Comparing Frankenstein 'And The Creature'
Frankenstein Essay 2012
The Romantic era took place throughout the 19th century and held the belief that men demonstrate innate goodness, but civilization later corrupts them. Even in today’s society, many political figures, authors, celebrities, and athletes reinforce the Romantic idea of the natural goodness of man and the corruption of man by civilization as they initially exhibit pure values that succumb to the temptations civilization provides. Literature also reflects the belief of the innate goodness of man and the corruption of man by society. For example, Mary Shelley, entails these Romantic beliefs in her novel Frankenstein, in which both Victor Frankenstein and the Creature are born innately good but society later corrupts them. Victor’s, …show more content…
Through the juxtaposition of Victor’s initial innate goodness and his later evil attempts to gain power from science, Shelley demonstrates the Romantic notion that individuals are born naturally good and later change. As Victor embarks on his endeavor to become a successful scientist, he demonstrates unadulterated intentions void of selfish desires while studying at the university, as he states, “Wealth [is] an inferior object…I could banish disease from the human frame and render man invulnerable” (Shelley 29). Here, Shelley exemplifies Victor’s pure intentions in that he aims to “banish disease” rather than succumbing to the desires of “wealth.” However, society taints Victor’s honest intentions through exposing him to the temptations of power, causing him to defy nature in an attempt to gain recognition. For example upon meeting Victor, Professor Waldman tells Victor, “Scientists [acquire] new and almost unlimited powers; they can command the thunders of heaven, mimic the earthquake, and even mock the invisible world” (Shelley 36). Through exposing Victor to the tantalization of “unlimited powers” the professor
The Romantic era took place throughout the 19th century and held the belief that men demonstrate innate goodness, but civilization later corrupts them. Even in today’s society, many political figures, authors, celebrities, and athletes reinforce the Romantic idea of the natural goodness of man and the corruption of man by civilization as they initially exhibit pure values that succumb to the temptations civilization provides. Literature also reflects the belief of the innate goodness of man and the corruption of man by society. For example, Mary Shelley, entails these Romantic beliefs in her novel Frankenstein, in which both Victor Frankenstein and the Creature are born innately good but society later corrupts them. Victor’s, …show more content…
Through the juxtaposition of Victor’s initial innate goodness and his later evil attempts to gain power from science, Shelley demonstrates the Romantic notion that individuals are born naturally good and later change. As Victor embarks on his endeavor to become a successful scientist, he demonstrates unadulterated intentions void of selfish desires while studying at the university, as he states, “Wealth [is] an inferior object…I could banish disease from the human frame and render man invulnerable” (Shelley 29). Here, Shelley exemplifies Victor’s pure intentions in that he aims to “banish disease” rather than succumbing to the desires of “wealth.” However, society taints Victor’s honest intentions through exposing him to the temptations of power, causing him to defy nature in an attempt to gain recognition. For example upon meeting Victor, Professor Waldman tells Victor, “Scientists [acquire] new and almost unlimited powers; they can command the thunders of heaven, mimic the earthquake, and even mock the invisible world” (Shelley 36). Through exposing Victor to the tantalization of “unlimited powers” the professor