Why does Victor decide to discontinue his efforts to create a "bride" the creature? What does this reveal about Victor's state of mind? Is this a wise decision on his part?
Victor decides to discontinue creating the bride because he doesn't want to bring another unwanted creature into the world. He knew that his first creation wasn't accepted by society, making another one would just make things worse and possibly dangerous. It's not very wise because the monster kills his wife later, which sucks. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Victor abruptly ends the creation of a bride for his Creature the moment he perceives the Creature watching him outside the window of his lab. The sight of the Creature grinning grotesquely beyond the frame of the window engenders a revelation within Victor - he sees only more death, destruction and agony following behind the creation of another volatile Creature, which he does not take responsibility for. In a state of terror - and quite discombobulated frame of mind - Victor destroys his lab and the bride for his Creature. Victor is paranoid with good reason - due to the monster's actions - though he is also hypocritical - he tangled himself within the catastrophes accompanying the task of "playing God" and refuses to accept responsibility for it. The decision was by no means wise for it further conveys Victor as a man who leaves all tasks unfinished - he creates the Creature but does not nurture or teach him; he promises his Creature a bride but foolishly breaks the promise.
Victor is reminded by the sight of the creature of the horrible potential his new creation brings into the world. He sees in his first creation "malice and treachery." (148) He realizes that what he is doing is "madness" (148) and destroys the female monster. This action reveals Victor's instability. He is indecisive and wavering in those decisions he does manage to make, and is prone to violent changes of temperament. He is not always behaving logically, and is at times selfish. To determine if this was a wise choice, one must understand what the ultimate goal is. If Victor's goal is to increase his own personal happiness, than the destruction of the female creature was a poor choice because it cost him the life of his own wife. If his objective was to increase the happiness of the world, then what he did was wise because the new monster he made could have killed more people.
Victor discontinues his effort to create a mate for the creature because he thought of the possibility that the female creature may not want to be with Victors original creature. Victor also thinks of the possibility that this may result in the creation of an evil race of devils. I think Victors state of mind in this situation is somewhat thoughtful of the fact that he is wondering if the female creature wants to live the same life as Victors original creation, but Victors thought process is also narrow minded in the fact that he cannot think of a possibility where the creature and his offspring are not pure evil. I believe that this is a wise decision on Victors part mainly because Victor had already played God and created life, and he should not do so a second time.
It wasn't that he was choosing to be hurtful and malicious to the creature. He wanted him to have a companion. And we saw how conflicted Victor was throughout this whole ordeal.
From the moment the creature met him in the mountains, we saw Victor change his mindset from completely hatred to actually feelings deep sympathy for this creature... even to the point of complying with the monster's wish to create a mate for it. Even though that whole time he had thoughts that he was endangering the entire world by giving this evil monster a mate, therefore giving them the opportunity produce offspring and creating a new form of 'people' which could destroy the human race for all he knew. And from what Victor new of the monster, murder was a very real thing. In the end, he could not go through with it. I would think it to be absolutely stupid and unrealistic had he completed that creature. Why would you risk everything, in order to make one monster happy, when you could just not make the creature and save the Earth? Bottom line, I do not believe Victor was punishing the creature; he wanted to give him what he wanted! He even went against his own morals and conscience, but he just could not do that. He had to protect society. And so in doing that, his actions had to go against the creature. We all saw how conflicted Victor was during this time. And in response, the creature showed so much evil and hatred towards Victor. I was absolutely disgusted. If the creature wanted something, killing every person that has ever been important to Victor is not the way to go about it. Just my opinion.
