Prejudice In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

Prejudice is defined in this essay as a ‘preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or experience’. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein utilizes the disposition of the Creature’s experiences with exile to display the cruel and harsh nature of prejudice. Each human that the Creature encountered treated him with disrespect and exiled him, resulting in his alienation from society and mankind. Prior to facing the unkind discrimination from humans, the Creature was very innocent, warm and open-hearted. Nevertheless, in many instances, the Creature’s expulsion led him to discover his independence, taught him language and greatly developed his knowledge. All of the exclusion that the creature faced is ultimately caused by the nature of prejudice. The

In Shelley's Frankenstein, the Creature's encounters with exile through his interactions with humanity catalyze both personal growth and isolation, revealing the complexities and destructive effects of the nature of prejudice.

The main desire of the Creature is to experience love, but despite numerous attempts to fit into society, it realizes that acceptance by humans will forever elude it. The novel Frankenstein depicts a series of painful episodes of exile that the Creature endures, leading to alienation. Right from the moment Victor brings his creation to life, the Creature is subjected to exclusion. Before bestowing life upon him, Victor refers to the Creature as a "lifeless thing,"(Shelley 58) displaying detachment, as the term "being" is not limited to humans. By deeming the creation a "thing," Victor effectively banishes him from humanity, denying any potential for inclusion in human society. Once the Creature is brought to life, his initial encounter with the world is marked by rejection from his creator. Victor, overcome by fear, is "unable to endure the aspect of the being [he] had created,"(Shelley 58) fleeing in terror and leaving the Creature abandoned and devoid of guidance. The

After being exiled by Victor, the Creature recounts his journey into the wilderness and his gradual adaptation to the world through his exploration of light, darkness, hunger, thirst, and cold. His discovery of fire and its warmth offers him a sense of pleasure, but he also learns the consequences of getting burned. Through observation and discovery, he acquires elementary knowledge, having no parental guidance to rely on for navigating the dangers of the world. His pursuit of knowledge is motivated by his search for love and companionship, which were denied to him by Victor's abandonment. The Creature's exile allowed him to develop his senses independently and discover his freedom. Additionally, when the Creature is chased out of a village, he finds shelter in a small hovel where he observes the De Lacey family living in a cottage nearby. Through their interactions, he understands love, family, and companionship. He learns to speak by listening to them and acquires various skills by observing their actions. Reading books like "Paradise Lost," "Plutarch's Lives," and "Sorrows of Werter" further expands his knowledge of human nature and the rise and fall of empires. However, these works remind him of his differences and isolation. By witnessing the power of language in the De Lacey cottage, the Creature realizes his potential to humanize himself. To