Who Is Victor A Gothic Protagonist In Frankenstein

Several traits distinguish whether or not a character is a Romantic and Gothic protagonist in a literature piece. Romantic Goth characters have the talent to both see and feel the beauty in the dark and obscure, which often inspires them to react differently to a given situation. Romantic Goth inspired actions can often have large and unfortunate consequences, which may affect the people around them, especially very loved ones. In the novel Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein, someone whose actions have large and unfortunate consequences, is a Romantic and Gothic protagonist because he has one main goal that gives his life purpose, is interested with the past, and shows an uncontrollable amount of emotion.

Victor Frankenstein is a Romantic and

Victor first discovers his interest with the past by reading the works of Cornelius Agrippa: “A volume of the works of Cornelius Agrippa. I opened it with apathy; the theory which he attempts to demonstrate and the wonderful facts which he relates soon changed this feeling into enthusiasm. A new light seemed to dawn upon my mind” (20). Victor comes across the works of a famous natural philosopher, Cornelius Agrippa, which inspires him to pursue the fields and studies of science, and use it to uncover the mask of nature. The pursuit of knowledge is a very dangerous theme during the story, as it sways Victor off the path of good, and into an unnatural field of work. Victor begins to use his knowledge of anatomy and natural decay to find a way to restore life upon the Creature: “To examine the causes of life, we must first have recourse to death. I became acquainted with the science of anatomy[...] I must also observe the natural decay and corruption of the human body” (30). Victor uses his knowledge to research and develop a way to reanimate the Creature, using his knowledge for the wrong reasons, which is to gain the God-like power of life and death. This unnatural use of knowledge creates many consequences, the main one being isolation from society and righteousness, which throws him into a dark depression and sways him off the path of good. Victor Frankenstein is a Romantic and Gothic protagonist, because he has an interest with the past. He revels in the works of famous natural philosophers, who drive him to pursue the sciences, and his use of knowledge results in the birth of the Creature, which has large and unfortunate