To what extent are Frankenstein and his creature evil?
To what extent are Frankenstein and his creature evil?
In his younger days, Frankenstein was brought up in Geneva, Switzerland. He came into a loving, caring, well-disciplined family. The family adored him 'I was their play thing and their idol'. He is portrayed as the ideal child in his parent's eyes. The childhood they gave him, was a happy one 'My mothers caresses and fathers smiles... are my first recollections'. He was closer to his mother more so than his father as his mother did the up bringing.
When he was five years old, the family adopted a young peasant girl. Frankenstein was instantly smitten. He became obsessed 'A heaven being sent' and took it upon himself to protect, love and cherish her.
He was incredibly inquisitive as he was growing up; he had an eager desire to learn. A desire to discover the unknown. This is a reference to Dr Jekyll, as he also wanted to discover the unknown. Frankenstein's father, not being scientific, left him to his own devices - his books of science. He took in every word the text said and became the book's discipline. Again, like Dr Jekyll, he has high ideals - he wishes to banish disease from the human frame but is sad that he can't do anything about violent deaths. 'What glory would be attend the discovery, if I could banish disease from the human frame and render man invulnerable to any but a violent death'.
Frankenstein was devoted to his mother but she died after nursing Elizabeth through scarlet fever. His feeling of loss became apparent, with him being extremely close to his mother, there was now a huge hole in his life. Not long after his mother's death, he went to Inglostadt University in Germany. At the University, he met Mr Waldman, who inspired him and supported him. Frankenstein did experiments in which he showed onlookers how dead matter can be made to move with the aid of electric currents. As he became increasingly more and more obsessed with human anatomy and decaying bodies, he decided to create a creature. 'I saw how the worm inherited the wonders of the eye and the brain'. He picked up bits of body by going around charnel houses and grave digging for his eight-foot creature.
In my opinion, as the story goes on, Victor Frankenstein is becoming conceited but I think he has good intentions towards humans; trying to find a way to end death. Also though, he is not thinking about the consequences or the creature's reaction when it comes to life.
Once the creature is born, the vision Frankenstein had of him is lost because it does not look anything like he had hoped. The creature's repulsive features horrified Frankenstein; with its dull yellow eyes and skin, flowing black hair and pearly white teeth encased by black lips, he looked ...
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In my opinion, as the story goes on, Victor Frankenstein is becoming conceited but I think he has good intentions towards humans; trying to find a way to end death. Also though, he is not thinking about the consequences or the creature's reaction when it comes to life.
Once the creature is born, the vision Frankenstein had of him is lost because it does not look anything like he had hoped. The creature's repulsive features horrified Frankenstein; with its dull yellow eyes and skin, flowing black hair and pearly white teeth encased by black lips, he looked almost mummy like. Frankenstein, who was naïve to think the creature would turn out like he thought, runs away.
A little while later, after leaving the creature at his residence, he returned with his friend Henry Clerval. Whilst entering the house, Victor was apprehensive and was elated to discover that the creature had vanished 'I was unable to remain for a single instant in the same place.' This of course was a selfish thing because he is not taking time out to think of the creature's welfare, or anyone else's for that matter. Clerval, who new nothing about this creation, was totally baffled with Victor's display of emotions 'My dear Victor, what for Gods sake is the matter?'
Frankenstein was oblivious to the creatures needs, obviously not realising that this creature is like a new baby - needs special attention and care, lets it roam free through a town.
I feel at this point in the story, Frankenstein is being a very selfish man. He created a human, wanted to play God, now he has, he doesn't want to know. Just because his creation didn't turn out quite how he had imagined, he turns his back on him.
As the creature is out and alone, he has to fend for himself. He was very vulnerable, like a baby 'I felt cold also, and half frightened.' 'I was a poor, helpless, miserable wretch.' He lacked knowledge, so he put his hand straight into a fire but soon realised that it wasn't a good thing to do. 'I quickly collected branches but they were wet and wouldn't burn.' He didn't know how to make a fire. The creature was reduced to eating acorns because all of the food near the fire had been eaten. So he moved away from the fire and finds open country.
There are a series of events, which lead to the creature becoming increasingly resentful and violent. One of those things is when he meets some cottagers, whom he wishes to befriend. He overhears a conversation between the landlord and cottager talking about their life being in danger. He feels spurned by this, as he had thought them his friends. He shows his anger by burning down their home. The creature also feels envious toward them, as he has come to realise that he is not as beautiful as others. He is ostracised by everyone he comes into contact with. Another event is when he finds Frankenstein's diary about the creation. He sinks into a state of despair when he comprehends the fact that his creator has abandoned him. He becomes nauseated by his own reflection.
The most effective way that Mary Shelly uses language to create sympathy for the creature is when she lets him speak for himself. He sounds civilised and gentle and this contrasts sharply with how Victor has spoken to and about the creature. Hearing the story makes us realise how vulnerable the creature was to start with as well as allowing us to understand that he has an aesthetic sense and desire to learn. Victor refers to him as a fiend and in other violently derogatory ways this makes us feel sympathetic because we comprehend that these names are not justified.
After many days, he finds a boy (Frankenstein's brother). He senses that the boy may be unprejudiced towards his deformities. He likes this boy and wishes to care for him and be his friend. He naively believes that William will be a companion for him. When he finds out that William is Frankenstein's brother, he kills him in an act of revenge.
Justine, the family servant was the unlucky sole to be tried for William's murder. Frankenstein made it clear to everyone that she didn't kill him but she was still hanged.
The murder of Elizabeth is a direct result of Frankenstein's refusal to create a companion for the creature. He starts work on a companion but then rips it to pieces. This could have been a bad thing, as the creature might have murdered again but also with another creature loose, town's people would have reacted quite badly to them. Then again, it could have been good because with another [female] creature to occupy him, he could have left Victor alone for a while.
At the end of the story, the creature disappears. Frankenstein follows him to the Arctic where they encounter Capt. Walton. Frankenstein tells him the story of the creature.
He does not like the creature at all and wants him dead. 'He, my enemy and persecutor, may still be in being.' He does not blame himself. 'I have been occupied in examining my past conduct; nor do I find it blameable.' His duty towards the creature was selfish and self-righteous. He paid more attention to his friends and family than to his creation.
The creature wants to be forgiven because he has killed Frankenstein through torment. He admits that he was selfish towards Victor and others; he has suffered more than anyone. The creature tells Walton that he wanted to be loved and to do the right thing. In retrospect, the creature realises that he has done wrong and that he worse than an animal. People were prejudiced towards him, so he blames them for his sins. He loathes himself more than anyone could.
I don't think the end of the story portrays them as evil. Victor was intelligent but when he thought of creating life his brain seemed to vanish. He wasn't evil, just somebody who wanted to play God. The creature wasn't evil either. Really, he was just a child. He was copying his 'father' just as children do when they are growing up.
BY HEATHER NANGLE 2/9/01
