Morality In Frankenstein

What makes us human? Is it a beating heart and living flesh? Is it encompassing advanced psychological and social qualities? The classic gothic novel, Frankenstein, written by Mary Shelley and the modern horror novel, Warm Bodies, written by Issac Marion have lead many readers to question the complexity of human nature. Both novels explore several principal themes that develop the reader’s understanding of what it means to be human. We are miraculous creatures who are capable of both good and evil; humans are intricate beings who depend on love for survival, some can be troubled by or lack remorse, and in some cases, our actions can be motivated by fear. Throughout both novels, the main characters struggle with these aspects of human nature.

During World War one, the United States Navy Recruiting Bureau, and the United States Treasury Department each commissioned posters featuring women who encouraged citizens to participate in the war effort. The two posters, despite being intended for the same purpose, depict women in particularly contrasting light. Analysis of the contrasting war posters can help illustrate society’s perspective about women during the early 1900’s, their expected roles pertaining to the war effort, the strategies used to engage citizens and encourage them to become involved, and the use of imagery and symbolism that were used to achieve the posters’ objective.

person to unleash such a terror on the world to benefit only himself and his

One more example of the cruelty of society to those who do not fit in with society is also seen in Frankenstein. Victor Frankenstein experiments with the forces of nature when he creates a monster out of body parts of dead humans. Victor creates the monster with the intent to discover methods of improving humanity. However, Victor’s hopes turn to horror when he sees that the monster that he has created is ugly and wretched. After Victor rejects the monster because of the monster’s ugliness, the monster escapes to roam freely throughout the world. While the monster travels, people are frightened by his appearance. They run from him or try to hurt him. These people, however, frighten the monster. He was banished by society, and he is very lonely. The monster describes their hatred when he says “but a fatal prejudice clouds their eyes, and where they ought to see a feeling and kind friend, they behold only a detestable monster” (Shelly, 95). The monster is banished by society because he is not the same as society. The people that the monster encounters are

Furthermore, guilt is an intense emotion that allows an individual to either confront a situation and free them self of guilt, or avoid the emotion by placing blame onto others. Victor Frankenstein chooses to be reckless but is simultaneously conscious of his faults throughout the novel. After the death of his brother William, and the unjust persecution of Justine, Frankenstein states, “I wandered like an evil spirit, for I had committed deeds of mischief beyond description horrible…” (Shelley 3.61). Guilt stemming from his actions profoundly impacts Frankenstein, as he is now able to reflect on the gravity of the situation and his mistakes; his conscience is now in full command of his emotions, however, due to Frankenstein’s disconnect

Human nature is unchangeable. Human nature also applies to just about every living thing. Human nature isn’t so human, is it? In Mary Shelley’s groundbreaking novel, Frankenstein, it is shown just how universal human nature is. In Frankenstein, Robert Walton tells the story of Victor Frankenstein through a series of letters to his sister, Margaret Saville, in different perspectives. Upon his ship on an expedition to the North Pole, Robert befriends a scientist, Victor Frankenstein. He reveals that he is looking for his creation, a being that was never truly alive, whom he bestowed life upon. He then tells an account of his life until it switches in perspective to the monster’s, followed by a switch to the present. In his tale, Victor tells of his early childhood, where he was an avid bookworm, and became enraptured by science. This led to him delving deeper and deeper into the world of science until he became a man obsessed. He dedicated himself to science and conducted an experiment to see whether he could bring life to a being that never had life in it before. Rather than being overjoyed at his successful experiment, he was disgusted. He came out with a humanoid resembling a monster. This disappointment led to Victor abandoning the Creation, leaving him to find his own way in the world. Given the proper care, the Monster could have succeeded, but Frankenstein's monster will not because the neglect from Victor, treatment by others, and the internalized self-hatred deign a

The true nature of human beings, when they are born, is kind hearted and gracious, but their own species tarnishes them and they turn malignant. One piece of evidence to support my claim incorporates quotes from the book Frankenstein. In the beginning of the monster’s expedition , he is innocent and sympathizes with the Delacey family. The monster explains how he was sad when they were sad and would feel whatever they felt (Shelley 75). But, this all changed when the human species rejected him for his appearance. His character went from well behaved to atrocious. After not getting accepted, many unfavorable thoughts had crossed his mind and he desired to do many bad things (Shelley 92). When reading these quotes, the reader can comprehend that

How important is the theme of justice in Frankenstein. Refer closely to the creation scene and Justine's trial scene. Justice is defined as justice is the administration of law; especially : the establishment or determination of rights according to the rules of law or equity which can be interpreted as adhering to laws of both a natural and civilised level. In Frankenstein many of the fundamental laws of both humanity and the world we live in are broken. Creation in he Christian faith is a marvel that only one being or person has the right to control.

