ipl-logo

Theme Of Greed In Frankenstein

2010 Words9 Pages

Victor Frankenstein, the narrator and main character in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, animated a horrific being from lifeless matter. Throughout the novel, he discussed the impact of the creature’s actions on his wellbeing, as well as the lives of those around him. However, he focused little on how he affected the creature. Frankenstein’s greed led to the consequences of the creature’s animation. While he, too, was emotionally neglected by his parents, he left the creature to a similar fate by choosing to abandon it. His desire for God-like abilities only served to increase the extreme effects of his actions. The central motivation for Frankenstein’s efforts in the novel Frankenstein was greed. He desires were focused solely upon bettering himself in many facets of his life. The first example of this presented in the piece was improving his status in society. Victor wanted to accomplish something that was believed to be an impossible feat: creating life. He stated this desire while discussing his childhood: “what glory would attend the discovery, if I could banish death from the human frame, and render man invulnerable to any but a violent death” (Shelley 69). He began by studying pieces of scientific literature that, unknowingly to him, had been disproven years before. This should have been corrected during his childhood; however, there was no individual present in his life who could guide him towards modern research. Due to this, his dangerous …show more content…

His desire for improving his status at the expense of others quickly led to his downfall. The neglect he experienced prevented him from considering the effects of abandonment ahead of time, resulting in the rash decision to leave the creature immediately after its animation. His progress towards obtaining God-like abilities only worsened the outcome of his actions, as he did not understand the risks he was taking when attempting

Show More
Related

Examples Of Cruelty In Frankenstein

687 Words | 3 Pages

The novel Frankenstein brings to light many problems and situations that shed light on the faults of mankind. Cruelty was a huge factor in the novel; throughout Frankenstein is cruel to his body and to his creation. When he first makes the creature he runs from it, leaving the creature to fend for himself; even when reuniting with the creature he continues displays cruelty. The creature, in turn exhibits Victor cruelty right back. Within Frankenstein cruelty can be attributed, often affecting both Victor and the creature; serving as a crucial motivator and revealing their anger, pain, frustration till eventually both die.

Read More

Examples Of Cruelty In Frankenstein

563 Words | 3 Pages

Despite the creature's attempts to do good deeds and help those in need, he is consistently met with hostility and violence. The creature is subjected to ridicule and scorn, further exacerbating his feelings of isolation and alienation. As the creature notes, "I had no one to guide me or to direct me. I was alone. I remembered Adam's supplication to his Creator.

Read More

Theme Of Moral Corruption In Frankenstein

648 Words | 3 Pages

In Frankenstein, the Monster, is created by Victor Frankenstein. Victor creates the Monster and hates him, because of this the Monster only sees hate and learns to hate. Victor has moral corruption as well because he has a very mundane outlook on life and this dictates how he reacts to the Monsters plot for revenge. Both characters in Frankenstein are infected by moral corruption and are controlled by there moral values. In this paper I will use Aristotle and Augustine to explain how moral corruption is corrupted by a persons environment and how they are treated in their environment.

Read More

Scrutinize The Punishment In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

1049 Words | 5 Pages

In Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, it scrutinizes the punishments when a man creates life, and plays the role of God. Victor Frankenstein, is at fault for the creature’s actions. Victor was looking for some honor and triumph, but when he accomplished his experiment, not only did it bring terror to Victor, but to the whole world. The monster never learned right from wrong and was never raised correctly, his first moment of life, all he experienced was the fear in Victor's emotion, and was abandoned right from the start. Victor selfishly isolated himself from society and ran away from his responsibilities which caused destruction to the people Victor cared for and loved deeply.

Read More

The Influence Of Nature Vs. Nurture In Frankenstein

825 Words | 4 Pages

There are many signs that happen in Frankenstein’s early life that’ll deflect him from pursuing his original studies, such as, his father not explaining why Victor shouldn’t read the book by Agrippa, the storm that he’s fasciated from and after he discovers the tree that was struck by lightening the night before. While, the Monster is traumatized after being abandoned by Victor. The Monster wants to be validated and loved by Victor. His need for validation leads him to seek it out whenever he can, though it proves to be disastrous.

Read More

Parent Child Relationship In Frankenstein

1465 Words | 6 Pages

In the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, Victor Frankenstein's scientific mind helped him to create a living creature by sewing together and reanimating parts of previously dead human, But because of how the creature looked he rejected it when he succeeded at bringing it to life. The creature grew up without any parental affection or guidance. Growing up like this can cause major emotional complications later in life. Through the actions of murdering Victor’s family and loved ones the creature shows his desire for revenge against Victor for abandoning him. At the end of the book the creature has come face to face the death of his creator, instead of feeling rejoice for the death of the man he tortured and hunted down, he feels sorrow and

Read More

Human Desire Of Power In Frankenstein

293 Words | 2 Pages

One of the strongest human drives comes from the human desire of power, and we see this theme occur a lot throughout the book Frankenstein. “I succeeded in discovering the cause of generation and life, nay more, I became myself more capable of bestowing animation upon lifeless matter.” (Shelley 37). This quote explains how Victor Frankenstein wants to turn something that is lifeless into a living thing once again. He wanted to have the power of having life in his own hands.

