Frankenstein essay
A Monster Made by Society
Ashley Buckle
ENG3U
Mr. Sharpe
January, 2014
Mary Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein’ is a gothic horror book written in the 1800’s; it is the story of a scientist creating a monster which turns against him and torments him. Through this story Mary Shelley demonstrates the idea that mankind is neither good nor evil, and through this we are shown the story of Frankenstein’s creature and what it has to endure after it is abandoned by his creator. Like the rest of society Frankenstein’s creature has the capability to be good, although the creature behaves viciously and murders several people he is not inherently evil or malicious.
Firstly, after being abandoned by his creator, instead of raising him, and teaching him how to live in society, he abandons him, leaving him to fend for himself in a new environment. The creature finds and watches a human family; the De Laceys. It is through his observations and interactions with this family that he learns of human emotions, and relationships. “This trait of kindness moved me sensibly” (pg.114), is what the creature thought of the human family when they “placed food before the old man when and they reserved none for themselves” (pg.114). It is shown that he realizes kindness in a positive way. These good qualities are reflected onto him into his own character, just like a child. Instead of continuing to watch the De Laceys’ good deeds, the creature shows his own kindness by stopping his consumption of the family’s food, and he begins to take the family’s tools to cut wood for them. These actions are intended to help the family, and the creature’s selflessness and desire to please grows. At one point the creature thinks to himself “that it might be in my power to restore happiness to these deserving people” (pg.117). Far from being inherently evil, Frankenstein’s creature is shown to be a caring, selfless being who wants to bring happiness to people. At this point
Ashley Buckle
ENG3U
Mr. Sharpe
January, 2014
Mary Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein’ is a gothic horror book written in the 1800’s; it is the story of a scientist creating a monster which turns against him and torments him. Through this story Mary Shelley demonstrates the idea that mankind is neither good nor evil, and through this we are shown the story of Frankenstein’s creature and what it has to endure after it is abandoned by his creator. Like the rest of society Frankenstein’s creature has the capability to be good, although the creature behaves viciously and murders several people he is not inherently evil or malicious.
Firstly, after being abandoned by his creator, instead of raising him, and teaching him how to live in society, he abandons him, leaving him to fend for himself in a new environment. The creature finds and watches a human family; the De Laceys. It is through his observations and interactions with this family that he learns of human emotions, and relationships. “This trait of kindness moved me sensibly” (pg.114), is what the creature thought of the human family when they “placed food before the old man when and they reserved none for themselves” (pg.114). It is shown that he realizes kindness in a positive way. These good qualities are reflected onto him into his own character, just like a child. Instead of continuing to watch the De Laceys’ good deeds, the creature shows his own kindness by stopping his consumption of the family’s food, and he begins to take the family’s tools to cut wood for them. These actions are intended to help the family, and the creature’s selflessness and desire to please grows. At one point the creature thinks to himself “that it might be in my power to restore happiness to these deserving people” (pg.117). Far from being inherently evil, Frankenstein’s creature is shown to be a caring, selfless being who wants to bring happiness to people. At this point