The creature is not a human. Sure “it” or “he” may appear to be a grotesque, hideous human, but he lacks the soul and humanity that makes a person a person. I think of the creature as a sociopath. Like a sociopath, the creature has the ability to mimic people, but “he” lacks the social cues to function in society. Because the creature is isolated from the world he grows to resent the world he can’t be a part of. With this built up anger he seeks revenge on the man that created him. The creature kills Victor’s brother and new wife Elizabeth and indirectly kills an innocent Justine. After he kills he feels no remorse. Real people, no matter how much anger or hatred they are harboring for a person they killed, have some feeling of guilt or sadness. The creature doesn’t even know he should feel like this. The creature doesn’t know how to really express any real human emotions because he is an unnatural being.
He is a freak of nature, but the irony is that he finds his solace in nature. Nature is supposed to be pure, but the creature is a contradiction to the environment he lives in. He possesses left over limbs and discarded organs. There is nothing pure or original about him at all. Man should not intervene with nature, because if you do disastrous things occur. With this notion, I believe that is why Victor destroys the companion he promised to make the creature (115). “I thought with a sensation of madness on my promise of creating another like to him, and, trembling with passion tore to pieces the thing on which I was engaged.” He is showing some restraint with the powerful knowledge he has, and maybe that is the point Shelly wanted to get across. Science is a good thing, but there must be caution or terrible things could happen.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
Frankenstein
Frankenstein: I think of a large, grotesque, slow moving imbecile. I am of course thinking of the movie and not the gothic work of Mary Shelly. It seems that Hollywood has gone to great lengths to distort what “Frankenstein” is. The monster is just the monster, he doesn’t have a name. I feel that giving him a name is too normal. A name would show that he could fit into society, but it would be impossible for him. The perception of what the monster is and what he appears to be are explored through the novel. Shelly provides so many more layers to the monster and his creator
Frankenstein is an obvious gothic novel, there is the creation of an unnatural life. The monster coming to life sets an uneasy feeling tone. To see a man walk and talk is normal, but the monster, although alive, is uncanny and terrifying. Questions of who controls life and death play on the fears people have about their own mortality. If a scientist can play “God” why believe in anything? An isolation lies in that question, and isolation is felt by Victor himself. He throws himself into work and disregards his family and friends. Victor’s unfortunate for the unknown secrets of science have led him to the secret of life. What appears to be a wildly fantastic discovery, is now the horrific image that haunts his dreams. Victor flees his creation, until they collide on Victor is finally able to hear, from the monster himself, his life.
The monster in Mary Shelly’s novel is the exact opposite of what the movie portrays, but has the characteristics of what a good monster or antagonist should be: strong, elegant with their speech, and well rounded character. The monster has the ability to rely his own account of his life with a sadness. No matter how hard her tries, he can’t fit into normal society.
Frankenstein is an obvious gothic novel, there is the creation of an unnatural life. The monster coming to life sets an uneasy feeling tone. To see a man walk and talk is normal, but the monster, although alive, is uncanny and terrifying. Questions of who controls life and death play on the fears people have about their own mortality. If a scientist can play “God” why believe in anything? An isolation lies in that question, and isolation is felt by Victor himself. He throws himself into work and disregards his family and friends. Victor’s unfortunate for the unknown secrets of science have led him to the secret of life. What appears to be a wildly fantastic discovery, is now the horrific image that haunts his dreams. Victor flees his creation, until they collide on Victor is finally able to hear, from the monster himself, his life.
The monster in Mary Shelly’s novel is the exact opposite of what the movie portrays, but has the characteristics of what a good monster or antagonist should be: strong, elegant with their speech, and well rounded character. The monster has the ability to rely his own account of his life with a sadness. No matter how hard her tries, he can’t fit into normal society.
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