How does the change in narration to the creature's point of view affect the reading of the novel? How do you feel toward the creature? Toward Victor? How do you account for these views?
I view the change in narration as an opportunity for the monster to explain his view in detail. One can only sympathize with the creature considering he was created and abandoned all in the same day. He was left to fend on his own without any prior knowledge or nurturing. The murders he committed resembles a child who sticks a fork in a power outlet, simply because he doesn't know any better or wasn't taught otherwise. He was not even granted the one thing he asked for, a female companion, and this neglect eventually let to the murder of Victors wife. Furthermore, as soon as he begins to speak, we begin to wonder where he learned such a distinguished language. He becomes human, and we can hardly consider him a monster. I believe his narration depicts his humanity, but also serves to create suspense for the reader.
Prior to the monster's narration, I couldn't help but to sympathize for Victor due to his failures in life and the deaths of his dearest family. However now I realize, he brought it upon himself. He created life and deserted it to learn how to live completely on it's own. The creation of life is a serious responsibility handed to us by God. It is reserved for those whom God sees fit to reward them with a being to love, serve, and cherish. Victor was clearly not ready for this responsibility but he took it upon himself to "give birth" to a being of his own. It was a foolish pursuit and it ended up costing him his brother, Justine, Henry and his wife. When one tries to play God, they get humbled and humiliated. Victor learned this the painfully hard way.
The change in narration opens up the perspective for the reader, who now is able to hear the story from the creature through Victor, Victor through Walton. The alter narration delineated by the Creature presents him as an amiable and intellectual subject rather than a grotesque monster lacking one meek iota of human esteem. Despite his outward disposition of horrendous characteristics, the Creature is all human. He learns as humans do - emulating their speaking patterns as a child would - and feels what humans do - hunger and thirst, the chill of the wind and the warmth of a fire - which places him on a pedestal equivalent to that of his own creators. The relation between Creature and Creator becomes ever more stark when both unveil the same revelation: the dangers accompanying great knowledge. Victor realizes the detriments that follow the extent of his knowledge summarily after giving life to the Creature, while the Creature fathoms the perils of great knowledge through his travels - essentially when he discovers how different he is when juxtaposed with humans. Shelley conveys the Creature and Victor as two identical beings though both are utterly oblivious to the fact.
Victor irresponsibly forsook the being he created for he could not stand it's appearance. Such a ghastly reaction to your own creation is heartbreaking. The Creature was nothing but an innocent child wrongfully brought into the world then cruelly eschewed by it. The disdain he encountered within his first days on earth provoked his savage nature, which can be fathomed in a psychological sense when deeming the Creature as equivalent to a child. Ergo, his actions, though wrong, are comprehendible and engender sympathy from the reader for he had no one to nurture nor teach him the significant differences between wrong and right.
In compliance with what Jose said, there are severe consequences for the man who tries to play God. Victor's obsession with life and death compelled him to commit a crime of sacrilege. By esteeming himself as a God and bringing forth his creature as his very own 'Adam', Victor skewed, not only a commandment set forth by the genuine God, but the perception of the 'son' he brought into the world. The Creature is but a child - naive and ignorant to all that surrounds him. His curiosity exhorts him to touch what should not be touched - ex. In Ch.9, he touches the fire, believing it to be safe for it provided him with warmth when he was cold - and walk on land that should not be treaded upon - ex. In Ch.9, he enters the old man's hut, oblivious to the crime of trespassing, which he committed.
The shift in narrator demonstrates an incredible control of prose by Shelley because it forces her to shift tones entirely in just a few pages. The change in narration creates a sense of remorse for the creature who came into this world with the knowledge of a newborn. Previous characterizations of the creature created by Frankenstein have been based on false presumptions about the monster. In fact, the negative connotation of the word monster generates these preconceived notions before we ever get a chance to understand the nature of this being. After hearing the story of the creature, I can't help but feel sorrow for him. I can't imagine coming into the world and not getting a chance to prove that I am a benevolent being. He was brought into this world only to be judged by others.
Especially towards the last chapter I start to become more disappointed with the way that Victor treated the creature. He knew that he had created something that would be judged negatively by the world, and he left him. It is hard to sympathize with Victor's loss when he really did create a depressed monster. The creature was not out to seek revenge, in fact, the creature even recognizes the horrid nature of murder during his monologue, but Victor did nothing to bring this creature into the world in a peaceful manner.
