Hero Representation in Frankenstein

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Hero Representation in Frankenstein

If we are to look at hero representation in Frankenstein, we must look at exactly who is the hero. At first

glance we could name the Doctor, or even Robert Walton as the protagonist of the tale, but deeper analysis

shows that Shelley never fully explains her choice as to who is the hero and who is the villian. It is left open

to the reader to decide who is right and wrong.

On the exterior, the cause is to be for the good of all society; however, underneath the surface it

is actually an expedition for Walton's own personal glory. Throughout his many letters, his self-

love becomes apparent due to the fact that he never once asks about his sister's well being, for

he believes that she is pining for him and spends her every moment awaiting his return. In each

letter that he writes, Walton displays evidence of the intentions of his ambition with his

redundant references to "glory", "admiration" and "triumph". This facade prepares the reader for

the understanding of the central theme of the novel, as Walton's story is temporarily abandoned

and we are introduced to Victor Frankenstein.

The characters of Walton and Frankenstein were shaped by Romantic idealism. That is, the

pursuit of fulfillment through the exploration of the undiscovered. What sets them apart is the

means that they utilize to accomplish their respective goals. Curious and determined, Walton

sets out to tread a land never before imprinted by the foot of man in an effort to satisfy his

romantic ideals. While he describes his motivations as ìsufficient to conquer all fear of danger or

death, Shelley portrays Walton as a compassionate character from the very beginning. Despite

his determination in his quest, his longing and concern for family and friendship mirrors aspects

of romantic sentimentality presented in William Wordsworth's Tintern Abbey. Wordsworth

addresses his ode to his dear, dear sister. In comparison, Walton states in the very beginning of

Frankenstein that his first task is to assure my dear sister of my welfare. His concern regarding

his sister reflects his general prudence in assuring that the needs of everyone are taken care of.

Like Walton, Victor was obsessed with revealing the undiscovered. As he states upon beginning

his endeavor, no one can conceive the variety of feelings which bore me onward like a

hurricane, in the first enthusiasm of success. With this line, it is obvious that the endeavors of

Walton and Victor are analogous in terms of the passion and desire for discovery. Victor,

however, differs from Walton in his capacity for compassion and love. This is illustrated by his

isolation from society and his callous treatment of his creation, the monster.

Frankenstein provides several foils to help us understand and contextualize some of the other

characters. A study of Victor's foils would be profitable: Robert Walton, Alphonse

Frankenstein, the monster, and Elizabeth Lavenza all foil him in some way. Even God is a foil for

Victor, since by comparing the Creator of mankind with the creator of the monster, we can

discover some interesting contrasts

Is it true that the monster is treacherous? Walton says that Victor showed letters and that W.

saw the monster, to lend credibility to the story. Victor had thought to be useful, but without due

consideration to values. Epic hero: "the greatness of his fall." Victor's speech: we do something

not because it's easy but because it's hard--shows some noble sentiment and aspiration. Walton

and Victor similar, both in ambition and in failure. Victor recognizes his duty to assure the

"happiness and well being" of his creature. Walton meets the monster; the monster sorrowful at

Victor's death. The monster always found painful the doing of evil, has been miserable and

remorseful. Monster's tragic flaw is his anger.

Monstrosity - Obviously, this theme pervades the entire novel, as the monster lies at the center

of the action. Eight feet tall and hideously ugly, the monster is rejected by society. However, his

monstrosity results not only from his grotesque appearance but also from the unnatural manner

of his creation, which involves the secretive animation of a mix of stolen body parts and strange

chemicals. He is a product not of collaborative scientific effort but of dark, supernatural

workings.

The monster is only the most literal of a number of monstrous entities in the novel, including the

knowledge that Victor used to create the monster (see "Dangerous Knowledge"). One can

argue that Victor himself is a kind of monster, as his ambition, secrecy, and selfishness alienate

him from human society. Ordinary on the outside, he may be the true "monster" inside, as he is

eventually consumed by an obsessive hatred of his creation. Finally, many critics have described

the novel itself as monstrous, a stitched-together combination of different voices, texts, and

tenses

 As the creature opens his eyes for the first time, facets of Victor's character become revealed.

Whereas the reader expects Victor to reflect the joy of having finally reached his goal, his

reaction is one of horror. He states, ìnow that I have finished, the beauty of the dream vanished,

and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart.î While one may assume that his repulsion is

due to the physical appearance of the ìwretchî (56), Victor had created the monster and thus

knew very well what the creature looked like before it awoke. Therefore, his terror seems to

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represent a sort of subconscious self-vision. Victor's incestuous dream, where Elizabeth turns

into an image of his dead mother, seems to represent his feelings of guilt and betrayal. By leaving

home, Victor had separated himself from all feminine influences, focusing his attention on his

quest and repressing all other desires. Thus, it seems that the awakening of the monster

represents the expression of his repressed desires, including his longing to satisfy his mother's

wishes for his and Elizabeth's union. Here, the reader gets a broader view of Victor's

characteróone that involves consideration of his ...

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