The title of your publicationFrankenstein Essay

Narrative Structure of 'Frankenstein' Essay

"In Frankenstein, the narratives seem to grow organically from one another: it is impossible to extricate the narratives from one another, as they are so closely linked and interwoven."

Discuss the novel's shifts in narrative perspective. What is the effect of presenting different character's viewpoints, especially those of Victor and the monster?

Mary Shelley's Frankenstein has a very complex narrative structure: "the narratives seem to grow organically from one another". Within the novel, Shelley weaves characters and their different narrative perspectives together, creating a cyclical, triplicate layout to the story. Her use of multiple narratives provides a range of perspectives on the story, allowing us insights to the...show more content...

Therefore Frankenstein's narrative is unreliable – Walton and Victor are both biased, thus leaving the novel open to interpretation. Indeed, Walton sees Victor as a "divine wanderer" leading us to believe that he does not see the full picture.

Despite this, Shelley creates a natural flow throughout, yet there is a clear distinction between each changing perspective. For example, the narrative seamlessly switches from Walton's letters to Victor's account: "Strange and harrowing must be his story... thus!" Through Victor's story, she moves us on to the creature's direct dialogue by using speech marks at the beginning of each paragraph: "he thus begins his tale."

Frankenstein and Walton's narratives are remarkably similar in style, making it almost "impossible to extricate the narratives from one another." Even Shelley's choice of language draws parallels between the two: for example, her use of the words "gigantic structure" and "wretched" in Walton's first description of Frankenstein, which Victor subsequently uses in referring to his creation. Many critics have even gone so far as to say that Walton is Victor's doppelgГ¤nger– his clone in every way. However, there are distinct differences in diction between the two: Frankenstein being the more eloquent of the pair, as Walton freely admits: "Now I am twenty–eight and am in reality more illiterate than many schoolboys of fifteen."

Frankenstein Comparative Analysis

One in the Same

(A Comparative Analysis between Frankenstein and the Monster in Shelley's Frankenstein) Everyone knows the basic storyline behind Victor Frankenstein and his monster. Frankenstein went off to school where he studied sciences and decided that he was going to play God and bring a man to life. He robs graves to get the body parts that he needs and stitches together a monster. He abandons the monster who then roams the area before finding shelter by a house. He remains in this shelter and learns to speak from a family living in the house. After the monster is rejected again by the family, he tracks downFrankenstein and kills everyone in his family. He asks Frankenstein to make him a mate as ugly as he is so that he doesn't have...show more content...

Frankenstein loves his family and shows a love for even his servants when they are in trouble. He returns to Geneva immediately upon hearing of his brother's death. After their maid is blamed for the murder of the boy, Frankenstein feels an immense amount of guilt that she is being punished for the monsters sins. He takes Elizabeth with him after they get married, hoping to salvage the last of his family and is distraught after her murder and the murder of his father. He is left utterly alone and the lack of family turns him to the decision that the monster must be destroyed. The monster also craves family. After he is abandoned by Frankenstein, he finds a safe shelter connected to the home of the De Lacey's. He is able to observe the family through a hole in the wall and he learns much from them. As George V. Griffith explains in his analysis, "The monster sees in the De Laceys the loving family he has never known and their simple cottage life is a model of the happily primitive which the Romantics idealized." (Griffith) He learns of the relationship between siblings and between father and child. He yearns after a relationship of his own and even attempts to talk to the blind, elderly De Lacey. He hopes that his disability will allow him to see the monster as he truly is. The monster is mildly successful in his befriending of the old man, until his children return home and are horrified by the monster. The rejection from this family makes the monster mad and he tracks down Frankenstein telling him, "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.'"(Pg. 129) The monster demands Frankenstein to make him a mate so that they can go away together and so he can finally have love and the feeling

Q: "Examine the effect of the epistolary form of writing throughout the novel Frankenstein. Do you think the epistolary novel form of writing are an effective form of telling the story? How does the epistolary form affect plot development and character development?"

Mary Shelly, the author of the novelFrankenstein, writes Frankenstein in epistolary form which is an effective way of integrating the reader into the story, introducing writer bias [character development], and furthering the theme of communication. The epistolary form of writing allows the reader to feel as if they are receiving an actual account of the story. This type of writing makes the reader feel as if the character is writing to them. The plot seems more realistic and...show more content...

