The Creature finds pleasure in simple company. He longs to coexist in the company of humans, however cannot due to his facade. In an attempt to fulfill the vacuousness he feels within his exhorted isolation, the Creature demands a mate from Victor, who - according to the Creature - owes a great deal to him. Besides desperately valuing the consolation in meek company, the Creature values knowledge. He relies on the bountiful education he receives secondhand from viewing the actions and emulating the speech of others. He appreciates the advantages knowledge offers but despises the misfortunes which can accompany them - essentially the revelations he discovers concerning the habitual wickedness of mankind. The need for companionship and intrigue/fear of knowledge illustrate the Creature as human for both qualities are present within every human being. Both these particular qualities also convey the connection between Victor and the Creature - Victor inherits a great deal of knowledge at a young age as the Creature does and soon realizes the detriments that follow when it is misused; also like the Creature, Victor craves companionship, however he eschews it from his life out of the immense guilt he feels for his volatile creation.
Without a doubt, I believe Ch. 9-25 are all written in order to show the creature does possess a humanity. We saw this most during the moments where we were given insight into his feelings towards the family he discovered in the woods. With them, he felt joy and compassion, but also sadness and anger. All are feelings that portray his humanity. Eriel said it perfectly: "The need for companionship and intrigue/fear of knowledge illustrate the Creature as human for both qualities are present within every human being." The creature has an immense desire for human interaction. The lengths he will go to achieve that, show that it is more than likely a necessity for him to exist. We are introduced to real feelings and love from him when we see how scared and hurt he becomes every time he encounters rejection. There comes to a point in the novel when it's as if we forget the creature is really a creature, at all, and view him, instead, as a human in want of love - until we are reminded of his deformed figure and uncontrollable actions.
However, I do believe he does possess some characteristics that are solely his and monstrous. As any person would, the monster does feel anger and want for revenge against the people and humans that have betrayed him. But I also believe, for him, these feelings and reactions become somewhat amplified - not that he can help it - but when compared to the actions of a human, these responses can be viewed as evil. When rejected and hurt he murders innocent creatures, and feels the need to destroy.
But then we are presented the question: is his lack of human interaction and guidance a result of these actions? And would anyone who relied on their self for their upbringing act out in the same way?
To Christina: I believe the overall lack of parental nurture is what tainted the Creature's humanity. However, he fought back the monster he was tempted to become by seeking aid from Victor and asking him for a female companion to console him. The scorn the Creature endured inflicted the most pain upon him, essentially after witnessing the love other humans expressed toward one another. He was envious; feeling the agonizing reality of prejudice.
I think the Creature's outward disposition is what led to his acting out, for - unfortunately - our appearances rule how most people perceive us. Had the Creature been born with an alter exterior than the one he was, perhaps the DeLacey family would have taken him in as they did Safie; thus changing the Creature's perspective on humanity.
@ Eriel: I don't believe it was just his perspective on humanity, because it seemed that he did understand that man could be nice and sweet, but he also understood all of the vile things that man could do from the readings that he had. It was also the fact that Victor, who was his creator and who should have loved and cared for him, didn't. What Victor did was wrong, because the monster hadn't such a vile reaction from his creator than maybe, just maybe, he would have had the sense not to carry on with his murderous rage.
"The gentle manners and beauty of the cottagers greatly endeared them to me: when they were unhappy, I felt depressed; when they rejoiced, I sympathized with their joys." The monster was made happy by the cottagers that he continually watched and learned from. His education comes from that of the cottagers as well, for he listens to them when they speak and he also learns the letters from them when they teach Safie. It's almost as if he lives his life vicariously through the cottagers, he's happy when they are and sad when they are; he believes himself to be apart of their small household, when in fact they know nothing of him.
I do believe that the chapters in which he is explaining his story sheds light on his humanity, but it seems as though he doesn't take in the emotions of others because he realizes that no one else on the Earth in which he inhabits will feel the same way he does. He gains humanity and then loses it.
As mentioned above, simple things please the creature. Human life in general seems to be his overall fascination. He studies how to speak, write, touch, and desires the same emotions as the humans. These foreign concepts become more and more close to him until, eventually, he desires something relating to human coupling. As he learns small aspects of human life and incorporates them into his life, the creature (in my opinion) becomes more human. In a way, he's parented himself into a deformed adulthood.
