Understanding the Monster

Before the creature gives his accounts of what happened, we are only able to judge him based off of Frankenstein's feelings and the emotional suffering of his family. Anyone who hasn't heard the tragic events from the monster's perspective would condemn him based on his distasteful actions. But when he begins to go into depth about the murder of William, we see a different side of him. His first intentions were not to murder, but to have a companion so that he wouldn't be alone. "...an idea seized me that this little creature was unprejudiced, and had lived to short a time to have imbibed a horror of deformity. If, therefore, I could seize him, and educate him as my companion and friend, I should not be so desolate in this peopled earth."(100) In this passage the reader can see the creature as something more thatn a monster. He has the need to be loved and accepted just like any human being. He approached William thinking that he had finally found someone who would befriend him instead of shun him away but when he seen that even the child was terrored by him, it caused him to anger.
The creature has been neglected by Frakenstein and left alone for the world to despise him. Any creation with a heart and brain needs the company of another. "My companion must be of the same species and have the same defects. This being you must create."(101) Here again we see the need for acceptance and love. The monster was thrown into the world without a chance and without hope. Anyone that was left in these conditions would certainly not be at their best.

"Knowledge"

     In the character Victor Frankenstein, the Enlightenment idea of knowledge is evident when he replies, "My dreams were therefore undisturbed by reality; and I entered with the greatest diligence into the search of the philosopher's stone and the elixir of life" (Shelly 22). Victor was an intelligent boy who grew up in Geneva reading the works of antiquated scientists who studied alchemy. When Victor attended the college of Ingolstadt, he was divulged to modern science. He mastered his studies in just a few years with the help of his professors. Victor becomes so enthralled with the "secret of life", he discovers it and brings a hideous creature to life. His seeking of knowledge paid off. Victor creation was distorted, he replies, "I finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart" (Shelly 34). Victor feels ashamed and realize what a horrible monster he begotten from his erudition.

  In my conclusion Victor becomes so hungry for knowledge that he forgets about his family and the world he lives. His thirst for knowledge was created in selfishness. We can see knowledge sometimes can be a power to create, also a great responsibility.

Frankenstein and the human connection

In Frankenstein we see how the monster craves for human connection. He craves to understand the cottages people and the monster longs “to discover the motives and feelings of these lovely creatures:..” (shelly 77) The monster tries to fix the connection between himself and the his cottage friends by getting up late at night. While they where asleep the monster would help Felix with some of his chores and the monster would also help clear the path from snow so Agatha could go to the garden with out any troubles.He sees how his secret human connection makes a positive impact on there life.He noticed them a lot happier but the monster still sees the sadness that over takes them. He doesn't understand why they are still sad until he learns about how they have had a rough life. He wants to understand there language so he teaches himself how to speak and read by some books he finds on the path one day “..I found on th ground a leathern portmanteau, containing several articles of dress and some book.”(shelly85) He was so happy when he found this because he began learning more about the cultures and the government. He is disgusted by how people act in the form of war killing each other. They sometimes made him happy with new feeling he has never felt before but sometimes it was the total opposite  He finds a note in the pocket and he learns about how his master created him. The monster begins to feel true hatred and anger for his master. So in a way the monster does form a way of human connection by feeling emotions. Its makes him even more human with the anger that he feels towards his master.

Tough decisions

Throughout one's life many decisions have to be made. They can range from simple to the most complex. In Mary Shelly's Frankenstein Victor Frankenstein was faced with many. In the one area Victor had to decide if he should create a partner for the monster. If he created the female monster, he possibly could live his life without further influence from the monster. Which seemed a great ideal until he considered the past and possible future consequences. He would have two beings that may continue murdering humans with super human capabilities. Or he could deny the request and face destruction of those around him. In this matter victor took his chances and ended his work on the second creation which enraged the monster. In another aspect. Victor had to decide if her were going to marry Elizabeth. Victor remembered what the monster told him, "I will be with you on your wedding -night!" (Shelly 131) On one hand he knew that Elizabeth was the love of his life and they were raised to eventually marry. After the letter she sent he no longer had any doubt that she shared the same feelings for him. But he considered that their union could "... hasten my fate."(Shelly 131) Victor feared the monster would keep promise and possibly kill all those close to him. These events may give insight to modern day living. They show that sometimes there is not always a good outcome to decisions we make on a daily basis. Sometimes you have to close the lesser of two evils and hope for the best..

