Who is the monster - Victor or the Creature?
Victor is the Monster . The Monster begins life without an evil thought in its head and without a name. Victor chose to desert his parental duties, Despite the hardships it suffers - being attacked by townspeople, enduring severe cold and hunger, and being burnt when first encountering fire-- it never gives up hope of a better life which Victor never gave. 2. Without reading the novel most people believes that the Monster is evil, committing numerous crimes against humanity. However, Shelley carefully makes the reader aware that the Monster can in part be excused for these crimes, and is at heart a decent, kind and good creature. Sympathy is also created through its speech, its actions, and the mistreatment it suffers. I think the creature should be pitied, rather than criticised. 3. It first speaks in Chapter 10, after Victor has called it "Devil" and threatened to kill it. Instead of reacting with similar venom, the Monster states simply: "I expected this reception." This is because it has grown used to man showing hatred towards it. Yet its calm acceptance of the fact begins to gain the readers sympathy. 4. The creature commits many acts of kindness, especially for the De Laceys, whom it loves. When Felix later beats it, thinking his father's life is in danger, the Monster is moved to tears of anguish and rage. it then rescues a peasant girl from drowning. Its reward
Frankenstein - How does Mary Shelleys description of the setting and her use of language in chapter 5 represent the social and historical context of Victorian England?
How does Mary Shelley's description of the setting and her use of language in chapter 5 represent the social and historical context of Victorian England? In Mary Shelly's 'Frankenstein' it is set on a 'a dreary night in November' Victor spends most of his time dedicated to science, he soon discovers the secret of life and decides to make 'wretch', victor describes this 'monster' as 'beautiful great god' showing his fears, but it all goes terribly wrong and he finds his self mentally drained, After receiving a letter explaining that his brother had been murdered; He is convinced that the monster committed this murder; Victor was dumb-struck that something that he created committed this ghastly murder. Later on in the novel the monster admits to the murder and begs for forgiveness and claimed that he was lonely. 'Frankenstein' then starts to make a female, he then realises that this one may go terribly wrong too and decides to destroy it. This makes the monster angry and frustrated and tells victor he will get his revenge. Victors best friend Henry was later on discovered strangled. Victor was accused of this murder 'the miserable monster whom I had created' but shortly was released. Victor meets a man called Doctor Walton, who rescues him but victor dies soon afterwards. The 'monster' is devastated with what he had done and goes north to die on ice. The Victorians when reading
Shelley uses 'the Modern Prometheus' as a subtitle to the novel. Explore the ways in which the idea of 'Modern Prometheus' is important in the novel.
Shelley uses 'the Modern Prometheus' as a subtitle to the novel. Explore the ways in which the idea of 'Modern Prometheus' is important in the novel. The idea of the 'Modern Prometheus' is important in the novel in many ways as Frankenstein is widely known as being the 'Modern Prometheus'. In having said this, Frankenstein is called the modern day Prometheus as he stole from God something that was not meant to be known by humans and "animated" his idea with science and modern day technology. Also, just like Prometheus, Frankenstein and mankind were punished for these actions. Prometheus caused Zeus to create Pandora who released all evil, disaster and illnesses to mankind, while Frankenstein would live with the guilt and regret of having made this "monster" and releasing it onto society and also for the death of many of his friends and family. One of the main ideas of calling the novel the "Modern Prometheus" is that it was Zeus's will that humans should not have the power to create fire, just as it is the belief of many that humans do not, or should not have the power to be the "creator" of life. Prometheus rebelled against Zeus's wishes by putting fire where it didn't belong. And Frankenstein did something that was considered somewhat grossly irreverent towards what is held to be sacred by "animating...lifeless matter", hence putting "the principle of life" in the hands
Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein' looks at the consequences of mans attempts to meddle in the creation of life. In the 21st century, with its scientific and technological advancements does her story still have an important message for humankind?
