live a meaningful, pleasant life with little to no regret. In Mary Shelley’s revolutionary gothic science fiction novel, Frankenstein, written during the height of the romantic era, the main character Victor Frankenstein does not fulfill his moral responsibility of caring for the creature he haphazardly and immorally bestows life upon, and is punished for it. Shelley uses scenes of Victor’s intentional selfish ignorance, hatred towards his monster, the subsequent effects on his creation and loved ones, and unfulfilling revenge to demonstrate the importance of facing one’s issues and

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Occupied by his project, Victor insists “to procrastinate all that related to my feelings of affection until the great object, which swallowed up every habit of my nature, should be completed” (Shelley 46). Victor continues to be unconditionally concerned with the progress of his objectives instead of the well-being of himself and his family. Individuals often ignore one’s own feelings and health because of a glorified goal, which can lead to a degrading life. The potential glory after the obtainment of a goal does not make up for enjoyable time lost in the hardships presented in the journey. Until the completion of the Creature, Victor does not associate with his family: “...the same feelings which made me neglect the scenes around me cause me also to forget those friends and family who were so many miles absent, and whom I had not seen for so long a time” (Shelley 45).

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I think that just because we can, we should not risk anything because the consequences are too dangerous and outcome is unpredictable. This applies to anything that requires superior knowledge like creating a creature in Frankenstein. The creature was capable of killing many people and was not controlled by anyone. Victor payed the price by having his family members killed by the creature. This shows how just because Victor could create a creature, he shouldn’t have because there are bad consequences.

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The novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley says a person is responsible for their actions if they do not weigh the possible consequences of their actions before making their final decision. Throughout the novel, Mary Shelley shows the consequences of actions that are done without proper thought beforehand. Victor Frankenstein wants to create life, he wants to be god, and his lust for this goal overtakes his common sense. Victor rushes into making his creature and then makes rash decisions which also contributes to his demise and the death of several of his close friends and family. The monster should be held responsible for his actions to a certain extent, however, his actions are influenced by Victor’s initial impetuous decisions.

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Yet the creature only causes the destruction it does because of Victor’s rejection. Shelley demonstrates that culture must not superceed empathy for the fellow man because if it does then it leads to

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This is told through Victor relaying the story to Walton. The creature reveals that life has not been easy, even though he has made substantial progress in his intellectual development. Nature and what he observes has become his teacher. Shelley is making an interesting theory about children raised by nature rather than society, especially given the creature’s infantile mind. Through the course of this section of the book , Shelley also reveals the effect of trauma that is inflicted upon a young mind.

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Man or monster Throughout history man has been playing God. The easiest example is kings declaring they’re gods to strike fear and gain worship from their subjects. Yet they never attempted creation of life. In Mary Shelley’s frankenstein the author describes how a deranged scientists attempts to be God and create life from all the wrong things. Comparing and contrasting the doctors monster to God 's favorite creation and the consequences of those actions.

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Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein has been revered as a classic example of science fiction, telling the story of an ingenious inventor treading new paths to expand human understanding of the natural world. The product of this noble pursuit is tainted by the inventor’s creation going rogue, albeit not without a catalyst: his own creator’s neglect. Alas, in an era of increasing excitement in science, Shelley had written a story that seemed to contradict such sentiments with fear; however, this was not without purpose. Instead of using this tale to disseminate fear, Shelley offers a new perspective: one of caution. The description of Victor Frankenstein’s god complex and neglect of his creation emphasizes the dangers of irresponsibility and scientific

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Victor's abandonment of the creature, driven by fear and disgust, results in the creature seeking revenge and causing harm to those closest to Victor. Similarly, the creature's desperate attempts to be accepted by society are met with rejection and violence, leading him to lash out and seek vengeance against his creator. These actions backfire on the perpetrators, illustrating the destructive consequences of their choices and emphasizing the theme that your own actions can lead to your

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I lay down on the grass, which was very tall and rough. I attempted to rise, but was not able to stir: for, as I happened to lie on my back, I found my arms and legs were tightly fastened on each side to the ground and my hair that was long and thick, tied down on the same manner. I likewise felt several slender ligatures across the large grass. I could only look upwards; the sun began to grow hot, and the light offended my eyes. I heard a gruesome noise about me,; but in the posture I lay, could see nothing except the sky .

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The fictional horror novel of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is driven by the accentuation of humanity’s flaws. Even at the very mention of her work an archetypal monster fills one’s imagination, coupled with visions of a crazed scientist to boot. Opening her novel with Robert Walton, the conduit of the story, he also serves as a character to parallel the protagonist’s in many ways. As the ‘protagonist’ of the story, Victor Frankenstein, takes on the mantle of the deluded scientist, his nameless creation becomes the embodiment of a truly abandoned child – one left to fend for itself against the harsh reality posed by society. On the other hand, Walton also serves as a foil to Victor – he is not compulsive enough to risk what would be almost

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Shelley uses point of view to allow Walton and Victor to express themselves in the first person. When Robert Walton is writing to his sister about his passion to find a passage way, he says, "What can stop the determined heart and resolved will of man"(Shelley 7)? If he puts his mind to the task at hand nothing will be able to stop him; therefore, he states he has ambition and Walton gets to explain how he feels. Another example of point of view in the story is Victor creating the monster. When he realizes the creature had come alive he says, "I had worked hard for nearly two years, for the sole purpose of infusing life into an inanimate body"(Shelley 35).

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