Walton's final decision to turn back after listening to his crew also mitigates the harshness of Victor Frankenstein's story. The epistolary structure of the novel and the subsequent use of multiple narrators forces the reader to judge for themselves what is true and what is dramatized from the letters. Due to the story being retold from the point of view of Victor the reader is more likely to understand why Victor and Walton deem the monster a malevolent and insensitive brute.

(Favert 1) We must begin to read Frankenstein more as a well–wrought "baggy monster" of correspondences, and less as a singular, alien phenomenon. If we read it as an interactive combination of tales, rather than one linear narrative, we can refrain from casting the novelist into the narrow role of a "young girl" with "so very hideous an idea." Frankenstein is Mary Shelley's novel; it is no more her story than Walton's, Victor's or the monster's. Within the text, the various narrators slide from their own stories into the histories of others, and with each movement, we are asked to extend our "willing suspension of disbelief." As the novel multiplies its story–tellers and listeners, it renews the problem of narrative authority. Whose story do we believe? the novel defuses such a question. The fantastic nature of the stories preclude rational explanation or judgment, and we do not, Get more content

Choices

When man decides to assume the role of God, consequences are bound to plague such an ambition. In the case of Victor Frankenstein, the protagonist in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, the product of such an ambition is a creature born of the dead. Despite the frightening process of his creation, the creature wakes into the world as a benevolent being. He simply longs for acceptance and friendship, but due to his unsightly features, the world is quick to condemn him as the monster he appears to be. With an unbearable sense of rejection in his heart, the monster begins to turn wicked. Soon enough he is responsible for multiple deaths in the name of revenge. Although many treat him unfairly, the monster is fully aware of his actions...show more content...

One day he finds the courage to reveal himself to the blind old man, but in mid–conversation, the son returns home and "struck him violently with a stick" (115). The monster runs out of the home filled with pain and anguish.

When the monster returns, he learns of the family's sudden plans to move away. With no other direction, the monster seeks out answers from his creator. He comes across Victor's papers, which reveal his identity and residence. With his newfound information, the monster decides to find his way to Victor. Throughout his journey his curiosity begins to turn into hatred and rage towards his creator. As he treks across the continent he discloses, "the spirit of revenge is enkindled in my heart" (119). This shows the monster's capability of harboring dark emotions; it shows his benevolence quickly slipping away.

After his arrival in Geneva, the monster comes across a boy who reveals that he is related to VictorFrankenstein. He tells the boy "you shall be my first victim" (122), and chokes him till he struggles no longer. As the monster gazes at the lifeless body that lies before him, he claps and shouts in triumph, "I too can create desolation; my enemy is not invulnerable; this death will carry despair to him, and a thousand other miseries shall torment and destroy him" (122). This statement clearly shows the he is aware of the crime he has committed and expresses no remorse. Unfortunately the boy is not his last

Shelby Guffey

English 251

October 2, 2017

Character Analysis of Elizabeth Lavenza in Frankenstein In Mary Shelley's 1831 novel, Frankenstein, there are several smaller characters that help to move the plot forward. Perhaps the most influential character to Victor Frankenstein's life is Elizabeth Lavenza, his doomed fiancГ©. By the end of the novel, her character serves as the final tool for VictorFrankenstein to be able to understand his creature. Parallel to the time–period, Elizabeth seems to exist by and through Victor's perception of her. She is his property, and he takes her in as gift. He looked at Elizabeth as, "mine– mine to protect, love, and cherish," (Shelley, 18). It is also interesting to note that her presence in the house...show more content... Elizabeth is consistently the glue that holds the Frankenstein family together in hard times, specifically after the death of Victor's mother. When she passed, Elizabeth, "veiled her own grief, and... forgot even her own regret in her endeavors to make us forget," (Shelley, 24). What followed after Elizabeth taking over the household, was a life full of sacrifice for Victor that inevitably led her to becoming the sacrifice herself. Elizabeth frequently makes sacrifices for the Frankenstein family from early childhood all the way until her death. She assumes the role of womanhood at a young age after Caroline 's death. Rather than living out her days of childhood, she comes almost a mother figure to Victor and his younger brothers. While Victor is allowed to seize opportunities to travel and further his education, Elizabeth instead stays in Geneva (Shelley, 23). During the family's hardest times, Elizabeth tends to take the blame and then internalize her feelings so she won't cause more stress to the family. When they first discover the death of William, she immediately exclaimed, "Oh, God! I have murdered my darling child!" (Shelley, 47). She blames herself although she never laid a hand on the toddler. Elizabeth thinks that the trinket she allowed William to play with was the motive for the murderer to kill William (Shelley, 47). Unknown to the family, it was actually Victor's creature's first play against his creator. The Creature then plants the trinket given

