Frankenstein Byronic Hero

The monster that Victor Frankenstein created was a Byronic hero. A Byronic Hero is a charismatic, broken, dark individual often in exile with a troubled past. The hero has flaws that make him more human like and attainable to the audience. He is a vulnerable and imperfect being and in these traits, we find Victor Frankenstein’s monster. Lord Byron penned the first Byronic hero in 1812. When Mary Shelly wrote, “Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus,” (1823) she was arguably influenced from his epic poem, “Childe Harold's Pilgrimage.” (1812-1818) Additionally, Shelly was greatly influenced by John Milton’s, “Paradise Lost,” (1667) as evidenced by the correlations between Satan and Frankenstein’s monster. Both characters exhibit traits of having …show more content…
The monster fits this trait admirably by being of above average intelligence and his strength and stature far surpassing that of a normal human. Victor built him to be that way when he made the monster larger, to the tune of about eight feet, than all the other humans in existence. This may have been to make it easier to connect all the muscles, tendons and veins but it also made his creation the ability to be the monster Victor and others believe him to be. The sheer size and strength of him became a sort of self-fulfilling prophecy because of the fear he struck in people when they happened upon him. He was able to learn the language and teach himself the skills needed to weather the cold. He shows that, while not human, he has gained the intelligence and cunningness of one while being a much larger …show more content…
Frankenstein creates is a social outcast and is considered a rebel. “I ought to be thy Adam, but I am rather the fallen angel...” This exemplifies the feeling of loss and utter loneliness the monster was feeling throughout his existence. This solitude and isolation are what drove him to kill so many innocent people and why he so longed for a friend or a mate. He tried to be a part of society during his travels however, no matter how much he tried to convey this nonaggressive attitude toward the people, he was run out of the town he happened upon. When the monster was observing the family in the cabin, he learned the traits of what made humans, human. Nonetheless, when he finally felt confident in his abilities to speak and form coherent sentences he attempted again to contact the humans in the cabin to no avail. “At that instant the cottage door was opened, and Felix, Safie, and Agatha entered. Who can describe their horror and consternation on beholding me?” This is the point of his final attempt to find a place in society and be accepted but in was ruined when Felix attempted to strike him. Here he commits the first of many crimes beginning his permanent societal exile. Here the monster burns down the cabin and disappears into the woods where one last spec of genuine heroism is shown. During the monster’s final attempt to gain a place among modern society is he is shot while attempting to save a little girl from drowning; ruined are his hopes for mankind,