The change in the narrator, in my opinion, induces a feeling of sympathy for the creature. Just like Josh said, he was born into a world with the knowledge of a newborn. Causing the reader to rationalize the creatures actions, especially when he says, ""cursed, cursed creator!" In addition it offers a different perspective on the creature other than Victor's opinion, which are implied to be false accusations and descriptions of the creature he created. As for my feelings towards the creature, through the first narrative I thought nothing good of him and kept asking myself what these innocent people had ever done to him. Until the narration changed, it sort of explained his side of the story, and it makes me feel as if there is a reason behind his doings. Just as Eriel said about the creature being just like a child who is born into violence or a savage environment, chances are, they will turn out that way as well.
@Eriel, I think you put it so well when you talk about the dangers that "accompany great knowledge." I'm glad that you make mention of that. Most of us, I'm guessing, would consider "great" knowledge a good thing. Something positive to be used for the greater good...which I think is what Victor may have initially intended with his voracious study of science. However, to him who much is given, much is expected. I think we can agree that Victor in all his endeavors falls short of this. @all: we do feel sorry for the creature, but I still can't help feel sympathy for Victor as well. He's lost himself to his search for knowledge and like the creature, he is doomed-- living a life without companions...alone in a world that doesn't understand him either.
The change of point of view gives us the opportunity to find out what the creature is thinking, how he survived, how he learned, how he loved, and how he longs to love again. During this time, I definitely feel compassion for him. I can't imagine being hated and despised everywhere you went and having to hide every time you stepped foot in daylight. I know that he killed Victor's brother, however, I hope that Victor would feel some sympathy for his creation. He didn't try to teach him right from wrong so how is he supposed to know? All he wants is a companion that is just like him. That way he doesn't need to worry about being judged or hated because the other creation will be just like him. Mrs, Williams I agree in the sense that I do feel some pity for Victor. What he thought was going to change the world and be a brilliant discovery turned into his own personal nightmare.
I feel that the change in narration not only allows for a sudden shift in tone, but it also unlocks a wider range of emotion from which the author can draw. Among the obvious emotions of sympathy that we feel for the monster, I think there is also an aspect of his behavior and his situation that we can relate to. There are always experiences where you do not know anyone and people do not want to talk to you because you are new and strange to them. Because of this, there is a very relatable aspect of the monster that helps us as readers to really understand how he is feeling. In chapter 17, the monster specifically explains his pain and loneliness through his wanting of a female companion, of someone who truly understands him and can relate to him, as we all would in that situation. As for Victor, I think that instead of feeling contempt for Victor, we should be understanding of his suffering and his guilt over neglecting his creation and not tending to his needs. It has not only caused the death of two of his family members, but it has also caused great internal struggle within him that is tearing him apart.
I can sympathize with Victor for he began his task with pure intentions. His voracious pursuit for answers blinded him to what may stand at the end of his task. I understand that he was a fairly young scientist attempting to satiate his youthful obsession with science and knowledge, however, Victor was aware that he was "playing God" and that he was creating a genuine, breathing being and ergo inherited an immense amount of responsibility. As a "parent" to the Creature, it was Victor's utter responsibility to care for him, teach him and provide him with guidance. Victor's neglect of the creature endows him with the esteem of a poor parent and engenders higher sympathy for the forsaken Creature.
The chapters in which the monster gets a chance to tell his side of the story are clearly a turn around from the previous chapters. One can't help but to begin to feel sympathy towards the monster. He has come from a terrible situation of being rejected by society and tried desperately time and time again to make the best of it. This fighters mentality makes me, among other readers, feel the hurt he has felt and begin to sympathize with him. Even beyond his wretched appearance and non-human behavior. At this point I almost, but not quite, began to loathe Victor. These chapters almost make us forget about the previous where we learn why Victor creates the monster and I start to put blame on Victor for not caring for the creation. It's nearly a complete reversal of other chapters. I suppose, there are always two sides to every story.