Victor decided to forfeit the task of completing a mate for the monster due to simple fact that he finally came to terms with the repercussions of his actions. While I feel like this is slightly repetitive, when Victor saw the monster monitoring his creation, he immediately destroyed his original project. I believe that this was an impulse decision, however, I believe this was the right thing to do. Victor was wrong from the beginning to impede on the natural cycles of life and death, therefore, not only was Victor wrong in the creation of the "bride" but also the monster alone. Overall, Victor neglected the monster and his reasoning for creating the spouse was just to farther remove himself. The text that I was going to post was the same as Sarah's, on the madness of his decision. This just further explains Victor's mindset at this point. The "madness" Victor experienced was not fixed by destroying the female, it did nonetheless stop further harm.
Victor fears that by creating another creature, it will just be adding another problem to society. Not mention that they could multiply over the years. So he immediately tears his half-finished creation apart. At the time he tears it apart, he is exhausted from lack of food, sleep, and exercise. It reveals that Victor is not thinking straight because he knows that the creature means no harm at all and just wants to be alone with a significant other. Overall this was not a wise decision because the creature kills the rest of his family and then finally, Victor.
Victor finally sides with his own reasoning, remembering the deaths of his family. The monster, at this point, already created such wretchedness in his life that it was not worth the unknown harms that would come from doubling this terror. Victor wishes for the greater good, but isn't certain what that is. The intelligence in this decision comes from whether you believe he saved more. We can't be certain just what would have happened if the creature was created. In the ideal situation the monster paints before hand, Victor made a terrible decision. As for his stress levels, probably an A+ decision.
Victor decides not to go through with the completion of his second creature after he analyzes the possible negative consequences of finishing the "bride." However this time he has taken into account the harmful repercussions targeting not only himself but the rest of human society. He responds to this realization when he says, "I shuddered to think that future ages might curse me as their pest, whose selfishness had not hesitated to buy its own peace at the price, perhaps, of the existence of the whole human race (156)." Victor most likely made the best decision for other people, in the fact that the disaster from one creature would not be doubled and spread across the land, but in this predicament the sacrificing of his own happiness and well-being would result in more suffering and tragedy in his own life.
It's interesting that Victor went so long - months - before he finally realized what he was doing. I think this also reveals that he is a very weak man, easily manipulated by others and his emotions.
Victor decides to not finish his second creation because he realizes that if he does this, he will just be creating another that is just like the one being he despises. Victor realizes what a mistake he made in creating the first one, why would he want to create a second? He understands that he would just be doubling the chance of surrounding people to get hurt or even killed. And who knows what kind of misfortune for others they could accomplish together! Victor made the right decision in not finishing the second creation. There is also the question of whether or not they would be able to reproduce. Why would Victor want more of these beings running around England and following in their parents footsteps?
I think Victor's original decision to make the creature was flawed, and therefore, most of his decisions jolting off the original became tainted in some way, whether self-motivated or motivated by care for the world. He denied the creature a bride he was halfway through creating. While he deprived his being of any happiness, he potentially saved the world from destruction. In doing this he also destroyed a life already ordained. (I related this decision to kill the unborn to a modern-day abortion in theory.) This decision was perhaps wise from a global standpoint, and perhaps slightly noble, but even then, when taking a closer look at his reasoning on page 156, his decision is riddled with selfishness. He "shuddered to think that future generations would curse him as their pest" giving more care to his memory than to the lives of the afflicted. Victor's main problem is selfishness, so irregardless of a wise decision, he cannot make ANY decision without first examining the personal pros and cons.
As I stated in another post, Victor discontinues this process because of the unknown consequences. It is impossible to tell whether he made the right choice or not because either choice had the potential to go wrong. As Ellen mentioned, it was his original decision to make this creature in the first place that messed everything up. Victor finally gets some common sense after he's already screwed his life up and decides to think about the further consequences of creating a new being. In chapter 20, on page 155, he states, "I was about to form another being of whose dispositions I was alike ignorant." It's great that he is finally starting to focus on the future rather than doing something rash and not thought through, however it's too late to save himself from suffering.
