Role of Doubles in Frankenstein
Excerpt from “Use of Doubles in Frankenstein”
Frankenstein’s monster, at first glance, is a counterfeit of a human. He is made of mismatched body parts; he is disportionate, “wretched” looking. He was created through unnatural means: at the hands of a human, in a laboratory. Upon an investigation, Frankenstein’s monster is anything but he feels love and hate, isolation and abandonment just as any human would. In fact, Frankenstein’s monster serves as a mirror for Frankenstein; his creation is his double. Frankenstein’s actions towards his monster unveil his true self.
The moment Frankenstein and his monster meets for the first time since Frankenstein's monster’s creation is incredibly important. Frankenstein’s monster has been on his own for a while and has experienced most all the emotions one can experience in ones life. Frankenstein is forced to confront his creation, to finally take responsibility for what he has done. It is surprising how their feelings parallel each other. Frankenstein’s monster declares, “All men hate the wretched; how then must I be hated, who am miserable beyond all living things!” (67) as Frankenstein answers, “Cursed (although I curse myself) be the hands that formed you! You have made me wretched beyond expression” (69).
They are both “wretched,” perhaps for the same reason. Frankenstein’s monster is wretched because
Frankenstein has made him that way; Frankenstein boldy accuses his monster of making him “wretched beyond expression” (69). Frankenstein created his monster; when he accuses his creation of making him wretched, he’s accusing himself. By irresponsibly creating new life, Frankenstein has put this all on himself. Excerpt from a research exercise of the book Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
Never Let Me Go is a dystopian novel that follows the lives of clones from childhood to
adulthood. These clones were created for one purpose: to be taken apart. When they grow into young
Frankenstein’s monster, at first glance, is a counterfeit of a human. He is made of mismatched body parts; he is disportionate, “wretched” looking. He was created through unnatural means: at the hands of a human, in a laboratory. Upon an investigation, Frankenstein’s monster is anything but he feels love and hate, isolation and abandonment just as any human would. In fact, Frankenstein’s monster serves as a mirror for Frankenstein; his creation is his double. Frankenstein’s actions towards his monster unveil his true self.
The moment Frankenstein and his monster meets for the first time since Frankenstein's monster’s creation is incredibly important. Frankenstein’s monster has been on his own for a while and has experienced most all the emotions one can experience in ones life. Frankenstein is forced to confront his creation, to finally take responsibility for what he has done. It is surprising how their feelings parallel each other. Frankenstein’s monster declares, “All men hate the wretched; how then must I be hated, who am miserable beyond all living things!” (67) as Frankenstein answers, “Cursed (although I curse myself) be the hands that formed you! You have made me wretched beyond expression” (69).
They are both “wretched,” perhaps for the same reason. Frankenstein’s monster is wretched because
Frankenstein has made him that way; Frankenstein boldy accuses his monster of making him “wretched beyond expression” (69). Frankenstein created his monster; when he accuses his creation of making him wretched, he’s accusing himself. By irresponsibly creating new life, Frankenstein has put this all on himself. Excerpt from a research exercise of the book Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
Never Let Me Go is a dystopian novel that follows the lives of clones from childhood to
adulthood. These clones were created for one purpose: to be taken apart. When they grow into young