Frankenstein and Humanity
Monstrous Humanity
The character of Frankenstein has evolved in today’s pop culture to be a giant, green monster that chills the bones of children. Children recognize his zombie-like walk with his arms reaching out as well as the bolts in his neck. They think he grunts and groans to communicate. Nonetheless, these assumptions of the authentic Frankenstein are mistaken. His differences from humanity are diminutive once analyzed. The being Victor Frankenstein created possesses civilized characteristics and actions. The monster is a male who learns to talk, read, interact, and survive in an unfamiliar world by himself. In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Victor’s creation is often referred to as “the monster,” however after analyzing the being deeper than his appearance, the creature is indeed human. This being develops intellectually, emotionally and morally, which should allow him to be considered more than a monstrous species.
The basic definition of humanity is under scrutiny when labeling this being as human. In this novel, society labels the being as a monster after they have rejected him from their kind due to his appearance. However, one may not judge a book by its cover. The definition of humanity is, in fact, greater than appearance and deeper than judgments. Humanity is “language, reason, intellect and moral conscience” (Ingold 14). Humanity is what differs our species from any other type of life. Human nature has this adaptation due to our “dramatic increase in brain-size” (Ingold 61). This adaptation has allowed us to evolve differently from animals. Humanity has “broad characteristics” (Ingold 564) and many different aspects that it can be analyzed upon.
One aspect of a stable human being is their relationships. The being’s only connection to humanity is Victor who abandons him. With that said, the being lacks the ability to appropriately interact with others. In addition, he reaches an antithesis; society rejects interaction with the
The character of Frankenstein has evolved in today’s pop culture to be a giant, green monster that chills the bones of children. Children recognize his zombie-like walk with his arms reaching out as well as the bolts in his neck. They think he grunts and groans to communicate. Nonetheless, these assumptions of the authentic Frankenstein are mistaken. His differences from humanity are diminutive once analyzed. The being Victor Frankenstein created possesses civilized characteristics and actions. The monster is a male who learns to talk, read, interact, and survive in an unfamiliar world by himself. In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Victor’s creation is often referred to as “the monster,” however after analyzing the being deeper than his appearance, the creature is indeed human. This being develops intellectually, emotionally and morally, which should allow him to be considered more than a monstrous species.
The basic definition of humanity is under scrutiny when labeling this being as human. In this novel, society labels the being as a monster after they have rejected him from their kind due to his appearance. However, one may not judge a book by its cover. The definition of humanity is, in fact, greater than appearance and deeper than judgments. Humanity is “language, reason, intellect and moral conscience” (Ingold 14). Humanity is what differs our species from any other type of life. Human nature has this adaptation due to our “dramatic increase in brain-size” (Ingold 61). This adaptation has allowed us to evolve differently from animals. Humanity has “broad characteristics” (Ingold 564) and many different aspects that it can be analyzed upon.
One aspect of a stable human being is their relationships. The being’s only connection to humanity is Victor who abandons him. With that said, the being lacks the ability to appropriately interact with others. In addition, he reaches an antithesis; society rejects interaction with the
Cited: Brooks, Peter. What Is a Monster?(According to Frankenstein). Body Work. Harvard University Press, 1993 Haggerty, George E. Frankenstein and the Unnameable. Gothic Fiction| Gothic Form. Pennsylvania State University Press, 1989 Ingold, Tim. Companion Encyclopedia of Anthropology. New York: Taylor & Francis, 1994. Print. Loveridge, Mark. Another Monster in Frankenstein? Notes and Queries. 1990. Web. 10 Apr. 2012. Mellor, Anne K. Making a Monster. Mary Shelley: Her Life, Her Fiction, Her Monsters. Methuen, 1988 Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. New York: Kaplan, 2011.