Cource:M.A English
Semester:2
Batch:2016-2018
Roll No:11
Submitted to:Department of english
M.K.Bhavangar
Univercity
Email id:kavitamehta164@gmail.com
Paper no:5 The Romantic Literature
Topic:Trace the similarity between
Victor and Monster
My assignment
Introduction
Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus is a novel written by English author Marry shally that tells the story of Victor
Frainkainstine, a young scientist who creates a grotesque but sapient Creature in an unorthodox scientific experiment. Shelley started
writing the story when she was 18, and the first edition of the novel was
published anonymously in London in 1818, when she was 20. Her name first
appeared on the second edition, published in France in 1823.
Frankenstein is infused with elements of the Gothic novel and the Romantic movement. At the same time,
it is an early example of science fiction. Brian Aldiss has argued that it should be considered the
first true science fiction story because, in contrast to previous stories with
fantastical elements resembling those of later science fiction, the central
character "makes a deliberate decision" and "turns to modern
experiments in the laboratory" to achieve fantastic results. It has had a considerable influence in
literature and popular culture and spawned a complete genre of horror stories, films and plays.
The similarity between Victor and Monster:
One way that Victor and the monster are alike is that Victor creates the monster like himself. Victor does not plan to create the monster like himself, but the monster becomes very much like Victor.
“God, in pity, made man beautiful and alluring, after his own image; but my form is a filthy type of yours, more horrid even from the very resemblance” .The monster does not resemble Victor physically; instead, they share the same personalities. For example, Victor and the monster are both loving beings. Both of them want to help others and want what is best for others. Victor and the monster try to help the people that surround them. Victor tries to console his family at their losses, and the monster assists the people living in the cottage by performing helpful tasks. However, Victor and the monster do not reflect loving people. The evil that evolves in Victor’s heart is also present in the monster.
The evil that is present in Victor and the monster is another example of similarity between the characters. This evil in both characters is caused, although not directly with Victor, by society. The monster tries to be accepted by society. He shows kindness toward society and he tries to help people. However, he is immediately rejected by society because of his ugly physical appearance. The evil and the anger present in the monster comes when the monster presents himself as a friend to a family that he has secretly helped. Instead of accepting the monster as one of their own, the family immediately sees the ugly form of the monster and rejects him.
The similarities between the two
tragic characters are driven by thaeir dreary isolation from the secluded world
.Which refuses to accept thoes who are different in to society,by hatred and
most importantly by the absence of motherly figures in both victor and the
monster’s lives.As Victor had stated,”I seemed to have lost all soul or
sensation but for this one pursuit.” As he describe that he lost all touch with
the world due to his work ,perhaps even the old saying “like Father,like son”
can inevitably describe the flawless regardless of even some of the slight
differences of even some of the slight differences the two may portray,when
comparing their experiences and human like action ,it is clear that their
similarities are undoubtedly poven and reflected upon throughout the novel.
The ironic isolation with the rest
of the world that the two character undergo plays a major role in contributing
to thaeir powerful comparision.Both figures
seems to strongly despise one onther yet strangely enough,they both also
despise themselved for their wrong and disastrous action.The isolation began
with victor’s decision to separate himself from the rest of society when he
become enthralled with his scientific research and experiment .And the same feeling
which made me caused me also to forget those friends who were so many miles
absent and whom I had not seen for so long a time .As for the monster ,he
detaches himself and becomes a frantic outsider when he realizes his appearance
only drives those who he cares for most further away from him.However the
monster’s isolation is based more on appearance rather than his decisions and
work ,for his deformed structure and frightening face are his greatest agonies.
Victor and Monster relationship with nature:
Nature is rampant in the narrative of Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein. It
is, literally, everywhere. However, from the many conclusions that we can
reach as to the need for it in the story, we can certainly agree that
nature serves a protective, nurturing, and curative role in the life of
Victor. This may be because after all, Victor has to reject humanity. He
violated humanity by trying to act like God. Instead, he creates a monster.
Moreover, he has also tampered with nature in such a way that, now, he has
to go back to it, perhaps to redeem himself.
Victor has to reject humanity and favor
something else to make his life make sense. He cannot count on people to bring
him happiness, peace, or company because he knows that everyone around him
is in danger of the monster. Victor's search for nature is basically an
admittance that what he has done no longer allows him to be considered one
with humanity any longer. We could argue that, what Victor does in creating the
monster is so abhorrent, that his want to be almost godlike has taken away his humanity
altogether. Therefore, in order to keep his sanity he must resort to
nature, the world's playground, to try and find himself again.
It is nature, and not the help of his friends or family, that keeps
Victor from, literally, going insane. First, we find him looking for solace in
nature after his brother, William, is killed by the beast and, by default,
the kid's poor governess, Justine, is acused and executed for the murder,
unfairly. This is one of those instances where Victor will start breaking down,
and he will look to nature for his cure.
I remained two days at Lausanne, in
this painful state of mind. I contemplated the lake: the waters were placid;
all around was calm, and the snowy mountains, By degrees the calm and heavenly
scene restored me.
Victor's mentality is so challenged by his
actions, that not even Elizabeth, or his father, or Henry Clerval, can
help him get better. Only nature seems to be able to do the trick
Observe how the clouds
which sometimes obscure, and sometimes rise above the dome of Mont Blanc,
render this scene of beauty still more interesting. Look also at the
innumerable fish that are swimming in the clear waters, where we can
distinguish every pebble that lies at the bottom.How happy and serene all
nature appears
In another example, we find a similar situation after the
monster kills Elizabeth, and Victor is led to near madness. It is nature that
he invokes to reach a less insane place in his heart:What became of me? I know
not; I lost sensation, and chains and darkness were the only objects that
pressed upon me. Sometimes, indeed, I dreamt that I wandered in flowery meadows
and pleasant vales with the friends of my youth.
Therefore, what this leads us to conclude is that Victor has lost his
"spot" in the human race by trying to act like a god, giving life to
inanimate matter. Moreover, in doing this, he has also tampered and
disrespected nature. As a result of his experiment, he loses touch with the
rest of the world, as everyone around him is in danger of the monster. Hence,
the only thing Victor can really do is find himself in nature, which has been
kind to him enough to heal him, and keep him sane. This may be a way for him to
make peace with nature one more time, as if trying to redeem himself with it
again.
Sources:
Enotes ,wikipidia
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