Frankenstein Critical Analysis
Frankenstein Appearance and Acceptance: Close Reading Assignment
Mary Shelley, in Frankenstein uses appearance to depict Victor Frankenstein as the embodiment of “good” and his creation as its counterpart “evil”; through the use of imagery, allusions to the Bible, and pathos, Shelley embellishes the issue of acceptance in modern society. From the very beginning, Frankenstein relates that his creature was horrid in form. As the creature discovers Victor’s journal, he reads into his creator’s true feeling for him and expresses his despair over a lack of socialization after his blunt entrance to the world.
Shelley begins the monster’s rant with a brief description of Victor Frankenstein’s feelings toward his creation via his journal “Everything is related in them which bears reference to my accursed origin; the whole detail of that series of disgusting circumstances which produced it is set in view; the minutest description of my odious and loathsome person is given, in language which painted your own horrors and rendered mine indelible.” (Shelley 131). This way, she establishes sympathy for the monster. He has been spurned by his “father” of sorts, and now has to read about how much he is hated. The use of pathos signifies just how meaningless Victor has been in the monsters upbringing. Certainly the monster would have turned out different if Frankenstein had put the effort into raising it correctly. However, it is difficult for Shelley to portray empathy from Victor, particularly because he despises his creation, and because his character is naturally egotistical. The monster then raises the issue of his appearance, which he brusquely states “God, in pity, made man beautiful and alluring, after his own image; but my form is a filthy type of yours, more horrid even from the very resemblance.” (Shelley 131). As a result, the monster is unable to interact with society, and is socially neglected. The creature realizing this, exiles himself to his ice cave, after
Mary Shelley, in Frankenstein uses appearance to depict Victor Frankenstein as the embodiment of “good” and his creation as its counterpart “evil”; through the use of imagery, allusions to the Bible, and pathos, Shelley embellishes the issue of acceptance in modern society. From the very beginning, Frankenstein relates that his creature was horrid in form. As the creature discovers Victor’s journal, he reads into his creator’s true feeling for him and expresses his despair over a lack of socialization after his blunt entrance to the world.
Shelley begins the monster’s rant with a brief description of Victor Frankenstein’s feelings toward his creation via his journal “Everything is related in them which bears reference to my accursed origin; the whole detail of that series of disgusting circumstances which produced it is set in view; the minutest description of my odious and loathsome person is given, in language which painted your own horrors and rendered mine indelible.” (Shelley 131). This way, she establishes sympathy for the monster. He has been spurned by his “father” of sorts, and now has to read about how much he is hated. The use of pathos signifies just how meaningless Victor has been in the monsters upbringing. Certainly the monster would have turned out different if Frankenstein had put the effort into raising it correctly. However, it is difficult for Shelley to portray empathy from Victor, particularly because he despises his creation, and because his character is naturally egotistical. The monster then raises the issue of his appearance, which he brusquely states “God, in pity, made man beautiful and alluring, after his own image; but my form is a filthy type of yours, more horrid even from the very resemblance.” (Shelley 131). As a result, the monster is unable to interact with society, and is socially neglected. The creature realizing this, exiles himself to his ice cave, after