After the death of his friend, Clerval, Victor becomes ill. In agony he wonders, "Why did I not die?" What would your answer be? Is there a reason for his continuous agony? If so, what is it?
It is obvious that Victor is being "punished," as he indicates elsewhere in the book. Even sleep is a reprieve from his suffering, as he writes that he "blest the giver of oblivion." (85) In his feverish state he is "taunted with the death of Clerval." (160) To die would be to know nothing, or to know bliss, and this would not be a just reward in the harsh eyes of the universe for a man who had brought so much death and destruction down on the heads of those he loved. Prometheus, in the Greek myth, was kept alive through torture (having his liver torn out over and over again) so as to maximize punishment. Frankenstein, the "modern Prometheus," is punished in the same way.
I was going to cite text here, but then I saw Sarah cited exactly what I had planned to reference, so I will elaborate on what she said.
I believe that the reason Victor did not die is so that he could experience the pain and torment that his creature had to experience. He was getting his due for turning his back on the creature. The reason for this agony stems from the fact that Victor would not have learned his lesson about trying to control life if he did not have to suffer from his mistakes.
I also think the fact that Victor can't escape the evil and torment serves as a metaphorical indication that the reason he cannot escape those things is because he is and embodies those things. His pain is felt because HE is the monster. His torment and suffering at the hands of the Irish is justified because he, in a sense, DID kill Clerval. The true monster receives his just punishment by not dying. Dying would put and end to his pain, but pain is what he deserves for all of the pain that he has caused others.
I believe there is a reason for the agony that Victor goes through after the death of his best friend, Henry Clerval. He is put through this torture simply to torture him for what he created. Not because of the creation itself, but because of how he allowed his creation to act and misbehave. The creature told Frankenstein himself that he had a responsibility to the monster and if he upheld it he would be obedient and easily trained in chapter ten where he says, “Remember, thou hast made me more powerful than thyself; my height is superior to thine, my joints more supple. But I will not be tempted to set myself in opposition to thee. I am thy creature, and I will be even mild and docile to my natural lord and king if thou wilt also perform thy part, the which thou owest me.” All of the actions that were performed by the monster were a direct result of Victor’s works and he, in turn, had to repay, in some way, for the horrible actions that he committed.
I believe that Victor is receiving punishment for the murder of his closest friend Henry because Victor views his death as his direct responsibility. Victor is receiving this punishment, and agony because Victor is continuously not taking responsibility for his creation. I think that Victor has not died yet because the creature still needs Victor, and the creature wants Victor to be tormented until Victor complies with the creatures wishes.
I agree with everyone here. The torment Victor suffers is a form of karma that the monster can only provide. It's the creature's way of prolonging a fate worse than death to accentuate the suffering he himself was going through. The creature felt that if he could bring Victor to die emotionally, he could realize the agony Victor caused towards him and seek out some recompense. Maybe then they could possibly rectify their relationship as creator and created.
I think that the reason that Victor didn’t die was so that he could see and face the outward consequences of his actions. Maybe the fact that Victor was trying to “play God,” really offended and angered God and he punished him for it by making him live through the agony to teach him a lesson. I guess that sounds kind of harsh and maybe that’s not even the case here, but it seems like it could be a possible explanation for this. Foolish choices will have consequences. Having to live through the deaths of others that are close to you, knowing that it was all your fault is definitely something that would crush a person. That would be far worse of a consequence than death. When you die, you are relieved of all your previous worldly situations, however having to live through them and not being able to do anything about it would be terrible.
Jeff says, "I think that Victor has not died yet because the creature still needs Victor, and the creature wants Victor to be tormented until Victor complies with the creatures wishes."
I disagree with this statement (though I agree with the common theme in this thread). I don't think it's an issue of compliance, but rather fate (or perhaps divine intervention) intervening in Victor's sickness. My response to Victor would be, "Karma sucks, man."
At the end of the day, Victor must ask himself who's fault the death of Clerval must truly fall on. He tried to "play God" and his plans backfired and now he must face the consequences. Had Victor not created the creature and forced him into a world of pain and torture, he would not have experience the reciprocal torment.
Victor's suffering reminds me of the blind man in John 9. In that passage, Jesus heals a man born blind, and when asked why the man had suffered (whose sin caused it) Jesus revealed that he was born blind so that the "work of God may be displayed in his life." (John 9:3) It also reminds me of the story of Job, and all the suffering he went through. Although the difference is that Victor brought his own destruction down upon his head, one could make a connection and say that Shelley is insinuating that God is using Victor to make an example to others who would follow in his path, almost warning them not to encroach in his territory. To reference other discussions, this could even function in modern times, with regards to cloning, test tubes babies, etc.
