Perception In Frankenstein

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Personal perceptions
Personal perception cam be a confusing term that is at times associated with a person’s outlook on a situation. Personal perception is more closely described as how individuals perceive a situation and then processes that information. What is more interesting, is the fact that based on what that person perceives can, at times, predicate how they will react to that perception (Cunningham 1). Dr. Philippe Rochat, as well as others have worked on extensive case studies trying to determine when a child becomes self-aware. From those studies he has developed an identification theory that suggest that there are 5 levels of self-awareness. Dr. Rochat goes on to suggest that not only is this a pervasive issue with many children, …show more content…

Victor is a scientist who studies concepts of modern science and becomes intrigued with an idea he discovers known as the “secret of life”. Using these concepts, he brings a patchwork being to life assembled from different body parts and chemicals. Victor is ashamed at what he has done and abandons the creature. The creature is created with the mind of a young child and struggles with a sense of abandonment, fear, anger with how he is treated, and self-perception issues. Mary Shelley brings to life a creation of her own self-image which personifies many attributes, feeling, and personal demons she has fought with her entire since early childhood (Shelley, ch …show more content…

Rochat spends a great deal of time analyzing at what point do children become self-aware. It is from those studies that he determines that although a child goes through many stages in the development process of becoming self-aware, it is during the early part of their development that this self-realization becomes evident. This assertion appears to agree with what we know about Mary Shelley’s early childhood and her trials and tribulations with the rejection and abandonment of her father. This is then later reflected in the story where the monster recalls his era of origin and how difficult it was discovered this new world he was born into. The monster struggles with thoughts, feeling, and uncertainty that one would normally experience through the guidance of a parental figure (Shelley, ch. 11). Mary Shelley uses these experiences of the monster to recount experiences she faced as a child having to live through many of these same emotions bereft of a parent to guide