How Is Victor Frankenstein Different

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If Victor Frankenstein’s monster was created as a beautiful creature, would the outcome of the novel be different? Mary Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein, surrounds the theme of appearance with the idealistic life that the creature wishes for, while in reality, he lives the exact opposite. Shelley uses literary techniques such as dialogue, imagery, plot, characterization, and conflict to communicate this theme. People judge quickly by outward appearance, and if the monster was created a beautiful creature, he would have lived closer to his ideal wishes instead of being judged by his ugly appearance . Victor’s monster is traumatized by the tragic interactions he has with normal people who are appalled at his ugliness. The creature is judged by …show more content…
The monster claims that he is only evil because he was rejected and alone by saying, “I am malicious because I am miserable. Am I not shunned and hated by all mankind?” (Shelley 104). The creature is shunned and hated because of his appearance, his fiendish looks and inhumane stature, which is what he uses to blame for his maliciousness. His loneliness causes his rage, which urges him to ask for a partner. He begs Victor to create a female monster: “I demand a creature of another sex, but as hideous as myself; the gratification is small, but it is all that I can receive, and it shall content me. It is true, we shall be monsters, cut off from all the world; but on that account we shall be more attached to one another” (Shelley 105). This quote shows that the monster is so lonely that he is willing to leave instead of kill, which proves his belief that of his appearance causing causes his evilness, not his nature. Victor’s creature, however, is not the only link to the theme of appearance seen in this …show more content…
All of the good people in this novel are described as beautiful, including Elizabeth, Safie, Felix, and Agatha. Shelley uses characterization to describe the outward and inward appearances of these characters. Elizabeth’s beauty is described when she was adopted by the Frankensteins when Victor says “They consulted their village priest, and the result was that Elizabeth Lavenza became the inmate of my parents’ house--my more than sister--the beautiful and adored companion of all my occupations and my pleasures” (Shelley 17). One of the main reasons that Victor’s family adopted Elizabeth was because she was pretty. They judged by her appearance assuming that because her outward looks were pleasing, her inner personality would match. Also, Safie is described as beautiful when the monster says “Her hair of a shining raven black, and curiously braided; her eyes were dark, but gentle, although animated; her features of a regular proportion, and her complexion wondrously fair, each cheek tinged with a lovely pink” (Shelley 82). Safie is beautiful, and later seen as being a light to the De Lacey family. In this circumstance also, appearance is related to the personality of the character. It is almost as if Shelley made the good people beautiful just to enhance the relation of them to the ugly monster full of

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