ipl-logo

The Role Of Morality In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

1384 Words6 Pages

Morality is the distinction between right and wrong while ethics is the knowledge that guide one’s behavior. In the nineteenth century, social status, religion, and appearance were the main focuses of the time. In discussing these three things, one must question the moral and ethical ideals. In doing so, Mary Shelley implicates the idea of society affecting the nurturing of one’s nature in her gothic novel, Frankenstein. Victor Frankenstein is nurtured by his parents to interact with only pleasant and self-promoting individuals and possessions. His parents, Caroline and Alphonse, influence this through being of higher hierarchy which give Victor a sense of self- worth. Caroline Beaufort’s father was a merchant who was honorably known while Alphonse “relinquished public figures” (Shelley 18-19). Both have either inherited or worked for their money exposing Victor to an environment of social class structure. While on their trip to Italy and viewing the poor, it is proven that they are a family of higher superiority and look down on the lower classes. By visiting the poor, Victor’s parents indirectly teach him he is superior to others. Mary Shelley incorporates this to allude to the nineteenth century caste system that was indirectly used during that …show more content…

It is seen over and over throughout her novel: Victor’s parents taking him to Italy, his parents giving him Elizabeth as a gift, the books found in the library, hanging of Justine, creation and abandonment of a monster, the cottagers, the books the creature reads, and the death of Victor. By conveying this idea, Mary Shelley is accomplishing her goal of alluding to the nineteenth century society as a whole. During that time, society was based on hierarchy, representation, and religion which tugs on moral and ethical values as well. So, if society nurtures the nature of individuals; who is the real monster?

Show More
Related
151 Words | 1 Pages

There are many famous phrases out in the world, but the one that people tend to use the most is “An eye for an eye”. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, analyzes the role of punishment and forgiveness in society. This novel makes the people apply the lessons of writing to our own particular moral convictions with respect to the part of punishment and forgiveness in the justice system. Through the actions of Victor Frankenstein's creature, and their society, the novel explores the complexity of ethically and legally attaining justice and its circumstances. The monster does not say that he is justified in killing Victor’s loved ones, but his categorizing his murders as some type of getting Victor back in some way.

Read More
68 Words | 1 Pages

Neglecting the responsibility of one’s own possession leads to a blamable consequence. In Frankenstein, Mary Shelley, proves that Victor’s actions and choices make him blamable for causing all the tragic accidents. However, his failure to take responsibility as the owner starts all the disaster in the novel. His poor treatment, negative dictions, and rude behavior towards his own creation leads to his blame for affecting people around him.

Read More
500 Words | 2 Pages

During the time period of the novel Frankenstein, conformity to society was an expectation a person had, if that person wanted to fit in. If that person did not conform, then they were seen as an outcast and had trouble communicating or being with society as they were different. The creature in Frankenstein, is an interesting character as he tries his best to conform to society, but at the same time questions society not accepting him as he is different. The struggle of outward conformity and inward questioning shows the reader that during Mary Shelley’s society, a person had to look like and act like society. I did not matter if the person was kind or evil; the person had to be like society.

Read More
318 Words | 2 Pages

as the reincarnation of his father, Rajiv Gandhi.("In the name of the father; India's election.") After many years of fighting, the Tamil Tigers stronghold is decrepit. ("Top tiger talks about talks: Sri Lanka. ")According to the article “Top Tiger talks about talks: Sri Lanka” the Tigers are struggling and they are living with no electricity and very little food.

Read More
550 Words | 3 Pages

The actions of an individual defines the boundary between sympathy and wickedness. Their behaviors and thoughts change the plot of the story and character identity. Mary Shelley uses moral ambiguity to overlook the unrealistic nature of her story. In Frankenstein, this concept incorporates itself into Mary Shelley’s characters. Ambiguity invokes an attachment between the figures and readers.

Read More
1037 Words | 5 Pages

The morals Victors parents bestowed upon him show Victor that he should cherish all life, and could be a spur behind creating the monster, just to bring more life into the world. The presence of his adopted sister, Elizabeth Lavenza, the daughter of a nobleman and a German Mother. Victor realizes her poor past, living with a poverty-stricken family. Immediately takes his pride and loves Elizabeth as she is “mine to protect, love, and cherish”, Victor thinks as Elizabeth as his, almost like a teddy, which can be emotional support for younger ones. His selfishness is unable to see the value in people as individuials, which foreshadows his later problems, but he sees his responsibility in protecting Elizabeth.

