ipl-logo

How Is Frankenstein Related To The Enlightenment

1508 Words7 Pages

Published in the spring of 1818, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is a cautionary tale of hubris and the eventual fall from grace, exploring what it is to be human and the undeniable perils of the changing world order. Released during the overlapping period between the Enlightenment and the emerging Byronic romantic movement, Frankenstein is a reflection of its time and the vastly changed landscape of both morality and existential belief. Agnosticism and atheism had become commonplace over the course of the Enlightenment, and the growing interest in existentialist philosophy quickly followed. Combined with the Bohemian Revolution of Paris and the push for recognition of the Fine Arts in Britain, this led to a polarising effect on the dominant ideologies …show more content…

Dwarfed by the height of Mont Blanc, the Creature and his creator meet for what seems like the first time. The Creature expresses the injustice dealt to him, proclaiming: “Remember that I am thy creature—I ought to be thy Adam—but I am rather the fallen angel, whom thou drivest from joy for no misdeed.” The Creature feels he deserves a better lot in life, staking a claim to the place of the most holy creation of God – that of the first human. From the Creature’s perspective, his fall is similar to Lucifer’s, the ‘fallen angel,’ cast from Heaven for no other reason than a disagreement with God. In the Creature’s narrowed view, this is no crime at all. He continues: “I was benevolent and good: misery made me a fiend.” The Creature is denying the fallibility of his crimes. By blaming Victor for his misery, the Creature attributes all murderous deeds unto his creator while alleviating all guilt from himself. This draws on the concept of morality’s intrinsic ties with perceived justice and personal judgement. The Creature perceives that he, and he alone, is the one who was wronged; he holds the moral high ground and has every right to demand that Victor do anything within his power to amend his failings as a creator. Even when tied to self-centered bias and personal suffering, there are still strains of justice and well-founded indignation within the Creature’s judgement of Victor. [need to

Show More
Related

Victor Frankenstein Justice Quotes

793 Words | 4 Pages

Despite Victor being punished for creating a hideous creature, justice is served without being fair, nor just. In the story, relatives of Victor die despite being innocent or having done any wrongdoing, such as William, Elizabeth, Henry, or even, his own father. Victor no doubt did wrong, he played god with nature and created life, but rather than cherishing it, he abandoned it. In retrospect, Victor could’ve done better and is seen as evil, however, acting on his human nature, he isn’t in fact evil, but rather clumsy or human.

Read More

Examples Of Enlightenment In Frankenstein

1384 Words | 6 Pages

Utilizing the novel’s protagonist as a symbol of the Age of Enlightenment, Shelley employs Victor Frankenstein as an example of the egotistical interests exhibited by Enlightenment thinkers. Reiterating, Victor Frankenstein is the main protagonist in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, with an obsessive interest in scientific development. However, discouraged by his father, Alphonse Frankenstein, Victor was driven by his eager desire to learn from a young age. As a result, he directed toward the literary work of respected philosophers to soothe his thirst for knowledge. Consequently, a new delusion formed, “Wealth was an inferior object, but what glory would attend the discovery if I could banish disease from the human frame and render man invulnerable to any but a violent death (26)!”

Read More

Sympathy For The Monster In Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein'

973 Words | 4 Pages

This quote shows that even though the creature does good, his benevolence is not rewarded in a positive way. The creature wouldn’t have been so angry and seeking vengeance if he was just accepted by his creator (Victor) or by society in general. I feel as though the creatures acts of evil and the crimes he committed could have been avoided if he was just shown compassion from Victor. I have sympathy for the monster in the sense that he was brought into the world basically set up to

Read More

Frankenstein Compassion Essay

1039 Words | 5 Pages

For example, when Victor glances out the window and sees a shadow ,as he stares at his wife’s dead body he states, “…A grin was on the face of the face of the monster; he seemed jeer, as with the fiendish finger he pointed to the corpse of my wife”. This shows that the Creature seemed to enjoy the fact that Victor’s wife was lifeless and seeing he was in pain. This is significant because it showed how the creature had went from being kindhearted and sympathetic to the complete opposite due to Victor’s lack of compassion. If Victor showed the Creature more compassion it would have shown him sympathy instead of smiling in that situation. Another example of the Creature acting negatively towards others is when it states “...Besides some months have elapsed since the commission of his crimes [the Creature’s crimes]” (pg 148).

Read More

Robert Walton In Frankenstein

529 Words | 3 Pages

It instead shows a darker side of this being in which he intends to ruin the life of Robert Walton. The paragraph is relevant to the characterization of the creature because it shows that he has now realized the world in which he lives in, and how it abhors his existence.

