The creature becomes corrupted after various bad experiences such as the treatment from the peasants, Frankenstein, the DeLacey family and the father of the drowning girl he saves. His change in character is shown when he says ‘For the first time, feelings of revenge and hatred filled my bosom.’ He is angry because his creator Frankenstein, who has supposed to be like a father, left him stranded.
The DeLacey family, who he helped so much, were so ungrateful and aggressive towards him. Then the icing on the cake, the man who shot him in the leg when he saved his daughter from drowning in the river! What a way of thanking some one? All these situations make us pity the good-hearted creature that hadn’t done any harm to receive such repayment. The creature has no other option but to treat people how they treated him, because that’s all he knows, that’s all he has learnt since he arrived on this planet.
The creature commits terrible atrocities such as the murder of Victor’s younger brother William, then framing the innocent Justine, which concluded in her death. And, later the attacks on Clerval and Elizabeth. Shelley gives the impression that the creature is commiting these crimes in revenge and through helplessness. It makes us think that the only way the creature will get justice is if Frankenstein suffers for what he has done. At this part of the story we begin to ask ourselves if what the creature is doing is right or wrong? The creature perceives himself to be stronger and have more power, this is shown when he says ‘Remember I have power, you are my creator but I am your master. OK.’ He now seems much more threatening and evil.
My final impression of the creature is rather ambivalent. Shelley portrays him as both a villain and a victim at different times in the story. However, The creature is a victim who has been pressured by society and discriminated against, therefore forcing him to commit the horrible atrocities. The creature becomes corrupted after various bad experiences such as the treatment from the peasants, Frankenstein, the DeLacey family and the father of the drowning girl he saves. His change in character is shown when he says ‘For the first time, feelings of revenge and hatred filled my bosom.’
He is angry because his creator Frankenstein, who has supposed to be like a father, left him stranded. The DeLacey family, who he helped so much, were so ungrateful and aggressive towards him. Then the icing on the cake, the man who shot him in the leg when he saved his daughter from drowning in the river! What a way of thanking some one? All these situations make us pity the good-hearted creature that hadn’t done any harm to receive such repayment. The creature has no other option but to treat people how they treated him, because that’s all he knows, that’s all he has learnt since he arrived on this planet.
The creature commits terrible atrocities such as the murder of Victor’s younger brother William, then framing the innocent Justine, which concluded in her death. And, later the attacks on Clerval and Elizabeth. Shelley gives the impression that the creature is commiting these crimes in revenge and through helplessness. It makes us think that the only way the creature will get justice is if Frankenstein suffers for what he has done. At this part of the story we begin to ask ourselves if what the creature is doing is right or wrong? The creature perceives himself to be stronger and have more power, this is shown when he says ‘Remember I have power, you are my creator but I am your master. OK.’ He now seems much more threatening and evil.
My final impression of the creature is rather ambivalent. Shelley portrays him as both a villain and a victim at different times in the story. However, The creature is a victim who has been pressured by society and discriminated against, therefore forcing him to commit the horrible atrocities. Frankenstein and Walton both learnt that confidence and ambition are good to a certain extent, its healthy until it leads onto obsession. You should also think before you do something as actions lead to consequences.
‘Frankenstein’ may have been written to make us think about issues such as the French Revolution, the gift of knowledge, science and human nature. Shelley was only nineteen years old when she wrote ‘Frankenstein’, some people say she was inspired by a baby that died. Around the time she was writing the book science was poorly understood and a new subject all together, scientists were trying to use electricity for reanimation. The French Revolution was considered to be a reign of terror and consequently named a ‘god less monster’. This is mirrored by the creation of the creature and his outrageous monstrosities.
The French revolution was out of control just like the creature in the story. Burke describes it as ‘a species of political monster, which has always ended by devouring those who have produced it.’ Shelley might want us to see how Frankenstein abused God and so does science. The story makes us wonder if knowledge is bad? Knowledge provides us with good inventions but can also lead to bad consequences if misused.both learnt that confidence and ambition are good to a certain extent, its healthy until it leads onto obsession. You should also think before you do something as actions lead to consequences.
‘Frankenstein’ may have been written to make us think about issues such as the French Revolution, the gift of knowledge, science and human nature. Shelley was only nineteen years old when she wrote ‘Frankenstein’, some people say she was inspired by a baby that died. Around the time she was writing the book science was poorly understood and a new subject all together, scientists were trying to use electricity for reanimation. The French Revolution was considered to be a reign of terror and consequently named a ‘god less monster’. This is mirrored by the creation of the creature and his outrageous monstrosities.
The French revolution was out of control just like the creature in the story. Burke describes it as ‘a species of political monster, which has always ended by devouring those who have produced it.’ Shelley might want us to see how Frankenstein abused God and so does science. The story makes us wonder if knowledge is bad? Knowledge provides us with good inventions but can also lead to bad consequences if misused.