I think that the change in narration in this novel completely changes the point of view of the creature, this occurs because originally the reader saw things completely from Victor's perspective, but when the change in narration occurs the novel experiences a sort of turning point. Originally I felt sympathy for Victor and I viewed the creature as a being of pure evil. After this change in narration I can't help but feel sympathy for the creature. As for Victor I now view him as selfish for not taking responsibility for his creation. I account for these views by comparing Victor's situation to that of a parent who brings a child into this world and does not perform his parental duties.
i feel as if the change in narration gives us a different view of the story, it allows the creation to show us what he has gone through and why he has done these horrible things. i also feel as if it allows us to sympathize with the creation instead of completely going against him. i feel bad for the creature when he has to see himself, i like when he tells us how knowledge is not all that is seems, that it can be bad for us too seek too much because it reminds me of victor himself. but though i feel bad for the creation i also feel as if he could of instead of turing evil and killing people, he could of found a different way of life and somehow made his life happy. i also feel that Victor should of made the creation a mate, that would of saved himself and the creation a ton of heart ache.
as for Victor i still of course feel horrible for him but i feel as if it was his fault. if he had taught the creation right and wrong of had found a way to get people to accept the creation the story would of played out totally different. or he could of repaid the creation by giving him a mate because like the creation said Victor made the Monster out of loneliness so Victor should be able to understand why the creation longs for someone to love.
The change in narration from chapters eleven to seventeen stimulates a feeling of sentiment for the creature. As he tells his story, we learn about his sorrowful past that forms the background for his current violent and hateful personality. We start to feel a little less sympathy towards Victor because of the new compassion we feel for the creature. Although the creature caused the deaths of William and Justine, we come to realize that Victor is just as guilty as the creature himself. Victor left the newborn creature to fend for himself without any supervision, guidance, or care. Humankind spurned him because of his unnatural looks and even when he attempted to be generous and caring he was rejected; this provoked his hateful attitude towards man. On page 125, the creature states, “From that moment I declared everlasting war against the species, and more than all, against him who had formed me and sent me forth to this insupportable misery.” After those who he called his protectors reject him, he feels rage towards all men, especially Victor. The change to the creature’s point of view allows us to realize that Victor is the cause of his own misery. He produces a living being that he had responsibility for, however after he deserted him, the following events led up to the creature’s detestation for mankind.
@Eriel, you said in your 2nd post that you can sympathize for victor but that he was "playing God" and thus is a poor parent for the creature. My question is how is Victor supposed to feel sympathy for a creature that is not human, unlike the multiple "Real" people the monster killed that Victor loved?
It seems like this is a situation where the parents are supposed to love their child even though he is a serial killer, but even killers are human..
Just as everyone else said, the change in narration gives a chance to hear the creature's side of the story and have a reason for sympathy towards the creature, not Victor. It gives a great effect to the novel because it let's the reader decide who is the bad person in the situation, instead of the author deciding for the reader as it usually goes. I personally feel that the creature is a magnificent being, which I had sympathy for,until he decided to kill Victor's family. I feel the creature got a little narrow minded because he never asked Victor to help him with anything and yet blamed him for his miser. Victor, I have almost no sympathy for at all because all he does is whine about everything and feel that everything is his fault. Even though he feels everything is his fault, he does absolutely nothing about it. For example, when Victor realized that it was the creature who murdered the boy and got Justine to be hung, he just sat around an moped. Victor could have gone on a search to destroy what he created, however he didn't, all he did was cry about it.
The whole book up until this point, we've been living life through Victor's eyes. We begin to feel the hatred that Victor has towards Frankenstein, because he killed William. But then Victor encounters Frankenstein and we get to hear his side of the story. Hearing that Frankenstein had been rejected by so many people and had been doing whatever he could to stay healthy, we begin to sympathize for Frankenstein. Thinking that maybe Victor shouldn't have left him on his own after all.
Essentially, the change in point of view is a way to get the audience to view the world through the creature's eyes and to understand the strife that he has been through at to sympathize with him.
As I read the monster's story I began to sympathize with him and care about him and doubt that he even had anything to do with the death of little William. At the thought of the cottagers turning him away I was surprised because he had done nothing but good for them, the monster was the one that gave them the wood in the middle of the night and watched them all with love and affection. When it came to light that he was the murderer, I could not feel anger at him, for it was Victor's own fault that such a deed had happened.
As the creator of the monster, Victor had a responsibility to care for him or destroy him. He did not realize this responsibility until it was already too late. If Victor had either destroyed or cared for the monster when he came to life, Victor's life would not have ended in such a terrible manor. This is the point in the story in which I began to feel no such sympathy for Victor, instead I felt as if he had no right to be so upset, for it was his own fault that all around him was dying.
