English
Thesis Statement: The story of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is a story about the desire to use of modern industrial techno-science to create a new discovery may result to more harm than good.
Just like the ancient Greek Prometheus, Shelley’s novel represents a modern industrial techno-science to create the character of Frankenstein. Compared to the story of Greek Prometheus, it sought to free his people by separating mortals from immortals, only to be reunited again in a festive, religious ritual (Jager 1). By contrast, Shelley’s novel explained that the combination of modern human science and scientific psychology can create a masterpiece but can cause inherent danger to mankind. Thus, science can either improve the quality of life or cause the destruction of mankind. In effect, Frankenstein is the modern techno-scientific Prometheus counterpart but remains to be in close alliance with the traditional Prometheus (Jager 1).
In the story of Shelley, it appears that Frankenstein is a monster that is feared by many people. However, deep inside lies a beautiful soul who does not want to inflict intentional harm to anybody. The inception of Shelley’s novel Frankenstein materialized after she dreamt of a supernatural creature that influenced her to write the story of Victor Frankenstein (Rosenberger 2). The novel talks about the creator and her creation which went beyond the normal manner of procreation with the help of science and social manipulation in order to build the character of Frankenstein. It can be observed that the story is tragic in the sense that Frankenstein was a loner rejected by the people because of his horrid physical attributes. Many people are afraid of him because they considered him to be dangerous because he looked dreadful.
After Frankenstein realized how ugly and horrible he looks, he decided to detach himself from society. This was shown in Chapter 15 of the novel which states that “Accursed creator! Why did you form a monster so hideous that even you turned from me in disgust?” (Shelley 98). He drowned in self-pity that he even called God to have pity on him. This was shown in the quote “God, in pity, made man beautiful and alluring, after his own image; but my form is a filthy type of yours that is even more horrid that can even resemble Satan” (Shelley 98). Frankenstein felt the need to be alone because of the way he looked that even Satan will invite him to hell with his companions to fellow the devils and to encourage him in his solitude.
Frankenstein wanted to stay away from people and hid in the forest. Even his ugly features, did not shield him from the feeling of pain and rejection that he experienced from the people after they called him a monster (Britton 1). The ensuing despair of Frankenstein subsequent turned him to become murderous in character. The ugly features of Frankenstein were described in Chapter Five of the book which states that “I beheld the wretch and the miserable monster that I created. This creature held up the curtain of the bed, as his eyes were fixed on me, while his jaws opened, as he mumbled some inarticulate sounds. A grin that wrinkled his cheeks was noticeable” (Shelley 38).
Some literature experts opined that Mary’s inspiration in writing her novel is based on her own personal experiences. The whole book has a clear connection to the author’s experience as an infant since her mother died after giving birth to her. Aside from this, she also experienced her subsequent loss, as a mother (Britton 1). Some experts suggested that the novel imaginatively described what the author experienced after she had been initially rejected as an infant, and how it felt to be regarded as a monster.
It is a known fact that Mary and her soon-to-be husband Percy eloped because of the forbidden love affair. They were not allowed to marry each other because Percy was still married to another woman at that time. After Percy and Mary decided to elope, Percy left his first wife, Harriet Westbrook and lived with Mary (Rosenberger 2). The tragedy happened when Harriet committed suicide after she discovered that she conceived a child from another man. After her death, Mary and Percy eventually got married and worked on their first novel entitled Frankeinstein.
The novel became an instant hit to the public. Despite the success of her first novel, there were three tragedies that struck the family after the couple lost their three unborn children who were only a year apart. Mary wanted to remain positive in spite of her personal struggles and undergoing three miscarriages in1822 (Rosenberger 3). Inspired to keep their faith alive the husband and wife decided to create human life and the novel Frankenstein became the product of their joint effort. As the author of the novel, Mary’s creation story was influenced by the famous story of Milton’s Paradise Lost (Rosenberger 4). Another point that was highlighted in the novel is Mary’s take or interpretation of the story of creation in the Bible. Mary’s version of creation hints a tragedy by making the character of Frankenstein nameless and to live alone for the rest of his life.
