"That is also my victim!" he exclaimed; "in his murder my crimes are consummated; the miserable series of my being is wound to its close!" page 163
After Victor dies, the creature comes to the place of his body. This scene was contradicting for me too. The creature says, " Oh Frankenstein! generous and self-devoted being! what does it avail that I now ask thee to pardon me? I, who irretrievably destroyed thee by destroying all thou lovedst." (page 163) The creature hated Victor because he abandoned him and didn't grant him his only wish yet now he is asking for his forgiveness? It makes met think that the creature is being sarcastic, especially when he calls Victor "generous". But then again, I think the creature does have a good heart, he just felt betrayed by Victor and excluded from society. He killed the people he did because no one would accept him or try to get to know him. I think the creature came to see Victor because he wanted to finish what he started. Once Victor decided not to make a companion for the creature, the creature knew he would never be happy. He had to kill Victor and his loved ones to show Victor how much pain he had caused the creature.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
The Blame Game
"During these last days I have been occupied in examining my past conduct; nor do I find it blameable. In a fit of enthusiastic madness I created a rational creature, and was bound towards him, to assure, as far as was in my power, his happiness and well-being." page 161
Hmm that's weird because it didn't seem like Victor was trying to make the creature happy at all! I feel like Victor is contradicting himself in this statement. He says that he doesn't think he should be blamed for everything that happened because he wasn't intending harm to occur. I do understand that because Victor didn't create the monster with an intent to endanger human kind, especially his family. However, I do think Victor should be held responsible for creating the monster and then running away and leaving the monster to fend for himself. How did Victor expect the creature to act when he completely abandoned him? One reason why I think Victor's statement is contradictory is because earlier in the book, after Henry died, Victor is blaming himself for what happened. "Justine, poor unhappy Justine, was as innocent as I, and she suffered the same charge; she died for it; and I am the cause of this- I murdered her. William, Justine, and Henry- they all died by my hands." (page 136) Here, Victor is blaming himself because he created the monster that killed those characters. I don't think Victor should be blamed for everything that happened because he didn't create the monster maliciously, but he still has to take some of the blame because he did bring the creature into existence and leave it alone to learn from society how to act.
Hmm that's weird because it didn't seem like Victor was trying to make the creature happy at all! I feel like Victor is contradicting himself in this statement. He says that he doesn't think he should be blamed for everything that happened because he wasn't intending harm to occur. I do understand that because Victor didn't create the monster with an intent to endanger human kind, especially his family. However, I do think Victor should be held responsible for creating the monster and then running away and leaving the monster to fend for himself. How did Victor expect the creature to act when he completely abandoned him? One reason why I think Victor's statement is contradictory is because earlier in the book, after Henry died, Victor is blaming himself for what happened. "Justine, poor unhappy Justine, was as innocent as I, and she suffered the same charge; she died for it; and I am the cause of this- I murdered her. William, Justine, and Henry- they all died by my hands." (page 136) Here, Victor is blaming himself because he created the monster that killed those characters. I don't think Victor should be blamed for everything that happened because he didn't create the monster maliciously, but he still has to take some of the blame because he did bring the creature into existence and leave it alone to learn from society how to act.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
A Story Within A Story Within A Story
"It is with considerable difficulty that I remember the original era of my being: all the events of that period appear confused and indistinct." page 70
The creature telling his story of what he did the past two years marks another frame story. I almost forgot that Robert Walton was even a character in this book because it's been so long since he was in the story. So Walton is telling his sister a story that Victor told him and know the creature is telling Victor a story. That's pretty confusing if you word it that way. However, I think the idea of multiple frame stories is a good idea. It keeps the reader engaged in the story by offering more and more plots. Also, I like that each story has a different point of view. Up til this point, I have no idea what the creature thinks or feels. This third frame story allows me to see not only what the creature has been up to, but what he was feeling at every step on his journey which I think is really cool.
The creature telling his story of what he did the past two years marks another frame story. I almost forgot that Robert Walton was even a character in this book because it's been so long since he was in the story. So Walton is telling his sister a story that Victor told him and know the creature is telling Victor a story. That's pretty confusing if you word it that way. However, I think the idea of multiple frame stories is a good idea. It keeps the reader engaged in the story by offering more and more plots. Also, I like that each story has a different point of view. Up til this point, I have no idea what the creature thinks or feels. This third frame story allows me to see not only what the creature has been up to, but what he was feeling at every step on his journey which I think is really cool.
Poor Creature
"They spurn and hate me. The desert mountains and dreary glaciers are my refuge. I have wandered here many days; the caves of ice, which I only do not fear, are a dwelling to me, and the only one which man does not grudge." page 69
I really feel bad for the creature. I greatly sympathize with him because he is completely on his own. Starting from the very first day he was created, he had to learn to live on his own because his own creator deserted him. He can't go anywhere with people or meet anyone because everyone is petrified of his looks. I can't imagine not being able to walk, talk or know what's going on and being left in the world to fend for myself. It's remarkable that the creature is talking and thinking philosophically and this makes me have a lot of respect for him. The creature's misfortunes makes Victor look like the bad guy. It's definitely the opposite of what I first thought because I envisioned the creature being this horrible being trying to maliciously kill people which isn't true at all.
