Frankenstein

The Power of Frankenstein and Manfred Throughout the novel Frankenstein, author Mary Shelley clearly illustrates the moral of the write up. immortal is the one(a) and nonwithstanding overlord therefore, humans should never attempt to constitute His place. Literary critic Marilyn Butler sums up that we atomic number 18nt to muck around with humankind in her comment slang upt usurp Gods claim in the Creation-game, or dont arse around similarly clever with technology (302). Butler warns that as humans, we should never chance upon the position of God. As achiever Frankenstein takes advantage of his deep scientific knowledge, he is punished for taking his experimenting overly far.The novel opens as passe-partout Frankenstein rec on the alones his curiosity and fascination with human life. Frankenstein quickly becomes preoccupy with experimenting, and he attempts to create a living cosmos out of dead body parts. He succeeds, solely his creation turns into a living th e Tempter. Exclaimed by Frankenstein, It was the secrets of heaven and earth that I desired to learn (Shelley 33). skipper is extremely horrified by his grotesque flavor creation and f everys into a severe illness. eyepatch passkey is ill, the giant star escapes to the woodwind where he watches a family and tries to be acquaintance the humans.But once the monster put one overs his presence kn let, the family batcht accept Frankensteins ugly appearance. Because whole humans he encountered reject him, the monster begins to hate people and believe that they are his enemies. Frustrated, the monster returns to his noble and demands that Frankenstein makes a female companion to cure his loneliness. The instrument promises superior that he will leave with his female companion, travel to South America, and never come in contact with humans again. However, two years beforehand, the animate being despitefully murdered Victors br separate William to get back at him.Holding a gru dge against his monster creation for the death of William, Victor refuses to make a friend for the monster. In an swither to make Victor as miserable as himself, the monster seeks r regularge on his creator. The monster takes his frustration out on everything and everyone pricey to Victor, and murders of Frankensteins family and friends. The remainder of the novel revolves around the struggles Victor Frankenstein encounters as he attempts to escape from the mess of a vengeful monster he has made.The moral of the narrative doesnt simply stress that God is the unless Creator, exclusively it overly emphasizes the responsibility we need to take for our actions. Humans all make mistakes, scarcely we are all held responsible. Victor Frankenstein creates this monster and then runs away from the disaster he makes. Similarly, parents are responsible for the children they have, even if the pregnancy wasnt desired. Frankenstein creates a monster he doesnt want, besides if he is still responsible to take care of his mistake, which he fails to do. Victor Frankenstein expresses It was a strong effort of the spirit of good, hardly it was ineffectual.Destiny was likewise potent, and her immutable laws had decreed my utter and terrible destruction (Shelley 38). Victor describes his intention to create as a good intent, but because the monster he created was sinful, his effort was useless. Victor is quick to blame his terrible creation on destiny saying that he was only trying to do honorable actions, but they werent successful. Though the message of the story is apparent, the antagonist and protagonist of the story cant be as clearly identified. In the beginning of the novel, Victor Frankenstein is the questioning guy for creating his monster and not caring for it.However some readers may say that as the story develops, the monster turns into the antagonist. The monster is searching for ways to make his creator unhappy. The monsters god is Victor, he doesnt know o f any higher reason. The monster learns to be evil and vengeful as he observes the humans, so he acts upon what he sees. Clearly, the monsters sins such as murder are deliberate. The monster, however, wasnt taught how to exile appropriately in situations. As we are commanded in the book of Romans, we are not to take revenge Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for Gods impatience (Revelation 1219).Though I am a firm believer that we are to follow Gods commands, I believe that the true antagonist of the story is Victor Frankenstein. Victor is the creator of this evil being, thus he is responsible for the neglect and actions of his monster. It is inevitable that a time comes for parents to let their children branch out to make their own decisions. Parents cannot be held fully accountable for their childrens mistakes, but they are accountable for the foundation on which they raised their children. Victor is very responsible for the monsters decisions because Victor f ailed to give him a fair foundation.Running from his sins, Victor Frankenstein is responsible for all of his personal actions and approximately of the actions of the monster he chose to create. Victor dangerously messes with Gods job of creating. Once he makes this tool, he should have taken responsibility for the life he brought into the world. Because the creature isnt nurtured, taught, and loved, I believe that all of his later sinful acts of revenge are a direct reflection of him being neglected. The monster does not create himself, or chose to be neglected, so he shouldnt be responsible for most(prenominal) of