A Monster Cannot Be Created.

A Monster Cannot Be Created Do Humans have freewill or are they products of their environment? Everyone is different, everyone lives a different life, which factor cause a person to be the way they are nature or nurture? In Mary Shelly's Frankenstein human nature causes Victor Frankenstein to become the real monster of the novel. First of all let's start out by analyzing Victor's childhood. Victor came from a renowned family in Geneva. "I am by birth a Genevese, and my family is one of the most distinguished of that republic" (page 17). Also along with this he was born into a family full of love, in fact he was given almost all of the attention and love from his parents. "Much as they were attached to each other, they seemed to draw inexhaustible stores of affection from a very mine of love to bestow them upon me." (page 19). So Nurture can not be held responsible for Victor's monstrous persona, it must be because of nature. This shows that people have a predetermined personality, but this also shows certain parts of person's personality can be reveled and or amplified due to changes in their environment. An example of this would be Alphonse Frankenstein's disapproval of Victor's scientific interests. Consequently forcing Victor into solitude, and revealing his obsessive tendencies. This is because Victor feels the need to measure the onward race for achievement against

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Does Mary Shelley instill antipathy or aympathy for the monster in Frankenstein?

Frankenstein Essay In 1818 Mary Shelley wrote a gothic novel called Frankenstein. It is about Victor Frankenstein, who intended to invent a 'beautiful' creature, but 'the beauty of the dream vanished'. Instead he created a repulsive monster that was rejected from society. Throughout the book Shelley instills both sympathy and antipathy in the reader for the monster. I will be exploring this through different elements like aesthetics, individual choice and God vs. Science. Victor placed his trust in scientific development and when the creature he created didn't turn out the way he wanted, he rejected it and also rejected himself. He set out to make a wonderful creature to prove science and individual genius could beat God. He managed to produce this creature but it wasn't so wonderful, it was a horrific, grotesque monster. 'A breathless horror and disgust filled my heart.' This shows that Victor was disgusted by his creation and it wasn't what he had expected at all. At this point the reader feels sympathy for the monster as he has been rejected by his only friend - his father figure in some aspects. Also the reader feels antipathy for Victor. This is because Victor had created a grotesque being and now cannot change his creations. In Frankenstein, the monster is naturally kind, For example, when the girl falls in the river, the monster's natural instinct was to save her and

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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With Particular reference to chapters 5 and 11, compare and contrast the Authors portrayal of Victor and the creature in "Frankenstein".

With Particular reference to chapters 5 and 11, compare and contrast the Authors portrayal of Victor and the creature in "Frankenstein" Contained in the novel, Frankenstein, by Mary Shelly, is the twisted substance of greed, the character Victor Frankenstein portrays the element of control. Felling the need for this he 'builds' an entirely new breed of creature, without thinking much for the consequences. During the time in which this novel was written, there was a great surge in the realms of science. Many new discoveries were made and scientists were taking more and more dangerous risks in the hope of opening the door on the unknown. In my view, Shelly had written this novel as more of a warning than a story. I believe that she was trying to impose responsibility upon the scientists for what it was they were meddling with and also to try and persuade them to think before they act. Shelly demonstrates these emotions through two characters, Frankenstein and the creation. Each character gets the opportunity to express their feelings and tell their stories in the novel. The first character that has the opportunity to tell their story is Frankenstein, in chapter 5. Shelly sets the scene with close attention to the weather, "It was on a dreary night of November" here Shelly is using pathetic fallacy to reflect the mood. The same is evident in chapter 11, when the creature is

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Commentary on Frankenstein, Chapter V, Volume I: The Creation Awakens

IB English Commentary Commentary on Frankenstein, Chapter V, Volume I: The Creation Awakens '... Dreams that had been my food and pleasant rest for so long a space were now become a hell to me...' Throughout 'Frankenstein', a novel by Mary Shelley, numerous literary devices are employed to create intended effect. The quotation above encapsulates the whole passage when Victor's creation finally is complete. However, his scientific obsession seems to be a dream that ends with the creature's birth. As soon as his creature comes to life, Victor is filled with intense revulsion. Victor realises that his dreams have gone badly wrong when he awakens at the same moment the creature awakens, the moment the creature's eyes open. The passage utilises various literary devices, such as setting, alliteration, tone and other language devices that are put into the novel to allow the reader to gain better understanding of Victor's thoughts on his creation. The tone and shifts in tone throughout the passage are integrated so the reader is able to understand the mind state that Victor is in. Additionally, this passage furthers our understanding of the characters by the description of their thoughts and their actions. The author uses tone to express Victor's remorse feelings in this passage. It can be assumed that the tone has just shifted due to the birth of Victor's creation "I saw the

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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How does Mary Shelley make the description of the monster waking in chapter five of "Frankenstein" powerful and dramatic

"How does Mary Shelley make the description of the monster waking in chapter five powerful and dramatic?" Frankenstein was written by Mary Shelley, in the year 1816. It was decided upon, one stormy night in Geneva, that her, her husband and two others would all write horror stories for each other. Mary then got her inspiration from sciences at the time, like Galvani's theories of electricity's effect on animal bodies and muscles reaction to a stimulus. The type of gothic literature that Shelley wrote is a prime example of the dark and dismal writing of that period. Shelley went on to write the epic piece of gothic horror - Frankenstein. Chapter five is a very important chapter in the play, Frankenstein's struggle is finally over, and the monster finally lives. However, not everything turned out the way Frankenstein wanted to, and answers to his questions such as "where does life begin" have not been found. Shelley uses lots of informative adjectives to make the chapter seem more dramatic, for example, she says the monster has "watery eyes" and "black lips". This tells us how Frankenstein had tried to make the monster beautiful, but in the process had made the monster grotesque by bringing the different body parts together. This creates a very powerful image in our minds of what the monster looks like. Shelley also creates a very dramatic atmosphere by using pathetic

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Is the creature in 'Frankenstein' avillain or victim, and what is the message of the story?

Is the creature in 'Frankenstein' a villain or victim, and what is the message of the story? The opening of the novel is a letter from Walton to his sister. He writes about his dream expedition to discover 'a passage near the pole to those countries to reach which at present so many months are requisite'. He wants to be the first to step foot open ground no other man has stepped on, and 'discover the wondrous power which attracts the needle'. Walton says ' I preferred glory to every enticement that wealth placed in my path' this shows Walton is a hungrier for fame and admiration rather than money. He 'voluntarily endured cold, famine, thirst, and want of sleep' this makes the reader think he is over obsessed. This is parallel to Frankenstein's obsession to recreate life. Walton's character is similar to Frankenstein's; they are both over ambitious, knowledgeable and unaware of the dangers in consequence to their actions. The point Shelley is trying to make throughout the story is that these qualities in a person, if out of control, could cause problems. Frankenstein is obsessed with science, 'natural philosophy, and particularly chemistry became my sole occupation'. Shelley writes that during the creation of the creature Frankenstein is spending 'days and nights in vaults and charnel-houses'. At this point he comes across as quite crazy and rather disturbing. He appears to

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Who do you feel more sympathy for- Frankenstein or the monster?

Frankenstein Who do you feel more sympathy for- Frankenstein or the monster? In the summer of 1816, Mary Shelley wrote one of the most famous science fiction/ horror novels of all time. She wrote it at Lake Geneva and based it on the myth of Prometheus. Meaning a god in a Greek myth who created people out of clay and stole fire from the gods and gave it to the humans. The other gods were outraged by this and chained him to a mountain and a hawk or crow came and ate his liver every day (it regenerated because he was a god). Prometheus eventually escaped with the help of Hercules. The modern Prometheus (Victor Frankenstein) creates a being, but instead of clay uses dead body parts and electricity. Instead of being chained to a mountain Frankenstein is punished by the creature/ Monster who kills his family. The reader feels more sympathy for Frankenstein's monster as he faces hatred and oppression. The creature is oppressed because he is topped doing what he wants to do, which is interacting with people. Mary Shelley wrote the novel because the people who stayed at Lake Geneva were told to write a horror story by Lord Byron. Those present were Mary Shelley, Lord Byron, her husband (Percy Shelley) and John Polidori. The scariest novel would win. Mary won the competition. Her novel is about a scientist named Frankenstein who tries to create the perfect human but the creature

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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'Frankenstein's savage passions suggest that he, not the apparently more civilised creature, is the true monster' - discuss this statement with close reference to chapter 10 in Frankenstein.