The novel Frankenstein written by Mary Shelley is a work of fiction that breaks the ethics of science. Ethics is defined as rules of conduct or moral principles which are ignored in the story. The story is about a person named Victor Frankenstein who creates an artificial being. Victor abandons the being out of fear and the being is left to discover the outside world on his own and be rejected by people making the monster go on a violent rampage. Victor’s decision would affect him later on by the monster killing his loved ones causing Victor to suffer. Then Victor chooses to seek revenge on the monster and this choice will bring him to his death. In novel Frankenstein one might say that the main character, Victor, breaks the ethics of

Propaganda: a tool used to shape citizen thinking for the use of governmental goals in occasions worldwide. Many countries use propaganda for the support of its citizens in certain purposes. During Word War II, the United States needed the support of the American citizens for the purchasing of war bonds, acquiring the volunteer work of women, and also the conservation of the country’s natural resources. Therefore, the main purpose of propaganda is to persuade citizens of that country to support the decisions of the government.

The creature’s return requesting for a female creature results in “your threats cannot move me to do an act of wickedness; they confirm me in a determination” to serve as Frankenstein’s determination stimulant (166). Shelley initiates Frankenstein’s driven sensibility through “your threats cannot move me to do an act of wickedness” establishing Frankenstein’s firm and direct dialogue. Instead of being driven by the creature’s wrath, Frankenstein is manipulating his circumstances in the hopes of restoring prosperity to the world. Frankenstein’s final thread of grief from Elizabeth’s (Frankenstein’s newlywed wife) murder causing “a frenzy in my manner and something, I doubt not, of that haughty fierceness which the martyrs of old are said to have possessed” (198). Shelley indicates that extensive anguish can transpire into a self-assurance for justice similar to martyrs.

A morally ambiguous character is a character whose behavior discourages readers from identifying them as either purely good or purely evil. The creature brought into being by Victor Frankenstein is the principle morally ambiguous character in Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" which is demonstrated through the sympathy that the reader feels at the moment of his creation and instantaneous abandonment, his present but questionable morals, and the feelings of immediate hatred that the reader has towards him as he slaughters everyone that Victor cares about. The creature, or monster as he is referred to in much of the novel, has guilt piled

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley tells the tale of the protagonist Victor Frankenstein and his creation. Both Frankenstein and Frankenstein’s creation’s questionable actions lead them both to be considered morally ambiguous figures. Victor is ambitious with good intentions, but his ambition leads to bad results. The Creature is an innately kind and compassionate person who commits abominable actions due to how others treat him. Their moral ambiguity is significant, as it reveals that an obsession with ambition distorts one’s morals.

Perhaps the differences of morality and science could be defined in parallel stories within the novel, one attempting to discover the secret of life and death, and the other attempting to reveal the secrets of abnormalities. It is noticed that Victor Frankenstein is enthralled by science in the physical world, so he embarks on an experiment that forever changes his life. In a way it can be noticed that Victor Frankenstein is trying to play God. He wants to discover the unknown, and clarify the mysteries of creation; the mysteries behind life and death. After discovering the unknown, Victor walks out on his Creature leaving it to live independently, which was a terrible blunder that he does not feel

When Victor Frankenstein was in the two year long process of creating his monster you have to think about what his personal morals were, principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong or good and bad behavior. Everyone has varying personal morals. Dr. Frankenstein goes against the morals of a medical doctor when he wastes his life away slaving over his experiment. He also tries playing God when he sparks the life back into the stitched together corpse. This corpse comes alive and is abandoned by his creator to roam the country without ever having the experience of growing up. Finally, Victor Frankenstein is burdened with the guilt of creating such a horrible creature, proving what he did was wrong. So, in the novel Frankenstein, the extension of life is the real moral question.