When a person goes through a difficult situation in life, they typically receive sympathy from those around them. However, in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Victor is a character that the reader cannot feel sympathetic towards. Even though he is going through a rough time when the reader first meets him in Walton’s letters, his life prior to the letters is one of luxury and happiness. His family background, education, and abundant, healthy relationships which most can only dream of obtaining, coupled with his hatred and disgust towards his creation prevents the reader from feeling sympathetic towards him. First, Victor grew up in a very affluent family. The first chapter of the novel begins “I am by birth a Genevese; and my family is one of
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Providing an outstanding education for his children was his father’s highest priority. Furthermore, when he left for college one of his professors helped him to discover his love for natural philosophy and chemistry, through his lecturing and a tour of his laboratory. Victor spoke of the day, “Thus ended a day memorable to me. It decided my future destiny” (Shelley 45). While many children in those days likely had very few opportunities when it came to education, for Victor the opportunities seemed to fall into his lap. Gaining admission to university was not incredibly difficult for him, and he did not encounter the numerous trials that those below him in status would face. Finding what he wanted to do with his life was as simple as visiting his professor’s laboratory, at which point everything fell into place for …show more content…
However, once the novel reveals what his childhood was like, the reader can picture a much better life than what the letters demonstrate. While Victor endured minute hardships throughout his childhood, they did not overshadow the immense privilege he held as a wealthy and educated member of society. Moreover, as the novel progresses, the reader observes flaws in Victor’s personality, culminating in his disgust towards his own creation due to its appearance. Because of these various reasons, it is impossible for the reader to feel sympathetic towards
Providing an outstanding education for his children was his father’s highest priority. Furthermore, when he left for college one of his professors helped him to discover his love for natural philosophy and chemistry, through his lecturing and a tour of his laboratory. Victor spoke of the day, “Thus ended a day memorable to me. It decided my future destiny” (Shelley 45). While many children in those days likely had very few opportunities when it came to education, for Victor the opportunities seemed to fall into his lap. Gaining admission to university was not incredibly difficult for him, and he did not encounter the numerous trials that those below him in status would face. Finding what he wanted to do with his life was as simple as visiting his professor’s laboratory, at which point everything fell into place for …show more content…
However, once the novel reveals what his childhood was like, the reader can picture a much better life than what the letters demonstrate. While Victor endured minute hardships throughout his childhood, they did not overshadow the immense privilege he held as a wealthy and educated member of society. Moreover, as the novel progresses, the reader observes flaws in Victor’s personality, culminating in his disgust towards his own creation due to its appearance. Because of these various reasons, it is impossible for the reader to feel sympathetic towards