Frankenstein Identity Essay

He was rejected and he wasn’t loved like Adam was, so he thought himself to be more like Satan. Like him, Satan was cast out and rejected for being who he was. One last allusion that Shelley uses to show the creature’s relationship with Frankenstein is the allusion of Frankenstein to God. Frankenstein is like God because he creates the creature like God created Adam. In this case, the creature would be like Adam, but the situation is different.

In Frankenstein, Mary Shelley, explores the concept of humanity through distinguishing it from that of a demonic nature. This is done through a constant doubling between her two superficially opposing characters throughout the novel. Through the thematic use of nature, knowledge, wretchedness, and vengeance, sometimes as direct comparisons other times as striking contrasts, Shelley blurs the lines between human and demon within her own characters.

This effect is sharpened when the monster reminds Frankenstein that he has “no Eve [to soothe his] sorrows,” like Adam did (Shelley 93). Adam was not truly alone, but the monster was. In contrast to his earlier remarks, the monster later compares himself to Satan. In doing this, he puts the onus of his own actions onto Frankenstein by saying that the monster should’ve been his “Adam, but [is] rather his fallen angel,” (Shelley 69). Using this biblical contrast of God’s first creation and Satan, Shelley suggests that it is Frankenstein’s fault that the creation turned into a monster.

The “monster” can be evil, but also compassionate. Throughout Mary Shelley’s novel, there are many references to politics, symbols, and the struggles of her personal life. In Frankenstein there is a connection to Enlightenment and the Reign of terror. Later in the story of Frankenstein he stole fire from Mount Olympus and gave it to the humans against the will of Zeus.

He says, “I should be your Adam, but instead I am the fallen angel” (Shelley 87). The figurative language used in the quote "I should be your Adam, but instead I am the fallen angel" is a metaphor. Frankenstein calls himself the fallen angel because the fallen angel refers to Satan. The creator, Victor, refers to God, and the creature is the fallen angel. In the Bible, Satan was important to God but became the fallen angel.

Shelley uses the structure of the novel to explore human nature, clouding the reader’s perceptions of good and evil, right and wrong, man and monster. By creating multiple unreliable narrators, she establishes that nothing is certain, positioning the readers to question their own ideas about who is really in the wrong throughout the novel. Frankenstein and the creature are seen as opposites on a scale of good and evil, master and slave, god and devil, however these positions change throughout the novel. Frankenstein wants the readers to see the creature as a monster, but through the characters narratives and reflections, we see that Frankenstein did not actually create a monster. Frankenstein made a man and turned him into a monster, and the

In past and present, society has always put an emphasis on external appearance as opposed to inner personality. As a result, social classes are formed, such as upper and lower, wherein members of each class must uphold the norms defined by the prestige of the class. Upper classes are deemed to be perfect, as they contain the wealthy and the beautiful. This class distinction is heightened in Gothic literature where emotions and the persona of the characters are externalized. Emotions are literalized as characters, supernatural phenomena, and the protagonist and antagonist roles.

Frankenstein has changed many times over the years to now be known as a happy green man named Frankenstein with two bolts sticking out of his head. If you mention Frankenstein to a random person they will think of the monster even though it is the last name of the creator, but just like the original fairy tales has a very dark origin. Mary Shelley creates a feeling of emptiness, sorrow, and sadness using setting, major plot points, and characterization. She achieves this through death, emotion and multiple uses out symbolism throughout the novel to be more specific. This novel follows a young man named Victor who tries to play god and him and his family pay for the consequences.

In Mary Shelley’s novel, “Frankenstein,” we are introduced to the main characters of the story who are Victor Frankenstein and his creation. Victor’s creation is not only seen as a creature but would be referred to by many as the story’s monster. Although many would assume that the “thing” that had been created by a human is clearly the monster in the story, many would be surprised to find out that the real monster is not what had been put together from the parts of corpses. In this novel, our understanding of what a monster truly is, is being challenged because the novel introduces us to a different perspective of what truly defines a monster. The novel’s take on what makes a monster causes us to think differently about what defines a monster which is what leads to our realization that the real monster in the story was Victor Frankenstein while his creature was the more human being of the two although his appearance was like that of a monster and Frankenstein was a human.

Mary Shelley’s, Frankenstein, symbolized a person’s necessity for acceptance by society. Society labels everything as good or bad, right or wrong, rich or poor. Although some of these labels may be correct, many are misconceptions. The monster, needed to be accepted by society, but instead was scorned, attacked, and shunned because of his outward appearance. The treatment of the monster was on the assumption that he was actually a monster. The only justification of this treatment was his outward appearance.

In Mary Shelley´s Gothic novel, Frankenstein, the Monster once claimed, “The fallen angel becomes a malignant devil. Yet even that enemy of God and man had friends and associates in his desolation; I am alone.” Frankenstein, since the 1910 film adaptation, has known a series of several adaptations that changed drastically, not only the plot but one of the main characters, the Monster, from stealing its creator´s name to being portrayed as a cold villain. Though, in the original storyline, the biggest threat to society is the creator itself, the one pretending to play as God, Victor Frankenstein. This essay will discuss the nature of the main characters of the novel and conclude who is the “real monster” in the end.

Gabriela Villarreal Professor Ghaffari English 103 March 5, 2015 Title: In Frankenstein, Mary Shelley alludes to Milton’s Paradise Lost which emphasizes the struggle of identity recognition. The creature connects with the characters of Milton’s Paradise Lost, specifically with Adam and Satan; however, struggles to find the purpose of his existence. The conflict of identity demonstrates the frailty of seeking scientific ambition which causes despair and deception.

R NAME:__________________ Section #:_____________________ 1.) What would you say the film claims as one central issue about human identity? I would say that the film claims that a central issue with human identity is the ability to use one’s emotions and sexuality to reach a goal. Nathan’s final test to prove if his artificial intelligence could pass as a human is to see whether or not she could trick Caleb into letting her out, and in the end she does exactly that, but she does so by killing Nathan and leaving Caleb to die. I would say that the film is questioning whether or not this idea of escape is the true test of consciousness.

Her circumstance has permanently change her worldview and her identity. Also in Frankenstein, Frankenstein’s unnamed monster could have been good but for his treatment by the world around him. When the monster is learning from his family, he wants to be good, and dreams of happiness--however, when the family rejects him, his innocence is lost, and he is turned to vengeance in violence. Juxtaposition of the previously sepia panels against new, dark panels indicate the change in his worldview, and the fire, a symbol for his violence, is a metaphor for his chosen light in this dark time. His identity has been forced to change given his circumstance.

Who is the real monster?” acts as the dominant question throughout the novel “Frankenstein” written by Mary Shelly as the reader explores the protagonist Victor Frankenstein and his nameless creation. As the novel progresses, the reader notices how the relationship between the two characters goes far beyond a neglectful creature and resentful creation, for the two influence the thoughts, actions and emotions of each other. Furthermore, the creature’s physical appearance acts as his purpose throughout the novel as well as a mirror of Victor Frankenstein’s true identity. Additionally, the creature’s lack of identity begins to initiate Frankenstein’s shame towards his own identity, revealing the flawed character of Frankenstein and determining the resolution to the question “Who is the true monster? Who is the true catalyst of destruction?” During the novel, the reader is able to identify the creature as the most effective foil for Victor Frankenstein because the creature causes: Frankenstein to view the action of the creature as his own work, the shift between pride and shame in Frankenstein, and his physical appearance demonstrates his purpose to reveal the true character of Victor Frankenstein.