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Literary analysis of the book Frankenstein
Literary analysis of the book Frankenstein
Literary analysis of the book Frankenstein
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Even though the creature was an accident, the novel shows how the two realize they can't adapt to the natural world and how they are so much different from everybody except each other. In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein and
The second half of the nineteenth century was a time in which several transformations occurred in England at social, economic, and political levels. During Queen Victoria’s reign that lasted 64 years, from 1837 to 1901, society in general adhered to a strict moral code and values that praised hard work, honesty, sexual propriety, and thrift. The life of the queen regnant, her personal morality, and prudishness influenced her subjects to imitate her, and she became a role model for the British people and the world. During this century, another major economic and political change occurred in England that transformed the country and positioned it at the center of the world: The Industrial Revolution. With the development of innovative technological
In “Frankenstein”, Mary Shelley introduces a morally ambiguous creature such as the creature as he wants to be loved but proceeds to kill many innocent individuals to get it to convey that the world is not black or white. The creature plays a pivotal role in the piece as he is the antagonist that leads to the deaths of Victor’s friends and family. The creature wants to achieve something that is inherently a good thing. He wants to love me. He wants someone to spend time with, and give and share all his love, but everyone is so fearful of his appearance that he struggles with trying to find a partner.
In chapters 11 through 22 of Frankenstein, Dr. Frankenstein is sitting in his laboratory working on the female monster that his creation demanded. Although he had agreed on the arrangement, he started to contemplate whether or not he should create the monster. He is worried that, perhaps, she will become even more “malignant” (125) than the monster himself. Frankenstein is also worried that “she also might turn with disgust from him [the first monster] to the superior beauty of man.” (125)
This madness makes The Creature’s goal to destroy every happy thing in Victors life, and not try to control or stop it. Starting with his brother, The Creature decides to start his plan of revenge on Victor: “Frankenstein! You belong then to my enemy- to him towards whom I have sworn eternal revenge; you shall be my first victim.” (163). Another innocent victim is being killed because the creature knows he is not loved.
The novel’s creature can be perceived as a personification (and critique) of a scientist’s conscience. The monster’s begging for a “female” (147) companion further shows Victor’s emotional instability. Frankenstein is unable to cope with the consequences it might generate by creating a companion for the creature. He does not want to be responsible for the possible outcomes and is therefore not able to fulfil its desires. With this, Shelley also attacks the responsibility that scientists were not taking for their controversial tinkering with nature (Holmes).
One character, Justine, is very passive and used as a device to make Victor feel guilty for creating The Creature; as her major contribution to the plot was The Creature framing her for her brothers death and shortly after, being sentenced to death. Another female character, Safie, is used to teach The Creature how to speak: “My days were spent in close attention…and I may boast that I improved more rapidly than the Arabian…I could imitate almost every word that was spoken… I also learned the science of letters” (Shelley 106). Even the most prominent female character in the book, Frankenstein's lover and wife, Elizabeth, is killed by The Creature on their wedding night, in order to again make Victor regret creating The Creature, and eventually die of his unhappiness. Mary Shelley's depiction of women might be her indicating the roles of women at the time as inferior, a similar thesis brought about by Mary Wollstonecraft in A Vindication on the Rights of Women.
FRANKENSTEIN ESSAY ROUGH DRAUGHT Would it not be delightful if we all had a companion? Frankenstein’s monster believes so as well. In fact, in the novel “Frankenstein”, by Mary Shelly, Victor Frankenstein, the creator of the iconic monster featured in books and movies, creates a partner for his creation. Although, all is not well due to the fact that Victor destroys the female version of the monster in fear that the two might create children and end humanity!
The abortion of the female creature is the epitome of Frankenstein due to the symbolism of men’s power over the life of women. An abortion is the termination of a pregnancy which is seen with Victor terminating his pregnancy of the female creature. Unlike God, Victor destroys the creature’s Eve so that he would not have a company. Once again through science, Victor was making a female creature, but in this case he found more consequences than his first creation because of the fatal consequences that the creature caused. Victor started to think that what if she became “ten thousand times more malignant than her mate and delight, for its own sake, in murder and in wretchedness” (Shelley 120).
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.
Frankenstein refuses, at first, but later, tells the creature that he will as long as they go into exile together. Frankenstein gathers all the parts needed to create the mate and changes his mind, resulting in the creature being angry. The creature was inspired by the unconditional love he once showed and wishes for someone to share his life with. Frankenstein’s refusal sends a rage of thoughts through the monster. It was cruel for the scientist to create the creature only to force him to live in isolation without any nurturing attention or love.
The monster continues by reassuring the creator of his independent intelligence and power over the creature by telling Frankenstein, “This you alone can do”. Here, the creature assumes a role of submissiveness and reliance on Frankenstein. Frankenstein’s monster gains the sympathy of the reader who, despite condemning the murder of innocent people, commiserate with the lonely creature who is in search of an acquaintance, which he will likely never find. The monster also displays power and aggressiveness over Frankenstein; “You are my creator; but I am your master; obey!” The monster wants to desolate Victor’s heart, not by killing him directly,
With no female monster to keep the male creature at peace, Frankenstein’s world becomes dark. This is because at the exact point that Frankenstein swears he will never create a female companion for the monster, it marks Victor’s ultimate demise as the monster claims he will get his revenge. While during the 18th century, in a marital relationships the man held most of the power, in the novel Frankenstein the real power lied in the life of the female monster. If we were to break the novel down, we would be able to see that had Victor simply created a female monster, the original creation would have stopped his rampage and never have exacted his revenge on Victor by murdering his wife to be. This lack of women obviously reflects Mary Shelley’s feminist views of the time period.
Frankenstein’s Message for the Modern Age Frankenstein’s message for the modern age is to do experiments with caution, and to not mislead others about scientific matters. Discussing the issues that it raises for the society; scientists should try to minimize any effect their work can have on people, animals, and the environment. We will learn about the many lessons that can be taken and applied to the 21st -century world, which will help us as global citizens to know our responsibilities for others. The lessons we can take and apply to this 21st-century world are that knowledge comes with risks and we should understand and know the downfall that comes with science.
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein Critical Analysis About the author Naomi Hetherington is a member of the University of Sheffield, the department of lifelong learning. She is an early researcher in sexuality, religious culture, the 19th-century literature, and gender. She holds a BA in Theology and religious studies, an MA and a Ph.D. in Victorian Literature. She currently teaches four-year pathway literature degree at Sheffield University for students who have already attained foundation degrees. Among the books, she has written the critique of Frankenstein.