his behaviors.In todays society, everyone is held accountable for their actions, no matter what mount or family situation they come from. just astir(predicate)times, we are below the belt held accountable for our wrongdoings even if werent provided with the resources to make better decisions. Generally, in situations such as in the schoolroom or social conditions, children and adults who havent had article of faith and advantages give to them arent held as highly accountable for their actions. This is a similar situation to Frankenstein and the monster he regrettably made.I believe that Frankenstein should be held more highly accountable for his mistakes. The monster was never taught how to behave as he grew up, which wasnt his fault. Living in the woods and being able to observe how humans should so-so behave, he should be held partially accountable for his actions. I have come to understand that we are held accountable for what we know. Victor Frankenstein was an educated man who knew better than to tamper with the creation of life. There is no excuse for the mistake he made and didnt assume responsibility. Victor Frankenstein is more of a monster than the monster he created.Evil is at the heart of the story as expressed by critic George Levine In gothic fiction, but more particularly in Frankenstein, evil is twain positively present an d largely inexplicable. The monsters evil nature is inexplicable. As he was never nurtured and taught manners, the monster was also never taught to be evil. The monster chose to act on his evil emotions, which isnt easily identified. At the end of the novel in an effort to destroy humans, oddly his creator, the monster exhausts Victor Frankensteins brother, William, when he sees him in the woods.The monster also kills Victors love, Elizabeth. The monster is a prisoner to this state of a nongregarious life. He couldnt help the way he was born into the world and left to fend for himself. He could have, however, chose to act differently on his angry emotions. Initially, Victor thought that he could escape this misery and get rid of the monster if he made a female. After more careful thought, Victor was stressed that he will create a whole family of monsters who would take over the world. The scientist refuses to get himself into even more of a mess.It does appear that Victor in co ndition(p) from his mistake, but it seems to be too late. Victor is being spiteful in refusing to make the monster a companion. Though Victor still refuses to take responsibility for the one monster he already created, he is talented enough to acknowledge the tragedy that would come from creation of another. The novel Frankenstein shows close relation to gentle Byrons play Manfred. Mary Shelly used Byrons numbers as an inspiration for her novel as both stories exhibit mans struggles with the supernatural.Byron opens his dramatic poem with Manfred pondering his guilty conscience. Manfred conjures up seven booze earth, ocean, air, night, mountains, winds, and the star, but none of them grant him the wish of forgetting the thoughts that race through his mind. Under the cast of a spell, he then pursues his own death, but is not given his wish of death. As Manfred stands on the edge of a cliff, he contemplates suicide I feel the nervous impulse Yet I do not soak I see the peril Ye t do not recede And my brain reels And yet my derriere is firm. (1. 2. 280-283)Death doesnt take Manfred because it wasnt his time. Full of falling off about his onetime lover, Astarte, and the suicide of his dear sister, Manfred doesnt know what to do. He refuses relief from the different liven up and also rejects religion. The Abbot shows up to Manfred to save his consciousness, but Manfred declines Manfred believes himself to be above his fellow mortals but he is not fit for the life of an immortal, either. To him, there is only one option for such a conflicted soul death (Warren). Manfred refuses to stoop down low enough to allow a mortal to help him.Mary Shelley and Lord Byron both exhibit the danger of tampering with the originator of God. Lord Byron writes Sorrow is Knowledge they who know the most/ Must mourn the deepest oer the lethal truth, / The Tree of Knowledge is not that of Life (1. 10-12). I interpret these lines to sum up that we shouldnt mess with the knowle dge that we have, because it doesnt reap good things, or life. Victor Frankenstein certainly took his knowledge of science to a level beyond his place, and his knowledge brought about disaster life. Lord Byron also creates a character that takes too much control and acts in Gods position.Filled with guilt, Manfred tries to seize the power of God and decide his own time for death. That isnt our position or our calling, only Gods. Victor Frankenstein tries to assume the position of God by creating life. Similarly, Manfred tries to assume the position of God by deciding when to end life. Refusing the Abbots help, Manfred turns from religion. Both characters acted as if their own power was above everyone else and God. Victor thought he was good enough to take Gods place of creating while Manfred thought he was too good to accept Gods break of salvation.Both Shelley and Byron paint a clear picture of the consequences that come from attempting to take Gods power and position. whole cabo odle Cited Butler, Marilyn. Frankenstein and Radical Science. Shelly 302. Byron, Lord. Manfred. Vol. XVIII, Part 6. The Harvard Classics. New York P. F. Collier Son, 1909-14 Bartleby. com, 2001. www. bartleby. com/18/6/. September 26, 2012. Levine, George. Frankenstein and the Tradition of Realism. Shelly 209. Shelly, Mary. Frankenstein or the Modern Prometheus. Ed. Simon Brown. 