Read More
974 Words | 4 Pages

The Dangers Of Responsibility Responsibility is the state or fact of having a duty to deal with something or of having control over someone. Responsibility is something that every human needs. A lack of responsibility can be harmful to the person and the people around them and a plethora of responsibility can change a person 's life. In the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, Shelley’s portrayal of Victor as selfish suggests that not taking responsibility can lead to pain, death, and the suffering of others as the reader sees in the novel which relates to today 's society of powerful countries not taking responsibility for the weapons that they create, and the damage that is revealed as a result.

Read More
1265 Words | 6 Pages

The novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley says a person is responsible for their actions if they do not weigh the possible consequences of their actions before making their final decision. Throughout the novel, Mary Shelley shows the consequences of actions that are done without proper thought beforehand. Victor Frankenstein wants to create life, he wants to be god, and his lust for this goal overtakes his common sense. Victor rushes into making his creature and then makes rash decisions which also contributes to his demise and the death of several of his close friends and family. The monster should be held responsible for his actions to a certain extent, however, his actions are influenced by Victor’s initial impetuous decisions.

Read More
1309 Words | 6 Pages

What’s a man without his family? The most influential factor in anyone’s young life is their family, but all families are not created equal. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley provides an interesting commentary on how families should raise their children. This text compares two families with drastically different parenting styles. Throughout the text Mary Shelly suggests that a structured “formal” education is corruptive, while a more natural education is favorable.

Read More
1000 Words | 4 Pages

Victor questions why men so instinctively attempt to become superior to nature when men are also a product of nature. He criticizes that if humans reverted to our primal instincts, “hunger, thirst, and desire” (67) that we’d be free, or content with our lives. This is his subliminal self-reflection as he understands that seeking the secret to life, by creating the monster, did not bring him happiness but rather brought him misery and self-loathing. In this last line of the passage, Shelley highlights a major morale and theme of the story which is using science to tamper with nature, a critique against the enlightenment period. The consequences of Frankenstein’s creation have not only caused the death of William and Justine but will also become the reason for his own inevitable doom

Read More
1135 Words | 5 Pages

Victor Frankenstein is selfish. The novel portrays Victor as a selfish character who is only concerned about his own well-being. Frankenstein wanted to manipulate the power of life. He abandons his creation because of the creature’s appearance and also withholds information or lies about his creation. Due to Victor 's selfishness, readers feel sorry for his creation.

Read More
929 Words | 4 Pages

The gothic fiction novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley centralizes on humanity and the qualifications that make someone human. The content of the novel Frankenstein depicts a monster displaying human traits that his creator Victor does not possess: empathy, a need for companionship, and a will to learn and fit in. Throughout the novel Shelley emphasizes empathy as a critical humanistic trait. The monster displays his ability to empathize with people even though they are strangers. On the other hand Victor, fails to show empathy throughout the novel even when it relates to his own family and friends.

Read More
1246 Words | 5 Pages

Frankenstein: From Benevolent to Feind “I was benevolent and good; misery made me a fiend.” (Shelley 69) Said by Frankenstein’s monster, this quote truly defines him: initially an affectionate, love-seeking creature, he transformed into an enraged killer, angry at humanity for the undeservedly poor way he was treated. Victor Frankenstein is an unique, complex individual who encounters a similar change of nature for similar reasons. The quote—though spoken by the monster—encapsulates the evolution of Victor Frankenstein’s personality; misery—a product of isolation and loneliness—aroused a deterioration of temperament from an initially benevolent Frankenstein.

Read More
1167 Words | 5 Pages

When it comes to scientific methods, there are a variety of ways in which one can reach their goal. Of course, there are certain rules that one must follow when it comes to scientific research. The foremost of these rules is to abide by a certain code of ethics. In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein disregards the ethics of research, preferring to accomplish his goals without thoroughly thinking of the consequences that might arise from creating life for the dead. Of course, he wasn’t the only one ignoring the ethical guidelines of research.

Read More
556 Words | 3 Pages

Throughout the novel, the main character Frankenstein, made many poor decisions that I would consider to be morally wrong and unethical. Frankenstein’s research and discoveries are ethically wrong because he was taking dead bodies from cemeteries, cutting off their limbs, and body parts to create a human like creature. He did not have anyone's consent to do this study causing it to be unethical, and he also should not be able to do this because he is playing the role of god. In the beginning of the book, Victor Frankenstein described to Walton that he had created a monster using body parts from a graveyard.

Read More

More about The Role Of Morality In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

Related Topics

Open Document