Steven Foster Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein' looks at the consequences of mans attempts to meddle in the creation of life. In the 21st century, with its scientific and technological advancements does her story still have an important message for humankind? In Frankenstein Mary Shelley is trying to convey many messages, but the most important one of these is that it is not man's business to do the jobs of the gods which is why Victor Frankenstein tells his story in the first place. I believe that it is still worth hearing this message as we are doing the same thing again; we have the technology to create a human being from scratch and nearly enough to choose what it looks like. Only the other day for example on the news they were showing how scientists could choose the sex of a baby. Mary Shelley intended the book as a warning, the story was told within the book as a warning and it was as if Victor Frankenstein was telling the story to the people of the time. The reason she wrote the book in the form of a warning was because at the time many sudden advancements led people to believe that they would soon understand and be able to create life. This did not happen but in our time we are realistically close to being able to do these things so the warning is still relevant as it talks about issues that haven't happened yet. Most of the characters in the book are there to fulfill
Frankenstein - From your reading of the novel, which character do you think is the real monster, and why?
Frankenstein From your reading of the novel, which character do you think is the real monster, and why? Mary Shelley was born in London on 30 August 1797, the only child of two notable intellects. Her father was the philosopher William Godwin, and her mother was a pioneering feminist, who had died only eight days after Mary's birth. When Shelley wrote the novel Frankenstein, she said that her desire was to 'curdle the blood, and quicken the beatings of the heart.' This indicates to the reader that the novel should be placed in the gothic genre. Typical gothic genres place emphasis on aspects on fear and terror, the presence of the supernatural and the use of highly stereotypical characters. Although Frankenstein is essentially a gothic novel, it also has significant connections with the Romantic Movement. This link was almost inevitable considering Shelley's background. Her father, Godwin, had a huge impact on English Romantic poetry, and another notable Romantic, Lord Byron, was a life-long friend of the family. Also her husband, Percy Shelley, was one of the key Romantic poets. There are specific themes in Frankenstein that show relevance to Romanticism. There is a concern with social reform, a preoccupation with the role of the poet and the workings of the imagination, and an interest in nature. The Romantic Movement is often associated with the French revolution, which
In Frankenstein, all of the key characters experience loneliness, this shows that it exists for a variety of reasons. This indicates its significance in the novel and exhibits the numerous reasons
Sonia Dang 12APJ Loneliness is by far the most painful emotion experienced in the novel. With reference to at least two characters show how this is reflected within the novel? In Frankenstein, all of the key characters experience loneliness, this shows that it exists for a variety of reasons. This indicates its significance in the novel and exhibits the numerous reasons through the happenings of the central characters. When Mary Shelley was young, she felt alone as a child, as did two of her characters, Walton and the monster. However, it must be acknowledged that society imposed isolation on the monster and because of Victor's actions whereas it was self inflicted with Walton. Through certain devices, Shelley presents the agony of a character and compels us to sympathize as she explores the effects, both physical and emotional, of dissociation. The circular structure that Frankenstein was written in aids us to understand the outcome of burdened misery of being companionless. Walton begins the novel with a series of letters to his sister, Mrs. Sarville, as he attempts to keep in contact with the people he loves and cares for. Since his position on the ship is of a high rank, this leaves Walton feeling friendless as there is a distance among him and the other members of his crew. However, the reader must recognize that this was done through Walton's own choice, for his
This essay will be an exploration of the causes of Victor Frankenstein's downfall, and eventually his tragic fate, from the famous Mary Shelley novel 'Frankenstein'.
English Coursework - Frankenstein This essay will be an exploration of the causes of Victor Frankenstein's downfall, and eventually his tragic fate, from the famous Mary Shelley novel 'Frankenstein'. There are several aspects of this novel that I need consider when writing about this tragedy, for example the style that Mary Shelley uses when producing the novel and the old English format of writing. At a first glance of the novel I feel that Victor is solely to blame for his own tragic death, as he was the man who put together the creature who eventually killed him because of the lack of emotion Victor had shown towards his creation. This novel deals with Victor Frankenstein's love of modern science, which he uses to construct a monstrous creature. As victor first sights his creature, he is quickly to reject his unsightly appearance. The monster become increasingly frustrated with his creator (Victor), and ultimately begins to murder the friends and family closest and dearest to Victor Frankenstein. The creation begins to feel a tremendous hatred towards the human race because of there prejudice. This hatred turns towards Victor's younger brother 'William', as he captures and kills his brother in cold blood. The creature uses his knowledge gained from the De Lacey family to frame 'Justine' (a family servant of the Frankenstein family) for the murder of William. Soon after
The story of Frankenstein is set in the early nineteenth century in the most popular genre of the time: Gothic Horror.