The change in point of view allows the audience to understand the details of the monster's pain more effectively. It allows the audience to sympathize with the monster and how he was treated because of his appearance. For Victor, I feel as though he neglected his monster. He created the monster and should've felt that he owed something to the monster at the very least.
This change in point of view allows you to see through the eyes of the monster. For example, when you look at someone's life from the outside, you see things of they'r life 100% different as opposed to what you see through their perception and visa versa. When you look at the monster from his point of view, you feel more emotion, in this case, sympathy and a bit more understanding when inside its mind as to why it did all of those things such as, murder Victor's loved ones. As for Victor, you start to feel a conflict in emotion. As we first see his monster, we perceive it as just that and we tend to lean towards Victor's side of the story. But per the change in point of view, we can't help but see Victor as the monster, in reality. He was the one who was too ashamed of his work to treat it as he originally imagined it to be. Instead, it became, not just the creature, but the monster that terrorized Victor.
I agree with what Mrs. Williams says and Bailey's response, on feeling some sympathy for Victor. Even though these chapters are focused towards the "monster's" outlook on things you have a point Bailey when you said that Victor was expecting his creation to change the world and be a brilliant discovery but in contrary became his nightmare is exactly right. Unfortunately this nightmare of his is reality and Victor did not handle his creation well what so ever in how he was so intent on making the "monster" and yet abandoning it the minute it took its first breath. These chapters help convey the monster's true emotions, situations, and experiences through his eyes and not just our idea of what a monster should feel or be. Your heart goes out to both the monster and Victor for being in two opposing positions many of us have or never will face.
The change in the point of you lets you view things from the creatures perspective and allows you to see exactly what he's feeling and going through. My views towards Victor are that he had the responsibility of caring for the creature, but instead gave it up because it was the opposite of what he expected. He had the option of saving the people that were dying around him if he had only cared for the creature.
By having the Monster narrate the book, you get to see his view on how he feels and the way he thinks the way he does. This whole time we see Victor's shame and reluctance to the monster but instead we see the monster's willingness to learn and his longing for humans. This makes you feel sympathy towards the monster but still realizing his mistakes. Most of this is then blamed on Victor for his lake of care for the monster and upbringing. You can tell in the second half of the book how many feelings the monster really does have and only if he had a sense of direction in his life then he could really be treated fairly. Because of his looks, and lack of knowledge you see how he is disowned and rejected by humanity.
Personally, my view of the creature was confirmed as he began telling his side of the story. When he was first "born" in Victor's laboratory, and "a grin wrinkled his cheeks," I immediately thought, "Awww.. He loves his dad! He's happy to be alive!" Then Victor ran out of the room like a total creep, and I thought, "Man... Poor guy." Pity was immediate! That happened on page 44 in my book. To have my initial emotional reaction validated in the creature's account of his infancy and intellectual progression was all the more telling of Victor's cruelty, and my opinion of Victor lessened significantly. Victor did nothing less than abandon a completely innocent being - a true newborn - under the pretense that he believed his creation evil. Despite the creature's "face only a mother could love," Victor was required, as a parent, to bestow the same happiness, previously discussed in the beginning chapter, his own parents endowed him, and he didn't. He abandoned his child. After I absorbed this fact, all further actions by the creature were not justified, but definitely viewed from under a less critical and more tolerant lens, while for Victor's, the opposite was true. They became all the more critical and calculating, for he was given a wonderful childhood by both his parents. The creature, in a certain light, was handicapped from his first breathe because he was without guidance.
Ellen, I do agree entirely about the pity that is instigated once the reader finds that Victor is entirely clueless to the monster's sadness. It is found in the text that the monster does not feel closeness and affection, which implies that he is innocent, vulnerable, and needy. He must find his own way in the world, through his own eyes, just as if a child was abandoned by his parent and left to live on his own. A whole host of emotions and experiences are absent once the parent is taken out of the equation. quote chp. 10 monster- "Have I not suffered enough, that you seek to increase my misery? Life, although it may only be an accumulation of anguish, is dear to me, and I will defend it."
I view the change in narration as an opportunity for the monster to explain his view in detail. One can only sympathize with the creature considering he was created and abandoned all in the same day. He was left to fend on his own without any prior knowledge or nurturing. The murders he committed resembles a child who sticks a fork in a power outlet, simply because he doesn't know any better or wasn't taught otherwise. He was not even granted the one thing he asked for, a female companion, and this neglect eventually let to the murder of Victors wife. Furthermore, as soon as he begins to speak, we begin to wonder where he learned such a distinguished language. He becomes human, and we can hardly consider him a monster. I believe his narration depicts his humanity, but also serves to create suspense for the reader.
ReplyDeletePrior to the monster's narration, I couldn't help but to sympathize for Victor due to his failures in life and the deaths of his dearest family. However now I realize, he brought it upon himself. He created life and deserted it to learn how to live completely on it's own. The creation of life is a serious responsibility handed to us by God. It is reserved for those whom God sees fit to reward them with a being to love, serve, and cherish. Victor was clearly not ready for this responsibility but he took it upon himself to "give birth" to a being of his own. It was a foolish pursuit and it ended up costing him his brother, Justine, Henry and his wife. When one tries to play God, they get humbled and humiliated. Victor learned this the painfully hard way.
Jose V.
The change in narration opens up the perspective for the reader, who now is able to hear the story from the creature through Victor, Victor through Walton. The alter narration delineated by the Creature presents him as an amiable and intellectual subject rather than a grotesque monster lacking one meek iota of human esteem. Despite his outward disposition of horrendous characteristics, the Creature is all human. He learns as humans do - emulating their speaking patterns as a child would - and feels what humans do - hunger and thirst, the chill of the wind and the warmth of a fire - which places him on a pedestal equivalent to that of his own creators. The relation between Creature and Creator becomes ever more stark when both unveil the same revelation: the dangers accompanying great knowledge. Victor realizes the detriments that follow the extent of his knowledge summarily after giving life to the Creature, while the Creature fathoms the perils of great knowledge through his travels - essentially when he discovers how different he is when juxtaposed with humans. Shelley conveys the Creature and Victor as two identical beings though both are utterly oblivious to the fact.
ReplyDeleteVictor irresponsibly forsook the being he created for he could not stand it's appearance. Such a ghastly reaction to your own creation is heartbreaking. The Creature was nothing but an innocent child wrongfully brought into the world then cruelly eschewed by it. The disdain he encountered within his first days on earth provoked his savage nature, which can be fathomed in a psychological sense when deeming the Creature as equivalent to a child. Ergo, his actions, though wrong, are comprehendible and engender sympathy from the reader for he had no one to nurture nor teach him the significant differences between wrong and right.
In compliance with what Jose said, there are severe consequences for the man who tries to play God. Victor's obsession with life and death compelled him to commit a crime of sacrilege. By esteeming himself as a God and bringing forth his creature as his very own 'Adam', Victor skewed, not only a commandment set forth by the genuine God, but the perception of the 'son' he brought into the world. The Creature is but a child - naive and ignorant to all that surrounds him. His curiosity exhorts him to touch what should not be touched - ex. In Ch.9, he touches the fire, believing it to be safe for it provided him with warmth when he was cold - and walk on land that should not be treaded upon - ex. In Ch.9, he enters the old man's hut, oblivious to the crime of trespassing, which he committed.
~Eriel
The shift in narrator demonstrates an incredible control of prose by Shelley because it forces her to shift tones entirely in just a few pages. The change in narration creates a sense of remorse for the creature who came into this world with the knowledge of a newborn. Previous characterizations of the creature created by Frankenstein have been based on false presumptions about the monster. In fact, the negative connotation of the word monster generates these preconceived notions before we ever get a chance to understand the nature of this being. After hearing the story of the creature, I can't help but feel sorrow for him. I can't imagine coming into the world and not getting a chance to prove that I am a benevolent being. He was brought into this world only to be judged by others.
ReplyDeleteEspecially towards the last chapter I start to become more disappointed with the way that Victor treated the creature. He knew that he had created something that would be judged negatively by the world, and he left him. It is hard to sympathize with Victor's loss when he really did create a depressed monster. The creature was not out to seek revenge, in fact, the creature even recognizes the horrid nature of murder during his monologue, but Victor did nothing to bring this creature into the world in a peaceful manner.
The change in the narrator, in my opinion, induces a feeling of sympathy for the creature. Just like Josh said, he was born into a world with the knowledge of a newborn. Causing the reader to rationalize the creatures actions, especially when he says, ""cursed, cursed creator!" In addition it offers a different perspective on the creature other than Victor's opinion, which are implied to be false accusations and descriptions of the creature he created.