I really feel bad for the creature. I greatly sympathize with him because he is completely on his own. Starting from the very first day he was created, he had to learn to live on his own because his own creator deserted him. He can't go anywhere with people or meet anyone because everyone is petrified of his looks. I can't imagine not being able to walk, talk or know what's going on and being left in the world to fend for myself. It's remarkable that the creature is talking and thinking philosophically and this makes me have a lot of respect for him. The creature's misfortunes makes Victor look like the bad guy. It's definitely the opposite of what I first thought because I envisioned the creature being this horrible being trying to maliciously kill people which isn't true at all.
The Monster Was Born
"He might have spoken but I did not hear; one hand was stretched out, seemingly to detain me, but I escaped, and rushed downstairs." page 35-36
I found this scene to be very ironic and puzzling. Victor spends all this time researching and planning how he is going to invent this creature. He puts so much time and effort into making it and sacrifices his social life. When he has finally accomplished what he has been working so hard on, he runs away. I repeat, he runs away. This is irony. Definitely the opposite of what I expected to happen which I feel like may be the reason why the author used the irony. The fact that he ran away really irritated me too. Victor had to have some inclination that the monster would come after him, and he made him to be eight feet tall! But to make the situation even more ironic, the monster wasn't even trying to hurt Victor, he was trying to get Victor's attention, like a child seeking their parent's attention.
I found this scene to be very ironic and puzzling. Victor spends all this time researching and planning how he is going to invent this creature. He puts so much time and effort into making it and sacrifices his social life. When he has finally accomplished what he has been working so hard on, he runs away. I repeat, he runs away. This is irony. Definitely the opposite of what I expected to happen which I feel like may be the reason why the author used the irony. The fact that he ran away really irritated me too. Victor had to have some inclination that the monster would come after him, and he made him to be eight feet tall! But to make the situation even more ironic, the monster wasn't even trying to hurt Victor, he was trying to get Victor's attention, like a child seeking their parent's attention.
Oh Victor
"Dear Sir, you are very kind to visit me; you, I hope, do not believe that I am guilty."
"I could not answer." page 59
I feel like Victor is a protagonist and an antagonist. He is the main character of the story and I do sympathize with him because he feels like he is responsible for William's death because he created the creature. However, if he is so certain that the creature murdered William then why does he sit back and let Justine be convicted of the crime??! In that way I feel that Victor is the antagonist because he is creating more troubles and problems for people. He angers the creature by leaving him and being cruel to him when he sees him which I think could cause the creature to act out which won't be good for anyone. I think Victor has good intentions just like he was really interested in science and wanted to invent something new. But he makes bad decisions sometimes. Letting Justine be killed and running away from the creature literally seconds after creating him were two examples of those bad decisions.
"I could not answer." page 59
I feel like Victor is a protagonist and an antagonist. He is the main character of the story and I do sympathize with him because he feels like he is responsible for William's death because he created the creature. However, if he is so certain that the creature murdered William then why does he sit back and let Justine be convicted of the crime??! In that way I feel that Victor is the antagonist because he is creating more troubles and problems for people. He angers the creature by leaving him and being cruel to him when he sees him which I think could cause the creature to act out which won't be good for anyone. I think Victor has good intentions just like he was really interested in science and wanted to invent something new. But he makes bad decisions sometimes. Letting Justine be killed and running away from the creature literally seconds after creating him were two examples of those bad decisions.
Smart Cookie
"Remember that I am thy creature; I ought to be thy Adam, but I am rather the fallen angel, whom thou drivest from joy for no misdeed" page 69
When Victor finds the creature, I was expecting the creature to be violent and speak in moans and groans. However, the creature calmly approaches Victor and speaks extremely eloquently and maturely like he has known the language for years. Then he makes an allusion to the biblical story of Adam and Eve. I think the author does this to show how far advanced the creature really is. In order to make that kind of allusion, the creature must have an understanding of the bible, literature and human interactions. That is something not found in a two year old. I think something must have happened to the creature that made him learn these things so quickly. He seems very mature, even more mature than Victor.
When Victor finds the creature, I was expecting the creature to be violent and speak in moans and groans. However, the creature calmly approaches Victor and speaks extremely eloquently and maturely like he has known the language for years. Then he makes an allusion to the biblical story of Adam and Eve. I think the author does this to show how far advanced the creature really is. In order to make that kind of allusion, the creature must have an understanding of the bible, literature and human interactions. That is something not found in a two year old. I think something must have happened to the creature that made him learn these things so quickly. He seems very mature, even more mature than Victor.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)