Flawed Perception In Frankenstein

FRANKENSTEIN Perception in society has a huge effect on the way people treat one another. In most cases, that perception is usually flawed. It is greatly affected by looks, height, weight, and other physical traits. An example would be a student categorizing his teacher as strict and aggressive because of his height or because of the tone of his voice. Also an overweight person is usually classified as a non athletic individual. Flawed perception had an enormous effect on the monster’s behaviour throughout his experience as a living being. Many examples of flawed perception are evident in Mary Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein. Stereotypes and fear are examples of flawed perception. The consequence of those flawed perceptions can be seen through
In the case of the monster, everyone that came in contact with him including his creator categorized him as being a danger to society just because of his monstrous appearance. “Monster! Ugly wretch! You wish to eat me and tear me to pieces. You are an ogre. Let me go, or I will tell my papa” (Shelley 131). This quotation is an example of physical judgement. The monster was clearly trying to befriend the child. He had absolutely no intention of hurting him. However, due to his enormous size, his ugliness and his bizarre voice, the little boy placed his hands before his eyes and uttered a shrill scream. The monster’s size is intimidating and unusual. He is taller and bigger than most humans. This feature is frightening to the majority, including the boy. In consequence, the monster is instantly categorized as evil and dangerous. In other words, he is perceived as being a threat to humanity. Also, the fiend’s ugliness and deformity adds to his negative and noticeable features. It builds a repulsive force between him and the others which causes him to be rejected by everyone around him. Furthermore, those negative characteristics
If such a horrible situation should occur, not only would his own creator suffer but all of mankind as well. He was also fearful that she as well might turn with disgust from him to the superior beauty of man. If she might leave him, he will once again remain unaccompanied and exasperated by the fresh provocation of being deserted by one of his own species. Another example of fear would be the time when the monster rescued the little girl from the streaming water. As everyone would imagine, there should be a positive outcome of such nice gesture. However, this did not occur. As soon as the person whom the little girl was playing with saw the monster, he immediately darted towards him, took the girl from his arms, fled into the woods, took a gun and fired it at him. The man immediately feared the monster as soon as he saw him. His conscious mind instantly controlled him and ordered him to act violently. The person did not stop and think. He did not appreciate the monster’s bravery and daring act. The monster felt at this point hatred towards mankind. If his nice gesture did not build a connection between him and the humans, nothing would. Fear is installed in all of us. Different people fear different things. For example some are scared of heights and several can be terrified of scary movies. Once humans fear something, they lose