Victor Frankenstein Society Essay - 1926 Words

We are what society makes us. Through Mary Shelley s Frankenstein, the reader is able to see that although we each have free choice, we are the product of the people who surround us: friends, family, teachers and society. This idea is shown through the two main characters of Victor Frankenstein s narrative, himself and the creature. The impact of love, support, and acceptance, or lack thereof, from the people who surround Victor and the creature is illustrated through their reactions, choices, and emotions. Victor is only able to experience happiness in times of depression because of his closest friend, Henry Clerval, and Elizabeth, his companion from a young age. Victor’s professors and his father act as a catalyst for Victor’s choice†¦show more content†¦This illustrates Victor’s knowledge and understanding of Henry’s significance in his life and in whom he has become. Elizabeth, another childhood friend of Victor, serves as a source of consolat ion for Victor in times of depression through her many letters. At a young age, Elizabeth is not only brought into the family to be Victor’s companion, but she is also pressured into taking on a maternal role when Caroline, on her deathbed, tells her, ‘Elizabeth †¦ you must supply my place to your younger cousins’ (Shelley 35). Elizabeth becomes the sole woman of the family, taking on the former duties of Victor’s mother; in a sense, becomes the mother, sister and lover of Victor. When Victor chooses to leave for his studies, she does not request that he stay home and marry her, but rather fulfills her duties in the Frankenstein home and cares for him at a distance. The importance and significance of having the nurture, love, and teachings of a parental figure is shown through Victor and the creature. Early on in the novel, Victor tells Walton that his first memories are of his â€Å"mother’s tender caresses and [his] father’s smile o f benevolent pleasures† (Shelley 27); because Victor’s first recollections are positive ones filled with love and care, he does not develop thoughts of destruction and murder at a young age. Furthermore, it is because of his parents’ teachings that he can receiveShow MoreRelatedFrankenstein by Mary Shelley1093 Words   |  4 PagesShelleys tale Frankenstein. On the other hand, J. Michael Bishops, essay Enemies of Promise   on the other hand promotes and boast sciences achievements. However, Mary Shelley presents her point of view subtly yet very dramatically, which is much more effective than that of J. Michael Bishop. The dramatic story Shelley creates becomes a part of the reader, therefore holding the readers attention. Shelleys essay is less concrete therefore wont bore the reader. Shelleys essay is also more effectiveRead MoreFrankenstein as a Gothic Novel Essay1332 Words   |  6 PagesTragic wanderers, ominous atmosphere, symbolism, and themes: these are elements of a Gothic novel. Though Mary Shelleys Frankenstein, written in the early 19th century, certainly contains many components of a Gothic novel, can it be correctly grouped under that genre? A definition of a Gothic novel; according to Tracy, is a description of a fallen world. We experience this fallen world though the aspects of a novel: plot, setting, characterization, and theme (De Vore, Domenic, Kwan and Reidy)Read MorePortrayal Of Women In Frankenstein1096 Words   |  5 PagesMary Shelley s Frankenstein is one of the most iconic classic works of fiction from the nineteenth century. Frankenstein tells the tale of Victor Frankenstein’s creation of a living monster. Contrary to popular belief, the monster was not given a name by Frankenstein and is only referred to as â€Å"the monster† throughout the story. While it may seem like a simple, classic horror story on the surface, when analyzed more closely, Frankenstein reveals not only many mythological and religious referencesRead MoreFrankenstein Film Analysis1136 Words   |  5 PagesLiterature Module 11 11/29/2017 Film Analysis Essay Mary Shelley â€Å"Frankenstein† and Kenneth Branagh Film â€Å"Frankenstein† Film adaptations generally differ from the novel on which they are based. Between Frankenstein, a novel by Mary Shelley, and the film adaptation by Kenneth Branagh, there are many differences in detail, however this was done to illuminate major themes of the novel, for example, the dangers of the constant pursuit of science and Victor Frankenstein’s relationships. Nonetheless, thereRead MoreLesbian Honesty: Reading Between the Lines1251 Words   |  5 PagesShelley’s Frankenstein the critical essay â€Å"Lesbian Panic and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein† (â€Å"Lesbian Panic†) by Frann Michel approaches Frankenstein from a gender perspective and applies Adrienne Rich’s lesbian continuum, the â€Å"Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence† where female relationships, mother-daughter/sisters/female friendships which all fall under the umbrella of lesbian relations, to the relationships that are present in Frankenstein. Frann Michel clarifies through her essay that anyRead MoreThe Evil Of The Monster By Mary Shelley s Frankenstein1048 Words   |  5 PagesShelley’s Frankenstein, the monster commits a number of immoral acts out of rage. These actions are directly related to the monsters creation and upbringing. The burden of fault for the monsters actions rests on Victor Frankenstein’s shoulders alone. The lack of attention Frankenstein contributed towards the monster, and his life teaching, is directly correlated with the actions the creature made throughout his existence. Although the creature physically caused the murders, Victor Frankenstein instigatedRead MoreAnalysis Of Mary Shelley s Frankenstein 1343 Words   |  6 PagesThe following essay is a book review of Frankenstein, which summarizes and evaluates the story. The purpose of this essay is to describe the two important qualities, which are the overview of the plot (including the characters of the book), and the book’s strengths as well as weaknesses. Frankenstein was written by Mary Shelley and is about a young man named Victor who creates his own human through multiple types of science. The novel is about the monster’s journey in understanding where he cameRead MoreFeminine Influence Of Mary Shelley s Frankenstein1629 Words   |  7 PagesFeminine Influence Found in Frankenstein According to Johanna M. Smith’s essay on the feminist perspectives found in Mary Shelley’s, Frankenstein, â€Å"the private virtues inculcated in the home by the domestic affections cannot arm men against the public sphere unless they emulate these feminine and domestic qualities† (Smith, 314). Even though the women in Frankenstein were not the main characters of her book, Shelley does indeed show throughout her novel that women play an important role in theRead MoreFrankenstein And The Psychologic And Moralistic Effects Of Community1521 Words   |  7 PagesFrankenstein and the Psychologic and Moralistic Effects of Community Dense, ominous storm cloud fill the night sky over the stone walls of a castle. Within the keep, a mad scientist goes to work with his instruments of horror. In his consuming madness, he hacks together decaying body parts on a grungy steel table. Grabbing rusted chains, the scientists hoists his creation to the sky. A tendril of lighting engulfs the elevated figure, stirring life inside it as its creator watches with psychotic screamsRead MoreRousseau s Views On Inequality And Origin Of Languages1513 Words   |  7 PagesRousseau philosophies are present in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Rousseau’s essay Discourse on Inequality and Origin of Languages can be directly correlated with the development of the creature in Frankenstein. While it is clear that Rousseau’s philosophies follow the transformation of the creature I sparked more of an interest in the philosophies of John Locke and connecting his philosophies with the transformation of the creature. John Lockeà ¢â‚¬â„¢s Essay Concerning Human Understanding is also clear and