Frankenstein Group at eNotes

I would say Victor's motives may not have been motivated by evil, but...

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 21:00:38 PST

I would say Victor's motives may not have been motivated by evil, but rather shock and fear. He ran away from his creature because it did not resemble what he thought it would. The Creature's actions, by comparison, are much worse than simply leaving someone, yet in most of them he is driven by anger. Since Frankenstein created the monster, it could be argued that his arrogance brought his troubles down upon him, thus starting the whole chain...

In Chapter 2, Victor narrates his growing interest in the metaphysical...

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 11:39:14 PST

In Chapter 2, Victor narrates his growing interest in the metaphysical realm, almost a sci-fi version of science and philosophy. He would have believed in supernatural occurrences and ideas rather than pure, proveable science. While Victor's father Alphonse is not happy with Victor's reading choices, it is not Victor's dad's disapproval that turns him away from the study of metaphysics. In Chapter 2, Victor states: "Thus for a time I...

In Chapter 2 of Frankenstein, what prevents Victor from continuing his...

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 10:26:36 PST

In Chapter 2 of Frankenstein, what prevents Victor from continuing his studies?

Grammardog Guide to Frankenstein

The first poster fully articulated the isolation of the monster in the...

Sat, 13 Jun 2009 12:05:11 PST

The first poster fully articulated the isolation of the monster in the novel, so I'll give you some other instances. Victor's quest for ultimate knowledge leads to isolation from his family and friends. Indeed, he does not correspond with them for 6 years, devoting his entire life to the study of reanimation. He locks himself in his apartment, refusing to acknowledge those around him. This is similar to Walton's quest-another search for...

I will take a stand in favor of the creature- And here's why: When you...

Sat, 13 Jun 2009 07:28:30 PST

I will take a stand in favor of the creature- And here's why: When you first read the story, Frankenstein, you naturally expect that "the monster" would act and react as such. Yet, when the monster's turn comes and the words start coming out of his soul, you instantly feel an emotional connection of human emotion that is not as quick to establish with the character of Victor. The words and feelings that come as a result of the monster's...

There are plenty instances, as one of the main themes in the story is...

Sat, 13 Jun 2009 06:55:52 PST

There are plenty instances, as one of the main themes in the story is isolation. On Ch. 16, the complete sentence reads: I am alone, and miserable; man will not associate with me; but one as deformed and horrible as myself would not deny herself to me. My companion must be of the same species, and have the same defects. This being you must create." The monster had been wondering for a while, after realizing his isolation is not only from...

How does this quote from "Frankenstein link to the theme of isolation: ...

Sat, 13 Jun 2009 06:35:27 PST

How does this quote from "Frankenstein link to the theme of isolation: "I am alone, and miserable".

I would say both yes and no. I agree with timbrady that the "human...

Sat, 13 Jun 2009 00:17:09 PST

I would say both yes and no. I agree with timbrady that the "human condition" is certainly visible in the behavior and motivations of both Victor and his creation, in both positive and negative ways. The creature has initially "good" motivations; the desire to belong, the desire to learn, the desire to love and be loved. It is the rejection by his creator that unleashes the negative within him, the impulse to murder and destroy in every...

I'm not sure about this. The creature certainly experiences some very...

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 18:27:32 PST

I'm not sure about this. The creature certainly experiences some very noble and human emotions, and asks questions that make his creator seem less than human. Certainly Victor's rejection of his creation when it comes to life doesn't teach us much about what it means to be human. But in many other areas of his life, including his initial motivation, to destroy death, and noble human aspirations. The creature aspires to be human, but he...

Can we learn more of what it is to be human from the creature than from...

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:52:10 PST

Its an essay question and i can't seem to explain anything deeper then the emotions that the monster is able to posess despite evenrything Victor has done to it throughout the story.

Shelley used this allusion to the three works to illustrate the themes...

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 08:50:49 PST

Shelley used this allusion to the three works to illustrate the themes that she is trying to bring forward. Instead of just saying "this is a story about a scientist creating a monster" she brings Paradise Lost, for example, to demonstrate that the themes are closely connected. In Paradise Lost, for example, the figure of Adam shares two things with the Monster 1. They did not ask to be created b. They either fell from or never got to...

In Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, why does the author include...

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 07:56:37 PST

In Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, why does the author include references to Paradise Lost and Rime of the Ancient Mariner?

Victor is the greatest example of free will at work. As a representation...

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:00:59 PST

Victor is the greatest example of free will at work. As a representation of science, he is a living symbol of each human's control over his/her own life, and his pursuit of knowledge at any cost leads to the creation of the monster. His choice to run away, rather than face what he has done, is a direct cause of the deaths of his loved ones. In fact, before Justine's execution, he makes the choice not to reveal his secret, which could have...

What are some examples of characters that have free will or choice of...

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 11:59:13 PST

What are some examples of characters that have free will or choice of action which lead to their demise in Frankenstein?

Victor had been consumed by the pressure of his creation, the monster,...

Sun, 31 May 2009 08:52:05 PST

Victor had been consumed by the pressure of his creation, the monster, and that was one thing. To have now to repeat the process also to please the monster was a bit too much for him. Henry had already become enamoured with science, and one could argue that he could take a tragic turn like Victor did. However, that is speculation. What we do know is that Victor was ready to break the acquaintance with the monster, create the next hideous...

You might also focus on the fact that until the DeNiro version, no movie...

Sun, 31 May 2009 08:27:01 PST

You might also focus on the fact that until the DeNiro version, no movie accurately portrays the creature as a living, thinking, feeling creation. All we get is the monsters who moan and walk around as if they have no knees or elbows moaning unintelligible syllables. I always wondered why they went that route when the creature in the Shelley's book is obviously an intelligent being, capable of learning and reasoning. Does it just make...

I agree with Tim. The creature acts out against Victor (man vs. man),...

Sun, 31 May 2009 08:20:15 PST

I agree with Tim. The creature acts out against Victor (man vs. man), however, in doing so, he kills many members of Victor's society--family and friends. He also draws Victor out of society and into the cold regions of the antarctic where he leaves him food and directions so they could continue their strange "relationship" until one or the other dies. At this point in the story, they need each other--the creature needs Victor for...

I don't think so. Frankenstein chooses to abandon his creation. It...

Sun, 31 May 2009 08:14:19 PST

I don't think so. Frankenstein chooses to abandon his creation. It is no different than giving birth to a child and leaving it out in the streets to the mercy of the elements and wild animals. He knew what he was doing, and he chose this route. In fact, you can trace it all the way back to the beginning of his experiments--he continued to write in his journal that he found his creature "beautiful" only to discover how wrong he was when...

While I am by no means justifying or agree with the creature's murder...

Sun, 31 May 2009 08:08:02 PST

While I am by no means justifying or agree with the creature's murder spree, we must not forget to focus on the fact that the individuals he kills are all related to Victor Frankenstein. The creature wants vengence on one person only--the "father" figure who abadoned him without any thought to the creature's future or treatment by society. We have absolutely no reason to believe that the creature would continue to rage against all humanity...