Damaging Minds The human mind is extremely complex, responding and reacting to a multitude of factors, both internal and external. In Frankenstein, a popular novel by Mary Shelley, Shelley explores how the human mind reacts to its environment, especially human influences. Her main instrument used to illustrate the relationship between the mind and the environment is the character of the “monster”, a creature who is arguably human created by Victor Frankenstein with a horrifying appearance. This being will be referred to as Carl for the sake of simplicity as well as to emphasize the close relationship between the creature and humanity. Carl is revealed over the course of the novel to be the distinct manifestation of Freud’s three parts of
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After fleeing a screaming man, Carl hides in a hovel and spies on the people inside the adjacent cottage, learning more about humanity. He sees that the inhabitants, a small family, are starving and that the younger ones were saving the food for the older man. Carl recognizes this “trait of kindness and … resolved to not inflict pain on the cottagers [by stealing food]”. Furthermore, Carl notices that they need firewood, so he “often took [Felix’s] tools … to bring home firing for several days” (102). Clearly, this being with a horrifying appearance actually has a kinder heart than many humans. Carl does not want to inflict any stress on the family’s resources and goes out of his way in order to assist their manual labor. This experience defines the superego, as it acts like the model citizen by putting the needs of society and others before personal, selfish desires at all times. At the end of the book, when Carl reflects on this time period, he notes that he was “nourished with high thoughts of honor and devotion” (187). Motivated by these esteemed virtues, Carl is the essence of goodness. This angelic existence, fueled by benevolence toward humanity and a desire to eventually join the ranks of human society, demonstrates the massive potential for good that Carl represents while untouched by human malice and
After fleeing a screaming man, Carl hides in a hovel and spies on the people inside the adjacent cottage, learning more about humanity. He sees that the inhabitants, a small family, are starving and that the younger ones were saving the food for the older man. Carl recognizes this “trait of kindness and … resolved to not inflict pain on the cottagers [by stealing food]”. Furthermore, Carl notices that they need firewood, so he “often took [Felix’s] tools … to bring home firing for several days” (102). Clearly, this being with a horrifying appearance actually has a kinder heart than many humans. Carl does not want to inflict any stress on the family’s resources and goes out of his way in order to assist their manual labor. This experience defines the superego, as it acts like the model citizen by putting the needs of society and others before personal, selfish desires at all times. At the end of the book, when Carl reflects on this time period, he notes that he was “nourished with high thoughts of honor and devotion” (187). Motivated by these esteemed virtues, Carl is the essence of goodness. This angelic existence, fueled by benevolence toward humanity and a desire to eventually join the ranks of human society, demonstrates the massive potential for good that Carl represents while untouched by human malice and