1818. Warren, Ashley. Association of Young Journalists And Writers. UniversalJournal AYJW. Web. 29 Oct. 2012.FrankensteinRaphael Porras Tabula Rasa Theory Frankensteins animate being The nature versus nurture debate has been an ongoing issue in Psychology. It centres on whether a persons behaviour is a product of his or her genes or the persons environment and surroundings. Some well-known thinkers such as Plato and Descartes proposed that certain things are inherited and innate or that they simply occur naturally regardless of human influences. On the other hand, other philosophers such as John Locke believed in what is known as the tabula rasa.It is a theory which suggests the human mind begins as a white story void of all characters without any ideas, (Gerrig et al. 51-57). This theory is whatMary Shelleys Frankenstein revolves on as one researcher suggests that this notion of tabula rasa is what Shelleys account of the Creatures development seems to hold (Higgins 61). By considering this concept, where all humans start as a blank slate, as reflected in the character development of the Creature and narrative style being used in the story, one can see that the persons environment plays a big role in moulding a persons attitude and behaviour.This is noteworthy because the creature started his life as an innocent and naive person. He only became malefic and malevolent after going through harsh treatments of society. Although the Creature didnt go through childhood, he began his life like a child. He had no knowledge or idea of how the world works. I was a poor, helpless, misera ble wretch I knew and could distinguish nothing, he said (Shelley 129). Higgins suggests that it is significant to know that the Creature did not describe any feelings of loneliness in his early stages of life this only begins when he encounters the De Lacey family (63).Although he had been already treated ill by people prior to meeting them, the creature have not mentioned how he felt, whether he was upset about it or not, after all, he didnt know how to respond to any kind stimuli tossed at him. Through day to day observation of the De Lacey family, he learned various things, from reading and writing to human history and relationships. Of all the stuff he learned, there is one strategic aspect of life that affected him the most and that is the essence of having a family. He only started to have feelings of compassion and sympathy because of them. I saw no cause for De Laceys unhappiness but I was late affected by it, the Creature says (Shelley 136). The Creature became so attach ed to the family that when they were unhappy, he felt depressed when they rejoiced, he sympathized in their joys (Shelley 138). To be accepted by them was a precarious present moment for him but, unfortunately, he got rejected by the family whom he cared and loved. Because of this he flees to the woods, and in turn, he saves a girl who almost got drowned. Instead of being called a savior for his heroic act, he rather got fired and shot that almost killed him.All these catastrophic moments of rejection by mankind add up to his feelings of aversion and abhorrence. Inflamed by pain, he vowed eternal horror and vengeance to all mankind (Shelley 166). By killing Victors brother, William, and several of Victors beloved ones, he then turns into a vicious monster as what society brands him to be right from the start. This gradual development of the Creature, from an innocent human being to an atrocious monster, perhaps rests its claim on being a good foundation to the tabula rasa theory.A nother functional way that Mary Shelley uses in the novel is her application of the first person narrative of the Creature. It is effective as it enables the readers to be more involved of the activities and engagements of the monster. Although he is not the protagonist of the story, this way of narration keeps the readers close to the action and makes them understand more the contemplations and cogitations of the Creature. This makes the readers feel as if they were part of a jury of a case where the monster is the one being prosecuted, trying to defend himself by relating his side of the story.Higgins suggests that the Creatures narrative form has an jounce on his confessional writings and rhetoric alienation (62). Through this, one can see the transformation of the monster from being like a child into graceful a cold blooded murderer. Through her portrayal of the development of the Creature and her unique style of narration, Shelley is able to picture to the reader the reality that society plays an important role in wielding a persons attitude and behavior. Percy Shelley proposes that if you treat a person ill, he will become wicked and if you requite essence with scorn, you impose upon him irresistible obligations alevolence and selfishness (qtd. in Veeder 226). This, feasibly, holds true to the modern society today for no one is born a killer unless he or she is pushed to kill someone through traumatic and disastrous life events and experiences. Works Cited Gerrig, Richard, et al. Psychology and Life. 2nd ed. Toronto Pearson Canada, 2012. Print Higgins, David. Frankenstein Character Studies. Cornwall MPG Books Ltd, 2008. Print. Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. Eds. D. L. Macdonald, and Kathleen Scherf. Buffalo Broadview P, 1999. Print. Veeder, William. Mary Shelley & Frankenstein. dinero U of Chicago P, 1986. Print.FrankensteinThe Power of Frankenstein and Manfred Throughout the novel Frankenstein, author Mary Shelley clearly illustrates the moral of the story. God is the one and only creator therefore, humans should never attempt to take His place. Literary critic Marilyn Butler sums up that we arent to tamper with creation in her comment Dont usurp Gods prerogative in the Creation-game, or dont get too clever with technology (302). Butler warns that as humans, we should never assume the position of God. As Victor Frankenstein takes advantage of his deep scientific knowledge, he is punished for taking his experimenting too far.The novel opens as Victor Frankenstein recalls his curiosity and fascination with human life. Frankenstein quickly becomes obsessed with experimenting, and he attempts to create a living being out of dead body parts. He succeeds, but his creation turns into a living monster. Exclaimed by Frankenstein, It was the secrets of heaven and earth that I desired to learn (Shelley 33). Victor is extremely horrified by his grotesque looking creation and falls into a severe illness. While Victor is ill, the monster esc apes to the woods where he watches a family and tries to befriend the humans.But once the monster makes his presence known, the family cant accept Frankensteins ugly appearance. Because all humans he encountered reject him, the monster begins to hate people and believe that they are his enemies. Frustrated, the monster returns to his creator and demands that Frankenstein makes a female companion to cure his loneliness. The creature promises Victor that he will leave with his female companion, travel to South America, and never come in contact with humans again. However, two years beforehand, the creature spitefully murdered Victors brother William to get back at him.Holding a grudge against his monster creation for the death of William, Victor refuses to make a friend for the monster. In an effort to make Victor as miserable as himself, the monster seeks revenge on his creator. The monster takes his frustration out on everything and everyone dear to Victor, and murders of Frankenste ins family and friends. The remainder of the novel revolves around the struggles Victor Frankenstein encounters as he attempts to escape from the mess of a vengeful monster he has made.The moral of the story doesnt simply stress that God is the only Creator, but it also emphasizes the responsibility we need to take for our actions. Humans all make mistakes, but we are all held accountable. Victor Frankenstein creates this monster and then runs away from the disaster he makes. Similarly, parents are responsible for the children they have, even if the pregnancy wasnt desired. Frankenstein creates a monster he doesnt want, but he is still responsible to take care of his mistake, which he fails to do. Victor Frankenstein expresses It was a strong effort of the spirit of good, but it was ineffectual.Destiny was too potent, and her immutable laws had decreed my utter and terrible destruction (Shelley 38). Victor describes his intention to create as a good intent, but because the monster h e created was sinful, his effort was useless. Victor is quick to blame his terrible creation on destiny saying that he was only trying to do honorable actions, but they werent successful. Though the message of the story is apparent, the antagonist and protagonist of the story cant be as clearly identified. In the beginning of the novel, Victor Frankenstein is the bad guy for creating his monster and not caring for it.However some readers may say that as the story develops, the monster turns into the antagonist. The monster is searching for ways to make his creator unhappy. The monsters god is Victor, he doesnt know of any higher power. The monster learns to be evil and vengeful as he observes the humans, so he acts upon what he sees. Clearly, the monsters sins such as murder are deliberate. The monster, however, wasnt taught how to behave appropriately in situations. As we are commanded in the book of Romans, we are not to take revenge Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for Gods wrath (Revelation 1219).Though I am a firm believer that we are to follow Gods commands, I believe that the true antagonist of the story is Victor Frankenstein. Victor is the creator of this evil being, thus he is responsible for the neglect and actions of his monster. It is inevitable that a time comes for parents to let their children branch out to make their own decisions. Parents cannot be held fully accountable for their childrens mistakes, but they are accountable for the foundation on which they raised their children. Victor is very responsible for the monsters decisions because Victor failed to give him a fair foundation.Running from his sins, Victor Frankenstein is responsible for all of his personal actions and most of the actions of the monster he chose to create. Victor dangerously messes with Gods job of creating. Once he makes this creature, he should have taken responsibility for the life he brought into the world. Because the creature isnt nurtured, ta ught, and loved, I believe that all of his later sinful acts of revenge are a direct reflection of him being neglected. The monster does not create himself, or chose to be neglected, so he shouldnt be responsible for most of his behaviors.In todays society, everyone is held accountable for their actions, no matter what background or family situation they come from. Sometimes, we are unfairly