The Potential For Rebellion In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

In Mary Shelley’s, “Frankenstein,” Victor Frankenstein tests his limits and explores his curiosity too deeply, leading to long-lasting chaos, responsibilities, problems, and regrets. In connection to the Romantic Period in the 18th century, Shelley’s novel contains two ways of understanding how the creature Frankenstein created connects to the morals and values of the Romantic era. One, is the creature and his creator, and their obligations to each other. And two, the potential for rebellion due to the lack of obligations in place. Through Shelley’s work, we will analyze how specific aspects of Frankenstein’s work intertwined with the Romantic period writers’ reasonings. First, it’s imperative to touch upon the obligations shared between

However, once Frankenstein learns of the great mistake he produced, he abandons his being and neglects all responsibilities. This becomes the most prominent reason behind his creature’s destruction, rebellion, and chaos. “‘I expected this reception,’ said the daemon. ‘All men hate the wretched; how then must I be hated, who am miserable beyond all living things! Yet you, my creator, detest and spurn me, thy creature, to whom thou art bound by ties only dissoluble by the annihilation of one of us. You purpose to kill me. How dare you sport thus with life? Do your duty towards me, and I will do mine towards you and the rest of mankind. If you

In the video lectures discussing the beautiful and the sublime, it was believed by Edmund Burke that an artist should maintain a connection with their creations and audience members, whether that be through a painting or piece of literature. I believe Frankenstein lacked an emotional connection with his audience, the creature, because he experimented solely based on curiosity and not because of his connection towards it. Which goes against Burke’s ideals. It was only after Frankenstein created his creature did he feel emotions towards it… that being disgust, horror, agony, and regret. And, because Frankenstein abandoned his creation, he {the creature} became ‘a monster’ that threatened rebellion. Furthermore, I believe Frankenstein’s creation and Frankenstein’s deepest desire to create life and explore the unknown, can be considered, “the sublime.”. According to the lecture videos, they both at some point display the characteristics of “a thing that arouses terror or a sense of danger in us.” Frankenstein’s creature displays the ‘sense of danger’ when he threatens Frankenstein and physically hurts Frankenstein’s friends and family, and the surrounding community. And, Frankenstein displays the ‘sense of danger’ when he becomes so obsessed with exploring the unknown and where his curiosity can take him, that he neglects his health, his family, his friends, and his rational thought. Because curiosity