It is obvious that Victor is being "punished," as he indicates elsewhere in the book. Even sleep is a reprieve from his suffering, as he writes that he "blest the giver of oblivion." (85) In his feverish state he is "taunted with the death of Clerval." (160)
ReplyDeleteTo die would be to know nothing, or to know bliss, and this would not be a just reward in the harsh eyes of the universe for a man who had brought so much death and destruction down on the heads of those he loved. Prometheus, in the Greek myth, was kept alive through torture (having his liver torn out over and over again) so as to maximize punishment. Frankenstein, the "modern Prometheus," is punished in the same way.
I was going to cite text here, but then I saw Sarah cited exactly what I had planned to reference, so I will elaborate on what she said.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the reason Victor did not die is so that he could experience the pain and torment that his creature had to experience. He was getting his due for turning his back on the creature. The reason for this agony stems from the fact that Victor would not have learned his lesson about trying to control life if he did not have to suffer from his mistakes.
I also think the fact that Victor can't escape the evil and torment serves as a metaphorical indication that the reason he cannot escape those things is because he is and embodies those things. His pain is felt because HE is the monster. His torment and suffering at the hands of the Irish is justified because he, in a sense, DID kill Clerval. The true monster receives his just punishment by not dying. Dying would put and end to his pain, but pain is what he deserves for all of the pain that he has caused others.
I believe there is a reason for the agony that Victor goes through after the death of his best friend, Henry Clerval. He is put through this torture simply to torture him for what he created. Not because of the creation itself, but because of how he allowed his creation to act and misbehave. The creature told Frankenstein himself that he had a responsibility to the monster and if he upheld it he would be obedient and easily trained in chapter ten where he says, “Remember, thou hast made me more powerful than thyself; my height is superior to thine, my joints more supple. But I will not be tempted to set myself in opposition to thee. I am thy creature, and I will be even mild and docile to my natural lord and king if thou wilt also perform thy part, the which thou owest me.” All of the actions that were performed by the monster were a direct result of Victor’s works and he, in turn, had to repay, in some way, for the horrible actions that he committed.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Victor is receiving punishment for the murder of his closest friend Henry because Victor views his death as his direct responsibility. Victor is receiving this punishment, and agony because Victor is continuously not taking responsibility for his creation. I think that Victor has not died yet because the creature still needs Victor, and the creature wants Victor to be tormented until Victor complies with the creatures wishes.
ReplyDeleteI agree with everyone here. The torment Victor suffers is a form of karma that the monster can only provide. It's the creature's way of prolonging a fate worse than death to accentuate the suffering he himself was going through. The creature felt that if he could bring Victor to die emotionally, he could realize the agony Victor caused towards him and seek out some recompense. Maybe then they could possibly rectify their relationship as creator and created.
ReplyDeleteI think that the reason that Victor didn’t die was so that he could see and face the outward consequences of his actions. Maybe the fact that Victor was trying to “play God,” really offended and angered God and he punished him for it by making him live through the agony to teach him a lesson. I guess that sounds kind of harsh and maybe that’s not even the case here, but it seems like it could be a possible explanation for this. Foolish choices will have consequences. Having to live through the deaths of others that are close to you, knowing that it was all your fault is definitely something that would crush a person. That would be far worse of a consequence than death. When you die, you are relieved of all your previous worldly situations, however having to live through them and not being able to do anything about it would be terrible.
ReplyDeleteJeff says, "I think that Victor has not died yet because the creature still needs Victor, and the creature wants Victor to be tormented until Victor complies with the creatures wishes."
ReplyDeleteI disagree with this statement (though I agree with the common theme in this thread). I don't think it's an issue of compliance, but rather fate (or perhaps divine intervention) intervening in Victor's sickness. My response to Victor would be, "Karma sucks, man."
At the end of the day, Victor must ask himself who's fault the death of Clerval must truly fall on. He tried to "play God" and his plans backfired and now he must face the consequences. Had Victor not created the creature and forced him into a world of pain and torture, he would not have experience the reciprocal torment.
Victor's suffering reminds me of the blind man in John 9. In that passage, Jesus heals a man born blind, and when asked why the man had suffered (whose sin caused it) Jesus revealed that he was born blind so that the "work of God may be displayed in his life." (John 9:3) It also reminds me of the story of Job, and all the suffering he went through. Although the difference is that Victor brought his own destruction down upon his head, one could make a connection and say that Shelley is insinuating that God is using Victor to make an example to others who would follow in his path, almost warning them not to encroach in his territory.
ReplyDeleteTo reference other discussions, this could even function in modern times, with regards to cloning, test tubes babies, etc.