Read More

Examples Of Cruelty In Frankenstein

563 Words | 3 Pages

Despite the creature's attempts to do good deeds and help those in need, he is consistently met with hostility and violence. The creature is subjected to ridicule and scorn, further exacerbating his feelings of isolation and alienation. As the creature notes, "I had no one to guide me or to direct me. I was alone. I remembered Adam's supplication to his Creator.

Read More

How Is Death Presented In Frankenstein

1198 Words | 5 Pages

The Creature is aware that it may be destroyed by mentioning “I ask you not to spare me”, but it is also accepting the likely outcome of the situation. By asking this, it shows the Creature’s desire to connect and be felt understood by others due to the emotional scars it has collected. This excerpt from the Creature showcases many emotions that include, self-hatred, bitterness, anger, and surrender. These emotions further the miserable life of the creature, and expose the consequences of Victor’s ambitious

Read More

Obsession With Revenge In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

610 Words | 3 Pages

The monster’s suddenly became obsessed with vengeance. He gave up all good to be a ruthless killer, in hopes to make the creator’s life miserable. On his tireless search for his creator, he of Victor and said, “The nearer I approached to you habitation, the more deeply did I feel the spirit of revenge rekindles in my heart” (p 120). Because of the monsters endowment to revenge, many lives were lost. But the monster was not satisfied with his wrongdoings, instead, he regrets his ambition of evil.

Read More

How Does Victor Frankenstein Deserve To Live With Society

1113 Words | 5 Pages

I will not attempt to console you” (p. 77). Although the monster killed one man he is responsible for two deaths and when he confronts Victor. The Monster feels no remorse. One last reason why the monster does not deserve to live with the rest of society is because he does not know true justice. Victor promised the Monster he will make him a female companion just as ugly, so she will like the monster, but, Victor realized what he was

Read More

The Enlightenment In Frankenstein

700 Words | 3 Pages

The monster in “Frankenstein” very much reflects both The Enlightenment and what it means to be enlightened. Starting with The Enlightenment, although the monster did not attend formal schooling, he was an avid

Read More

Theme Of Enlightenment In Frankenstein

974 Words | 4 Pages

Furthermore, Shelley examines the relation that Frankenstein and his monster have towards relevant motifs of Enlightenment such as science, religion, and humanity. To begin with, the era of Enlightenment was characterized by numerous scientific discoveries in Europe. Advances were made in various scientific fields such as astronomy, physics, and mathematics. They caused large controversies which had a deep impact on people’s thinking about God and religion.

Read More

Importance Of Romanticism In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

963 Words | 4 Pages

In Mary Shelley’s Romantic novel, Frankenstein, an over-ambitious young scientist, infatuated with the creation of life without a female and the source of generation, breaks the limits of science and nature by conjuring life into a lifeless form constructed from stolen body parts. The young experimenter confesses his monstrous tale that defies nature to a captain who shares his desire for glory and the pursuit of knowledge. Though a Romantic novel itself, Frankenstein serves as a critique of part of the philosophy behind Romanticism, that is, the promotion of radical self-involvement that celebrates the individual’s pursuit of glory and knowledge. Both the lone captain and the young scientist seek glory from their quest for knowledge but ultimately their pursuits end disastrously. Throughout the novel, Shelley warns against excessive self-confidence, the ambitious overreaching in the acquirement of scientific knowledge, and the arrogant pursuit of glory, using the young scientist as a forewarning to the lone captain against his

Read More

Frankenstein Revenge Theme Essay

1370 Words | 6 Pages

The creature seeks revenge and justice for the injustices it has suffered but ultimately finds that its actions have led to more harm than good. This highlights the complex relationship between revenge and justice and the importance of considering the consequences of our actions in seeking justice. In addition, the creature is rejected by society because of its appearance, and this rejection drives it to seek revenge against its creator. This rejection also speaks to more significant societal issues of prejudice and discrimination, as the creature is seen as a monster simply because of its

Read More

The Reflection Of Frankenstein In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

1335 Words | 6 Pages

The creature said that “ But in the detail which he gave you of them he could not sum up the hours and months of misery which I endured, wasting in impotent passions. For while I destroyed his hopes, I did not satisfy my own desires. They were forever ardent and craving; still I desired love and fellowship, and I was still spurned.” Victor destroyed the one thing that could have given the creature happiness. The creature went through a lot and saw how cruel people can be just because you look different.

Read More

Frankenstein Critical Analysis Essay

883 Words | 4 Pages

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.

Read More

More about How Is Frankenstein Related To The Enlightenment

Related Topics

Open Document