Get more content

Frankenstein : Outline : Frankenstein

Frankenstein: Outline

Introduction:

We have all heard of the big scary monster of Frankenstein. It has been a story told through decades, each story a little different. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is the original story of Frankenstein's monster. She wrote the story of Victor Frankenstein and his creation. Through decades of this story being told, society has stripped away Shelley's original description of the monster and created an entirely new set of ideas.

VictorFrankenstein's creation has been molded into a big zombie–like monster. Society has changed the monster's appearance and emotions and for the sake of what?

Body Paragraph 1:

Mary Shelley's physical description of Frankenstein has been altered by society to match a more...show more content... These changes have stripped the idea of the monster having any human–like physical qualities. The alterations have created an even uglier and foul creature.

Body Paragraph 2: Besides just altering Frankenstein's Monster's physical appearance, society has changed Shelley's depiction of his intellect and mental ability drastically.

Mary Shelley's describes Frankenstein's monster as equal intellectually developed as a human being. He is emotional and psychological advanced. He can speak and read English as well as some other languages. These details and characteristics are very very human–like in nature. He is psychologically equal if not more advanced than an average human being.

"Everywhere I see bliss, from which I alone am irrevocably excluded. I was benevolent and good; misery made me fiend." p.87 The monster was once good. He has the mental capacity to feel lonely enough to change into the monster he is currently portrayed to be. Today's society has completely stripped the monster of all of his mental capabilities. The monster was once portrayed and a very intelligent and emotional creature with exact human psychology. "Unlike so many of his on–screen interpretations, the Creature of the novel is eloquent, thoughtful, and – at least at first – inspired by the beauty

of the natural world. Later, he uses his gift for language to articulate his anguish, telling Frankenstein, 'I am content to reason with you. I am malicious because I am miserable. Am I not

Get more content

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley Essay

Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is widely hailed as literature's greatest gothic novel, as well as its first science fiction work. Written by a young woman in answer to a challenge from a circle of male authors (which included her husband, Percy Bysshe Shelley), the tale is drawn from her personal experiences as well as from the writings of other authors. The monster in the story is a multifaceted symbol for humanity's fears, representing unchecked technology and the un–mothered child, among other things. As a representative of these fears, the monster itself may be described as a doppleganger.

The word doppleganger is taken from the German dopplegГ¤nger, meaning "double goer." It appears as a reflection...show more content... She had nightmares about her children and was always fearful about pregnancy. (Mellor, 175) For approximately nine months,Frankenstein labored on the creation of his "child." Finally on a "dreary night in November, he witnesses the 'birth'": "I saw the dull yellow eye of the creature open; it breathed hard, and a convulsive motion agitated its limbs." Specific fears may be found reflected by the monster: What if my child is born deformed? Could I still love it or would I wish it were dead? What if I can't love my child? Am I capable of raising a healthy, normal child? Will my child die? Could I wish my own child to die? Will my child kill me in childbirth? Mary is expressing her fears related to the death of her first child, her ability to nurture, and the fact that her mother died having her. In fact, Frankenstein is probably the first work of western literature to delve into the female anxieties of childbirth. After its exile, the creature is left with no parental figure to guide it and becomes violent, particularly toward its "family." This reflects the belief that any child left without maternal guidance will become a primitive animal, committing acts of violence and outrage. (Desert Aine 1, 1–3)

Mary was influenced in her creation of Frankenstein very strongly by Ovid and Milton. Ovid's influence supplied her with yet another doppleganger, this one resembling the

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Essay On Frankenstein As A Monster

