Frankenstein And Heart Of Darkness
Although the novels are written nearly a century apart, some common themes are recognizable and close analysis of the text reveals that the authors share common messages for the reader. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is a gothic science fiction novel; while Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad is an adventure novel. Both novels are told in a first-person narrative style. In Heart of Darkness, Conrad breathes life into Kurtz through Marlow’s narration of his experience in the Congo. In Frankenstein, Victor's story is revealed to the reader through letters that Walton writes recording his account of Victor’s story. Through these novels, the authors share their philosophical commentaries on themes such as obsession, public opinion, and the repercussions
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With the addition of this thematic entity, the authors are trying to communicate that an individual’s moral standards are very malleable and when given the opportunity, one will succumb to their deepest, darkest desires and even act barbarically and commit nefarious acts. Both Frankenstein and Kurtz are oblivious to their own flaws and believe that they are superior than everyone and they alone can contribute marvelous things to the world; which uncovers a severe level of moral instability. Victor forces himself to reject any sympathy he begins to feel for the monster and fails to recognize the humanity in him. Moreover, until the end, he blamed the creature for his misery, oblivious to the fact that his fate might not have been this one if only he had taken responsibility for his creation regardless of its appearance. In other words, he could not see the extent to which the events that occurred were solely his fault. Because of this, one could say that Victor lacked a sense of self awareness, responsibility, and guilt. Frankenstein was able to successfully animate life, but in not taking responsibility, nurturing, and educating his creation he failed to fulfil his parental and scientific responsibility as a creator and thereby, brought about his own doom. Imperialism, on the other hand, brought forth horrendous consequences because of the disregard and care the colonists, namely Kurtz, showed the natives. For Kurtz, the “heart of darkness” is Africa, and it is depicted as the place of wonder and lust for wealth and adventure which reveals the inner evil of man and displays it through their actions. Similarly to Victor, the European colonist express an innate inability to nurture and respect what they have conquered. The colonists display a remarkable lack of responsibility for all the countless lives they affect.
With the addition of this thematic entity, the authors are trying to communicate that an individual’s moral standards are very malleable and when given the opportunity, one will succumb to their deepest, darkest desires and even act barbarically and commit nefarious acts. Both Frankenstein and Kurtz are oblivious to their own flaws and believe that they are superior than everyone and they alone can contribute marvelous things to the world; which uncovers a severe level of moral instability. Victor forces himself to reject any sympathy he begins to feel for the monster and fails to recognize the humanity in him. Moreover, until the end, he blamed the creature for his misery, oblivious to the fact that his fate might not have been this one if only he had taken responsibility for his creation regardless of its appearance. In other words, he could not see the extent to which the events that occurred were solely his fault. Because of this, one could say that Victor lacked a sense of self awareness, responsibility, and guilt. Frankenstein was able to successfully animate life, but in not taking responsibility, nurturing, and educating his creation he failed to fulfil his parental and scientific responsibility as a creator and thereby, brought about his own doom. Imperialism, on the other hand, brought forth horrendous consequences because of the disregard and care the colonists, namely Kurtz, showed the natives. For Kurtz, the “heart of darkness” is Africa, and it is depicted as the place of wonder and lust for wealth and adventure which reveals the inner evil of man and displays it through their actions. Similarly to Victor, the European colonist express an innate inability to nurture and respect what they have conquered. The colonists display a remarkable lack of responsibility for all the countless lives they affect.