English Literature: Frankenstein Essay Essay

Frankenstein was written by Mary Shelley when she was only eighteen days old after a nightmare she had. It was first published on 1st January 1818 and was an instant success. Using the style of the Gothic Novel, Frankenstein was the first science-fiction phonograph recording ever written. Almost two centuries later it has become not only a widely read classic, but also one of the most authoritative novels ever written. Frankenstein is a moral tale that deals with issues and ethics of medical and scientific advancement and how far humans should go in tampering with nature.The story raises questions as to who should have final power over life and human nature, God or humans. Shelley calls her book a Modern Prometheus, beca office there are many similarities in the plots. The Greek God, Prometheus, gave the human race fire, out of pity so they could eat, but also brought them danger, and was punished for it by Zeus. Prometheus was a hero to humans, but Dr. Victor Frankenstein is a v illain because he did nothing to contribute to the world he did everything for himself rather than using his knowledge for the good of others.Shelley does not express her views, but simply tells a story. The story explores the dire consequences of meddling in such serious matters. In a dramatic and shocking way she is more persuasive and challenging to citizenry than if she had directly preached her views. Without directly telling people what they ought to think, she is powerfully able to make people question the morality of their actions in a day of rapid scientific advances. The Gothic Novel was a very popular style of writing in the late eighteenth to mid-nineteenth century.Shelley used this style because she knew it would appeal to the masses. Its use of horror, delirium and the supernatural was exciting, intriguing and macabre. Although at one level it was frightening, it was also intriguing and compelling. Although on the surface it repelled, at a deeper level a reader was bony to the horror, just as the curious are drawn to view victims of an accident. Her clever use of horror disguises her Puritanical views by letting the dire outcome of an preoccupy doctor who creates a monster speak for itself. Victor Frankenstein Dr.Victor Frankenstein is the main protagonist of the novel and is a complex character. The bulk of the story is told from his point of view, disclosure his struggle to deal with the responsibility for the tragic consequences of his playing God by creating a monster from dead bodies he stole from graves. Frankenstein is a very futile and conceited man. He believes totally in his own ability and power. He is self-centred, but at the same time lacks self-awareness. I doubted not that I should ultimately succeed. p. 42 Frankensteins ego is so immense that he comes to see himself as God-like.His dream to create a physically superior race that allow worship him as its God is the dream of a megalomaniac. He has delusions of grandeur alm ost to the point of considering himself as the Saviour of the world. Although Dr. Frankenstein admits that he was at first shy(p) about whether he should perform the act of human mental home this hesitancy is quickly taken over by his arrogance and desire to succeed. He thinks he can do no wrong. I doubted at first but my imagination was too much exalted to permit me to doubt of my ability p. 42Frankenstein in one sense is an idealist in that he wanted to create a perfect race, a better race than current, imperfect humanity. He has a vision of an army of physically superior humans with high intelligence. However the reality of his method is to combine a collection of different consistency parts from different human beings, with different proportions, from graves and vaults. His ideal is very different to reality, showing how out of touch with reality he really is. It also shows his immorality, for he disregards authority and has a lack of respect for the dead.Frankensteins readi ness to mutilate and steal bodies shows that he thinks of the deceased bodies as merely physical carcasses for use at his disposal. He seems to have no morals or ethics at all and doesnt even think about the consequences if he was caught. I collected bones from charnel-houses and disturbed, with profane fingers, the tremendous secrets of the human frame. p. 43 Frankensteins obsession with creation drives him to break down the boundaries of life and death. He is oblivious to the out-of-door world and nothing else matters to him. Still urged on by an eagerness which perpetually increased, I brought my work near to a conclusion. p. 43 But once creating his being, when the whale awakes, Frankenstein is terrified by it, and runs away. His ideal of a perfect, flawless being is crushed at the sight of his hideous creation. Frankenstein instantly rejects the Monster, fleeing from its outstretched arms. He is judgemental and shallow, judging his creation on looks, not personality. Howeve r, scientists are supposed to be objective instead of subjective. Now I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished P.