Helplessness Only Significant to Human Beings?
Is helplessness only applicable to humans or for monsters as well? Throughout the novel many occasions arise that are meant to display how helpless one may feel using the struggles of many characters as examples. Victor Frankenstein further exemplifies the concept of helplessness because of the loss of his mother Caroline, the ever elusive truth that all the education he received during his childhood was obsolete, and the death of his father Alphonse. In Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein the most prevalent theme is that of helplessness which is poignantly expressed by Victor Frankenstein throughout the novel; in stark contrast, the monster expresses helplessness for a short period before becoming overcome by anger against its creator.
Helplessness is universally defined as being unable to react to a particular situation. It is similar to powerlessness, and vulnerability because you are unable to reply to any challenges that come …show more content…
Victor Frankenstein begins to exhibit helplessness ever since his mother dies after contracting scarlet fever from Elizabeth, whom she had been trying to cure. “I need not describe the feelings ... and the despair that is exhibited on the countenance” (Shelley, 43). Victor showcases helplessness when he finds out that all the education he had received during his childhood had been obsolete. " .. the teacher, therefore, did not prepossess me in favour of his pursuits" (Shelley, 45). The death of his father Alphonse was the last straw for Victor which inevitably leads him on a quest to satisfy and take revenge on the monster. "I lost sensation, and chains of darkness were the only objects that pressed upon me" (Shelley, 188).He slowly starts to feel how his monster feels throughout the novel because he finally understands the feeling of being a bug in
Is helplessness only applicable to humans or for monsters as well? Throughout the novel many occasions arise that are meant to display how helpless one may feel using the struggles of many characters as examples. Victor Frankenstein further exemplifies the concept of helplessness because of the loss of his mother Caroline, the ever elusive truth that all the education he received during his childhood was obsolete, and the death of his father Alphonse. In Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein the most prevalent theme is that of helplessness which is poignantly expressed by Victor Frankenstein throughout the novel; in stark contrast, the monster expresses helplessness for a short period before becoming overcome by anger against its creator.
Helplessness is universally defined as being unable to react to a particular situation. It is similar to powerlessness, and vulnerability because you are unable to reply to any challenges that come …show more content…
Victor Frankenstein begins to exhibit helplessness ever since his mother dies after contracting scarlet fever from Elizabeth, whom she had been trying to cure. “I need not describe the feelings ... and the despair that is exhibited on the countenance” (Shelley, 43). Victor showcases helplessness when he finds out that all the education he had received during his childhood had been obsolete. " .. the teacher, therefore, did not prepossess me in favour of his pursuits" (Shelley, 45). The death of his father Alphonse was the last straw for Victor which inevitably leads him on a quest to satisfy and take revenge on the monster. "I lost sensation, and chains of darkness were the only objects that pressed upon me" (Shelley, 188).He slowly starts to feel how his monster feels throughout the novel because he finally understands the feeling of being a bug in