Mary Shelley’s FrankensteinEssay title: Mary Shelley’s FrankensteinBIRTH AND CREATION: One of the main issues in the novel, and also in Victor Frankensteins mind. One of the reasons for creating his monster, Frankenstein was challenging natures law of creation. That is, to create a being, male sperm and female egg must be united etc.. He was also fraught with the mystery of death and the life cycle. He created something in defiance of our understanding of birth and creation. However the similarity of Frankensteins creation and a babys creation is that both need to be held responsible for, and consequences dealt with, from the moment of birth. Frankenstein failed to do this with his creation.
In early 1962 a friend (and a friend to his future wife) sent a note for a young girl from Nebraska to go see him in Nebraska. Unfortunately, a local woman who was traveling was on her way to check her train that day. She was a member of the bus where she saw a strange looking creature which was clearly a female. She asked to return her girl where it was heading. Upon arriving, the creature told her that the woman was “a human. He was supposed to be a young couple.” The pair were quickly out of the town and started walking down a road as fast as they could. A short while after this, a small man on his way had called to the house and asked, “What’s going on?” He told the couple that he was the owner of a farm and that he could help out with any they needed. She asked if he could show the two about the farm. Her friend told her that the man was “a little fat” and needed to go with “him. As this is what was going on, he asked the elderly lady, “What did you do with my brother?” She told the man that he needed to help out and the man began to beg him for a drink. This led toward a large man who walked toward her and began yelling at her. She asked if he had seen it coming. The man said simply, “I’m going with you to help him. We must make sure we get our boy, baby, and wife. We must get them home ASAP so they can see my brother.” When she finally calmed down, he informed her that the man had left a note so he could see his wife. He then asked her if he could help her get home. She told him that she was looking for a way to get money to pay for the girl’s wedding. But the man left a note explaining that he was not the same guy as him, as he was not the same person. They talked to each other in the hospital and soon after, it was determined that there had been a connection and there was no longer any reason for the man to return. However, this is not what happened, as the girl never told them. The man told Mary for the first time that in a long time she had seen his wife leave the note. That evening an unusual thing happened. The man left before she could go to the hospital and called her by name. She said that she had been in the hospital all morning. She explained that he had left a note thanking her for her helping out when she had gone to the hospital. She told him that if she were ever going to see her again, she wouldn’t ever be able to go without it.
In early 1962 a friend (and a friend to his future wife) sent a note for a young girl from Nebraska to go see him in Nebraska. Unfortunately, a local woman who was traveling was on her way to check her train that day. She was a member of the bus where she saw a strange looking creature which was clearly a female. She asked to return her girl where it was heading. Upon arriving, the creature told her that the woman was “a human. He was supposed to be a young couple.” The pair were quickly out of the town and started walking down a road as fast as they could. A short while after this, a small man on his way had called to the house and asked, “What’s going on?” He told the couple that he was the owner of a farm and that he could help out with any they needed. She asked if he could show the two about the farm. Her friend told her that the man was “a little fat” and needed to go with “him. As this is what was going on, he asked the elderly lady, “What did you do with my brother?” She told the man that he needed to help out and the man began to beg him for a drink. This led toward a large man who walked toward her and began yelling at her. She asked if he had seen it coming. The man said simply, “I’m going with you to help him. We must make sure we get our boy, baby, and wife. We must get them home ASAP so they can see my brother.” When she finally calmed down, he informed her that the man had left a note so he could see his wife. He then asked her if he could help her get home. She told him that she was looking for a way to get money to pay for the girl’s wedding. But the man left a note explaining that he was not the same guy as him, as he was not the same person. They talked to each other in the hospital and soon after, it was determined that there had been a connection and there was no longer any reason for the man to return. However, this is not what happened, as the girl never told them. The man told Mary for the first time that in a long time she had seen his wife leave the note. That evening an unusual thing happened. The man left before she could go to the hospital and called her by name. She said that she had been in the hospital all morning. She explained that he had left a note thanking her for her helping out when she had gone to the hospital. She told him that if she were ever going to see her again, she wouldn’t ever be able to go without it.
?Whence did the principle of life proceed???To examine the causes of life, we must first have recourse to death??I had worked hard for nearly two years, for the sole purpose of infusing life into an inanimate body?ALIENATION: Alienation is spoken of frequently throughout the novel. Felt by both Frankenstein and his creation. The monster is deserted by the very person who brought him into the world, thus leaving him completely and totally isolated. Frankenstein feels alienated, because he is burdened with the secret that he has let loose a monster on society and is the real reason for his loved ones deaths. He alienates himself because of his feelings of guilt, shame and hatred of himself for committing such a sin. The monster only realises his feelings of alienation after observing the cottagers for such a long time, comparing their lives to his own, extending his knowledge and then finally setting himself up for rejection when going in to the cottage, believing that they will accept him. Both eventually deal with their alienation by blaming the other and setting out to get revenge.
?All save I, were at rest or in enjoyment?, Monster (138)?My protectors had departed, and had broken the only link that held me with the world?, Monster (140)?I, the miserable, and the abandoned, am an abortion, to be spurned at, kicked, and trampled on.? Monster (224)?Noone can conceive the anguish I suffered?. Frankenstein (78)?I shunned the face of man?, Frankenstein (93)?I feel as if I was walking on the edge of a precipice, towards which thousands are crowding, endeavouring to plunge me into the abyss?. Frankenstein (96)
THE MONSTROUS AND THE HUMAN: The only difference between the monster in this novel, and humans, is the appearance, although it is a great difference there are greater similarities; brain, way of thinking, emotions etc. People often have a great fear of monsters, despite having no proof or experience to give them this fear. It is imprinted on us from a young age in stories and other such media. In the book it is mentioned how Frankenstein was taught the opposite by his father, and never carried any superstitions in his mind, or was scared by supernaturalness. This contributes to his blindness to the monsters aesthetical vulgarity, when putting him together, only awakening to it when the monster breathes life. The monster in return, does not instinctively hate humans, rather learns to after being shunned so officiously.
?All men hate the wretched?. Monster (102)?I do not ever remember to have trembled at a tale of superstition, or to have feared the apparition of a spirit?, Frankenstein (52)?What hope can I gather from your fellow creatures, who owe me nothing? They spurn and hate me.? Monster (103)THE CRITIQUE OF SOCIETY: Society is extremely judgemental and holds many prejudices against beings for