Redefine Mortality In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

Human beings are innately predisposed to seek an origin of existence. So, naturally, as humans evolved, theories of origin arose from all corners of the world. Although different in belief, there was always one common theme: A creator or creators, intended for humans to live on this earth with purpose. Moreover, as the world advanced, culturally specific religions remained, but a new religion emerged in Christianity. Consequently, as Christianity amplified, a centralized church was created to keep the religion standardized. Organized religion, specifically the church, started to gain power and influence in Europe. Instead of allowing subjects to interpret religion as they pleased, the church set a series of strict boundaries as to how individuals

When Shelley states that “life and death” appeared to victor as “ideal bounds,” it is evident that Victor seeks to redefine mortality, which was previously defined by god. Victor himself states that he seeked to “pour a torrent of light into our dark world,” this imagery is eerily similar to the story of creation in Genesis. Shelley makes this connection to further emphasize the godly attributes that Victor wants to obtain. Moreover Victor goes to say that a “A new species would bless me as it’s creator.” By using the word “bless” Shelley strengthens her connection and argument against organized religion. These goals are not quite reached by Victor after his creation of a living creature, torment is reached instead of the glory he desired, proving that the way the church imitates god will result in misery for

She describes the church calling them her “confessor,” showing their true desire as not justice, but finding someone to acquit to the crime. By using callus language such as “menaced” and “besieged”, Shelley emphasis the brutality of the church when enforcing their beliefs, which can oftentimes be false. Justine then states that she began to think that she was the “monster that he said she was.” By characterizing the “confessor” as a “he,” Shelly illuminates the idea that the church is a singular entity, and is not accepting of different religious philosophies. Shelley uses the recurring symbol of a “monster” when describing how the church viewed Justine to lay stress on the overuse of power from the church, influencing people to contribute to the its agenda, by threatening abandonment from god and society. Subsequently, as the church projects a singular message about worship, the religious principles outlined do not apply to the isolated in society, furthering their feelings of abandonment. Shelly utilizes this idea through the development of the creature, after he find’s the religious text Paradise Lost. The creature finds this text, and studies it passionately. With the creatures discovery of religion, he realizes that his situation is not one outlined in the bible, and eventually comes to the conclusion that he is lower than satan. The creatures rage is explained when he states: