'Explore how we view creature based on what Victor says, and on what creature says.'

Authors Avatar

Explore how we view the creature, based on what Victor says, and on what creature says.

Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein in 1816, which was a time when human experiments were growing and Shelley wanted to give people a message. This gothic horror is referred to as Modern Prometheus as Doctor Frankenstein tried to create life with the invention of electricity; and only god should create life.   The story is written in embedded narrative- as it starts off with Walton’s letter which is the frame of the story; and both Dr. Frankenstein’s and the creature’s narratives(story) follows within the frame of Walton’s letter. Mary Shelley has put in both sides of the story (Dr. Frankenstein and Creature) to make it fair in both sides of the story. This has made it hard to define who the victim is and who the villain is as the readers opinions keep changing in different narratives…

The first few chapters Walton hears Frankenstein’s story. His mother died when he was seventeen, and this lead him more on bringing back life as he was interested in science, experiments and knowledge. Elizabeth was the girl who was adopted by Frankenstein’s dad and has a great relationship with Frankenstein as they grew up together. Now, Frankenstein has to leave to Ingolstadt for further education; he leaves for his mission of creating life as he attends Ingolstadt. As his narrative continues we see the doctor as the Victim. This could be because he is talking about his own experiences and could be biased.

 In chapter 5 the work he has done for 2 years is about to reveal. He hasn’t been to Geneva for ages and hasn’t been replying for any letters as he says “caused me also to forget those friends who were so many miles absent, and whom I had not seen for a long time.” Suggests how engaged he was in his mission of creating life. Later on, he reveals that how horrific the process on creating life was as he says “as I dabbled among unhallowed damps of grave”, “I collected bones from charnel-houses” makes him sound like a villain who would collect parts of corpses facing worst horrors with the ridiculous intention of creating life! But one could argue that it was invention of electricity that led Frankenstein to his mission; therefore Frankenstein should be the victim.

Join now!

Mary Shelly uses pathetic fallacy to introduce the birth of the creature. “It was dreary night of November” implies cold & darkness. Use of pathetic fallacy at the beginning of chapter five prepares the reader for the events which follow. “Glimmer of half-extinguished light” creates tension as Frankenstein is about to reveal his work he’s been doing for nearly two years. “I saw the dull yellow eye of the creature open” which clearly implies horror. And when he says “how can I describe my emotions at this catastrophe”, obviously reveals Frankenstein is facing the unexpected. “And I selected his ...

This is a preview of the whole essay