ReplyDeleteAs for my feelings towards the creature, through the first narrative I thought nothing good of him and kept asking myself what these innocent people had ever done to him. Until the narration changed, it sort of explained his side of the story, and it makes me feel as if there is a reason behind his doings. Just as Eriel said about the creature being just like a child who is born into violence or a savage environment, chances are, they will turn out that way as well.
@Eriel,
ReplyDeleteI think you put it so well when you talk about the dangers that "accompany great knowledge." I'm glad that you make mention of that. Most of us, I'm guessing, would consider "great" knowledge a good thing. Something positive to be used for the greater good...which I think is what Victor may have initially intended with his voracious study of science. However, to him who much is given, much is expected. I think we can agree that Victor in all his endeavors falls short of this.
@all: we do feel sorry for the creature, but I still can't help feel sympathy for Victor as well. He's lost himself to his search for knowledge and like the creature, he is doomed-- living a life without companions...alone in a world that doesn't understand him either.
The change of point of view gives us the opportunity to find out what the creature is thinking, how he survived, how he learned, how he loved, and how he longs to love again.
ReplyDeleteDuring this time, I definitely feel compassion for him. I can't imagine being hated and despised everywhere you went and having to hide every time you stepped foot in daylight. I know that he killed Victor's brother, however, I hope that Victor would feel some sympathy for his creation. He didn't try to teach him right from wrong so how is he supposed to know? All he wants is a companion that is just like him. That way he doesn't need to worry about being judged or hated because the other creation will be just like him.
Mrs, Williams I agree in the sense that I do feel some pity for Victor. What he thought was going to change the world and be a brilliant discovery turned into his own personal nightmare.
I feel that the change in narration not only allows for a sudden shift in tone, but it also unlocks a wider range of emotion from which the author can draw. Among the obvious emotions of sympathy that we feel for the monster, I think there is also an aspect of his behavior and his situation that we can relate to. There are always experiences where you do not know anyone and people do not want to talk to you because you are new and strange to them. Because of this, there is a very relatable aspect of the monster that helps us as readers to really understand how he is feeling. In chapter 17, the monster specifically explains his pain and loneliness through his wanting of a female companion, of someone who truly understands him and can relate to him, as we all would in that situation. As for Victor, I think that instead of feeling contempt for Victor, we should be understanding of his suffering and his guilt over neglecting his creation and not tending to his needs. It has not only caused the death of two of his family members, but it has also caused great internal struggle within him that is tearing him apart.
ReplyDeleteI can sympathize with Victor for he began his task with pure intentions. His voracious pursuit for answers blinded him to what may stand at the end of his task. I understand that he was a fairly young scientist attempting to satiate his youthful obsession with science and knowledge, however, Victor was aware that he was "playing God" and that he was creating a genuine, breathing being and ergo inherited an immense amount of responsibility. As a "parent" to the Creature, it was Victor's utter responsibility to care for him, teach him and provide him with guidance. Victor's neglect of the creature endows him with the esteem of a poor parent and engenders higher sympathy for the forsaken Creature.
ReplyDeleteThe chapters in which the monster gets a chance to tell his side of the story are clearly a turn around from the previous chapters. One can't help but to begin to feel sympathy towards the monster. He has come from a terrible situation of being rejected by society and tried desperately time and time again to make the best of it. This fighters mentality makes me, among other readers, feel the hurt he has felt and begin to sympathize with him. Even beyond his wretched appearance and non-human behavior. At this point I almost, but not quite, began to loathe Victor. These chapters almost make us forget about the previous where we learn why Victor creates the monster and I start to put blame on Victor for not caring for the creation. It's nearly a complete reversal of other chapters. I suppose, there are always two sides to every story.
ReplyDeleteI think that the change in narration in this novel completely changes the point of view of the creature, this occurs because originally the reader saw things completely from Victor's perspective, but when the change in narration occurs the novel experiences a sort of turning point. Originally I felt sympathy for Victor and I viewed the creature as a being of pure evil. After this change in narration I can't help but feel sympathy for the creature. As for Victor I now view him as selfish for not taking responsibility for his creation. I account for these views by comparing Victor's situation to that of a parent who brings a child into this world and does not perform his parental duties.
