Mary Shelley's Frankenstein-Who Is The Monster?
Who is the Monster in Frankenstein?
The term monster is derived from terms monstrare and monere; monstrare in latin means to demonstrate and monere means to warn. This makes the term monster mean that monsters are demonstrative; they reveal ideas about humanity and make evident ideas that are hidden (“What is a Monster?”). In the story Frankenstein, there is lots of controversy about whether or not Victor Frankenstein, the main protagonist, is the monster or if his creation is. Victor is the monster in this story due to what he reveals about humanity. He shows the darker side of mankind and how humans tend to avoid the blame by finding scapegoats for their own actions.
To begin with, Victor represents the “monstrous” side of humanity. This is the part of humanity that is darker such as selfishness, asocial, and has a lack of empathy. To start, Victor has a lack of empathy. This is seen when the monster is talking to Victor and says, “‘It was dark when I awoke; I felt cold also, and half afraid, as it were, instinctively , finding myself so desolate’” (p. 90). Victor’s responds to hearing that the monster was alone is afraid by being afraid of the monster, he does not feel bad for the monster. Victor could have helped the monster, but he responds by …show more content…
This is best seen when Victor is gives up on assembling the monster’s wife. As he is looking at his work, Victor says,“Had I right, for my own benefit, to inflict this curse upon everlasting generation?” (p. 156). Victor is calling his creation a curse and completely forgetting the fact that it his fault that the monster became violent. The monster is merely an abandoned creation that turned to violence because he was never loved and always alone. Victor does not take this into account and acts as if the creation was truly the one to blame. This cursing of the creation is Victor’s way to cope with the guilt he feels for creating a
The term monster is derived from terms monstrare and monere; monstrare in latin means to demonstrate and monere means to warn. This makes the term monster mean that monsters are demonstrative; they reveal ideas about humanity and make evident ideas that are hidden (“What is a Monster?”). In the story Frankenstein, there is lots of controversy about whether or not Victor Frankenstein, the main protagonist, is the monster or if his creation is. Victor is the monster in this story due to what he reveals about humanity. He shows the darker side of mankind and how humans tend to avoid the blame by finding scapegoats for their own actions.
To begin with, Victor represents the “monstrous” side of humanity. This is the part of humanity that is darker such as selfishness, asocial, and has a lack of empathy. To start, Victor has a lack of empathy. This is seen when the monster is talking to Victor and says, “‘It was dark when I awoke; I felt cold also, and half afraid, as it were, instinctively , finding myself so desolate’” (p. 90). Victor’s responds to hearing that the monster was alone is afraid by being afraid of the monster, he does not feel bad for the monster. Victor could have helped the monster, but he responds by …show more content…
This is best seen when Victor is gives up on assembling the monster’s wife. As he is looking at his work, Victor says,“Had I right, for my own benefit, to inflict this curse upon everlasting generation?” (p. 156). Victor is calling his creation a curse and completely forgetting the fact that it his fault that the monster became violent. The monster is merely an abandoned creation that turned to violence because he was never loved and always alone. Victor does not take this into account and acts as if the creation was truly the one to blame. This cursing of the creation is Victor’s way to cope with the guilt he feels for creating a