English Literature - Frankenstein

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“Frankenstein and his creature are in fact the same person”. Discuss

When considering this question one must first take note of the discrepancy between the literal presentation of the relationship between Frankenstein and his creature, and the figurative presentation of that. Are Shelley’s intentions predominantly to bring our attention to the fixed sequence of events – to perceive the story in a literal manner – or to a more implicit message; an analogy of bodily union between the two antagonists? Of course, today, when one utters the name ‘Frankenstein’ the first image thought up is that of a detestable, monstrous, green entity with bolts through the neck. This is indeed erroneous when taking Shelley’s novel into account, yet it still offers us an allusion to the idea of the double. It has frequently been suggested that the creature assumes the role of a doppelgänger – or alter-ego – to Frankenstein. That he is merely an extension, or reflection of his creator (indeed ‘creature’ implies ‘creator’). They both assume various synonymous roles throughout the novel; for example, their corresponding isolation, the omission of female influence in their matters, their juxtaposed intentions to take revenge, and of course the simple fact that Victor is presented as a solitary ‘parent’ to the creature – the only person with whom the creature has an emotional bond.

So, let us first look at this issue of Victor’s and the creature’s ‘father-son’ relationship. Of course, the common interpretation of this matter is that Frankenstein manages to usurp the roles of both God and the female. Indeed, ‘like father like son’ has a profound meaning here, and the creature is, in effect Victor’s “own vampire” – his child. The most indicative portrayal of this usurping of the female (the mother) follows immediately after the creature’s ‘awakening’, with Frankenstein’s horrifically symbolic dream of Elizabeth – his potential and prearranged partner – being degraded into the corpse of his dead mother. This does seem to provide an implicit metaphor for sexual depravity – that Victor’s exploits lead him to isolate himself from both the world’s populace and, in turn, any form of carnal satisfaction. Let us, then, look further into this issue of isolation. The reasons for both Victor’s and the creature’s solitude differ markedly, but are nevertheless explicably connected. Victor is essentially isolated by his ‘Promethean’ strive for knowledge:

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“…how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge, and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow”

This – Victor’s own claim – provides us with an allusion to a man ‘punching above his weight’ (to put it facetiously). As with Prometheus – the Greek Titan – Victor, in the early parts of the novel, contemplates the power of fire (this trek into the unknown – when taking into account Walton’s ominous expedition to the Arctic – has also led ...

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