Frankenstein The story of Frankenstein is set in the early nineteenth century in the most popular genre of the time: Gothic Horror. Gothic horror is intended to bring fear to the reader and show the dark and often evil side of human nature. Many of the authors of Gothic Horror stories are female such as Mary Shelley the author of Frankenstein. It was not uncommon to, as Mary Shelley has done, to take new discoveries and write a story of the development of these discoveries, which turn with terrible consequences into a horror story. The gothic nature comes from the descriptions of places or objects such as "Let the cursed and hellish monster drink deep of agony; let him feel the despair that now torments me." And it can often be linked to spiritual forebodings and cursing as is the case when Frankenstein calls on "spirits of the dead" and "wandering ministers of vengeance" to "aid and conduct" him in his work. These such callings would have caused a great horror to the readers as it was written at a time when it was believed that spirits, witches and magic was a reality and calling on these things was a absolute evil. The story is very slow to begin and you have to be patient for it to begin but when Frankenstein begins to relate his story everything picks up the pace and becomes quite fast moving as by the sixth chapter the monster has already been created and disappeared.
How does Kenneth Branagh create an atmosphere of horror and suspense in the wedding night scene?
How does Kenneth Branagh create an atmosphere of horror and suspense in the wedding night scene? In this essay we were set to find out how Kenneth Brannagh's version of Frankenstein creates an atmosphere of horror and suspense in the wedding night scene. I will focus on four main sequences and analyse them thoroughly, this will be done by showing what the audience sees and hears. The first sequence I am going to analyse is the first one in this scene. This sequence is where Victor and Elizabeth are kissing on the bed. In this little frame not a lot happens, but the things that do happen give us little clues to what is going to happen further on. The frame starts of by Victor and Elizabeth kissing on the bed having a good time like any normal couple. But then Victor notices that there is a flute being played, by the monster. Although Victor knows that the monster is out there playing the flute, Elizabeth just thinks it a person outside playing some music for his or her own amusement. Because Victor knows the monster is outside, he starts to take action, what he does is that he gets out of bed, takes his coat and gun and heads toward the door. The fact that he gets his coat may make the audience think he is going out side - which he is. I think Branagh chooses the monster to play a flute at this point because he wants to make sure victor knows the monster is after him. I
Look at the significance of chapter 5 to the novel as a way to focus on the relevance and effect of the writers(TM) use of language to describe setting and characters and what it shows about the social and historical influence?
Look at the significance of chapter 5 to the novel as a way to focus on the relevance and effect of the writers' use of language to describe setting and characters and what it shows about the social and historical influence? This novel is about an extremely intelligent doctor called Victor Frankenstein who used his knowledge of science to find a way of keeping people alive. Mary Shelley's plot must have been influenced by the changes that were happening around her in Britain during the early stages of the industrial revolution. Scientists at this time were investigating the meaning of life. They were using corpses in experiments. She appears to have a great understanding of the scientific discoveries of that time. Behind the writing is a deeper meaning. Mary Shelley is trying to show us how an addiction to anything is not natural and very often dangerous to our well-being and to our social and mental health. Chapter 5 is a crucial moment because this is when the monster is brought to life. Mary Shelley's opening sentence of chapter 5 is Dr Frankenstein telling us 'It was a dreary night of November that I beheld the accomplishment of my toils'. He goes on to say 'It was already one in the morning; the rain pattered dismally against the panes'. The dismal setting contrasts with Dr Frankenstein's expectation and anxiety he is feeling just moments before his creation is
