The young Victor decided he wanted to pursue a career in chemistry and describes it as his “sole occupation”. His interest in chemistry, took up a lot of his time. Shelley emphasises Dr Frankenstein’s fondness of chemistry by telling us he spent two years without visiting Geneva; the city where his supposed beloved family lived and also uses emotive vocabulary “…. engaged, heart and soul, in the pursuit of some discoveries which I hoped to make.” Throughout chapter 4, Shelley expresses the trills Victor gets from his work and shows the excitement he gets from his “painful labour”. Whilst making developments in his work, Shelley exposes how Dr Frankenstein had become arrogant; “What had been the study and desire of the wisest men since the creation of the world was now within my grasp.” Here Victor believes he is more intelligent then the scientists before him and counts himself superior, when he tells us that we was surprised to learn that among “so many men of genius”, that he alone has “discover so astonishing a secret.” All this self praise is Shelley’s way of beginning our annoyance with the Doctor.
Near the end of chapter 4, Shelley illustrates Dr Frankenstein’s feelings. He is feeling extremely enthusiastic that he will be successful. Shelley again reflects victors arrogant side; “A new species would bless me as its creator… excellent natures would owe their being to me.” Here Shelley is emphasising how Victor is so caught up in his labour and truly believes there will be a positive outcome. These some what obsessional actions paint the doctor in a dark and sinister light. Where this discovery must be made at all costs and later when he feels he has failed because of the appearance of his dream.
Shelley begins chapter 5 “It was on a dreary night of November.” Shelley often uses this sort of pathetic fallacy device as an opening for her chapters. Pathetic fallacy is “the presentation of inanimate objects in nature as possessing human feelings.” With this particular opening she could be indicating that something dreadful is going to take place. Shelley continues to show the doctor’s disappointment in the monster, his dream had now vanished and he was disgusted with the creature. Chapter 5 is an early stage in the book but we had already begun to feel infuriated towards Victor; it is his duty to love and care for his creation. But instead of caring for the creature, the doctor was refusing to accept him because of his appearance. We have come to expect more from human beings, where they can see beyond appearance and only the most monstrous are unable to do that.
It is clear that Shelley wanted the reader’s to shape an opinion of Victor early on in the book. She uses emotive language to help us form opinions, “breathless horror and disgust filled my heart” and this kind of language represents Dr Frankenstein’s views. We would expect there to be a sort of father-son rapport, but Frankenstein describes his disgust instead the loving words expected. Shelley is forcing us to dislike and distrust Frankenstein
After learning about the death of his brother”, Victor, in all the shock and sorrow, composes himself and states “the filthy demon to whom I had given life” was the killer of his brother. The Doctor acknowledges and questions himself that the first crime committed was when the creature came to life. At this point, readers are forced to blame Victor Frankenstein; he refused to take responsibility, choosing not to make an effort to help or teach it, his show of dissatisfaction and disappointment only compounded to make the ill feelings known. This hatred and neglect the creature receives from its creator, forces it to start revenge. In chapter 7 Shelley continues to use pathetic fallacy “vivid flashes of lightning”, to keep the reader’s attached and warn them there is still much worse to come, the thunder before the storm as far as revenge is concerned.
As the story develops, instead of having a loving relationship, Victor confirms to the “monster” that they are enemies. But the creature refuses to end their relationship; he reminds the doctor that he belongs to him “I ought to be thy Adam.” The creature expresses his loneliness and claims it was the misery he was forced to go through, that has made him a “fiend.” He wishes to turn back to his “virtuous” self. Yet again Frankenstein rejects his creature. Shelley maintains the reader’s negative views towards Victor by series of the denials the creature is forced to deal with. Victor is given chances to redeem himself but consistently lets these chances slip. The readers can only get aggrieved with these actions.