Victor decides to discontinue creating the bride because he doesn't want to bring another unwanted creature into the world. He knew that his first creation wasn't accepted by society, making another one would just make things worse and possibly dangerous. It's not very wise because the monster kills his wife later, which sucks. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
ReplyDeleteVictor abruptly ends the creation of a bride for his Creature the moment he perceives the Creature watching him outside the window of his lab. The sight of the Creature grinning grotesquely beyond the frame of the window engenders a revelation within Victor - he sees only more death, destruction and agony following behind the creation of another volatile Creature, which he does not take responsibility for. In a state of terror - and quite discombobulated frame of mind - Victor destroys his lab and the bride for his Creature. Victor is paranoid with good reason - due to the monster's actions - though he is also hypocritical - he tangled himself within the catastrophes accompanying the task of "playing God" and refuses to accept responsibility for it. The decision was by no means wise for it further conveys Victor as a man who leaves all tasks unfinished - he creates the Creature but does not nurture or teach him; he promises his Creature a bride but foolishly breaks the promise.
ReplyDeleteVictor is reminded by the sight of the creature of the horrible potential his new creation brings into the world. He sees in his first creation "malice and treachery." (148) He realizes that what he is doing is "madness" (148) and destroys the female monster.
ReplyDeleteThis action reveals Victor's instability. He is indecisive and wavering in those decisions he does manage to make, and is prone to violent changes of temperament. He is not always behaving logically, and is at times selfish.
To determine if this was a wise choice, one must understand what the ultimate goal is. If Victor's goal is to increase his own personal happiness, than the destruction of the female creature was a poor choice because it cost him the life of his own wife.
If his objective was to increase the happiness of the world, then what he did was wise because the new monster he made could have killed more people.
@sarah: thank you for consistently referencing text! I appreciate it, and it reveals a clear and deep understanding of the novel.
ReplyDeleteVictor discontinues his effort to create a mate for the creature because he thought of the possibility that the female creature may not want to be with Victors original creature. Victor also thinks of the possibility that this may result in the creation of an evil race of devils. I think Victors state of mind in this situation is somewhat thoughtful of the fact that he is wondering if the female creature wants to live the same life as Victors original creation, but Victors thought process is also narrow minded in the fact that he cannot think of a possibility where the creature and his offspring are not pure evil. I believe that this is a wise decision on Victors part mainly because Victor had already played God and created life, and he should not do so a second time.
ReplyDeleteI thought this was definitely the right decision.
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't that he was choosing to be hurtful and malicious to the creature. He wanted him to have a companion. And we saw how conflicted Victor was throughout this whole ordeal.
From the moment the creature met him in the mountains, we saw Victor change his mindset from completely hatred to actually feelings deep sympathy for this creature... even to the point of complying with the monster's wish to create a mate for it. Even though that whole time he had thoughts that he was endangering the entire world by giving this evil monster a mate, therefore giving them the opportunity produce offspring and creating a new form of 'people' which could destroy the human race for all he knew. And from what Victor new of the monster, murder was a very real thing. In the end, he could not go through with it. I would think it to be absolutely stupid and unrealistic had he completed that creature. Why would you risk everything, in order to make one monster happy, when you could just not make the creature and save the Earth? Bottom line, I do not believe Victor was punishing the creature; he wanted to give him what he wanted! He even went against his own morals and conscience, but he just could not do that. He had to protect society. And so in doing that, his actions had to go against the creature. We all saw how conflicted Victor was during this time. And in response, the creature showed so much evil and hatred towards Victor. I was absolutely disgusted. If the creature wanted something, killing every person that has ever been important to Victor is not the way to go about it. Just my opinion.
