Frankenstein or Creature More Deserving of Sympathy
- Submitted by: cwatters2
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- Category: English: Novels
- Date Submitted: 04/20/2016 09:11 AM
- Pages: 4
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From what you have read so far, which of the two characters of the creature or Frankenstein is most deserving of sympathy from the reader?
The novel, Frankenstein, was written by Shelley and was first published in 1818. It was published at a time of scientific advancement when there were worries about how far science would go as new things were discovered. Shelley explores the theme of the gothic genre and focuses on the evil within and she develops the characters of Frankenstein and the creature by portraying them sympathetically through a variety of narrative techniques.
Frankenstein’s narration of the novel immediately puts the reader into his limited mind-set; therefore the reader is only shown his emotions and perspective of the events. Due to this narrative technique, the reader is able to sympathise with his predicament. This can be shown when Shelley writes ‘I was destined to become the most wretched of human beings’ the reader is able to sympathise for Frankenstein at the news of his brother’s death in volume one, chapter 7, and indeed they are able to sympathise with the rest of his family. The suffering that Frankenstein goes through here is characteristic of this type of gothic novel and he has linked himself to the creature he created through the use of the word ‘wretched’ because he has previously described the creature is a ‘wretch’. However, the reader may not sympathise with Frankenstein later because they can see that he is a victim of his own acts. Frankenstein comes from a privileged family who loves him and he takes it upon himself to create a creature and to give it life which is an act which can seem selfish to the reader. For example, Shelley writes ‘a new species would bless me as its creator and source; many happy and excellent natures would owe their being to me. No father could claim the gratitude of his child so completely as I should deserve theirs.’ This shows the reader that Frankenstein wants to play God but later, he does not...
The novel, Frankenstein, was written by Shelley and was first published in 1818. It was published at a time of scientific advancement when there were worries about how far science would go as new things were discovered. Shelley explores the theme of the gothic genre and focuses on the evil within and she develops the characters of Frankenstein and the creature by portraying them sympathetically through a variety of narrative techniques.
Frankenstein’s narration of the novel immediately puts the reader into his limited mind-set; therefore the reader is only shown his emotions and perspective of the events. Due to this narrative technique, the reader is able to sympathise with his predicament. This can be shown when Shelley writes ‘I was destined to become the most wretched of human beings’ the reader is able to sympathise for Frankenstein at the news of his brother’s death in volume one, chapter 7, and indeed they are able to sympathise with the rest of his family. The suffering that Frankenstein goes through here is characteristic of this type of gothic novel and he has linked himself to the creature he created through the use of the word ‘wretched’ because he has previously described the creature is a ‘wretch’. However, the reader may not sympathise with Frankenstein later because they can see that he is a victim of his own acts. Frankenstein comes from a privileged family who loves him and he takes it upon himself to create a creature and to give it life which is an act which can seem selfish to the reader. For example, Shelley writes ‘a new species would bless me as its creator and source; many happy and excellent natures would owe their being to me. No father could claim the gratitude of his child so completely as I should deserve theirs.’ This shows the reader that Frankenstein wants to play God but later, he does not...