Shelly: Similarities Between Frankenstein And Modern Society
In the book Frankenstein, the author Mary Shelly puts a huge emphasis on looks and approval in Frankenstein's society. In today's society in addition to the society of Frankenstein, people judge one another simply by their appearance. Discrimination is often founded on looks, whether by the color of someone's skin, the clothes that someone wears and even the way a somebody carries him or herself. People make these opinions based on these discriminations. This idea based on appearance determines how people will act towards that person. In Frankenstein, the society of that time is similar to today's society. Today's society is an appearance-based society, and this topic is brought to awareness by the hideous figure of Victor Frankenstein's monster
…show more content…
to a common human being. Every human in society wants to be accepted in society by others, regardless of their physical appearance. Every human wants to be accepted in society for our intellectual and physical capabilities. If someone is not accepted by society, he or she becomes an outcast like the monster in Frankenstein. The monster pursues on his quest to find acceptance immediately after his creation. "Unable to endure the aspect of the being I had created, I rushed out of the room and continued a long time traversing my bedroom chamber, unable to compose my mind to sleep." This quote said by Victor Frankenstein describes that the monster's own creator will not look at him because his appearance is to hideous. Unlike a normal person, the monster was created without family and friends, he has no one. When the monster observes the De Lacy family, it wants to learn the language they speak, because it believes that if it can communicate with the family, he can be accepted into the family. After the monster was rejected, the monster demanded the Frankenstein to create a female copy. The monster wanted someone to be with so it wouldn’t be lonely anymore. Acceptance is still a problem in today's society. Acceptance is a major part in children's lives. It starts in preschool or even before that, when a child starts meeting other children like them. The child want to be accepted and make friends. It determines popularity, also what friends they have. Acceptance will always a major goal of someone's life. Racism is another similarity between both Frankenstein's and todays society. As soon as the monster is created, racism is displayed as Victor looks upon his creation. "His yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles." Victor notices the monsters skin color, which can be inferred that this is the same behavior as racism today. Someone's skin color does not rule how the person thinks, act or their behavior. Ignoring the monster's skin color, people don’t need to judge someone just because of how they look. In Frankenstein's society most people would be afraid of the monster because of the unusual skin color, and because of that uncommon color most people wouldn’t even thing to get to know the monster, because they are to busy judging his looks instead of his intelligence. People need to understand that both the mind and body are different things; and even though racism still appears even today it not as common as it was in the 60's. One of the greatest similarities between Frankenstein's and modern society is the instant judgment based only on appearance.
The creator of the monster, Victor Frankenstein, also passes his view based only on appearance. This hideous creature was thought by many to be an evil, unintelligent being founded upon looks. "I beheld the wretch- the miserable monster whom I created." This quote stated by Frankenstein, commenting on his own creation, believing that this creature was insignificant. Also, the monster's appearance leads many to believe that its behavior is immoral and ruthless. One of the most memorable reactions from the book is the reaction of the old man in the hut. "...perceiving me [the monster] shrieked loudly, and quitting the hut, ran across the fields with a speed of which his debilitated form hardly seemed capable." This judgment was out of fear of his life, almost a reflex to save his life. The monster's frightful appearance created this reaction in many people around him. For example, villagers were throwing rocks and driving the monster away as if it was a worthless piece of society. First impressions are still a great part of society as well as the instant judgment on someone. For example in todays society, someone could be driving around town and see an African-American male in a fancy care, the first thing that he could think of is that this man has stole someone's car.This is an example of a common stereotype.On the inside, everyone has similar beliefs
and views as others regardless of how they look.
There are lots of connections between Frankenstein and today's society. Every person on this world wants to be accepted by others. Additionally, there is still the continuation of racism and prejudice occurring in today's society. Frankenstein has brought much thought about these issues and presented examples about the faults of humankind.
to a common human being. Every human in society wants to be accepted in society by others, regardless of their physical appearance. Every human wants to be accepted in society for our intellectual and physical capabilities. If someone is not accepted by society, he or she becomes an outcast like the monster in Frankenstein. The monster pursues on his quest to find acceptance immediately after his creation. "Unable to endure the aspect of the being I had created, I rushed out of the room and continued a long time traversing my bedroom chamber, unable to compose my mind to sleep." This quote said by Victor Frankenstein describes that the monster's own creator will not look at him because his appearance is to hideous. Unlike a normal person, the monster was created without family and friends, he has no one. When the monster observes the De Lacy family, it wants to learn the language they speak, because it believes that if it can communicate with the family, he can be accepted into the family. After the monster was rejected, the monster demanded the Frankenstein to create a female copy. The monster wanted someone to be with so it wouldn’t be lonely anymore. Acceptance is still a problem in today's society. Acceptance is a major part in children's lives. It starts in preschool or even before that, when a child starts meeting other children like them. The child want to be accepted and make friends. It determines popularity, also what friends they have. Acceptance will always a major goal of someone's life. Racism is another similarity between both Frankenstein's and todays society. As soon as the monster is created, racism is displayed as Victor looks upon his creation. "His yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles." Victor notices the monsters skin color, which can be inferred that this is the same behavior as racism today. Someone's skin color does not rule how the person thinks, act or their behavior. Ignoring the monster's skin color, people don’t need to judge someone just because of how they look. In Frankenstein's society most people would be afraid of the monster because of the unusual skin color, and because of that uncommon color most people wouldn’t even thing to get to know the monster, because they are to busy judging his looks instead of his intelligence. People need to understand that both the mind and body are different things; and even though racism still appears even today it not as common as it was in the 60's. One of the greatest similarities between Frankenstein's and modern society is the instant judgment based only on appearance.
The creator of the monster, Victor Frankenstein, also passes his view based only on appearance. This hideous creature was thought by many to be an evil, unintelligent being founded upon looks. "I beheld the wretch- the miserable monster whom I created." This quote stated by Frankenstein, commenting on his own creation, believing that this creature was insignificant. Also, the monster's appearance leads many to believe that its behavior is immoral and ruthless. One of the most memorable reactions from the book is the reaction of the old man in the hut. "...perceiving me [the monster] shrieked loudly, and quitting the hut, ran across the fields with a speed of which his debilitated form hardly seemed capable." This judgment was out of fear of his life, almost a reflex to save his life. The monster's frightful appearance created this reaction in many people around him. For example, villagers were throwing rocks and driving the monster away as if it was a worthless piece of society. First impressions are still a great part of society as well as the instant judgment on someone. For example in todays society, someone could be driving around town and see an African-American male in a fancy care, the first thing that he could think of is that this man has stole someone's car.This is an example of a common stereotype.On the inside, everyone has similar beliefs
and views as others regardless of how they look.
There are lots of connections between Frankenstein and today's society. Every person on this world wants to be accepted by others. Additionally, there is still the continuation of racism and prejudice occurring in today's society. Frankenstein has brought much thought about these issues and presented examples about the faults of humankind.