Biblical Allusions In Frankenstein
Hannah Oates
39665138
English 224
Margery Fee
October 20, 2014
Frankenstein- God, Creator, and Adam
In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein attempts to take on the role as God by fabricating a monster in his laboratory. Throughout the story there are many religious references and biblical allusions, particularly the theme of the outcast and the story of creation. In this essay I will examine Victor’s character traits to show how he is seen as a Godly figure. I will also look at how the creature is portrayed as the biblical figure of Adam.
In Frankenstein, readers see problems that can arise when mankind tries to be a godly figure. Victor Frankenstein’s creation of his monster puts him at a parallel to God when he creates a …show more content…
Through observing a family, he began to learn the way of the humans. The creature truly saw the horrors of humanity when he was brutally attacked and had a gun fired at him. Here, all of creature’s feelings of kindness and compassion were refueled with a confused rage, much like when Adam ate from the Tree of Knowledge. “Like Adam I was created apparently by no link to any other being in existence” (143). Upon realizing he was alone in the world, creature asked Victor to create a female companion for him, just as Adam asked of God. Another quote taken from the book, “I ought to be thy Adam; but I am rather the fallen angel” (108) provides an example of how the creature compares himself to Adam. He thinks ill of Victor for abandoning him in a world that is hostile towards him because of his looks, and like Adam believes that his creator shuns him. The creature feels bitter and rejected after being turned away from human civilization, much like Adam felt when he was turned out of the Garden of Eden. However, the creature is more of a sympathetic character than Adam, because Adam caused his fate with his own sins, whereas Victor is at fault for creature’s hideous looks, which is the reason he is spurned. Nonetheless, both the creature and Adam crave the acceptance of their creators. Overall, it is evident that many can compare the creature to the biblical figure of Adam. Both were made in the image of their creators, and were cast into the world just to be excommunicated and not
39665138
English 224
Margery Fee
October 20, 2014
Frankenstein- God, Creator, and Adam
In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein attempts to take on the role as God by fabricating a monster in his laboratory. Throughout the story there are many religious references and biblical allusions, particularly the theme of the outcast and the story of creation. In this essay I will examine Victor’s character traits to show how he is seen as a Godly figure. I will also look at how the creature is portrayed as the biblical figure of Adam.
In Frankenstein, readers see problems that can arise when mankind tries to be a godly figure. Victor Frankenstein’s creation of his monster puts him at a parallel to God when he creates a …show more content…
Through observing a family, he began to learn the way of the humans. The creature truly saw the horrors of humanity when he was brutally attacked and had a gun fired at him. Here, all of creature’s feelings of kindness and compassion were refueled with a confused rage, much like when Adam ate from the Tree of Knowledge. “Like Adam I was created apparently by no link to any other being in existence” (143). Upon realizing he was alone in the world, creature asked Victor to create a female companion for him, just as Adam asked of God. Another quote taken from the book, “I ought to be thy Adam; but I am rather the fallen angel” (108) provides an example of how the creature compares himself to Adam. He thinks ill of Victor for abandoning him in a world that is hostile towards him because of his looks, and like Adam believes that his creator shuns him. The creature feels bitter and rejected after being turned away from human civilization, much like Adam felt when he was turned out of the Garden of Eden. However, the creature is more of a sympathetic character than Adam, because Adam caused his fate with his own sins, whereas Victor is at fault for creature’s hideous looks, which is the reason he is spurned. Nonetheless, both the creature and Adam crave the acceptance of their creators. Overall, it is evident that many can compare the creature to the biblical figure of Adam. Both were made in the image of their creators, and were cast into the world just to be excommunicated and not