There is a point in chapter 11, the creature was discovering some human qualities; he learned about his “various senses.” Shelley wishes for us to sympathise towards the creature, he is learning to solve his problems without any education or attention from others. He is “tormented” by hunger and thirst, we all can empathise with this,. We are bought closer to the creature when Shelley reveals his feelings. He had began to hate himself and believed he was a “miserable wretch.” We can only sympathise with these feelings and this clearly illustrates that the creature has human qualities. The opinions of others matter to him and also hurt him. The creature was soon able to tell the difference between a sparrow singing and those enticing notes of a blackbird, he also learned how to build a fire, after watching some beggars. He learned that the fire would supply him with light, heat and an instrument which will be useful in food too. He figured out that different foods tasted different and decided on the ones he didn’t like. The detail to which Shelley goes to here is all driven by wanting the audience to feel to the creation’s pain and loneliness. This automatically causes sympathy for the creature, because nobody should have to live alone.
Shelley promptly has the audience empathizing with the creature, he is treated offensively just because of his appearance. Shelley controls the reader’s sympathy for the “monster”, by repetition of his appearance. She applies language, such as “a figure hideously deformed and loathsome” and “miserable deformity”, these repeated references sustain our empathy. Additionally Shelley forms more sympathy; when the creature describes his habitat as a “hovel” and refers to it as “my place of refuge.” He then goes on to say it is an “agreeable asylum”, this reflects that he has human qualities, because it is a familiar thought, when humans are not satisfied with their habitat and lifestyles. But even the creature shows appreciation, he calls it is paradise compared to the dreary forest, at which he rested before. Shelley is representing the monster’s positive sides and good values, wanting the reader’s to contrast the “monster’s” values with Dr. Frankenstein and make a decision on who is more monstrous.
At one point the creature is scared to approach his neighbours, Shelley makes readers understand its emotions and therefore are angry at Victor for not taking care of it. If the doctor had introduced his creation to society, he would be recognized as superior just how he had hoped and people would be welcoming to this new specie rather than show hatred towards it. Shelley uses emotive language whilst the creature is telling his side of the story, another technique she uses is the switches of points of view. Throughout the book we hear the Doctor’s story then learn about the creature’s story, the doctor shows remorse towards the “monster”, followed by an account told by the creature, explaining his loneliness and suffering. Here readers are obliged to favour with either the creature or Dr Frankenstein.
Shelley points out that the “monster” has human qualities, he has educated from his neighbours “to admire their virtues and to deprecate the vices of mankind.” Shelley has the monster comparing himself to Adam in the Bible. He like Adam was alone and shared no link with any other being, except Adam was created by God and was guarded and cared for by his creator. On another occasion the creation will offend himself; “I was a wretched, helpless and alone.” The triple Shelley uses persuades and hold on to the readers feelings in favour of the “monster” and focus our anger at the real monster, who leaves their children alone and helpless, the doctor.
Shelley, through the thoughts of the creature, manipulates the audience to feel disgust toward Frankenstein When the creature comes across a phrase that he can strongly relate to “Hateful day when I received life!” At this moment in the story, the creature is incapable of bearing any further misery; he exemplifies utter loathing toward his creator. He could not understand why somebody would create something so unsightly, that even they the creator, would dump and turn it down. We, as the audience, are being forced to think along the same lines as the creature because we can feel nothing but sorrow for someone in this situation
Chapter 16 has a huge significance on the way the two central characters are portrayed. It is a pivotal chapter, in which Shelley relates the “monster’s” reaction to rejection. As readers, we feel sorry for the creature. But towards the end of the chapter, Shelley focuses our attention on the murder of William, which appears to be the monster’s revenge against Dr. Frankenstein. We as readers turn our feelings from sympathy to firstly anger and then through Shelley’s methods we begin to understand the reasoning behind his actions. Hence switching our anger away from the actions and towards the rejections the creature has suffered. By doing this, Shelley has portioned the blame on to Frankenstein.