ReplyDeletei feel as if the change in narration gives us a different view of the story, it allows the creation to show us what he has gone through and why he has done these horrible things. i also feel as if it allows us to sympathize with the creation instead of completely going against him.
ReplyDeletei feel bad for the creature when he has to see himself, i like when he tells us how knowledge is not all that is seems, that it can be bad for us too seek too much because it reminds me of victor himself. but though i feel bad for the creation i also feel as if he could of instead of turing evil and killing people, he could of found a different way of life and somehow made his life happy. i also feel that Victor should of made the creation a mate, that would of saved himself and the creation a ton of heart ache.
as for Victor i still of course feel horrible for him but i feel as if it was his fault. if he had taught the creation right and wrong of had found a way to get people to accept the creation the story would of played out totally different. or he could of repaid the creation by giving him a mate because like the creation said Victor made the Monster out of loneliness so Victor should be able to understand why the creation longs for someone to love.
The change in narration from chapters eleven to seventeen stimulates a feeling of sentiment for the creature. As he tells his story, we learn about his sorrowful past that forms the background for his current violent and hateful personality. We start to feel a little less sympathy towards Victor because of the new compassion we feel for the creature. Although the creature caused the deaths of William and Justine, we come to realize that Victor is just as guilty as the creature himself. Victor left the newborn creature to fend for himself without any supervision, guidance, or care. Humankind spurned him because of his unnatural looks and even when he attempted to be generous and caring he was rejected; this provoked his hateful attitude towards man. On page 125, the creature states, “From that moment I declared everlasting war against the species, and more than all, against him who had formed me and sent me forth to this insupportable misery.” After those who he called his protectors reject him, he feels rage towards all men, especially Victor. The change to the creature’s point of view allows us to realize that Victor is the cause of his own misery. He produces a living being that he had responsibility for, however after he deserted him, the following events led up to the creature’s detestation for mankind.
ReplyDelete@Eriel,
ReplyDeleteyou said in your 2nd post that you can sympathize for victor but that he was "playing God" and thus is a poor parent for the creature. My question is how is Victor supposed to feel sympathy for a creature that is not human, unlike the multiple "Real" people the monster killed that Victor loved?
It seems like this is a situation where the parents are supposed to love their child even though he is a serial killer, but even killers are human..
Just as everyone else said, the change in narration gives a chance to hear the creature's side of the story and have a reason for sympathy towards the creature, not Victor. It gives a great effect to the novel because it let's the reader decide who is the bad person in the situation, instead of the author deciding for the reader as it usually goes. I personally feel that the creature is a magnificent being, which I had sympathy for,until he decided to kill Victor's family. I feel the creature got a little narrow minded because he never asked Victor to help him with anything and yet blamed him for his miser. Victor, I have almost no sympathy for at all because all he does is whine about everything and feel that everything is his fault. Even though he feels everything is his fault, he does absolutely nothing about it. For example, when Victor realized that it was the creature who murdered the boy and got Justine to be hung, he just sat around an moped. Victor could have gone on a search to destroy what he created, however he didn't, all he did was cry about it.
ReplyDeleteThe whole book up until this point, we've been living life through Victor's eyes. We begin to feel the hatred that Victor has towards Frankenstein, because he killed William. But then Victor encounters Frankenstein and we get to hear his side of the story. Hearing that Frankenstein had been rejected by so many people and had been doing whatever he could to stay healthy, we begin to sympathize for Frankenstein. Thinking that maybe Victor shouldn't have left him on his own after all.
ReplyDeleteEssentially, the change in point of view is a way to get the audience to view the world through the creature's eyes and to understand the strife that he has been through at to sympathize with him.
ReplyDeleteAs I read the monster's story I began to sympathize with him and care about him and doubt that he even had anything to do with the death of little William. At the thought of the cottagers turning him away I was surprised because he had done nothing but good for them, the monster was the one that gave them the wood in the middle of the night and watched them all with love and affection. When it came to light that he was the murderer, I could not feel anger at him, for it was Victor's own fault that such a deed had happened.
As the creator of the monster, Victor had a responsibility to care for him or destroy him. He did not realize this responsibility until it was already too late. If Victor had either destroyed or cared for the monster when he came to life, Victor's life would not have ended in such a terrible manor. This is the point in the story in which I began to feel no such sympathy for Victor, instead I felt as if he had no right to be so upset, for it was his own fault that all around him was dying.