held accountable for our wrongdoings even if werent provided with the resources to make better decisions. Generally, in situations such as in the classroom or social conditions, children and adults who havent had teaching and advantages given to them arent held as highly accountable for their actions. This is a similar situation to Frankenstein and the monster he regrettably made.I believe that Frankenstein should be held more highly accountable for his mistakes. The monster was never taught how to behave as he grew up, which wasnt his fault. Living in the woods and being able to observe how hum ans should acceptably behave, he should be held partially accountable for his actions. I have come to understand that we are held accountable for what we know. Victor Frankenstein was an educated man who knew better than to tamper with the creation of life. There is no excuse for the mistake he made and didnt assume responsibility. Victor Frankenstein is more of a monster than the monster he created.Evil is at the heart of the story as expressed by critic George Levine In gothic fiction, but more particularly in Frankenstein, evil is both positively present and largely inexplicable. The monsters evil nature is inexplicable. As he was never nurtured and taught manners, the monster was also never taught to be evil. The monster chose to act on his evil emotions, which isnt easily identified. At the end of the novel in an effort to destroy humans, especially his creator, the monster kills Victor Frankensteins brother, William, when he sees him in the woods.The monster also kills Victor s love, Elizabeth. The monster is a prisoner to this state of a lonely life. He couldnt help the way he was born into the world and left to fend for himself. He could have, however, chose to act differently on his angry emotions. Initially, Victor thought that he could escape this misery and get rid of the monster if he made a female. After more careful thought, Victor was worried that he will create a whole family of monsters who would take over the world. The scientist refuses to get himself into even more of a mess.It does appear that Victor learned from his mistake, but it seems to be too late. Victor is being spiteful in refusing to make the monster a companion. Though Victor still refuses to take responsibility for the one monster he already created, he is smart enough to acknowledge the tragedy that would come from creation of another. The novel Frankenstein shows close relation to Lord Byrons play Manfred. Mary Shelly used Byrons poem as an inspiration for her novel as both stories exhibit mans struggles with the supernatural.Byron opens his dramatic poem with Manfred pondering his guilty conscience. Manfred conjures up seven spirits earth, ocean, air, night, mountains, winds, and the star, but none of them grant him the wish of forgetting the thoughts that race through his mind. Under the cast of a spell, he then pursues his own death, but is not given his wish of death. As Manfred stands on the edge of a cliff, he contemplates suicide I feel the impulse Yet I do not plunge I see the peril Yet do not recede And my brain reels And yet my foot is firm. (1. 2. 280-283)Death doesnt take Manfred because it wasnt his time. Full of depression about his onetime lover, Astarte, and the suicide of his dear sister, Manfred doesnt know what to do. He refuses relief from the different spirits and also rejects religion. The Abbot shows up to Manfred to save his soul, but Manfred declines Manfred believes himself to be above his fellow mortals but he is not fit for the life of an immortal, either. To him, there is only one option for such a conflicted soul death (Warren). Manfred refuses to stoop down low enough to allow a mortal to help him.Mary Shelley and Lord Byron both exhibit the danger of tampering with the power of God. Lord Byron writes Sorrow is Knowledge they who know the most/ Must mourn the deepest oer the fatal truth, / The Tree of Knowledge is not that of Life (1. 10-12). I interpret these lines to sum up that we shouldnt mess with the knowledge that we have, because it doesnt reap good things, or life. Victor Frankenstein certainly took his knowledge of science to a level beyond his place, and his knowledge brought about disaster life. Lord Byron also creates a character that takes too much control and acts in Gods position.Filled with guilt, Manfred tries to seize the power of God and decide his own time for death. That isnt our position or our calling, only Gods. Victor Frankenstein tries to assume the position of God by cre ating life. Similarly, Manfred tries to assume the position of God by deciding when to end life. Refusing the Abbots help, Manfred turns from religion. Both characters acted as if their own power was above everyone else and God. Victor thought he was good enough to take Gods place of creating while Manfred thought he was too good to accept Gods gift of salvation.Both Shelley and Byron paint a clear picture of the consequences that come from attempting to take Gods power and position. Works Cited Butler, Marilyn. Frankenstein and Radical Science. Shelly 302. Byron, Lord. Manfred. Vol. XVIII, Part 6. The Harvard Classics. New York P. F. Collier Son, 1909-14 Bartleby. com, 2001. www. bartleby. com/18/6/. September 26, 2012. Levine, George. Frankenstein and the Tradition of Realism. Shelly 209. Shelly, Mary. Frankenstein or the Modern Prometheus. Ed. Simon Brown. 1818. Warren, Ashley. Association of Young Journalists And Writers. UniversalJournal AYJW. Web. 29 Oct. 2012.