Who is the real monster? In the novel, Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, Victor Frankenstein is a scientist who?s goal is to give life to an inanimate body. During and after the creation of his monster, Victor?s ambition, selfishness and secrecy alienated him from human society. So who is the real monster? Contrary to initial perceptions, the creator, Victor is the monster.
Victor?s ambition to create life caused him to become a monster. He was determined to go to Ingolstadt University to study philosophy and science and to discover the secret of life. In doing so, he spent years away from his friends and family. ?I passed through the scenes familiar to my youth but which I had not seen for nearly six years? (Shelley 58).
Victor?s over-ambition to be famous clouded his view of determining the potential consequences of his goal to generate life. His only thought was how to generate life, not what the consequences were. ?I had worked hard for nearly two years for the sole purpose of infusing life into an inanimate body? (Shelley 42).
Victor?s ambition also caused him to become a monster because he never considered what he should do if he was to succeed in creating life. ?Nor could I consider the magnitude and complexity of my plan as any argument of its impracticability? (Shelley 39).
This caused him to react irrationally when he saw product of his creation. Not only did Victor display acts of over-ambition, he also showed that he was selfish.
The Essay on Victor Frankenstein Mary Shelley
Victor Frankenstein's emotional turmoil is clearly evident in chapters 9 and 10. Explore the basis for this turmoil and Mary Shelley's portrayal of Victor's state of mind. In this Essay I shall explore the reasons for Victor Frankenstein's emotional turmoil in chapters 9 and 10 and look at how some events in Mary Shelley's life mirrors some events in the book. I will also look at a few of the ...
Victor displayed many acts of selfishness in the novel, Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley. These acts also caused him to be a monster. When Victor said that he was ?Unable to endure the aspect of the being I haItd created, I rushed out of the room? (Shelley 42), he displayed selfishness.This was because he was not happy with the outcome of the monster and abandoned it. Another incident of selfishness that contributed to Victor being a monster occurred after the death of his younger brother William. Victor returned home after years of being away, to spend time with his family. Soon after he arrived in Geneva, he left for the Alpine valleys by himself hoping to ease his grief. in doing this, he left his family and Elizabeth behind once again. ?It was during an access of this kind that I suddenly left home, and being my step towards the near Alpine valleys, to forget myself and my ephemeral because human, sorrows? (Shelley 78).
The largest act of selfishness that Victor showed was when the monster threatened Victor that he would be with him on his wedding-night. Even though Victor knew that the chances of death occurring were high for that night, he married Elizabeth. ?…i should almost regard him as invincible, and that when he had pronounced the words ? I shall be with you on your wedding-night,? I should regard the fateselfish, he also showed acts of secrecy that alienated him human society and made him a monster.
Secrecy was another act that Victor displayed throughout the novel. This made him a monster because he went away to Ingolstadt, leaving his family behind for several years. During his stay at Ingolstadt, he kept to himself and created the monster. ?Winter, spring, and summer passed…so deeply was I engrossed in my occupation? (Shelley 41).
Victor was also very secretive when Justine was accused of murdering William and sentenced to be hung. Victor knew that his creation was the real murderer, but did not tell anybody. In keeping the real murderer to himself, innocent Justine was hung and her life was lost. ?Justine also was a girl of merit and possessed qualities which promised to render her life happy; now all was to be obliterated in an ignominious grave, and I was the cause!? (Shelley 66).
The Essay on Beautiful Human Victor Monster Life
In past and present, society has always put an emphasis on external appearance as opposed to inner personality. As a result, social classes are formed, such as upper and lower, wherein members of each class must uphold the norms defined by the prestige of the class. Upper classes are deemed to be perfect, as they contain the wealthy and the beautiful. This class distinction is heightened in Gothic ...
Another incident of secrecy occurred after the death of Justine. Victor journeyed to Scotland with Henry to spend some time away from home. Soon after Victor they arrived in Scotland, Victor left henry and traveled to the Orkneys. This was so he could be by himself and create a companion for him monster. ?With this resolution I traversed the northen highlands and fixed on one of the remotest of the Orkneys as the scene of my labours? (Shelley 148).
In conclusion, the scientist who?s goal was to generate life caused a great deal of pain through his ambition, selfishness and secrecy, both to himself and others. As a result, these acts caused him to become alienated from his friends and family, and turned him into the monster. as unavoidable? (Shelley 174).
In addition to Victor being selfish,
