Frankenstein Mary Shelleys Ability to Create Sympathy...

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is ‘one of the pioneering works of modern science fiction’, and is also a frightening story that speaks to the ‘mysterious fears of our nature’. Mary Shelley mocks the idea of â€Å"playing God†, the idea that came from the Greek myth of Prometheus, of the Greek titan who stole Zeus’ gift of life. Both the story of Frankenstein and Prometheus reveal the dark side of human nature and the dangerous effects of creating artificial life. Frankenstein reveals the shocking reality of the consequences to prejudging someone. The creature’s first-person narration reveals to us his humanity, and his want to be accepted by others even though he is different. We are shown that this ‘monster’ is a ‘creature’ and more of a human†¦show more content†¦Perhaps what led Victor to this rejection, why he was so horrified of his creation, was because he had had such high expectations. In ch apter 1, he talks about his life and his parents, he says he was an â€Å"innocent and helpless creature bestowed on them by heaven†. Perhaps this is what he wanted from his creation, for it to be a gift from heaven, and when it turned out it was ‘hideous’ and not so heavenly, he was disappointed. He wanted something that was â€Å"perfect†, â€Å"human†, but what he made was something hideous, and his gigantic structure made him different from a human. However, what we realise later on in the book is that it’s what’s on the inside that makes him human. This monster is capable of human emotions and intelligence, he learns to read write and think like a human. This is what makes us have sympathy to the monster- that we can relate to his feelings. The monster gains our sympathy from the telling of his perspective. His personal story reveals his own suffering and rejection. This monster has not been given a name, so already he must feel like he does not belong. To have a name means you have a sense of identity, and because the creature does not have this he will feel lost and rejected. When he is abandoned by Victor and the villagers, he weeps in despair, which shows he has feelings. When he sees what we see, that he is a monster, upon looking at his reflection he was ‘filled with the bitterest sensations of despondenceShow MoreRelatedComparison Between Frankenstein And Mary Shelley s Frankenstein1644 Words   |  7 Pagescomparing the creature in Mary Shelley’s original novel Frankenstein to multiple newer representations. The creature is portrayed differently in almost all illustrations; unfortunately, all modern representations of the creature tend to be wrong. The creature’s physical characteristics, i ntellectual abilities, morals, and actions are all drastically different when comparing modern representations to Shelley’s actual portrayal of the being, and these changes can ruin Shelley’s depiction of who the creatureRead MoreEssay on The Nature of Humanity in Mary Shelleys Frankenstein1358 Words   |  6 PagesThe Nature of Humanity in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein examines the very nature of humanity through the juxtaposition of two characters, Victor Frankenstein and the creature. The curious creature has an innocent desire to learn whereas Victor Frankenstein pursues his blasphemed ambition. The creature has a sincere desire to belong in the human world but he is incapable of properly presenting himself whereas Victor Frankenstein isolates himself from humanity to hide hisRead MoreMonstrosity In Frankenstein938 Words   |  4 Pages The Monsters in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein portrays one of the darkest, most hopeless situations that could possibly occur due to the monstrous deeds performed by the main characters in the novel. When one thinks of Frankenstein, they generally think of Victor’s creation as being a monster, and the cause of the unfortunate events that occur in the novel. While Victor’s creation is indeed a monster, Victor is equally as monstrous in his actions. While both charactersRead MoreFrankenstein - Ideologies of Fire as Knowledge and Creation932 Words   |  4 Pages Frankenstein is a diverse novel that confronts the reader with many different ideas and themes. Critics have described the text in many different, depending on their reading of the book. These include as a political allegory, an observation of human accountability, feminism, social prejudices and alienation, and even a narrative of the nature of human life itself. Some of these themes may be in part due to the influence of Shelleys parents: Mary Wollstonecraft and William Godwin, both very influentialRead MoreThe Modern Prometheus Essays1585 Words   |  7 PagesPrometheus Did Mary Shelley initially title her work about Victor Frankenstein and his creation The Modern Prometheus solely because of the glaring similarities between their stories? That is a question that is often discussed, but a conclusion rarely arrives. One of the possible reasons for this could be because there are many different interpretations of the Promethean myth, which are mainly based on the ambiguous nature of the story. The parallels between the Promethean myth and Frankenstein are obviousRead MoreAnalysis Of Mary Shelley s Frankenstein 1589 Words   |  7 PagesExtended Response (Q2) - Frankenstein By Mary Shelley Rachel .Corrie The perspective, from which a story is told, causes an influential response from readers to certain issues, characters and conflicts that are found in literary texts. Mary Shelley’s gothic novel, Frankenstein, was published in 1818 and tells the story of a scientist known as Victor Frankenstein who reanimates life in an unethical science experiment. In this novel Walton, Victor and the creature tell their sideRead MoreAnalysis Of Mary Shelley s Frankenstein 1685 Words   |  7 PagesMary Shelley’s Frankenstein, written in 1818, explores the dangers of scientific endeavours attempting to domineer the sacred realm of nature through ego driven pursuits of knowledge and discovery. This exploration also extends to the destruction caused when a man’s hubris overrides his moral and spiritual discourses, damaging the nature of humanity and society. Shelley adopts an ambivalent attitude towards man kind’s search for advancement through the quest for knowledge, sc ientific discovery andRead MoreReligious Thought in Mary Shelleys Frankenstein2200 Words   |  9 Pages Religious Thought in Mary Shelleys Frankenstein Every time a movie is made that portrays any part of the book Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, it is more than likely about the monster and his character rather than the creator and his. But, in the book, the scientist, Dr. Frankenstein, was more prominent, especially in view of his personal angst and wars, than the monster. It is true that the monster is a central character, but the man Frankenstein is a much more interesting study. What happensRead MoreEssay on Accepting the Extraordinary in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein1618 Words   |  7 Pageselements. However, through fiction I am transported into a world of boundless imagination and extraordinary themes. One such example is evident in my response to Mary Shelley’s gothic novel Frankenstein. Through fiction, Shelley invites the reader to accept the extraordinary. Firstly, we are led to believe that Victor Frankenstein is able to create life by shocking it with electricity, and to this I responded with an imaginative curiosity. But it was the consequences of the creation provoked a strongerRead MoreThe As A Social Reform Writer Essay1498 Words   |  6 Pagesme to say, it is because you don t understand me.† It is precisely this which Gaskell, as a social reform writer, wishes to change about Society in Victorian England. The very purpose of Gaskell’s novel Mary Barton is to gauge an understanding between classes and equally to heighten the sympathy felt among those composing the middle and upper classes for those who fell within the realms of a lower social status. Gaskell was a strong believer in the idea that social issues such as class division were