I think that companionship, love, nurturing, and happiness or “light” gives the creature the most pleasure. The creature values friendship and you can tell that he ultimately has good intentions for the things that he does. I am mainly coming from the chapters leading up to 16 and up until the very last paragraphs of 16. The creature does not have much education at all. He has the most basic form of education mostly anything he can discover from his surroundings and observations. I think that he shows humanity when he yearns for the love and companionship of the DeLancy’s as well as when he runs out to save the little girl from drowning and risking his own life while doing so. He also shows other natural signs of humanity such as anger and rejection that every human feels. I agree with Christina when she says “We forget the creature is really a creature, at all, and view him, instead, as a human in want of love.” The only thing that I think keeps the creature from being considered a human is his deformation. On a side note, the creature’s unrequited love towards human interaction is a twist on the common theme seen throughout romantic novels of the time period. Taylor Brown
I once read a book that was intensely controversial. It was about clones who were created to grow up as normal children, but not able to reproduce, from the perspective of a clone. These beings were then harvested for their vital organs as adults for the "real humans" who needed anything from a hip to a kidney replacement - as humanely as possible. In the world where this situation existed, society was divided between those who opposed the existence of the clones as being morally wrong, and those who wished to better the lives of the clones while they lived. Frankenstein touches on some of these same issues. Mainly, the idea that human life extends beyond that of divine origin. Victor definitely is not God, or anything close to Him, yet he made a man. Man in the book I read created himself as well, and both the creature and the clones in the book possessed completely human qualities. It wasn't actually until the end of the book that one discovered the main characters were clones. They were simply so relatable and real, I assumed they were human. Were they? Food for thought definitely. The major question being: Where does true humanity originate or exist? At God's touch or man's influence? This then begs the question: Is true existence different from being human if God creates one and man the other?
Ellen; I think these are the very questions I'll have to ask in heaven lol But in all seriousness, I think humans cannot grasp what is the difference between an actual human's reality, God's reality, and even reality itself. If you dug deep enough, Frankenstein really does question the origin of 'humaness' and what makes us truly humans. As beings of only a very small scope of senses, perhaps just under-developed, we cannot see through bigger eyes so to speak. Since we can only see, hear, touch, and feel so much, our reality will be limited to say, God, who has the ultimate sensory experience all the time and everywhere. In frankenstein, the characteristics of the human are explored extensively through the clone of a human. It is funny to think that Shelley even uses a clone because it is not genuine; perhaps this is what is implied?
The Creature finds pleasure in simple company. He longs to coexist in the company of humans, however cannot due to his facade. In an attempt to fulfill the vacuousness he feels within his exhorted isolation, the Creature demands a mate from Victor, who - according to the Creature - owes a great deal to him. Besides desperately valuing the consolation in meek company, the Creature values knowledge. He relies on the bountiful education he receives secondhand from viewing the actions and emulating the speech of others. He appreciates the advantages knowledge offers but despises the misfortunes which can accompany them - essentially the revelations he discovers concerning the habitual wickedness of mankind.
ReplyDeleteThe need for companionship and intrigue/fear of knowledge illustrate the Creature as human for both qualities are present within every human being. Both these particular qualities also convey the connection between Victor and the Creature - Victor inherits a great deal of knowledge at a young age as the Creature does and soon realizes the detriments that follow when it is misused; also like the Creature, Victor craves companionship, however he eschews it from his life out of the immense guilt he feels for his volatile creation.
Without a doubt, I believe Ch. 9-25 are all written in order to show the creature does possess a humanity. We saw this most during the moments where we were given insight into his feelings towards the family he discovered in the woods. With them, he felt joy and compassion, but also sadness and anger. All are feelings that portray his humanity. Eriel said it perfectly: "The need for companionship and intrigue/fear of knowledge illustrate the Creature as human for both qualities are present within every human being." The creature has an immense desire for human interaction. The lengths he will go to achieve that, show that it is more than likely a necessity for him to exist. We are introduced to real feelings and love from him when we see how scared and hurt he becomes every time he encounters rejection. There comes to a point in the novel when it's as if we forget the creature is really a creature, at all, and view him, instead, as a human in want of love - until we are reminded of his deformed figure and uncontrollable actions.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I do believe he does possess some characteristics that are solely his and monstrous. As any person would, the monster does feel anger and want for revenge against the people and humans that have betrayed him. But I also believe, for him, these feelings and reactions become somewhat amplified - not that he can help it - but when compared to the actions of a human, these responses can be viewed as evil. When rejected and hurt he murders innocent creatures, and feels the need to destroy.
But then we are presented the question: is his lack of human interaction and guidance a result of these actions? And would anyone who relied on their self for their upbringing act out in the same way?
