Victor’s Abandonment
What does the novel imply/suggest about humanity’s capacity for good and evil?
One is most susceptible to outside influence when they have no knowledge and search for connections in the world around them, for humans this comes in the first years of one’s life. In Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein, a man toils to create life from lifeless matter. His hardships prove to be useless when he accomplishes his goal and renders it useless and a disgrace. The creature created in frankenstein can be related to an infant. However, the creature is not given guidance of any kind, unlike a child. The creature learns language and values along the way, including the values of evil. As the creature begins to understand what happened …show more content…
Victor wakes up on the morning after the dawn of the creature and sees it smiling down on him. “He held up the curtain of the bed; and his eyes, if eyes they may be called, were fixed on me. His jaws opened, and he muttered some inarticulate sounds, while a grin wrinkles his cheeks.” (Pg. 58) Victor does not consider that the creature is trying to connect with its creator but immediately jumps to the conclusion that the creature is evil and has intentions to harm him. Victor feels that he has to get away from his “evil” creation and finds shelter in the yard of his abode. "I took refuge in the courtyard belonging to the house which I inhabited; where I remained during the rest of the night,”. (pg. 58) This is the first step that is taken that affects the creature in a way that will turn him evil. While he may not understand what has happened at first, he will learn about abandonment as he learns about the world around him. The creature comes to find a small cottage where he can observe a family, this is where he learns about human values and what exactly Victor did to abandon him. The creature becomes demoralized by this discovery which turns to his first demonstration of anger. “He had abandoned me; and, in the bitterness of my heart, I cursed him.” (Pg. 131) The creature feels he can finally approach the people whom he has been observing for so long. When he approaches them and states his intentions, …show more content…
He feels that the only way to fix his issue is to destroy his creator for abandoning him in the first place. On the way to Geneva, the creature encounters a relative of Victor and is driven with such anger and evil towards the Frankenstein name that he kills the innocent young William. “Frankenstein! You belong to my enemy--to him towards him I have sworn eternal revenge; you shall be my first victim.” (Pg. 142) This event decreases the anger of the creature and gives him the opportunity to talk to Victor. The creature asks for Victor to create a mate for him, which Victor promises and then proceeds not to follow through. “The wretch saw me destroy the creature on whose future existence he depended for happiness,”. (Pg. 166) This betrayal of promise deeply irritates the creature. It had been depending on Victor to create a companion. When Victor destroys this dream, the creature can respond with nothing but anger. It proceeds to kill Henry Clerval, and Elizabeth, the love of Victor’s life. The creature was driven to become evil by the actions of Victor and humanity due to the harsh penalties inflicted upon him due to his appearance and
What does the novel imply/suggest about humanity’s capacity for good and evil?
One is most susceptible to outside influence when they have no knowledge and search for connections in the world around them, for humans this comes in the first years of one’s life. In Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein, a man toils to create life from lifeless matter. His hardships prove to be useless when he accomplishes his goal and renders it useless and a disgrace. The creature created in frankenstein can be related to an infant. However, the creature is not given guidance of any kind, unlike a child. The creature learns language and values along the way, including the values of evil. As the creature begins to understand what happened …show more content…
Victor wakes up on the morning after the dawn of the creature and sees it smiling down on him. “He held up the curtain of the bed; and his eyes, if eyes they may be called, were fixed on me. His jaws opened, and he muttered some inarticulate sounds, while a grin wrinkles his cheeks.” (Pg. 58) Victor does not consider that the creature is trying to connect with its creator but immediately jumps to the conclusion that the creature is evil and has intentions to harm him. Victor feels that he has to get away from his “evil” creation and finds shelter in the yard of his abode. "I took refuge in the courtyard belonging to the house which I inhabited; where I remained during the rest of the night,”. (pg. 58) This is the first step that is taken that affects the creature in a way that will turn him evil. While he may not understand what has happened at first, he will learn about abandonment as he learns about the world around him. The creature comes to find a small cottage where he can observe a family, this is where he learns about human values and what exactly Victor did to abandon him. The creature becomes demoralized by this discovery which turns to his first demonstration of anger. “He had abandoned me; and, in the bitterness of my heart, I cursed him.” (Pg. 131) The creature feels he can finally approach the people whom he has been observing for so long. When he approaches them and states his intentions, …show more content…
He feels that the only way to fix his issue is to destroy his creator for abandoning him in the first place. On the way to Geneva, the creature encounters a relative of Victor and is driven with such anger and evil towards the Frankenstein name that he kills the innocent young William. “Frankenstein! You belong to my enemy--to him towards him I have sworn eternal revenge; you shall be my first victim.” (Pg. 142) This event decreases the anger of the creature and gives him the opportunity to talk to Victor. The creature asks for Victor to create a mate for him, which Victor promises and then proceeds not to follow through. “The wretch saw me destroy the creature on whose future existence he depended for happiness,”. (Pg. 166) This betrayal of promise deeply irritates the creature. It had been depending on Victor to create a companion. When Victor destroys this dream, the creature can respond with nothing but anger. It proceeds to kill Henry Clerval, and Elizabeth, the love of Victor’s life. The creature was driven to become evil by the actions of Victor and humanity due to the harsh penalties inflicted upon him due to his appearance and