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The Symbolic Rape Of Nature In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

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The Symbolic Rape Of Nature In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
The Merriam- Webster Dictionary defines rape as “an outrageous violation,” and that is exactly what Victor Frankenstein does is Frankenstein through the symbolic rape of Nature. Frankenstein commits heinous crimes on Nature in Frankenstein and pays immensely for them throughout the novel. During the creation scene, Mary Shelly uses language resonant with childbirth to symbolize the creation of the monster as a reference to birthing a child. She also uses language resonant with sex to paint the picture of the symbolic rape of Nature when Frankenstein creates the monster.
Shelly uses language resonant with childbirth throughout the creation scene to emphasize Frankenstein’s issues with women and to show that Frankenstein creates life without a woman, symbolizing a crime committed against Nature. Frankenstein uses the phrase “days and nights of incredible fatigue,” which coincides with that of childbirth (53). The uses of language resonant with childbirth focuses on Frankenstein’s crimes against Nature by showing that he created life without a woman. He is not supposed to commit such crimes against Nature and the language used by Shelly points out the wrongdoing.
Childbirth is an intense process in nature and is one of the most basic processes. By Frankenstein bypassing …show more content…
Frankenstein loses loved ones, goes through immense struggles and end is very unhappy after he creates the monster. Nature gets her revenge all throughout the novel. Shelly uses sexual language and language similar with labor to center in on what Frankenstein did. Shelly’s use of language resonant with childbirth is ironic because Frankenstein created something horrible instead of something beautiful and innocent. The language resonant with sex emphasizes the severity of the symbolic rape of Nature. Both uses of language are to increase the emotion and intensity of Frankenstein’s
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