Comparing Victor And The Monster In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
As ironic as it seems, and for the many differences shown between Victor and the Monster in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, there are also various similarities between these two characters. The way they want to learn, they way they used to love but now hate the world, and the great sense of remorse they feel at the end. Both, Victor and the Monster, had a great desire for learning. For Victor it was more about studying and becoming fully educated in the sciences. As for the monster however: he was more interested in learning about human life, “but how was this possible when [the monster] did not even understand the sounds for which they stood as signs?” (p. 98) He learned to speak from listening and learning from humans talk. For Victor “natural philosophy, and particularly chemistry… became nearly his sole occupation.” They are both extremely fast learners and were able to learn the things they studied very quickly.
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Victor’s hatred and isolation from the rest of the world is very similar to that of the monster he had created.
Near the beginning of the book however, they both loved the world. “I was so guided by a silken cord that all seemed but one train of enjoyment to me.” (p. 19) stated Victor shortly after the book begins. Early in life, the Monster also had a love for everything that surrounded him. “Soon a gentle light stole over the heavens and gave me a sensation of pleasure.” (p. 88) The monster felt love for everything around him (even the moon on his first night of consciousness). After a while, both of the characters started to hate everything. “[The Monster’s] feelings were those of rage and revenge.” (p.121) after being rejected from society. “A weight of remorse crept up in [Victor’s] heart” (p. 74) “[He] shunned the face of
man. All
sound of joy or complacency was torture.” (p. 74). This inner turmoil was caused by feeling as if everything the monster did was his fault. Both Victor Frankenstein and his monster feel remorse for what they had done. “Polluted by crimes and torn by the bitterest remorse, where can [Victor] find rest but in death?” (p. 205) cried the monster. At that point he had become very humane and realized exactly what he has done in killing Victor’s loved ones. Victor felt the same sorrow and remorse as well. “Remorse extinguished every hope… and [Victor] ardently wished to extinguish the life [Victor] so thoughtlessly bestowed.” (p. 7576) He thought that everything that the monster had done, was completely his fault, just because he had brought the monster to life. They both had a great desire to learn, a hated of the world around them, and felt great remorse for their wrongdoings. Mary Shelley did a great job showing how both characters become more and more similar by the end of the novel.
Victor’s hatred and isolation from the rest of the world is very similar to that of the monster he had created.
Near the beginning of the book however, they both loved the world. “I was so guided by a silken cord that all seemed but one train of enjoyment to me.” (p. 19) stated Victor shortly after the book begins. Early in life, the Monster also had a love for everything that surrounded him. “Soon a gentle light stole over the heavens and gave me a sensation of pleasure.” (p. 88) The monster felt love for everything around him (even the moon on his first night of consciousness). After a while, both of the characters started to hate everything. “[The Monster’s] feelings were those of rage and revenge.” (p.121) after being rejected from society. “A weight of remorse crept up in [Victor’s] heart” (p. 74) “[He] shunned the face of
man. All
sound of joy or complacency was torture.” (p. 74). This inner turmoil was caused by feeling as if everything the monster did was his fault. Both Victor Frankenstein and his monster feel remorse for what they had done. “Polluted by crimes and torn by the bitterest remorse, where can [Victor] find rest but in death?” (p. 205) cried the monster. At that point he had become very humane and realized exactly what he has done in killing Victor’s loved ones. Victor felt the same sorrow and remorse as well. “Remorse extinguished every hope… and [Victor] ardently wished to extinguish the life [Victor] so thoughtlessly bestowed.” (p. 7576) He thought that everything that the monster had done, was completely his fault, just because he had brought the monster to life. They both had a great desire to learn, a hated of the world around them, and felt great remorse for their wrongdoings. Mary Shelley did a great job showing how both characters become more and more similar by the end of the novel.