Explore the way Mary Shelley presents the character of the Monster in Frankenstein

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Chiago Tabansi

Frankenstein Essay

Explore the way Mary Shelley presents the character of the Monster in ‘Frankenstein’

The gothic novel ‘Frankenstein’ written by Mary Shelley in 1818 shows two complex protagonists, Victor Frankenstein and the Monster. Today the Monster is one of the most memorable gothic horror characters of all time; being named the Monster people would automatically presume it would be a negative and grotesque character. However in this novel the Monster can be perceived in two different ways, an evil murdering creature or a victim of a selfish experiment. The truth is the Monster is a mixture of the two perceptions and this is what Shelley shows throughout the novel.

The novel ‘Frankenstein’ can be seen as a typical Gothic novel. A gothic novel is a genre of literature that combines both horror and romance; these elements are both evident in ‘Frankenstein’, from the gruesome murders to the relationship and marriage of Victor and Elizabeth Frankenstein. However this novel slightly differs from other murder and dark sexuality influenced gothic novels as this gothic novel was influenced by the power of science. The Monster is the result of Victor’s obsessive and compulsive view of science, and of life; literally sewn together from old body parts Victor Frankenstein created a life, defying all laws and morals, the story unfolds from a science experiment. The novel deals with physics, biology and the future rather than ghosts and supernatural events of the past which traditional gothic novels do.

Before the Monster has even taken his first breath Shelley prepares the reader for the Monster, to give them a rough idea of what she is about to present:

I collected bones from charnel houses; and disturbed, with

 profane fingers, the tremendous secrets of the human frame

Victor Frankenstein went to hospitals, graves and morgues stealing body parts of the deceased to create the Monster. He was so determined to complete it that he was willing to break the law to gain his resources. Frankenstein already knew what he wanted the Monster to look like in which Shelley describes

I resolved, contrary to my first intention, to make the being

of a gigantic statured; that is to say about eight feet in height

and proportionally large

Readers would have been shocked and horrified by Shelley’s description of the Monster. The way the Monster is depicted before he is even created, it is obvious that this novel is heading for disaster. The main concern of the readers at this point will be how society will be able to accept the Monster. Society then and now is highly prejudiced, we are all quick to judge people who are different, so there will be no possible way an eight foot tall ogre will be welcomed into society; he is outrageously different. In addition to this in the nineteenth century reading the creation of the Monster would have upset many people, as in those days virtually everyone was religious; there were no clash of faiths and religions as everyone was Christian. ‘Frankenstein’ would have been slightly controversial as the novel shows a mad scientist trying to control life and death, a job in which only God can do; Victor had gone against the power of religion, taking life into his own hands/

At the very beginning when the Monster had just been created he can already be seen in different ways. The Monster is eight foot in height, very ugly and if anything he can be described as repulsive, automatically Shelley has allowed the readers to be fearful of the Monster due to his appearance:

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His yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries underneath

On the other hand Shelley makes us sympathise for the Monster. The Monster was created using the body parts and brain of humans, like every other human the Monster started off as a baby. Regardless of his huge stature and gruesome looks the Monster had the mind mentality and characteristics of a new born baby, an innocent and needing baby. With Victor Frankenstein being the Monsters creator he is also his father, meaning he is meant to look after the Monster but Victor rejects his creation:

He might ...

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*** This essay has the potential to be excellent. It is well written and well structured and remains focused on the question. It offers alternative interpretations and discusses the main themes and ideas in the novel intelligently. BUT in discussing these themes and ideas the essay becomes merely descriptive and in places whole paragraphs are dedicated to narration of the story line. There is very little language analysis of the quotes used and therefore no chance to gain points for accurately using literary terminology.