The most significant way in which Kingshaw is seen as a victim is from Hooper and his tormenting. This is clearly shown in the beginning of the novel when Hooper is looking down at Kingshaw from the window and throws the note. The note is showing the early relationship between both of them.
'I don’t want you to come here'
Susan Hill is demonstrating the relationship amongst them that will develop through the story. It is as though Hooper is marking his territory and Kingshaw is a threat. Using the note Hooper is warning Kingshaw to stay away. The audience at present is being introduced to an expectation on what is going to happen throughout the story and want to know how Kingshaw shall react.
In addition Kingshaw again is directed as a victim from Hooper's agony at the incident at Hangwood. Hooper is presented as omnipotent because he manipulates Kingshaw's feelings at Hangwood.
'There are things that I see that you don’t'
Here Hooper is still seen as a higher and super natural person making Kingshaw feel as low a possible.
Further more Kingshaw is exhibited to be a victim from Hooper's malevolence when they return from Hangwood. Hooper blames Kingshaw for the wound on his head.
'It was Kingshaw, it was Kingshaw he pushed me in the water'
In the previous chapters at Hangwood where the two boys are drawn closer together Susan Hill shows the reader the prospect of the two boys becoming friends. Allowing the reader to feel that a bond has developed between the two boys and Kingshaw is feeling much more confident about the friendship between them. As Hooper betrays Kingshaw here there is a sense of disappointment which makes Kingshaw's confidence break. Hooper's torturing of Kingshaw becomes extremely cruel further on the story.
The main way that the monster is seen as a victim of society is the reaction from the villagers. This is a disaster and misfortune for the monster because he does not understand why he is being treated differently from others around him. He feels miserable, helpless, lost and lonely like a baby or a small child.
'Children shrieked'
'Some fled, some attacked'
'Monster bruised by stones and many other kinds of missile weapons'
Mary Shelly is describing that people are stereo type and only see others by their appearance. The monster is like a child who has been rejected by his creator and attacked by people that he does not know. Trying to find a reason for the rejection of his creator and the behaviour of the villagers he does not realise until later on that the only difference between him and the people is that he looks different to them. He still has hunger, thirst, feelings and thoughts just like all the other people. Does his form of appearance make him a monster?
In chapter fifteen the old man De'Lacey was left alone in the cottage by his own desire as Safie, Agatha and Felix went for a long walk. De'Lacey allowed the monster to come in to the cottage. He was not afraid of the monster.
'Enter' 'And I will try in what manner I can relieve your wants but unfortunately my children are far from home and as I am blind I am afraid I shall find it difficult to procure food for you'
Mary Shelly is pointing out that everyone can be prejudice. We all can judge or have an opinion about appearance on the outside without considering what they are really like from the inside. De'Lacey is not afraid of the monster because he cannot judge of the monsters countenance but he believes that the monster is sincere the same in reality as in appearance.
Both novels are criticising society at that period of time and disrespecting the religions and accepted beliefs. Frankenstein is presenting the people to be prejudice and I'm The King Of The Castle is representing people as becoming careless for their children when desiring something for themselves.
Both authors are describing Kingshaw and the monster to be victims of others ambitions. Kingshaw is a victim of his mother's ambitions. His mother spends much time trying to make things pleasant for Mr Hooper and so she becomes selfish, ignorant and becomes unaware of Kingshaw's feelings. For all she wants is to improve her position in society. As the story continues it is recognised that she is wilfully blind and ignorant to what is happening to Kingshaw by Hooper. When Hooper blames Kingshaw for the wound and Kingshaw tries to confirm that he did not do anything to Hooper she replies
'Oh what a way to speak, you make me so ashamed of you.'
'Charles, I will not have you speak in that way. Now please apologise to Mr Hooper and Edmund. That is so silly when he is your special friend.'
Susan hill is negatively showing his mother to be obsessed with her and Mr Hooper. She is showing that there is not much respect for her son and his feelings. She does not find out what really happens by asking Kingshaw but only demands him to apologise to Mr Hooper and his son. Susan Hill may be representing that parents are loosing control over their children. As Kingshaw is abruptly not being heard or listened to his mother has viewed him to be very inconsiderate to Mr Hooper. His mother needs to give him more attention because she has a separate decision to Kingshaw thinking that both boys are special friends.
The monster is a victim of victor because he was obsessed and all consumed with his experiment to create the monster. He was unaware and did not think about what the consequences of what he was doing. He desired and convinced himself to create a species that would treat him like God.
'A new species would bless me as their creator'
Victor created the monster for his own satisfaction and desire. He wanted the glory of becoming the modern Prometheus. He was so reckless that just after only looking at his almighty creation the monster he decided to abandon him.
Kingshaw becomes a victim of his own fears at the beginning of the novel. Susan Hill uses the technique of symbolism to describe Kingshaw's fear when he is in a horrific situation trying to escape the crow.
'Perhaps this was only the first of a whole battalion of crows, that would rise up swoop at him.'
While Kingshaw was tired of hanging around the house and it had been over a week since they moved to Warings. He wanted to escape Hooper. The crow symbolises Hooper's unlimited power in scaring Kingshaw. The crow brings Kingshaw straight back to the house. Susan Hill also uses symbolism to describe the crow again in chapter five. As Kingshaw escaped while his mother went to London.
'The feeling of the hard claws as they dug into his flesh'
This feeling brings back the incident. Kingshaw also feels that every one is out to get him especially at the occasion when they went to the circus.
Susan Hill introduces tension as Kingshaw's intense feelings are confused at the occurrence when Hooper fell at the castle.
'Whereupon the soul flew from the body.'
Kingshaw was sure that Hooper was dead and asked himself questions like how much it had hurt Hooper? He knew that it wasn't his fault but still seemed to have thoughts about the fall.
The monster also becomes a victim of his own thoughts as he becomes outraged by revenge.
'I like an arch-fiend bare a hell within me and…wished to tear up he trees, spread havoc and destruction around me….'
'I bent my mind towards injury and death'
Personally I don’t think he is responsible for his behaviour because he has learned it from the books and how everyone has treated him. He now knows that he never be respected by any one because everyone is prejudiced.
The novel has an epistolary structure by writing the story as letters to Mrs Saville from Robert Walton. This is because at that time it was unusual that a woman would write a book about science. So including the extra character has made the story more interesting and believable.
My conclusion is to sum up who is the greatest victim. In my opinion I would choose a reality subject so I have decided that Kingshaw is a more severe victim than the monster. My reason is that Kingshaw feels unwanted and lonely and a real child could be in that type of situation where as the monster, there is no such thing. Together both novels end with both victims committing suicide. Others may say the monster is the greatest victim because no one can except him because of his appearance and he was abandoned on the day he was created.