Victor Frankenstein created life, a monster that was born into this world with no purpose, and no one to love. He did not even have a name, he was called a monster from the start. Just like a normal human baby, he came to life not knowing anything, and had to learn from his surroundings. Just like a person, he watched and learned from others, and tried to understand the world and the people in it. From that, the monster understood that he just wants to find a life for himself, and not be viewed as an evil monster, but there are many things that are preventing that. In the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, the author portrays Frankenstein's monster as a friend through details in his character and his outlook on life. From beginning to end Frankenstein's Monster is shown as a wicked creature from the people; however, he possesses manyhuman characteristics. The monster was originally an idea of Frankenstein that will soon come to life. Created from many different parts, the monster was never given a chance to be seen as anything other than a science project. From the outside looking in,...show more content... The monster was abandoned by Frankenstein. Eventually, he learns that he was a science experiment when he learns to read and finds Frankenstein's journal. Slowly stripped from all that he wanted, he began to become vengeful, and ultimately evil. Many humans have run into this situation before, but the monster had nothing to hold onto except watching a family he would never be able to be a part of. When he was denied by the family he lost everything. The monster was thrown into an abyss with nothing to grab onto. When everything is taken from him, he is left with just a hatred for Frankenstein. Frankenstein created the monster just to leave him and the monster will never forgive him for this. He was born innocent and placed in a life of

Mary Shelley's Frankenstein has become a classic in modern literature. Her tale is full of moral lessons that encompass a wide variety of subjects but one of the most prevalent is the theme of knowledge and its pursuit. Frankenstein, Walton, and the Monster all have an appetite for acquiring knowledge and actively pursue their perspective interests, but it soon turns to the obsessive and proves to be dangerous. Each of the character's desires demonstrates to be detrimental to them when no boundaries are established. Through the use of consequences, Shelley's Frankenstein shows that the relentless and obsessive pursuit of knowledge can lead to dangerous and disastrous situations.

The primary example for the search of knowledge that quickly turned obsessive is VictorFrankenstein. His profound interest for the pursuit of knowledge and the production of life quickly becomes obsessive, thinking of nothing but "the cause and generation of life" (Shelley 31). His primary virtue, his love for learning, quickly became obsessive. Frankenstein ignores his family and friends, and "seemed to have lost all soul or sensation but for this one pursuit" (Shelley 33), becoming oppressed by his obsession, and failing to care for himself. His intense need to learn and expose all the secrets of nature drive him beyond all reason, clouding his judgment and compelling him forward even when his "human nature turned with loathing from" what he was attempting to do and create (Shelley 33).

Get more content

Argumentative Essay On Frankenstein

In Frankenstein, the most significant lesson gotten from the novel would be that people should be to stop judging off appearance. Shelley is alluding that humans must look beyond the surface when we decide what is 'human', or the rejection of that creature turns it into a monster. The wholes of the monster's existence, he was trying to obtain knowledge of humans. The monster made an attempt to learn the ways of nature, and even acting in such a way. In order to tell readers that they should take a chance, Shellely not only showsFrankenstein being ostracized by the village, but also by his father. People would understand feeling like an outsider, so Shelley adds more shock by depicting the disgust Victor had for his own creation.

The monster is able to understand the peoples' feelings but when Victor avoids responsibility for what he...show more content...

In the book creation is described as very intelligent, well–spoken, fast and very strong, but is only called things such as: "monster", "creature", "demon", "devil", "fiend", "wretch", and "it". When Frankenstein converses with the creature in Chapter 10, he addresses it as "vile insect", "abhorred monster", "fiend", "wretched devil", and "abhorred devil". By being called such names, the creation's perception of the world becomes bad, and realizes hoe humanities are thinking. "Sometimes I allowed my thoughts, unchecked by reason, to ramble in the fields of Paradise, and dared to fancy amiable and lovely creatures sympathizing with my feelings and cheering my gloom; their angelic countenances breathed smiles of consolation. But it was all a dream; no Eve soothed my sorrows nor shared my thoughts; I was alone. I remembered Adam's supplication to his Creator. But where was mine? He had abandoned me, and in the bitterness of my heart I cursed

Thesis Statement: In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, the creature's identity as a monster is due to societal rejection, isolation, and misinterpretation.

Body Paragraph One (Paragraph Two of Five)

Topic Sentence: The creature continually faces societal rejection, which plays a crucial role in developing his identity as a monster.

