Morally ambiguous characters----characters whose behaviour discourages readers from identifying them as purely evil or purely good--- are at the heart of many works of literature. Choose one of your novels in which a morally ambiguous character plays a pivotal role. Write an essay in which you explain how the character can be viewed as morally ambiguous and why his or her moral ambiguity is significant to the work as a whole. Avoid plot summary.
Nicholas Nguyen
Miss Angus
English 2 Honors
2/24/17
ID#406660
Frankenstein - Mary Shelley
“Look at something and think what else it might be” is a quote deriving from Roger von Oech, an American speaker, which portrays one’s intent or perception of something to be another. In Shelley’s world of inhumane creation, the main protagonist, Victor Frankenstein, is first perceived innocent for the doings of his creation of the monster, but soon comes to realize that he is at fault for being the creator. This shows a fundamental element in literature showing ironic yet ambiguous events …show more content…
He does concede of his commitment into horrific acts provided for the creation of his monster and feels he is at guilt. This shows a relationship between the creator vs the created. Many would agree that Victor is not at his best health nor is he moral, but his obsession for natural philosophy is as if he had lost all humanity for his thirst in knowledge and life. “I seemed to have lost all soul and sensation but for this one pursuit.” (pg.52) His clear thirst for knowledge for the advancement of science did not limit to what limitations Victor went through to achieve his goal. This would include grave robbery, or disassembly and abuse of animals. These horrors may portray Victor as a villain in some aspects. “Who shall conceive the horrors of my secret toil, as I dabble the unhallowed damps of the grave, or tortured the living animals to animate the lifeless clay?”(pg.
Nicholas Nguyen
Miss Angus
English 2 Honors
2/24/17
ID#406660
Frankenstein - Mary Shelley
“Look at something and think what else it might be” is a quote deriving from Roger von Oech, an American speaker, which portrays one’s intent or perception of something to be another. In Shelley’s world of inhumane creation, the main protagonist, Victor Frankenstein, is first perceived innocent for the doings of his creation of the monster, but soon comes to realize that he is at fault for being the creator. This shows a fundamental element in literature showing ironic yet ambiguous events …show more content…
He does concede of his commitment into horrific acts provided for the creation of his monster and feels he is at guilt. This shows a relationship between the creator vs the created. Many would agree that Victor is not at his best health nor is he moral, but his obsession for natural philosophy is as if he had lost all humanity for his thirst in knowledge and life. “I seemed to have lost all soul and sensation but for this one pursuit.” (pg.52) His clear thirst for knowledge for the advancement of science did not limit to what limitations Victor went through to achieve his goal. This would include grave robbery, or disassembly and abuse of animals. These horrors may portray Victor as a villain in some aspects. “Who shall conceive the horrors of my secret toil, as I dabble the unhallowed damps of the grave, or tortured the living animals to animate the lifeless clay?”(pg.