Identity In Frankenstein

The creature began to converse freely with the blind father who addressed him with kindness. However, when his two children returned, the daughter fainted and the son "dashed me to the ground and struck me violently with a stick" forcing the creature to "quit the cottage and escape unperceived to my hovel" (115). These acts of cruelty emphasize how often humanity stereotypes individuals. Just because a creature looks monstrous does not mean his intentions match his appearance. After this heartbreaking event, the monster decides to stop seeking love and instead to seek revenge against his creator and attempt to force Victor to create a companion for him. The creature attempts to explain his cruel ways when he exclaims, "There was none among the myriads of men that existed who would pity or assist me; and should I feel kindness towards my

Throughout the book observations can be made of the creature's feelings of how they develop such as emotional feelings like misery clearly stated by him "How can I move thee"? I was benevolent; my soul glowed with love and humanity: but I am I not alone, miserably alone?"

Victor’s initial opinion of his creature’s outlook is horrified and disappointed, although he succeeds in his destination to create a living being from inanimate pieces. The disappointment is not only irrational, but also the spiritual damage left a permanent scar on his mind. Later on, the creature goes into a cottage, De Lacey is the only person who didn’t judge the creature’s monstrous outlook but he is blind. However, when the children see the creature, they “dashed him to the ground and struck him violently with a stick.”(124), and also Victor’s younger brother William also evaluates the creature as a “monster”, “ Ugly wretch”, and “Ogre”. (131). The children and William both classify the creature as a disgusting monster, and they treat him violently and differently because of his ugly physical features. Even though the creature was hateful and labeled prematurely as a monster and killer, he sees the goodness of the human heart and desires to learn more about the human race and their language. The creature fluids with pure soul since he does not attempt to hurt and harm anyone. However, people don’t accept him at all which it also criticizes the idea that beauty that

Who am I? What defines a person or an object? What is an identity? Merriam-Webster defines identity as "a distinguishing character or personality of an individual" ("Identity"). Nationality, family, gender, socioeconomic level, accomplishments, downfalls, personality, and physical appearance are qualities that characterize Americans. When each of these characteristics are viewed together, a unique individual is formed. However, in Mary Shelly's Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein's creation is not identified by all of these characteristics. He is not defined by many of them because they do not exist in his life. The domestic void in the creature’s life creates a barrier between him and the rest of civilization. Victor’s creation

When the creature was first created he was unable to defy who he was, but when you are born, you are born neutral. You learn right and wrong from your guardian. The creature never had any guidance because his own father disowned him. Even after that the creature tried to stick with being a nice fellow, but people were just disgusted with him and thought he was a cruel creature because of his appearance. “He turned on hearing a noise, and perceiving me, shriekeed loudly, and quitting the hut, ran across the fields with a speed of which is debilitated form hardly appeared capable” (90). The creature tried to get over this world of pain by intriguing himself with a small family. The creature decided to help the family out by lending an invisible hand.”When I returned, as often as it was necessary, I cleared their path from the snow and preformed those offices that I had seen done by Felix” (99). Unfortunately the DeLacey family did not respond so nicely to the creature after all he had done for them after the creature exposed himself to the family.”Who can describe their horror and consternation on beholding me? Agatha fainted, and Safie, unable to attend to her friend, rushed out of the cottage. Felix darted forward, and with supernatural force tore me from his father, to whose knees I clung; in a transport of fury, he dashed me to the ground and struck me violently with a stick” (119). The one thing that pushed the creature over was when he tried to save a girl from drowning.”This was the reward of my benevolence! I had saved a human being from destruction, and as a recompense I now writhed under the miserable pain of a wound which shattered the flesh and bone” (126) . The creature just wanted to help, but instead of a thank-you, he got

    Sometimes, in novels like Frankenstein, the motives of the author are unclear.  It is clear however, that one of the many themes Mary Shelley presents is the humanity of Victor Frankenstein's creation.  Although she presents evidence in both support and opposition to the creation's humanity, it is apparent that this being is indeed human.  His humanity is not only witnessed in his physical being, but in his intellectual and emotional thoughts as well.  His humanity is argued by the fact that being human does not mean coming from a specific genetic chain and having family to relate to, but to embrace many of the distinct traits that set humans apart from other animals in this