Proof One:

–As soon as Frankenstein sees "the dull yellow eye of the creature open", he is immediately horrified by it. (p. 38–39) "His yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath". His hair and teeth "formed a ... horrid contrast with his watery eyes, that seemed almost of the same colour as the dun white sockets in which they were set, his shrivelled complexion, and straight, black lips"....show more content... After eating some food and resting, he headed to the village nearby. At his arrival, "the whole village was roused". "Children shrieked" and "women fainted". "Some fled, some attacked" the creature. The creature was "grievously bruised by stones and many other kinds of missile weapons". He ran away and "fearfully took refuge in a low hovel". (p. 83)

–Now the creature knows that it is not only his creator, Frankenstein, who rejects him, but an entire village. He was left "miserable .... from the barbarity of man". He is not only learning that society dislikes him, but that it is 'normal' to attack others. He hasn't known kindness in his entire life. He doesn't even know that it exists. The second contact he has with humans, they are being violent. They are not demonstrating any sort of reason, teaching the creature that it is normal to be violent and impulsive.

Proof Three:

–When the creature finally decided to come into contact with the family, he waited until the "old man, at his own desire, was left alone in the cottage". (p. 107) He knocked, and upon being admitted, made conversation with the old man. The creature explained that he was "an unfortunate and deserted creature". (p. 108) When the heard the younger people returning, he told the old man to "save and protect" him. (p. 110) As soon as the younger people saw him, they were horrified. "Agatha fainted; and Safie, unable to attend her friend, rushed out of the cottage. Felix darted forward and ...

Get more content

The Creation in Frankenstein did not owe Victor anything. Victor did the monster wrong by creating him in the first place. The monster went through so many hardships by being an outcast and a looser. But to top it all off he felt abandoned and lost because when his creator first saw him he freaked out and ran away and locked himself in his room. So the Creations reasons were justified because he felt abandoned by his creator, alone or an outcast, and was given nothing to help him survive or enjoy life. In the beginning of the book Victor becomes so excited and he in a way gets something like tunnel vision and doesn't really see clearly what he is doing and creating. Victor gets body parts and puts them together but doesn't realize that the Creation is actually really disgusting and ugly. When Victor finally gets everything he needs to make the Creation he has gained a god complex and i think the reason for creating this Creation is because of all the philosophers he has read about and he wants to be just like them. Victor gives the Creation life and he finally realizes that he made a mistake when the Creation is alive. Victor was horrified and disgusted by what he saw that he had created. He was so disgusted that he ran away and locked himself in his room. This would make anyone feel sad and terrible about themselves so the Creation had to of felt abandoned by his creator when Victor ran away and didn't come back to see him. In the story there was tons of times when the

Mary Shelley expresses various ethical issues by creating a mythical monster called Frankenstein. There is some controversy on how Mary Shelley defines human nature in the novel, there are many features of the way humans react in situations. Shelley uses a relationship between morality and science, she brings the two subjects together when writing Frankenstein, and she shows the amount of controversy with the advancement of science. There are said to be some limits to the scientific inquiry that could have restrained the quantity of scientific implications that Mary Shelley was able to make, along with the types of scientific restraints. Mary Shelley wrote this classic novel in such a way that it depicted some amounts foreshadowing of the...show more content...

The creature cannot fix his deformity, and thus clearly shows the wrath from others.

"Finding myself unsympathized with, wished to tear up the trees, spread havoc and destruction...I declared everlasting war against the species, and, more than all, against him who had formed me, and sent me forth to this insupportable misery" (Shelley 125–126).

In declaring the "everlasting war against the species" Shelley confirms that the Creature does not correlate with humans because of the feared rejection of the differences him and other species. Shelley's interpretation of human nature is one of complexity of social and personal interaction, and the look of impenetrable crime and awareness of a monstrosity viewed by its transgressors. Perhaps the differences of morality and science could be defined in parallel stories within the novel, one attempting to discover the secret of life and death, and the other attempting to reveal the secrets of abnormalities. It is noticed that Victor Frankenstein is enthralled by science in the physical world, so he embarks on an experiment that forever changes his life. In a way it can be noticed that Victor Frankenstein is trying to play God. He wants to discover the unknown, and clarify the mysteries of creation; the mysteries behind life and death. After discovering the unknown, Victor walks out on his Creature leaving it to live independently, which was a terrible blunder that he does not feel

