How does Mary Shelly present the character of the monster so as to gain sympathy for him
How does Mary Shelly present the character of the monster so as to gain sympathy for him?
From birth we are given examples on how to behave with one another; if we did not have another human acting in kindness towards us, we would not behave sincerely and learn to look beyond the physical features. The story of "Frankenstein" and its moral questioning was written in 1818 and set in Europe. It has been suggested that the novel is a metaphor for our own cultural crises' with the advancement of science. Mary Shelley's own background reflected in the novel; her mother died shortly after her birth in 1797; and the effect of this maternal absence was compounded by her father's remarriage. From a young age, Mary Shelley was surrounded by loss and this was set to be the basis of her novel. During the period of time that the novel was set, there was a lot of change in the world. Scientists were arguing for the power of chemistry as the underlining principle of life. "Frankenstein" is connected to a range of scientific, philosophical and political ideas of the early nineteenth century. Frankenstein differentiates between what the creator saw as 'good' and misuse of science; the author saw into the future. During the nineteenth century this idea of being able to create and save lives by operations was seen as blasphemous; only God had the right to create and take away life. When Victor Frankenstein is drowned in his sorrow he thinks that he can save lives. To the modern world, this is regarded as a simple operation and does not seem so radical in comparison with the early scientific years. In the present era of time, the world has progressed; man has been in space, created life from embryos and even created 'designer babies'. Man may one day destroy it's self because of the advances in technology and science. Mary Shelley's novel is an interesting insight into what has become the future.
Frankenstein the monster was invented to show people that life could be created easily and it is not only God who could create life, "but my imagination was too much exalted by my first success to permit me to doubt of my ability to give life to an animal as complex and wonderful as man."; this quote shows that Dr Frankenstein was hungry for the knowledge of chemistry. Although pervious alchemists and philosophers had discovered blood circulation and what is in the air, Dr Frankenstein discovers creation of life, however he does not think of the outcomes that ...
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Frankenstein the monster was invented to show people that life could be created easily and it is not only God who could create life, "but my imagination was too much exalted by my first success to permit me to doubt of my ability to give life to an animal as complex and wonderful as man."; this quote shows that Dr Frankenstein was hungry for the knowledge of chemistry. Although pervious alchemists and philosophers had discovered blood circulation and what is in the air, Dr Frankenstein discovers creation of life, however he does not think of the outcomes that lie ahead, of playing God. Victor Frankenstein had realised the catastrophe he was to cause when he took his first look at his creation, "His limbs were in proportion, and I had selected his features as beautiful. Beautiful! - Great God!"; Dr Frankenstein had been blinded by his task, so that when it was complete he was aware that his dream had vanished and he was left with a ugly creature. Frankenstein was very strong; he was created from the strongest and brightest, "the being of gigantic stature; that is to say, about eight feet in height, and proportionally large."; the body of Frankenstein the monster was carefully selected. When the monster discovers that he was the creation an experiment and because of his horrific physical features, people run away from him. The monster turns into a cold-blooded murderer, out to ruin the one that gave birth to him. "I gassed on my victim, and my heart swelled with exultation and hellish triumph; clapping my hands, I exclaimed, 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.", although this quote shows the monster to be stone-hearted, the monster actually wants a companion, so his pain could lessened and so he also has someone to talk to.
Frankenstein is seen as a lonely creature, full of confusion and despair, Frankenstein's log was put into the middle of the story, so we do not feel that the monster is just a monster but a human being and the result of a horrific experiment. Frankenstein is set up as a child lost in the woods, abandoned by his father, "... half-frightened, as it were instinctively finding myself so desolate.", this quote tells the audience that the monster is full of human emotions, he possesses the human nature and is just like a young child, frightened of the dark. "I tried to imitate the pleasant songs of the birds... wished to express my sensations in my own mode.", this tells us that the monster was extremely sensitive. Frankenstein felt sympathy for the De Laceys, who he learnt from. After being battered by people, Frankenstein went and hid in a nearby hut, his neighbours, the De Laceys do not notice him or his good-doing, but saw it as the work of the 'Spirit of the Woods', "I discovered another means through which I was enabled to assist their labours.", at every opportunity the monster helped the De Lacey family. Frankenstein was the creation of man and not God, his skin was stitched up very poorly that it barely covered his muscles and bones, his height and strength was extraordinary, "..Monster so hideous that even you turned from me in disgust? God, in pity, made man so beautiful and alluring, after his own image; but from my form is a filthy type of yours, more horrid even from the very resemblance. Satan had his companions, fellow devils, to admire and encouraged him, but I am solitary and abhorred.", the monster blames Victor Frankenstein for his horrific image.
During his time at the De Laceys, the monster used to watch the grandfather read to the children, he began to learn the basics such as reading and writing and from that the monster read the tag on the coat that he was wearing to find out about his creator, Dr Frankenstein. "I saw no cause for their unhappiness; but I was deeply affected by it." this quote shows that all the monster wanted was the companionship however he wondered why the De Laceys were so unhappy when they had each other. "I imagined that they would be disgusted, until, by my gentle demeanour and conciliating words, I should first win their favour and afterwards their love.", Frankenstein knew that the De Laceys would be horrified at his image, but if he helped them from a far then they should accept him. Frankenstein felt lonely, he wanted someone to love and to talk to, "Suddenly, as I gazed on him, an unprejudiced and had lived too short a time to have imbibed a horror of deformity. If, therefore, I could seize him and educate him as my companion and friend, I should not be so desolate in this people earth.", Frankenstein looks upon William, Dr Frankenstein's younger brother, he thinks that he could find companionship in him, however William was afraid. When Dr Frankenstein decides to marry Elizabeth, his childhood sweetheart, the monster wanted a bride his bride should be like himself, "...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 deflects. This being you must create.", this shows that Frankenstein thought about what he wanted and what should be fled, some attacked me, until, grievously bruised by stones and many other kinds of missile weapons, refuge in a low hovel.", Frankenstein was attacked straight after he was created, the audience feels for him because at this stage Frankenstein is like a small child, confused at all this. The audience feel upset and angry that Dr Frankenstein left the monster at such a young age, that is weak, Frankenstein the monster has to learn by himself; along with Dr Frankenstein, the De Laceys abandon him; although he was the one that helped them. Felix De Lacey had torn him from the grandfather; that night, Frankenstein declares war on the human race, his enemies. "There was none among the myriads of men that existed who would pity or assist me; and should I feel kindness towards my enemies? No: from that moment I declared everlasting war against him who had formed me, and sent me forth to this insupportable miser." at this point, the reader would see this to be as 'out of character' because we have read about Frankenstein to be a sensitive creature, his words are in a fit of rage, but this event turns him into a evil creature, out to kill.
Frankenstein felt that because of his imagery, people judged him, treated him like an outcast, he was the creation of man and not of God. People saw him as a monster and this shows how narrow minded the people were. Although, Frankenstein is a cold-blooded killer, he is victim because he was the production of a experiment, abandoned by his 'mother' at birth and abandoned by the ones he called friends. Any human being would not like the thought of being lonely, it became difficult for him because his looks were deformed, and people did not look beyond this to see the gentle and kind creature. Frankenstein's actions are not all his fault. Man does not want to be lonely; he wants someone to share his emotions with, however, if man has no one he becomes aggressive and feeds his needs by force. Man does not want to be lonely, not matter who creates him.
Tangena Sultana
English Coursework