To Christina: I believe the overall lack of parental nurture is what tainted the Creature's humanity. However, he fought back the monster he was tempted to become by seeking aid from Victor and asking him for a female companion to console him. The scorn the Creature endured inflicted the most pain upon him, essentially after witnessing the love other humans expressed toward one another. He was envious; feeling the agonizing reality of prejudice.
ReplyDeleteI think the Creature's outward disposition is what led to his acting out, for - unfortunately - our appearances rule how most people perceive us. Had the Creature been born with an alter exterior than the one he was, perhaps the DeLacey family would have taken him in as they did Safie; thus changing the Creature's perspective on humanity.
@ Eriel: I don't believe it was just his perspective on humanity, because it seemed that he did understand that man could be nice and sweet, but he also understood all of the vile things that man could do from the readings that he had. It was also the fact that Victor, who was his creator and who should have loved and cared for him, didn't. What Victor did was wrong, because the monster hadn't such a vile reaction from his creator than maybe, just maybe, he would have had the sense not to carry on with his murderous rage.
ReplyDelete"The gentle manners and beauty of the cottagers greatly endeared them to me: when they were unhappy, I felt depressed; when they rejoiced, I sympathized with their joys."
The monster was made happy by the cottagers that he continually watched and learned from.
His education comes from that of the cottagers as well, for he listens to them when they speak and he also learns the letters from them when they teach Safie.
It's almost as if he lives his life vicariously through the cottagers, he's happy when they are and sad when they are; he believes himself to be apart of their small household, when in fact they know nothing of him.
I do believe that the chapters in which he is explaining his story sheds light on his humanity, but it seems as though he doesn't take in the emotions of others because he realizes that no one else on the Earth in which he inhabits will feel the same way he does. He gains humanity and then loses it.
As mentioned above, simple things please the creature. Human life in general seems to be his overall fascination. He studies how to speak, write, touch, and desires the same emotions as the humans. These foreign concepts become more and more close to him until, eventually, he desires something relating to human coupling. As he learns small aspects of human life and incorporates them into his life, the creature (in my opinion) becomes more human. In a way, he's parented himself into a deformed adulthood.
ReplyDeleteI think that companionship, love, nurturing, and happiness or “light” gives the creature the most pleasure. The creature values friendship and you can tell that he ultimately has good intentions for the things that he does. I am mainly coming from the chapters leading up to 16 and up until the very last paragraphs of 16. The creature does not have much education at all. He has the most basic form of education mostly anything he can discover from his surroundings and observations. I think that he shows humanity when he yearns for the love and companionship of the DeLancy’s as well as when he runs out to save the little girl from drowning and risking his own life while doing so. He also shows other natural signs of humanity such as anger and rejection that every human feels. I agree with Christina when she says “We forget the creature is really a creature, at all, and view him, instead, as a human in want of love.” The only thing that I think keeps the creature from being considered a human is his deformation. On a side note, the creature’s unrequited love towards human interaction is a twist on the common theme seen throughout romantic novels of the time period.
ReplyDeleteTaylor Brown
I once read a book that was intensely controversial. It was about clones who were created to grow up as normal children, but not able to reproduce, from the perspective of a clone. These beings were then harvested for their vital organs as adults for the "real humans" who needed anything from a hip to a kidney replacement - as humanely as possible. In the world where this situation existed, society was divided between those who opposed the existence of the clones as being morally wrong, and those who wished to better the lives of the clones while they lived. Frankenstein touches on some of these same issues. Mainly, the idea that human life extends beyond that of divine origin. Victor definitely is not God, or anything close to Him, yet he made a man. Man in the book I read created himself as well, and both the creature and the clones in the book possessed completely human qualities. It wasn't actually until the end of the book that one discovered the main characters were clones. They were simply so relatable and real, I assumed they were human. Were they? Food for thought definitely. The major question being: Where does true humanity originate or exist? At God's touch or man's influence? This then begs the question: Is true existence different from being human if God creates one and man the other?
ReplyDeleteEllen; I think these are the very questions I'll have to ask in heaven lol
ReplyDeleteBut in all seriousness, I think humans cannot grasp what is the difference between an actual human's reality, God's reality, and even reality itself. If you dug deep enough, Frankenstein really does question the origin of 'humaness' and what makes us truly humans. As beings of only a very small scope of senses, perhaps just under-developed, we cannot see through bigger eyes so to speak. Since we can only see, hear, touch, and feel so much, our reality will be limited to say, God, who has the ultimate sensory experience all the time and everywhere. In frankenstein, the characteristics of the human are explored extensively through the clone of a human. It is funny to think that Shelley even uses a clone because it is not genuine; perhaps this is what is implied?