The change in point of view allows the audience to understand the details of the monster's pain more effectively. It allows the audience to sympathize with the monster and how he was treated because of his appearance. For Victor, I feel as though he neglected his monster. He created the monster and should've felt that he owed something to the monster at the very least.
ReplyDeleteThis change in point of view allows you to see through the eyes of the monster. For example, when you look at someone's life from the outside, you see things of they'r life 100% different as opposed to what you see through their perception and visa versa.
ReplyDeleteWhen you look at the monster from his point of view, you feel more emotion, in this case, sympathy and a bit more understanding when inside its mind as to why it did all of those things such as, murder Victor's loved ones.
As for Victor, you start to feel a conflict in emotion. As we first see his monster, we perceive it as just that and we tend to lean towards Victor's side of the story. But per the change in point of view, we can't help but see Victor as the monster, in reality. He was the one who was too ashamed of his work to treat it as he originally imagined it to be. Instead, it became, not just the creature, but the monster that terrorized Victor.
I agree with what Mrs. Williams says and Bailey's response, on feeling some sympathy for Victor. Even though these chapters are focused towards the "monster's" outlook on things you have a point Bailey when you said that Victor was expecting his creation to change the world and be a brilliant discovery but in contrary became his nightmare is exactly right. Unfortunately this nightmare of his is reality and Victor did not handle his creation well what so ever in how he was so intent on making the "monster" and yet abandoning it the minute it took its first breath. These chapters help convey the monster's true emotions, situations, and experiences through his eyes and not just our idea of what a monster should feel or be. Your heart goes out to both the monster and Victor for being in two opposing positions many of us have or never will face.
ReplyDeleteThe change in the point of you lets you view things from the creatures perspective and allows you to see exactly what he's feeling and going through.
ReplyDeleteMy views towards Victor are that he had the responsibility of caring for the creature, but instead gave it up because it was the opposite of what he expected. He had the option of saving the people that were dying around him if he had only cared for the creature.
By having the Monster narrate the book, you get to see his view on how he feels and the way he thinks the way he does. This whole time we see Victor's shame and reluctance to the monster but instead we see the monster's willingness to learn and his longing for humans. This makes you feel sympathy towards the monster but still realizing his mistakes. Most of this is then blamed on Victor for his lake of care for the monster and upbringing. You can tell in the second half of the book how many feelings the monster really does have and only if he had a sense of direction in his life then he could really be treated fairly. Because of his looks, and lack of knowledge you see how he is disowned and rejected by humanity.
ReplyDeletePersonally, my view of the creature was confirmed as he began telling his side of the story. When he was first "born" in Victor's laboratory, and "a grin wrinkled his cheeks," I immediately thought, "Awww.. He loves his dad! He's happy to be alive!" Then Victor ran out of the room like a total creep, and I thought, "Man... Poor guy." Pity was immediate! That happened on page 44 in my book. To have my initial emotional reaction validated in the creature's account of his infancy and intellectual progression was all the more telling of Victor's cruelty, and my opinion of Victor lessened significantly. Victor did nothing less than abandon a completely innocent being - a true newborn - under the pretense that he believed his creation evil. Despite the creature's "face only a mother could love," Victor was required, as a parent, to bestow the same happiness, previously discussed in the beginning chapter, his own parents endowed him, and he didn't. He abandoned his child. After I absorbed this fact, all further actions by the creature were not justified, but definitely viewed from under a less critical and more tolerant lens, while for Victor's, the opposite was true. They became all the more critical and calculating, for he was given a wonderful childhood by both his parents. The creature, in a certain light, was handicapped from his first breathe because he was without guidance.
ReplyDeleteEllen, I do agree entirely about the pity that is instigated once the reader finds that Victor is entirely clueless to the monster's sadness. It is found in the text that the monster does not feel closeness and affection, which implies that he is innocent, vulnerable, and needy. He must find his own way in the world, through his own eyes, just as if a child was abandoned by his parent and left to live on his own. A whole host of emotions and experiences are absent once the parent is taken out of the equation. quote chp. 10 monster- "Have I not suffered enough, that you seek to increase my misery?
ReplyDeleteLife, although it may only be an accumulation of anguish, is dear to me, and I
will defend it."