Get more content

Appearance and Acceptance in Frankenstein and the Modern World

One of the main themes in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is the importance of appearance and acceptance in modern society. In today's society, and also in the society of Frankenstein, people judge one often solely on their looks. Social prejudice is often based on looks, whether it be the color of someone's skin, the clothes that a person wears, the facial features that one has and even the way one stands. People make snap judgments based on these and other considerations and they affect the way that they present themselves to one, and also the way that the treat the judged person. In Frankenstein the society of that time is much like our own today. It is an appearance...show more content... Obviously, if this foreign merchant had been a good Catholic Frenchman he would not have been sentenced to death. We today can see numerous examples today of racism in the justice system, think of Louis Riel being hung because he was a Metis, and also think of the modern classic novel, To Kill a Mockingbird in which a black man is unjustly sentenced in a racist southern town. However, in one of the biggest acts of hypocrisy and treachery, the same Turkish merchant shows his true racist self when he plans to leave Italy with the daughter he had promised in marriage to the Frenchman that saved his life. It seems that although some progress has been made throughout the centuries, racism still exists and "colors" our vision of other people. (Pardon the bad pun.)

Another similarity in the novel Frankenstein and today's society is that of snap judgments based solely on appearances. Doctor Frankenstein himself does this throughout the book. He shows this when he "...selected his [the creature's] features as beautiful." (Shelley 46). This shallowness is shown again when he accuses the monster of the murder of William's murder, rightfully of course, but the point is that he accused the monster of a horrible deed just because of his horrible appearance. Even the monster makes snap judgments, in the case of the cottagers he viewed the old man as a man with "...a countenance beaming with benevolence and love," (Shelley 93). This was

Get more content

Eassy On Frankenstein

With his warm brown eyes starting back at you all you could do is smile. The brown curly hair sprouting out each way like blooming flowers put a soft image in your head. The smell of his breathe while he looks at you and smiles makes you smile. His fury touch feels like you are wearing a warm wool coat during winter. He runs around with his mouth wide open and his tong sticking out. Everyone wishes to be as happy as him. This warm and loving creature is a fury poodle named Buzz.

Get more content

Alienation In Frankenstein

In her novel Frankenstein, Mary Shelley explores a wide range of themes concerning human nature through the thoughts and actions of two main characters and a host of others. Two themes are at the heart of the story, the most important being creation, but emphasis is also placed on alienation from society. These two themes are relevant even in today's society as technology brings us ever closer toFrankenstein's fictional achievement.

First, let's examine the alienation from society suffered by Frankenstein's monster. The cause of his ostracism was his horrificphysical appearance. It was so bad that people would not even allow him the chance to speak or get to know the person...show more content...

And when Frankenstein rejected him, he sought to make Victor an empathizer by killing those whom he loved. Perhaps less than revenge, the monster only wanted someone to know what it is like to be alone and denied love. This brings us the theme of creation, which really contains smaller 'sub–themes.' There is the relationship between the creator and his creation as well as the question of whether or not the created owes his allegiance to society. What should the relationship between Victor and the monster have been? In Shelley's criticism of all who were disgusted by his looks, Victor would be in the wrong for having shunned the monster. It was his fault the monster existed, so he should have taken it in and shown it compassion. As the creator, he owes his creation the basic means to a happy life. As for the monster, in turn for his creator's gift of life and happiness, he would pledge loyalty. But because Frankenstein dropped his end of the contract from the start, all bets were off and the monster tried to be as diplomatic as possible about the whole affair. This goes back to the alienation theme starting with Victor's abandoning of the monster.

What about the monster's role in society? As a man's creation, did the monster owe any debt to society or have a right to be part of it? He did not choose to be born into it, but he was forced to seek refuge in the world upon

Get more content

Mary Shelley discusses the themes of birth and creation, appearance and the necessity of companionship, love and acceptance in her novel Frankenstein. The themes that are explored in Frankenstein are relevant to today's modern world. Shelley challenges readers by endorsing and confronting attitudes and values in her text through the events, circumstances and outcomes that take place in the novel, thus causing the reader to reflect upon their own lives and in turn the society around them.

