Conflict tends to arise when the two parties are either extremely different or extremely similar. It is this idea of an innate sense of similarity that truly drives the struggle between the two main characters in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Indeed, Dr. Frankenstein and the creature are, at their cores, deeply alike. This similarity manifests itself in numerous ways; each character is brilliant, contemplative, and fervently emotional. In short, both Victor and the creature personify the “Romantic hero”. However, along with these affable qualities comes a heightened sense of self, one that is blatantly present in both the monster’s and Frankenstein’s lives. Their self-elevated importance is most clearly seen in their inability to take
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The monster frequently exhibits a “rage of anger”, which can even be brought on by mere recollection of previous injustices against him (127). Furthermore, in such fits of rage, the creature turns to destruction, such as after the cottagers “desert him” (127). In his anger the monster “lighted the dry branches of a tree and danced with fury around the devoted cottage” (128) until he eventually burns the entire house down. As with Frankenstein, the monster’s base feelings are justified, but the intensity with which the monster exhibits such feelings is histrionic. Clearly, the emotions that both Victor and the monster feel are much stronger than any other person’s emotions, or at least that is what they themselves seem to believe. The emotions they describe are truly farfetched and are, at their core, an attempt to present themselves as tragic, romantic heroes who feel emotions infinitely stronger than their contemporaries. Ultimately, this desire leads to an extremely heightened sense of self, yet another quality characteristic of romantic …show more content…
The monster frequently references his “hideous” and “filthy” form (119) and takes to calling himself names, such as “miserable, unhappy wretch” (108). Again, this abasement may seem to suggest an extremely low self-esteem; however, it must be remembered that the monster is very much a romantic. To a romantic hero, suffering is a near constant, something that must be fought against and overcome. Therefore, the more miserable his life, the more “romantic” his life is and, by extension, the more of romantic hero he becomes. The creature constantly makes a point of detailing his sufferings when conversing with Victor- in one instance he melodramatically speaks on his endurance of “incalculable fatigue, cold, and hunger” (157). In doing so, the creature is attempting to pit himself against Victor in a battle of suffering, and ultimately come out victorious as the tragic hero who endured the most grueling
The monster frequently exhibits a “rage of anger”, which can even be brought on by mere recollection of previous injustices against him (127). Furthermore, in such fits of rage, the creature turns to destruction, such as after the cottagers “desert him” (127). In his anger the monster “lighted the dry branches of a tree and danced with fury around the devoted cottage” (128) until he eventually burns the entire house down. As with Frankenstein, the monster’s base feelings are justified, but the intensity with which the monster exhibits such feelings is histrionic. Clearly, the emotions that both Victor and the monster feel are much stronger than any other person’s emotions, or at least that is what they themselves seem to believe. The emotions they describe are truly farfetched and are, at their core, an attempt to present themselves as tragic, romantic heroes who feel emotions infinitely stronger than their contemporaries. Ultimately, this desire leads to an extremely heightened sense of self, yet another quality characteristic of romantic …show more content…
The monster frequently references his “hideous” and “filthy” form (119) and takes to calling himself names, such as “miserable, unhappy wretch” (108). Again, this abasement may seem to suggest an extremely low self-esteem; however, it must be remembered that the monster is very much a romantic. To a romantic hero, suffering is a near constant, something that must be fought against and overcome. Therefore, the more miserable his life, the more “romantic” his life is and, by extension, the more of romantic hero he becomes. The creature constantly makes a point of detailing his sufferings when conversing with Victor- in one instance he melodramatically speaks on his endurance of “incalculable fatigue, cold, and hunger” (157). In doing so, the creature is attempting to pit himself against Victor in a battle of suffering, and ultimately come out victorious as the tragic hero who endured the most grueling