Read More

Ambition For Knowledge In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

1278 Words | 6 Pages

Frankenstein did not take into account the feelings of the creature. Frankenstein wanted to be the first to create the life, but did not think ahead. His initial ambition is to help the people, and perhaps his creation will benefit the humankind, however, he lets his ambition take over, and does not think of what the creature will act like or do. He creates the creature but only to suffer and in return he suffers as well. Frankenstein’s actions to not take care of the creature causes the death of those around him.

Read More

The Villain In Frankenstein

882 Words | 4 Pages

Over the past century, Frankenstein has been analyzed and interpreted in seemingly infinite different forms of literature, film, and television shows. Once solely recognized as the story about a brilliant scientist who creates a creature in whom he regrets making after the creature turns out ugly, Frankenstein now represents an internationally recognized and commercialized pop culture symbol for Halloween decorations and costumes. When analyzing and appreciating the true literary essence behind Mary Shelley’s original Frankenstein, one of the most important comparisons to consider remains the underlying influences behind the Creature’s immoral actions and whether or not the blame for these actions belong to Victor or the Creature. When exploring the dichotomy of the Creature versus Victor Frankenstein, one of the biggest and most widely debated questions remains whether Victor should be blamed for the Creature’s destructive actions or if the Creature should be considered guilty for his actions based off of his own free will. Many consider Victor Frankenstein the villain of the story due to his repetitive decisions to abandon and avoid his own “mistake,” the irresponsible choice of creating the monster in the first place, and his obvious negligence of the Creature’s feelings.

Read More

Theme Of Responsibility In Frankenstein

904 Words | 4 Pages

Responsibility is the state or fact of having a duty to deal with something or of having control over someone. In the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, the reader finds many examples of the importance, need, and especially lack of responsibility with characters like Victor and the monster. A reader of Frankenstein sees multifarious examples of Shelley’s theme of the dangers in not taking responsibility even today in the real world. 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 we see 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. Characters in Frankenstein not taking responsibility show the reader the potential dangers of pain and death in numerous situations in the novel.

Read More

Frankenstein Modern Society Analysis

869 Words | 4 Pages

Frankenstein: Does this Story Reflect Modern Society? This book is just that. A story. There has been no indication that an “inanimate” object can be given the power of human life.

Read More

Ambition In Frankenstein

2051 Words | 9 Pages

His motivation to create a stronger, more powerful race was not to make the world a better place but for ego and an insatiable hunger for control and recognition. He carelessly treats the deceased and life itself as nothing more than an object and means with which he feels the right to experiment. Frankenstein’s longing to be recognised as a revolutionary scientist and his need for control and power represented many of the male scientists during Shelley’s time who focused on glory and discovery. His belief that “A new species would bless me as its creator and source; many happy and excellent natures would owe their being to me” conveys how his innocent dream of scientific discovery twisted into a dream of ruling over a race willing to adore and worship him. He speaks as if the creature would be glad to be born in such an unnatural and sadistic way and suggests the creature is

Read More

The Monster's Alienation In Frankenstein

782 Words | 4 Pages

In the novel Frankenstein,by Mary Shelley, the mysterious and unnatural origins of the character of Frankenstein’s monster are an important element. The Monster, having been created unethically and haphazardly, is at odds throughout the novel, resulting in his alienation from society and prolonged feelings of anger, desertion, and loneliness. Shaping his character, his relationships with other characters, and the meaning of the work as a whole, the Monster’s origins are what define him. The Monster faces rejection and violence every time he attempts to make contact with the new, foreign world he has been thrust into.

Read More

Character Development In Frankenstein

1921 Words | 8 Pages

Shelley’s novel encompasses the unknown and how ambition drove Victor’s passions, ultimately leading him to the tragic end with many other bumps in the road along the way. As Victor had been in the study of life and its cause, the death of his mother had catalyzed a movement of grief which had started, “…depriv[ing him]self of rest and health. [Which he] had desired it with an ardour that far exceeded moderation…” (Shelley 35). Even though he knew that he had been raiding graveyards, Victor believed that he created the body with the ‘finest body parts’ available.

Read More

More about Theme Of Greed In Frankenstein

Related Topics

Open Document