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Family In Frankenstein Essay

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What’s a man without his family? The most influential factor in anyone’s young life is their family, but all families are not created equal. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley provides an interesting commentary on how families should raise their children. This text compares two families with drastically different parenting styles. Throughout the text Mary Shelly suggests that a structured “formal” education is corruptive, while a more natural education is favorable. Victor’s parental figures in Frankenstein poison him by surrounding him with countless indulgences. From childhood, Victor was given all of his desires without question and this led to him becoming self-centered and dependent on the service of others. Victor describes his childhood with …show more content…

Since the monster looked up towards both Victor and the De Laceys, they can both assume a parental role. The monster describes the De Lacey family as “‘perfect forms’” and is entranced by “‘their grace, beauty, and delicate complexions!” (Shelley 121). The monster becomes more civil and empathetic by studying the De Laceys. He reflects on the kindness that the family members show to one-another and applies that to his own actions. During his time studying the family, the monster becomes more “open to love and compassion, valuing education, language, and communication as he develops the ability to comprehend and share with others,” (Brackett). At first, the monster routinely stole food from the cottagers, however, when he discovered that this action brought hardship upon them he satisfied himself “‘with berries, nuts, and roots...gathered from a neighboring wood,” (Shelley 118). This improvement in character strengthens the idea that a natural education is superior. Conversely, when the monster imagines his creator, Victor, he curses “‘his crimes & malice”’ thoughts of hatred and revenge consume him (Shelley 96). This dichotomy highlights the incompetence of Victor as a parent. This helps to reassert that the monster’s “wickedness originates not with his soul but his treatment,” (Ferguson). Victor’s negligence as a parent, a trait caused by his poor upbringing, caused the corruption of his

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Victor’s creation, whether intentional or not, took the lives of his friends and family in thanks to his negligence and lack of thought when creating Dad. His initial response of horror and fear to the creature’s appearance began the unnecessary tension between creator and being that developed into Dad’s revenge through murder. To Victor, these unexplained actions made his creation appear inherently evil. Dad is clearly frustrated by Victor’s opinion of him, as it is only motivated by Dad’s unique physical appearance, rather than his morality. However, Dad unknowingly, or unconcernedly, allows Victor’s perspective to gain support as he is responsible for the murder of William, Justine Moritz, Henry Clerval, and Elizabeth.

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The family relationship is the most vital kind of relationship across all of humanity. In the novel Frankenstein, Mary Shelley shows the importance of family bonds through the tragic events that occur through Frankenstein and his loved ones. Victor was brought up in a wealthy family surrounded by happiness and warmth. Victor however fails to share the same warmth towards his creation.

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Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein examines how the presence of a mother, negatively or positively, affects the development of a child. Victor’s mother, Caroline Frankenstein, dies while Victor is still a young man (he is about 17 years old), breaking their relationship between mother and son. Because Victor loses his bond with his mother, he is unable to act as a mother would when he creates his creature. Caroline Frankenstein’s absence in Victor’s life creates a disunion between the mother and child bond, which is evident in Victor’s creation and his fragmented relationship with the creature. Caroline Frankenstein, Victor’s mother, portrayed a traditional mother in the Frankenstein household, until her death.

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1941 ) makes noteworthy statements in her essay ‘Making a ‘Monster’: An introduction to Frankenstein’. According to her, the entire novel is a consequence of “Victor’s total failure as a parent”. Agreeing to the argument, I would like to point out how the entire novel is based on the relationship of the selfish irresponsible parent-Victor Frankenstein and the abandoned child- The Monster. While Mary Shelley creates a horrific creature to physically contrast it to the entire human race, she provides various character similarities between the creator and the created; this provides a new perspective to view the characters from.

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