Hayden Manuel
Coach Sines
English IV- H
22 August 2017
The Monster and Human Action in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
Throughout the novel Frankenstein, there are many human actions that should be considered monstrous. Right away, the reader sees that the existence of the monster is purely due to Victor Frankenstein’s drive to find the secret of life. His own drive eventually leads to the destruction of others around him. Even though what Victor created is referred to as a “monster”, the actions of the humans around the monster have much more monstrous qualities. One of the first incidents where humans inflict violence in the monster is the murder of William Frankenstein. William is Victor’s youngest brother. When the murder is made known …show more content…
Victor states, “As I said these words, I perceived in the gloom a figure which stole from behind a clump of trees near me; I stood fixed, gazing intently: I could not be mistaken. A flash of lightning illuminated the object, and discovered its shape plainly to me; its gigantic stature, and deformity of its aspect, more hideous than belongs to humanity, instantly informed me that it was the wretch, the filthy daemon to whom I had given life” (50). This now gives the reader and Victor insight that the monster is the one who killed William. Justine Moritz, who is a kind and young girl, is accused of being the murderer. She is eventually convicted of killing William. Due to this, she is executed even though she is innocent. This entire series of events reflects monstrosity in Victor’s action, or lack of action. He first …show more content…
Hope is a great motivator, and when it is tampered with, there is often a large backlash that may follow. The monster and Victor eventually find themselves in each other’s presence, and when this occurs the monster presses Victor for a female counterpart. The monster says, “I am alone, and miserable; man will not associate with me; but one as deformed and horrible as myself would not deny herself to me. My companion must be of the same species, and have the same defects. This being you must create” (103-104). It is apparent here, that the monster is desperate for a companion. He strives to be accepted by at least one other being. It took a little while for Victor to comply, but he eventually does so. This gave the monster a large sense of hope. However, Victor has a sense of regret in the middle of his second creation, and he chooses to discontinue the creation. When the monster finds out that Victor went back on his promise and destroyed the second monster, he naturally is enraged. The cruel and misleading actions of Victor inspire the most violence in the monster he has had yet. The monster says how hurt he is when he found out by saying, “Do you dare to break your promise? I have endured toil and misery… I have endured incalculable fatigue, and cold, and hunger; do you dare destroy my hopes?” (122) The monstrosity in Victor’s actions is that he
Coach Sines
English IV- H
22 August 2017
The Monster and Human Action in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
Throughout the novel Frankenstein, there are many human actions that should be considered monstrous. Right away, the reader sees that the existence of the monster is purely due to Victor Frankenstein’s drive to find the secret of life. His own drive eventually leads to the destruction of others around him. Even though what Victor created is referred to as a “monster”, the actions of the humans around the monster have much more monstrous qualities. One of the first incidents where humans inflict violence in the monster is the murder of William Frankenstein. William is Victor’s youngest brother. When the murder is made known …show more content…
Victor states, “As I said these words, I perceived in the gloom a figure which stole from behind a clump of trees near me; I stood fixed, gazing intently: I could not be mistaken. A flash of lightning illuminated the object, and discovered its shape plainly to me; its gigantic stature, and deformity of its aspect, more hideous than belongs to humanity, instantly informed me that it was the wretch, the filthy daemon to whom I had given life” (50). This now gives the reader and Victor insight that the monster is the one who killed William. Justine Moritz, who is a kind and young girl, is accused of being the murderer. She is eventually convicted of killing William. Due to this, she is executed even though she is innocent. This entire series of events reflects monstrosity in Victor’s action, or lack of action. He first …show more content…
Hope is a great motivator, and when it is tampered with, there is often a large backlash that may follow. The monster and Victor eventually find themselves in each other’s presence, and when this occurs the monster presses Victor for a female counterpart. The monster says, “I am alone, and miserable; man will not associate with me; but one as deformed and horrible as myself would not deny herself to me. My companion must be of the same species, and have the same defects. This being you must create” (103-104). It is apparent here, that the monster is desperate for a companion. He strives to be accepted by at least one other being. It took a little while for Victor to comply, but he eventually does so. This gave the monster a large sense of hope. However, Victor has a sense of regret in the middle of his second creation, and he chooses to discontinue the creation. When the monster finds out that Victor went back on his promise and destroyed the second monster, he naturally is enraged. The cruel and misleading actions of Victor inspire the most violence in the monster he has had yet. The monster says how hurt he is when he found out by saying, “Do you dare to break your promise? I have endured toil and misery… I have endured incalculable fatigue, and cold, and hunger; do you dare destroy my hopes?” (122) The monstrosity in Victor’s actions is that he