The dramatic opening with Shelley’s repetitive alliteration leaves the audience in no doubt of the creature feelings at this time. The tension builds further when suicide is suggested. As with revenge, suicide is very emotive action and the combination further illustrates the mood at the time. Again Shelley’s use pathetic fallacy to bolsters the impact. These feelings are in the midst of a dark night, and things are coming to a head. Shelley is building up to an event that is about to happen. And then all a sudden “The sun is rising” implying hope. Shelley’s is playing with our emotions, swinging us one to another. So much so that even with the most “monstrous” of actions, Revenge, our alliances still lie with the creation, knowing the much of the responsibility must belong to the creator.
In an incident where the creation rescues a drowning girl, we are drawn back to the concepts of rejection and the way appearance factors acceptance in society. It had been some time since Shelley had used his appearance and the way he is shunned to appeal to our compassions.
Shelley’s begins to explain the murder of William. A chance meeting with William ends with the creation seizing William. Actions we would not normally condone but we are led to believe the creation has no evil thoughts and just wants a friend. It is this type of naivety and so sort of childishness that allow us to understand. He hasn’t had any nurturing and has grown without a father figure. This is further enhanced when he over ecstatically celebrates the murder of William. These are action of someone, something, that doesn’t know right from wrong. Here we again forced to see things differently to the first impression. When Shelley has the audience digging a little deeper, she has them understanding his flawed upbringing has him acting differently. Thus the flawed upbringing is the monstrous act and not the actual abduction.
Whereas in chapter 16 the story is told by the creation, in chapter 17 Shelley switches technique and has the Doctor telling the story. Even with this change of tact, the doctor does not fare any better. The doctor is very flippant in refusing to bow to the creation demands. In doing this Shelley shows the doctor’s lack of understanding. The creation is going through the most humane of feelings, loneliness, and pleas with us, in the audience, and the doctor to “…make me happy; let me feel gratitude towards you for one benefit!” The doctor can not contemplate the “monster” having feelings, and dismisses a chance to undo some of his wrongs. He can only envisage another failed attempt and another disaster in his eyes.
This negative thinking is carried on in chapter 20. Having been convinced to create a companion for his creations, he cannot bring himself to carry it out. Shelley has him referring to any number of excuses to stop himself from bringing happiness to his victim. He is seen by the creation destroying what he had created thus far, a heart wrenching moment; these deploring acts are having massive influence on the audience. The creation accepts that Victor has no intention of fulfilling his promise and swears “… I shall be with you on your wedding – night.” Here Shelley is giving us insight further in the story.
Shelley begins chapter 23 with audience given an indication with “The wind…rose with great violence in the west.” The great violence is “A fiend had snatched every hope of future happiness; no creature had been so miserable I was.” This statement can relate to either the doctor or the creation at different times in the story and it with this irony it dawns on the audiences that Victor is going through of the very feelings the creation has dealt with most of his life. Shelley does this so that the audience can contrast two different reactions to similar circumstances.
Shelley calls to our pity forcefully at the end of the story. The creation has deep regrets and has learnt his wrongs, from his experiences. He confesses “I have strangled the innocent” and to “You hate me, but your abhorrence cannot equal that with which I regard myself.” This is Shelley appealing to us in the audience to accept this as a heartfelt apology. But in contrast to the doctor, throughout the story, the creation lays all the blame himself. His suicide is surprisingly quite dignified. This all consistent with Shelley’s approach, further clawing us to sympathise with the creature.
To conclude Shelley portrays Dr Frankenstein to be the monster and does this with her writing style. The lengths she goes to portray the “monster” and his actions in a sympathetic light. Also, the ways in which she will manipulate the audiences thinking away from the actions of the creation and more towards the reasons why something would make act this way. For Shelley the responsibility of bring a life into this world doesn’t stop at birth. Parental roles must have been very significant for her and this is shown in the light the doctor is exposed. We, as the reader, are lead down a path, where his actions uncovered as the true “monstrous” acts. I feel Shelley has been exploring complex social issues throughout the story and wrote the novel with the intent to investigate perception of the scientific developments at the time. Should man be playing God was central to her thinking I believe? Maybe there was a lot of excitement around the time about cloning and Shelley took this opportunity to show another side.