Victor decided to forfeit the task of completing a mate for the monster due to simple fact that he finally came to terms with the repercussions of his actions. While I feel like this is slightly repetitive, when Victor saw the monster monitoring his creation, he immediately destroyed his original project. I believe that this was an impulse decision, however, I believe this was the right thing to do. Victor was wrong from the beginning to impede on the natural cycles of life and death, therefore, not only was Victor wrong in the creation of the "bride" but also the monster alone. Overall, Victor neglected the monster and his reasoning for creating the spouse was just to farther remove himself. The text that I was going to post was the same as Sarah's, on the madness of his decision. This just further explains Victor's mindset at this point. The "madness" Victor experienced was not fixed by destroying the female, it did nonetheless stop further harm.
ReplyDeleteVictor fears that by creating another creature, it will just be adding another problem to society. Not mention that they could multiply over the years. So he immediately tears his half-finished creation apart. At the time he tears it apart, he is exhausted from lack of food, sleep, and exercise. It reveals that Victor is not thinking straight because he knows that the creature means no harm at all and just wants to be alone with a significant other. Overall this was not a wise decision because the creature kills the rest of his family and then finally, Victor.
ReplyDeleteVictor finally sides with his own reasoning, remembering the deaths of his family. The monster, at this point, already created such wretchedness in his life that it was not worth the unknown harms that would come from doubling this terror. Victor wishes for the greater good, but isn't certain what that is. The intelligence in this decision comes from whether you believe he saved more. We can't be certain just what would have happened if the creature was created. In the ideal situation the monster paints before hand, Victor made a terrible decision. As for his stress levels, probably an A+ decision.
ReplyDeleteVictor decides not to go through with the completion of his second creature after he analyzes the possible negative consequences of finishing the "bride." However this time he has taken into account the harmful repercussions targeting not only himself but the rest of human society. He responds to this realization when he says, "I shuddered to think that future ages might curse me as their pest, whose selfishness had not hesitated to buy its own peace at the price, perhaps, of the existence of the whole human race (156)." Victor most likely made the best decision for other people, in the fact that the disaster from one creature would not be doubled and spread across the land, but in this predicament the sacrificing of his own happiness and well-being would result in more suffering and tragedy in his own life.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting that Victor went so long - months - before he finally realized what he was doing. I think this also reveals that he is a very weak man, easily manipulated by others and his emotions.
ReplyDeleteVictor decides to not finish his second creation because he realizes that if he does this, he will just be creating another that is just like the one being he despises. Victor realizes what a mistake he made in creating the first one, why would he want to create a second? He understands that he would just be doubling the chance of surrounding people to get hurt or even killed. And who knows what kind of misfortune for others they could accomplish together! Victor made the right decision in not finishing the second creation. There is also the question of whether or not they would be able to reproduce. Why would Victor want more of these beings running around England and following in their parents footsteps?
ReplyDeleteI think Victor's original decision to make the creature was flawed, and therefore, most of his decisions jolting off the original became tainted in some way, whether self-motivated or motivated by care for the world. He denied the creature a bride he was halfway through creating. While he deprived his being of any happiness, he potentially saved the world from destruction. In doing this he also destroyed a life already ordained. (I related this decision to kill the unborn to a modern-day abortion in theory.) This decision was perhaps wise from a global standpoint, and perhaps slightly noble, but even then, when taking a closer look at his reasoning on page 156, his decision is riddled with selfishness. He "shuddered to think that future generations would curse him as their pest" giving more care to his memory than to the lives of the afflicted. Victor's main problem is selfishness, so irregardless of a wise decision, he cannot make ANY decision without first examining the personal pros and cons.
ReplyDeleteAs I stated in another post, Victor discontinues this process because of the unknown consequences. It is impossible to tell whether he made the right choice or not because either choice had the potential to go wrong. As Ellen mentioned, it was his original decision to make this creature in the first place that messed everything up. Victor finally gets some common sense after he's already screwed his life up and decides to think about the further consequences of creating a new being. In chapter 20, on page 155, he states, "I was about to form another being of whose dispositions I was alike ignorant." It's great that he is finally starting to focus on the future rather than doing something rash and not thought through, however it's too late to save himself from suffering.
ReplyDelete