Monstrosity In Frankenstein Essay
In Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus, Shelley compares monstrosity and humanity in a unique way by narrating part of the story from the monster’s point of view. The passage where the monster relates himself to Adam and Satan occurs in Volume II, after he has read several books including Paradise Lost (Shelley 90). The monologue of the monster plays a significant role in the text since it unfolds the inner world of the monster to the reader, while revealing the similarity between Victor Frankenstein and his creature; more importantly, Shelley convinces the reader that there is no actual distinction between monsters and humans as the passage focuses more on the monster’s emotions instead of his physical characteristics.
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In Shelley’s novel, the monster speaks English fluently and correctly like a normal person does, seeks knowledge by reading masterpieces like a studious person does, and intends to act benevolently toward his neighbours like a kind person does. Nevertheless, almost every villager regards the monster as a hideous existence based on his external characteristics and only one blind man, De Lacey, is willing to have a conversation with him (Shelley 93). It is acceptable to suggest that the monster somehow represents another form of human being as the monster mentions in the text that he is just “a filthy type of [Victor]” but “more horrid from its very resemblance” (Shelley 91). In fact, the minority of individuals who are outwardly unattractive are unwelcome even in nowadays society due to prejudice as one of the most critical flaws that mankind has; people tend to judge others by their appearance at first. On the contrary, can’t humans turn into monsters? There is no doubt that both Victor and Walton are deeply ambitious about their journeys to the peak of scientific researches and the blinding ambitions they have eventually led themselves to failure and tragedy. Bringing the monster to life, Victor assumes himself as divine as a god but he neglects the responsibilities he has to fulfill as a creator, therefore ending up the root of the catastrophe. As for Walton, his dream of glory nearly causes the death of himself as well as his
In Shelley’s novel, the monster speaks English fluently and correctly like a normal person does, seeks knowledge by reading masterpieces like a studious person does, and intends to act benevolently toward his neighbours like a kind person does. Nevertheless, almost every villager regards the monster as a hideous existence based on his external characteristics and only one blind man, De Lacey, is willing to have a conversation with him (Shelley 93). It is acceptable to suggest that the monster somehow represents another form of human being as the monster mentions in the text that he is just “a filthy type of [Victor]” but “more horrid from its very resemblance” (Shelley 91). In fact, the minority of individuals who are outwardly unattractive are unwelcome even in nowadays society due to prejudice as one of the most critical flaws that mankind has; people tend to judge others by their appearance at first. On the contrary, can’t humans turn into monsters? There is no doubt that both Victor and Walton are deeply ambitious about their journeys to the peak of scientific researches and the blinding ambitions they have eventually led themselves to failure and tragedy. Bringing the monster to life, Victor assumes himself as divine as a god but he neglects the responsibilities he has to fulfill as a creator, therefore ending up the root of the catastrophe. As for Walton, his dream of glory nearly causes the death of himself as well as his