Shelley raises in her text an issue that is on the forefront of discussion in the modern world, that of man taking the place of God and the role of woman in the creation of life. The modern world is currently grappling over the concerns of cloning,...show more content... One of the main themes in Frankenstein is appearance and acceptance. In today's society and the society in which Frankenstein is set, people often judge one another solely based on appearance. Social prejudice is often based on looks. Be it the colour of one's skin, the clothes they wear, facial features or even ones body expressions. People make snap judgements based on what the eye beholds. Today's schools are a prime example of this as people are classified instantly and almost unknowingly. "There's a lot of hate around here, Gentry Robler, 16, a sophomore at Santana High. He reels off the high school cliques: the gothics, the freaks, the dorks, the jocks, the Mexican gangsters, the white supremacists." Time March 2001 pg. 24

This example of the significance of appearance in modern society is also echoed in Frankenstein. The parallel between the society in the novel and modern society is that of snap judgements based solely on appearances. In the novel, Victor Frankenstein is a perpetrator of such judgements. Victor "selected his features as beautiful." Here it is seen Victor's shallowness as he picked the most perfect body parts and beauteous features, all to be pieced together in great anticipation. However as one can see, the result is horrific and due to the hideousness of the wretch that he has created, he abandons him. This same shallowness of judgement due to appearance again surfaces when Victor accuses the creature of murdering William

Get more content

Review of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein Essay

Review of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein Frankenstein was written by Mary Shelley and published in 1818. The story tells the tale of Victor Frankenstein who creates a creature out of different body parts. Somehow, the creature, who was created to be 'beautiful', turns out to be hideous. In fear, Frankenstein runs away and the creation escapes. Once escaped, the creation and Frankenstein both seek vengeance upon each other.

The story is written in 1st person narrative...show more content... Therefore they must read on to find out what has occurred. Mystery is introduced into the novel, by the fact that the ship the Captain is writing from is 'nearly surrounded by ice, which closed in the ship on all sides.' This sets the scene and is a typical Gothic setting, as many Gothic Horror novels are set in an isolated place, as this is. The Captain's ship is also surrounded 'by a very thick fog' which further enhances the sense of isolation, typical of Gothic novel settings. Mary Shelley uses words such as 'surrounded', 'dangerous' and 'closed in' to enable the reader to understand the situation the Captain and his men are in. The reader knows that something is going to happen, but doesn't know what. This adds to the mystery and tension that the novel has already placed upon the reader. A sense of anticipation of possible disaster is introduced. 'The plains of ice' described could represent the colour of death, as when people die the colour fades from their skin, leaving them a white–grey colour – thus suggesting an impending death.

When the Captain sees 'a being which had the shape of a man, but apparently of gigantic stature', it leaves doubt in the readers'

In Frankenstein, the majority of characters are essential to the plot of the novel. The main character Victor Frankenstein is the reason this whole mess started, when he decided that bringing the dead back to life would be an amazing scientific discovery. He spent most of his free time at the university researching ways to accomplish his goal. Victor proceeds to create his monster with no one ever knowing what he was up to, "I beheld the wretch – the miserable monster whom I had created" (Shelly 35). Victor finally realized what he had created at that moment, and he regretted getting involved with this experiment. The plot thickness when Frankenstein decides to abandon his monster not wanting to be a part of its life. Shelly also uses a lot

Get more content

Why is Frankenstein such a popular text? Essay

Why is Frankenstein such a popular text?

Frankenstein is a science fiction novel written by Mary Shelley during the time of the Romantic Movement. It has remained popular ever since it was first published and still sells well today, with many reprints of the book since the first edition.

One of the main characters of the story and probably the most (in)famous, Frankenstein's monster, has become an icon of all that is monstrous and wrong. The story has been adapted and interpreted many times all in different ways, causing the monster and the stereotypical view of him to become intertextual. The most popular and well recognised representation of the monster and the one that most people would attempt to draw for you if you...show more content...

Frankenstein is popular for a number of reasons. The most prominent I believe is the fact that it was the first type of story of its kind, and what is now referred to as sci–fi, short for science fiction. Some people also claim it to be a horror novel, due to the monster and his hideous creation, but it is generally classified as science fiction. Science fiction works are based loosely on actual scientific principals and discoveries. For example, Mary Shelley had seen experiments where electricity was passed through dead creatures and they twitched slightly. This was the starting point of Frankenstein and the first time a text of this nature had been written. It single–handedly created a whole new genre for writers to discover. She wrote the story as the result of a challenge that was set to her, her husband and a group of their friends. The challenge was to write the most terrifying story that they could, and the scariest would be the winner. The story predicts the future uses of man's ever growing scientific knowledge, to further preserve life and, in the most extreme cases, actually create new life artificially. It tells the tale of Frankenstein's experiments and his eventual success in creating a new human man from the body parts of other dead people. The new human, however, becomes a "monster", killing the innocent in his search for

Get more content