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Poisonwood Bible Character Analysis

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A Tale of Two Tragedies

A tragic hero is a character with a great flaw; this flaw, once realized, will be the downfall of the character and the eventual destruction of themselves. Poisonwood Bible, by Barbra Kingslover and Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley both have perfect examples of tragic heroes. Nathan and the monster both are considered tragic figures in these novels. Each of them has given up their life to continue with one reason to live. The monster has realized that he cannot be accepted into the world because of his looks and Nathan believes that God despises him for being a coward. Nathan gives up his life for redemption and the monster for revenge. Each one is looking for something in their life that will change how they feel …show more content…

Each character was willing to commit their life to one thing; each causing sorrow to them and their loved ones. The monster committed his entire life to getting revenge on Frankenstein. The monster caused so much pain for Victor that his action greatly contributed to the novels entire tragedy. When the monster was first created, he was abandoned and disowned by his creator. He wandered off into forest and learned how to survive on his own. When he tries to connect with other people be is also rejected by them. He stumbles upon a peasant family and hides in a shed learning how to read, write, and speak. After months of learning he finally decides to confront the family and see of they will accept him. When he does, it is a complete disaster and he runs away in anguish: “My heart sunk within me as with bitter sickness, and I refrained. I saw him on the point of repeating his blow, when, overcome by pain and anguish, I quitted the cottage, and in the general tumult escaped unperceived to my hovel” (137). The monster has felt the pain of rejection from human society. He understands what it is like to be hated because of his appearance. This is the start of the monsters downfall, he lets the rage he feels consumes him: “Cursed, cursed, creator! Why did I live?” (138). This is the point at which the monster lets his rage take over him. He needs to revenge his creator for giving him

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Victor Frankenstein the main character in Frankenstein was going through depression, bipolar, and anxiety throughout the story because things in his life were going terrible for him. Victor never had a happy moment in his life after the creation of his monster. Once the monster became angry he tried controlling Victor into creating a love for him. Victor didn’t want to because he was afraid that he would create a violent species and they would take over. After the monster found out he wasn’t doing it, the monster wanted to kill Victors loved ones and not Victor.

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The Monster is the victim because his creator abandons him, his appearance affects his relationship with the people he meets, and his desire to feel loved. To begin, his creator abandons him. Victor creates Frankenstein, but is afraid of him. “He might have spoken, but I did not hear; one hand was stretched out, seemingly to detain me, but I escaped and rushed down stairs” (Shelley 44). Victor cannot put up with the sight and deserts him.

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Soon after he gets rejected from the De Lacey family, he exclaims to Victor, “Cursed, Cursed creator! Why did I live? Why, in that instant, did I not extinguish the spark of existence which you so wantonly bestowed? I know not; despair had not yet taken possession of me; my feelings were those of rage and revenge” (117). The monster explains that he had been truly overcome with anger because of the De Lacey family’s rejection of him.

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The monsters revenge on Frankenstein, drives him too to be full of hatred and need for vengeance because he destroyed everything good in his life. He feels as the death of his loved ones is his fault because he is the one that created the horrid creature in the first place (Brackett). “As time passed away I became more calm; misery had her dwelling in my heart, but I no longer talked in the same incoherent manner of my own crimes; sufficient for me was the consciousness of them” (Shelley 158). The monster wanted Victor to feel the same thing as him, lonely and sadness. The monsters revenge works, Victor becomes rejected by people and has nobody but himself.

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His guilt made him flee from his family and separate himself from society. While on his expedition he ran into his creation which made him seem more monster than human. Frankenstein’s creation is represented as Victor’s more human side towards society and Victor himself.

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Frustration causes the monster and Victor to make very harsh and deadly decisions that affect a lot of people, especially themselves. Due to the revenge that both of these characters wanted to have, the outcomes affected many innocent people. Victor Frankenstein was accused by the monster for his actions while Victor didn’t think he was the reason which made the monster

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