The story revolved on the relationship of the creator and his creation. The relationship between any creator and his creation, which begun during the creation process where the creator developed in his mind a detailed and thorough awareness of what he wanted to bring to life (Rosenberger 6). In the novel, it was clearly shown that the creator spent about two years to bring to life his creation. This was shown in the quote “I worked hard for nearly two years, for the sole purpose of infusing life to an inanimate body” (Shelly 38). In the beginning of every novel will start with the creation story, and will later developed into a creation of its own and the author now is transformed as the parent figure (Rosenberger 6).
There are several novels that depict a creation story and the story of Frankenstein is no exception. The creation theme aims to explore the field of scientific, medical, mental, emotional, and physical investigations (Rosenberger 6). Just like the story of Frankenstein, there is one creator who was also influenced by many factors to go beyond the normal manner of procreation using science or social manipulation. Thereafter, the outcome is the creation of a being as disfigured or corrupt and a known villain Frankenstein (Rosenberger 6).
Tracing back the history of creation of the main character of the novel, focus should also be made on the creator named Victor Frankenstein. He was born from a rich family from Switzerland and was given a comfortable life. Tragedy started when Victor’s mother died. He was always amazed with science that he two years to complete his research. Victor wanted his creation to be different and he was obsessed in making a spectacular discovery (Rosenberger 18). When his scientific awareness developed, he also used his laboratory skills along with his heart, mind and soul complete Frankenstein. Victor’s scientific pursuit turned out to be a failure since his original plan is to transform a “human being” (Rosenberger 21). Victor was quite disappointed in the outcome because he created an ugly monster. Although he had good intentions in the beginning using science to create a beautiful discovery, he was disappointed to see what seemed like to be a “demonical corpse” (Rosenberger 21).
However, despite the ugly appearance of Victor’s creation in the character Frankenstein who is feared by many, he became close to Felix and his family (Rosenberger 34). Frankenstein learned the important lessons in life, where he learned that being loving and kind is rewarding. Although Frankenstein was initially repulsive to humans and hides in the forest because of his appearance, he later developed his good natured character when he met the De Lacey family. He did acts of kindness for the family because he learned about music and literature. He later saved a girl from drowning, but he was attacked by the girl’s father. Instead of being angered by the incident, he felt sad at Felix’s attack. However, the further rejection by society and the abandonment of his creator who regarded as his “father” enraged him. In the end, he demanded that his creator make him a companion so that he will no longer be alone.
It can be concluded that despite the demonical appearance of Frankenstein, he still retained his good-natured qualities because he promised not to harm anyone, as long as he was given a companion. This was clearly shown in Chapter 17 in one of the quotes which states that “I swear to you, by the earth that I inhabit, and by you may creator and the one that made me, that with the companion you will give me” (Shelly 112). He promised to quit the neighborhood of man, and live in the most savage of places and leave all his evil passions. He also promised to change for the better by being sympathetic and to see his life flow quietly away (Shelly 112). It was also shown that the character of Frankenstein is not vindictive in any manner because he promised the even in his dying moments, he shall not curse my creator (Shelly 112). Thus, Shelley’s novel emphasized that the combination of modern human science and scientific psychology has the possibility of creating a masterpiece, but at the same time, can cause inherent danger to mankind.
Therefore, it can be concluded that the use of science should be used in caution to prevent unsuccessful outcomes. In the case of Victor, the creator of Frankenstein, he rejected the result of his creation that he even called him a “demonical corpse”. He totally seemed to have forgotten that his initial plan is to create a beautiful human being, but was disappointed to see a monster. He was not mindful of the feelings of Frankenstein who was originally planned to become a human being who has feelings and intellect.
Works Cited:
Britton, Ronald. “Mary Shelley's Frankenstein: What Made The Monster Monstrous?.” Journal
of Analytical Psychology 60.1 (2015): 1-11.
French, Sarah. “Radical Adaptation: Hypertextuality, Feminism and Motherhood in the Rabble's
Frankenstein-After Mary Shelley.” Australasian Drama Studies 66 (2015): 81-108.
Jager, Bernd. “Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and the Fate of Modern Scientific Psychology.”
Humanistic Psychologist 42.3 (2014): 268-282.
Rosenberger, Veronica B. “What Makes a Monster and What Makes a Man? Exploring the
Relationship between the Creator and the Creation in Three Gothic Novels”. The Cupola
Scholarship and Gettysburg College, 2013. Print.
Shelley, Mary. “Frakenstein –The Modern Prometheus”. North Carolina: Hayes Barton Press,
2013. Print.
