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The Similarities Between Frankenstein And Odysseus

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In Homer’s Odyssey, Odysseus has to choose between going near Scylla or Charybdis, but both are incredibly dangerous; even so, he decides to go near Scylla. However, by going near Scylla he has lost six of his companions, although if he went near Charybdis all his companions would perish. In this scenario, Odysseus chooses Scylla as the lesser of two evils. Similarly, in Frankenstein by Mary Shelley when deciding whether Victor Frankenstein, or the creature is a bigger monster, it is clear that both have committed absolutely abhorrent actions in their lives; nonetheless, the creature is the lesser of two evils in this instance. Furthermore, we must understand the underlying similarity and evil that both of them have been responsible, either directly or …show more content…

Although this may be true, it is the underlying difference in reactions towards their actions that award the creature the lesser of two evils status.

When examining the similarities of the actions of both the creature and Victor Frankenstein, both hold key actions that make them exceptionally terrible beings. For instance, after Victor recognizes that he has unexpectedly hurt the creature, he decides to amend his wrong by making a companion for the creature that the creature so desires. However, even though originally the idea is to create a companion, Victor decides he cannot allow another daemon into the world who will cause chaos. Thus causing him to destroy the companion meant for the creature. Moreover, while lamenting on the situation later in the novel he states the main reason he destroyed the companion was because, “...the duties towards my own species had greater claims to my attention…”. In this passage, he puts the human race above his creature in terms

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