The Support System

Support can be a wonderful thing.  Our parents start to support us as soon as we are born:  from physically to emotionally to financially.  From that moment we enter a world of uncertainty, but with the support of our family we thrive. For the monster in Frankenstein, this beginning to a normal life is lacking. God gave us a family to support, love, and help educate us.  The monster's god, Victor Frankenstein, left out the importance of the nurturing family:  the support system...the touch of another...the sense of belonging.  The monster sets out on a journey to complete the search for that connection:  communication, love, safety, and hopes to find his identity. 

 "Like Adam, I was created apparently united by no link to any other being in existence; but his state was far less different from mine in every other respect" (Shelley, 87).  Here the monster compares his being to that of God's creation of Adam, however, he realizes that they were far different.  "He came forth from the hands of God a perfect creature...guarded by the especial care of his Creator" (Shelley, 87).  Adam's God did not fail to realize the importance of a support, a touch, a companion.  After creating the monster, Frankenstein comes to terms with the fact that his quest to surpass the world with his knowledge has been misconceived; and escapes his blunder:  leaves him high and dry. The monster makes every attempt to find the missing puzzle piece in his life.  It seems to be hopeless for him because of his stature.  The people he encounters find him to be a wretch; a hideous monster whom they refuse to befriend.  "I am alone, and miserable; man will not associate with me" (Shelley, 97).  I can't imagine having the mind of a child, not knowing what to do or how to do it, and being completely passed over by the world.  Our bodies are wired for the need to be accepted, loved, touched, and supported.  It seems to me Frankenstein, as brilliant as he is, missed the mark.

Frankenstein: A family concern

As a parent, you wonder about your children. You start wondering where your children are, what they are doing, are they safe and many more questions come to your mind as a parent. More questions and concerns come to mind as they get older. This is how Victor's father felt when he had not heard from him in months. "I cannot describe to you the uneasiness we have all felt concerning your health" (Shelley 39). Elizabeth wrote Victor a letter explaining the sadness and concerns that not only his father had but his whole family was worried about him. Victor had gotten sick and overcame that illness but his family did not know if he was better or if it got worse over time that they have not talked to him. "Relieve us from this fear, and we shall be the happiest creatures in the world" (Shelly 39). At this point, Victor's family just wants to hear from him. After Victor's mother died, they family especially his father seemed very worried that something else bad that was going to happen, very on edge. So, they did not care if the letter just said I was ok, the family just wanted a response for Victor to say somthing back. As much as our parents get on our nerves or we feel like we do not want to be bothered with them because we are older and we do not have time for them anymore, does not mean they are going stop being parents and stop worrying about their children. Your parents are your parents for the rest of your life.  

The shadow of Frankenstein

Victor Frankenstein becomes lost in his endeavors to greater knowlege. Frankenstein's non -complacent demeanor blinds him of his own self, the dependents of his family, and the world around him. During an era that knowledge immensely created power to find answers to the world, provoked Frankensteins evasive actions to steer him away from the main importance of life. Frankenstein's greed to success becomes a part of him in which his own desire becomes his worst enemy. Frankenstein realizes what he has become when he goes home, away from his infectious work, into reality. Frankenstein blames himself for the deaths of William and Justine as he mourns in despair, "I had begun life with benevolent intentions and thirsted for the moment when I should put them in practice, and make myself useful to my fellow-beings" (Shelley 61). Frankenstein acknowledges that he let his thirst to become of power interfere with his social structure, the love they share, and his true duties. Frankenstein goes on to say, "Now all was blasted: instead of that serenity of conscience, which would allowed me to look back upon the past with self-satisfaction, and from thence to gather promises of new hopes, I was seized by remorse and the sense of guilt, which hurried me away to hell of intense tortures, such as no language can describe" (Shelley 61). He sees that his ambitions became for all the wrong and left behind all that was cared for through his obssessions that only brought him lonliness, madness, and bitterness. Frankenstein sought out nature, away from society and all thoughts, which kept him at peace with himself. Talking of the scenery he states, "They elevated me from all littleness of feeling and although they did not remove my grief, they subdued and tranquillized it" (Shelley 65). Even though his greed overpowered him to lead to misfortunes; Frankenstein is able to let go of all his desires and hatred of his monster self to subdue himself of nature and life's main wanders and love.