English Essay 'Frankenstein's savage passions suggest that he, not the apparently more civilised creature, is the true monster' -discuss this statement with close reference to chapter 10 in Frankenstein Victor has been described as the true monster, whereas the creature is seen as more civilised. As well as referring to this certain chapter, there is reference to the relationship in other chapters. Making use of quotes is essential to portray an image in greater detail. Victor has totally discarded the creature like he was rubbish you would throw in the bin. Empathy from the reader is with the creature more than Victor although the creature in turn has done some barbaric things he's only inflicting what's already been inflicted to him. Victor spurned a great deal of anger in his actions and must now face the consequences. The story is set by a series of letters all of which are from Robert Walton who set out on an expedition to the North Pole. The narrative is of a certain structure which seems to pass around a triangle as the story unfolds. It begins with Walton, to Victor, to the Creature, back to Victor then finally back to Walton. Each period focuses solely on the narrator at the time and at this current time Victor is the Narrator. In this particular passage Victor and the Creature are both talking, Victor, showing his deepest hate and remorse that he ever created

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Many critics have commented that the creature is ultimately a character with whom we sympathise. Explore Mary Shelleys presentation of the creature in light of this

Many critics have commented that the "creature" is ultimately a character with whom we sympathise. Explore Mary Shelley's presentation of the "creature" in light of this comment. The creature within Frankenstein can be considered as a character that we sympathise with as a result of the events in which he is exposed to. For instance, within the creature's narrative he describes his first few moments of life and describes being chased by the villagers. This highlights the rejection the creature is exposed to on a whole and his initial fear of "the barbarity of man" this creates sympathy because we are aware that the creature meant no harm yet he was "attacked" unjustly. The need to be love is a basic human need, and rejection is a painful experience, perhaps the readers understanding of rejection will create sympathy for the creature because they will have an understanding of the desire to be loved, and can begin to imagine the pain of having no-one in the world, "I was a poor, helpless, miserable wretch; I could distinguish, nothing, but feeling pain invade me from all sides, I sat down and wept". Perhaps also it is the outline not only of the creature's desire for basic human needs such as food, warmth and to be loved, but the expression of human emotions and the sympathy is created through the knowledge that he is in pain and suffering from emotional torment. Scenes such

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Analyse the 'creation scene' from Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein' and compare it to Kenneth Branagh's 1994 film version of the same.

Analyse the 'creation scene' from Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein' and compare it to Kenneth Branagh's 1994 film version of the same. One of the key themes in Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein' is human arrogance. Frankenstein's curiosity leads him to play the role of God. In a way Frankenstein is responsible for the monster and has ultimately become a father figure to the monster. Frankenstein abandoning the monster leads up to it turning evil and looking for revenge. Therefore, parenting is another theme in the novel. The nature of beauty is another theme. Frankenstein abandons the monster because he did not turn out as good looking as he had intended. The best features were chosen to make Frankenstein's monster but ironically the monster turned out ugly. The 'creation scene' is presented in a typically 'Gothic' way and Shelly exploits the gothic traditions that had already, to some extent, been established in 1818. Her setting is classic of the genre as her setting is very hellish. The candles, coffins and dreary night are commonly used for this genre. Her use of archaic language gives us the classic gothic feeling. Language like "demonical corpse", "convulsed" "grave-worms". The archaic language is also a good use of graphic imagery, which again is classically used in this type of genre. Shelley also uses hyperbolic language. She seems to over exaggerate a lot of things in this

  • Word count: 1139
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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