Frankenstein Victim or Villain - 3231 Words

Mary Shelley’s ability to create such multidimensional characters in Frankenstein proves that writing is a powerful tool that has the ability to provoke vastly different opinions amongst readers. Even though each individual reading the story is reading the exact same words, their interpretation of those words often leads to opposing views in regards to the fate of the characters. The creature, in particular, has been a popular topic of discussion when conducting a close read of the novel due to his arguable versatility as a victim and villain. The concept of the villain has evolved over the years, however its basis still rests upon the simple fact that as a character in the story, their actions are a result of malicious intentions†¦show more content†¦Her interpretation is actually quite true because in the most minimalistic explanation, Frankenstein is making the choice to desert his child and the chances of survival of a newborn on its own are next to none. This is quite a profound choice that foreshadows the hardships that the creature will soon face and also hints at the remarkable fact that the creature does in fact survive to have a long life. This is also briefly discussed by Butler: â€Å"the creature’s career works on two levels, as a survival-story like Robison Crusoe’s, and as an allegorical account of the progress of mankind over eons of time† (xxxix). The creature’s perseverance and remarkable ability to overcome his presumed infant death allows him to be perceived as an underdog of sorts, who will continue to fight against the odds. This perseverance and constant struggle is the mark of a victim trying to survive. Moreover, Victor’s lack of responsibility demonstrates his selfish nature and total disregard of the consequences of his actions, making the creature a victim of Victor’s actions. This abandonment is a major factor in distinguishing the creature as a victim as opposed to a villain . Lacking any parental guidance from Victor, the creature is left to determine how the world works on his own. This means that heShow MoreRelatedAbsence of Heroes and Villains in Mary Shelleys Frankenstein781 Words   |  4 PagesAbsence of Heroes and Villains in Mary Shelleys Frankenstein Frankenstein is a gothic novel which was published in the 19th century, and was written by Mary Shelley. In the 19th century the most popular types of novels were horror. This novel was an early example of a thriller. One of the main reasons why Mary Shelley wrote a book about science, horror and suffering was because she knew that people in the 19thRead More Frankensteins Creature is a Victim, NOT A Villain Essays1133 Words   |  5 PagesFrankensteins Creature Is A Victim Not A Villain In this essay I aim to discuss the statement Frankensteins creature is a victim not a villain In 1814 Mary Wollestonecraft met Percy shelly, a poet and writer. They ran away together, to escape Marys family and Percys pregnant wife, Harriet. Harriet drowned herself and Mary and percy were married two weeks later. Frankenstein was started in 1816 and finally published in 1818. From 1815 to 1819 three of mary Shellys four childrenRead MoreNegative Criticism Of Frankenstein1279 Words   |  6 Pagesshocked to life is named Frankenstein. However, that is not the case in the original book â€Å"Frankenstein† by Mary Shelley. As my classmate said, â€Å"Frankenstein† is not only an ionic book, but also ironic considering that the theme of Frankenstein is people being misunderstood when the book itself has misconceptions over the true meaning thanks to the movie that changed the views people had over Frankenstein. Today there are several viewpoints over the works of â€Å"Frankenstein†. Some people consider theRead More Victor is the True Villain of Frankenstein Essay1248 Words   |  5 Pagesmonster in Frankenstein is a symbol of evil, whose only desire is to ruin lives. He has been called A creature that wreaks havoc by destroying innocent lives often without remorse. He can be viewed as the antagonist, the element Victor must overcome to restore balance and tranquility to the world. But after the novel is looked at on different levels, one becomes aware that the creature wasnt responsible for his actions, and was just a victim of circumstance. The real villain of Frankenstein isnt theRead MoreFrankenstein by Mary Shelley849 Words   |  3 Pages â€Å"Who is the true antagonist† is a question that a reader may mull upon during the reading of certain novels. In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, the main character, Victor Frankenstein, although thought to be a victim, is in fact the villain of the novel Frankenstein. The plot of the novel consists of Victor Frankenstein causing tragedies and deaths as a result of his irresponsibility and yearning for fame. Victor also creates an antagonizing creature that has absolutely no knowledge of the basic waysRead MoreAnalysis Of Mary Shelley s Frankenstein 1439 Words   |  6 Pagesreact with ambivalence to this question because we have been exposed to both side s of the story, which is a rarity in most cases. Shelley represents the creature as truly monstrous and evil through the eyes of Victor Frankenstein, which gives readers the opportunity to view Frankenstein as the hero. It is only when we read the creature’s account that we began to feel both sympathy and even empathy for the struggles he has encountered. 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