His curiosity for social interaction is energetic and capable as he educated himself through a family living in the woods and reading books he stole from his creator. With the creature’s intention to interact, it is interrupted; visually, the creature is unappealing and treated in a manner that is not kind. The creature explains in one of his experiences of interaction that he will never have the ability to be understood about his looks, "As I fixed my eyes on the child, I saw something glittering on his breast. I took it; it was a portrait of a most lovely woman. In spite of my malignity, it softened and attracted me. For a few moments I gazed with delight on her dark eyes, fringed by deep lashes, and her lovely lips; but presently my rage returned; I remembered that I was forever deprived of the delights that such beautiful creatures could bestow and that she whose resemblance I contemplated would, in regarding me, have changed that air of divine benignity to one expressive of disgust and affright” (16.32). The creature was drawn to the eyes of the woman but became conscious of the idea that he cannot belong in a world where people look at him in disgust and fear. This effect on the creature creates an image in his mind that life will never change for him and that people won’t change either. Another example representing the results of his interaction with others is the family

When the Creature first started living near the De Lacey’s, he was innately good and humble. He believed that they were greater than him and could not understand why anybody would look as sad as the De Lacey’s seemed. All he wanted to do was make life better for them,

Frankenstein; the controversial, yet wildly successful, novel written by Mary Shelley has had numerous publications and film produced revolving around the infamous Doctor Frankenstein, the name which is often incorrectly used to refer to his monster. The film Frankenstein, directed by James Whale in 1931, is perhaps the most recognizable film adaption of the story, being critically acclaimed by critics and audiences alike, and has since became an iconic horror film dealing with the concept of creation and finding identity in creation. The film opens to a somber scene of a funeral slowly panning to reveal Frankenstein and his assistant Fritz uncovering a buried casket to retrieve various body parts the doctor needs to complete his final experiment. The last thing Frankenstein needs to finish his creation

With his strong state of mind came a strong memory, one strong enough to go back to his first experiences of life, though it is with some difficulty that he does so. “It is with considerable difficulty that I remember the original era of my being; all the events of that period appear confused and indistinct. A strange multiplicity of sensations seized me, and I saw, felt, heard, and smelt at the same time.” (p. 90). He recalls the sensations of his senses, as well as the intensity of the light when he opened his eyes. These are all abilities that humans have. We see, we hear, we smell, we taste and touch, we squint at the intensity of the sun, and we feel emotions with an almost equal intensity. This is what makes us human, and it is also what make the creature human.

produce a creature who can’t help but become evil. In casting her novel with Miltonic

Though Victor Frankenstein and his creation both have qualities that are clearly monstrous, Victor’s selfishness, his abandonment of his responsibilities, and his inability to recognize his own faults and the monstrous qualities within himself qualities within himself make him the true monster while his creation is rather the opposite.

In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein we are introduced early in the story to one of the main characters Victor Frankenstein and subsequently to his creation referred to as the monster. The monster comes to life after being constructed by Victor using body parts from corpses. As gruesome as this sounds initially we are soon caught up in the tale of the living monster. Victor the creator becomes immediately remorseful of his decision to bring the monstrous creation to life and abandons the borne creature. Victor describes his emotions and physical description of his creation as follows:

Having never experienced a positive way to express his feeling in his childhood it caused him to be so cold and empty in side. He was as inhuman and void of emotions as his small childhood pet.

The book of Genesis was created by God to express his image of companionship, but also bring awareness to the idea of sin. Shelley forms Frankenstein around Genesis, however, she separates the two by stating, “Frankenstein’s monster is created as a test of Frankenstein’s power” (Shelley 34), implying that the monster is simply created to challenge the power of his creator just as God’s power was challenged by Adam and Eve. Following the creation of the monster, Victor wants absolutely nothing to do with it. The monster is composed of decomposing human bodies and therefore it is not anyone’s ideal image and has no one to look up to in the aspect of, “let us make man in our image, according to our likeness” (Genesis 1:26). Due to the monster being created with the limps and interior of dead bodies, it promotes an extraordinary element of not having an original origin. Victor takes advantage of the fact that the monster is not a