The Driving Force In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
The Truth of Frankenstein
What is the driving force behind all mankind for good or bad? It drives humanity to the farthest edges of sanity and in the midst of it all, they lose themselves. Mary Shelly uses revenge as a driving force in her novel Frankenstein. This is seen through the plot, characterization, and dialogue.
In Frankenstein’s plot, we see revenge as a force constantly driving the story to stay alive like a heartbeat. While studying at the university, Victor is told all the subjects on which he has been studying and striving for his whole life are in vain. Thus, in rather disgust, he strives to prove his professors wrong. He is spurred by the drive of vengeance and revenge saying: “I will pioneer a new way, explore unknown …show more content…
After Victor flees the monster, the monster is left to fend for himself. During this time, the monster becomes extremely lonely and depressed. He knows nothing of his origin yet seeks refuge in the woods. There he discovers a humble cottage in which a family lives. Becoming amazed by humanity, the monster lives by them for some time. Yet, eventually his loneliness overtakes him and he wishes to move in with them. They immediately call him a hideous wretch cast him out. The monster blames Victor for his loneliness and hideous appearance: “Cursed, cursed creator why do I live?! Why in that instant did I not extinguish the spark of existence you bestowed? . . . My feelings were that of rage and revenge.” (Shelly 97). This instant in which the monster is further abandoned causes him on a search in vengeance to find Victor and to confront him. Because of the monster’s characterization, being loneliness, it motivates him to revenge. As the monster travels in search of Victor, he saves a small human from dying. When the others see him and his hideous appearance, they shoot him. The monster flees in anguish and is distraught: “This is the reward of my benevolence? . . . Kindness gave way to rage and gnashing of teeth . . . I vowed eternal hatred and vengeance to all mankind.” (Shelly 101). “Thanks to the lessons of Felix, I have learned how to wreak mischief.” (Shelly 103). Since the monster’s own depiction is that of loneliness and isolation, naturally anyone would want company yet because of his appearance, he is outcast from all humanity including his own creator. Such a situation causes the monster incredible anguish and
What is the driving force behind all mankind for good or bad? It drives humanity to the farthest edges of sanity and in the midst of it all, they lose themselves. Mary Shelly uses revenge as a driving force in her novel Frankenstein. This is seen through the plot, characterization, and dialogue.
In Frankenstein’s plot, we see revenge as a force constantly driving the story to stay alive like a heartbeat. While studying at the university, Victor is told all the subjects on which he has been studying and striving for his whole life are in vain. Thus, in rather disgust, he strives to prove his professors wrong. He is spurred by the drive of vengeance and revenge saying: “I will pioneer a new way, explore unknown …show more content…
After Victor flees the monster, the monster is left to fend for himself. During this time, the monster becomes extremely lonely and depressed. He knows nothing of his origin yet seeks refuge in the woods. There he discovers a humble cottage in which a family lives. Becoming amazed by humanity, the monster lives by them for some time. Yet, eventually his loneliness overtakes him and he wishes to move in with them. They immediately call him a hideous wretch cast him out. The monster blames Victor for his loneliness and hideous appearance: “Cursed, cursed creator why do I live?! Why in that instant did I not extinguish the spark of existence you bestowed? . . . My feelings were that of rage and revenge.” (Shelly 97). This instant in which the monster is further abandoned causes him on a search in vengeance to find Victor and to confront him. Because of the monster’s characterization, being loneliness, it motivates him to revenge. As the monster travels in search of Victor, he saves a small human from dying. When the others see him and his hideous appearance, they shoot him. The monster flees in anguish and is distraught: “This is the reward of my benevolence? . . . Kindness gave way to rage and gnashing of teeth . . . I vowed eternal hatred and vengeance to all mankind.” (Shelly 101). “Thanks to the lessons of Felix, I have learned how to wreak mischief.” (Shelly 103). Since the monster’s own depiction is that of loneliness and isolation, naturally anyone would want company yet because of his appearance, he is outcast from all humanity including his own creator. Such a situation causes the monster incredible anguish and