In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, the line between good and evil is blurred as a result of acts of cruelty. Victor Frankenstein played God, and yet, abandoned his creature. His inhumanity shaped his creation and bred their mutual suffering. Their fate is sealed from the very first act of cruelty: as it is the true creator of monsters. Yet, there is no clear-cut victim or perpetrator between the two main characters. Victor and the creature inflicted suffering onto each other in an endless cycle; never discovering compassion until it is too late. Acts of cruelty form parallels between the creator and the creature including their transformation into monsters, descent into madness and mutual self-destruction.
A true monster is not merely one with an appearance that evokes fear; rather, one that lacks humanity. A monster reverts the natural order of nature; this is clearly displayed with the obsession Victor had to create life for his own selfish gains. Insight …show more content…
Madness drove the monster to unspeakable cruelty; his rage prevented him from displaying the innate goodness of the Romantic hero he once was. This is a direct parallel of his creator who faces countless mood swings and depressed periods after the death of his own family. Isolation is the defiant trigger for the madness and ensuing downfall of the creator and his monster. The female creature is the victim of Victor’s cruelty. The cycle of cruelty spins once again, yet now, neither Victor nor the monster can easily be defined as good or bad. As, Victor considers the impact of the creation onto humanity, “I shuddered to think that future ages would curse me as their pest.” (pg. 171). Yet, his deciding factor is rooted in his own ego; just as in his ambitious plans to create life the first time. It is then, not surprising that the abortion had the same disastrous results for Victor’s loved
A true monster is not merely one with an appearance that evokes fear; rather, one that lacks humanity. A monster reverts the natural order of nature; this is clearly displayed with the obsession Victor had to create life for his own selfish gains. Insight …show more content…
Madness drove the monster to unspeakable cruelty; his rage prevented him from displaying the innate goodness of the Romantic hero he once was. This is a direct parallel of his creator who faces countless mood swings and depressed periods after the death of his own family. Isolation is the defiant trigger for the madness and ensuing downfall of the creator and his monster. The female creature is the victim of Victor’s cruelty. The cycle of cruelty spins once again, yet now, neither Victor nor the monster can easily be defined as good or bad. As, Victor considers the impact of the creation onto humanity, “I shuddered to think that future ages would curse me as their pest.” (pg. 171). Yet, his deciding factor is rooted in his own ego; just as in his ambitious plans to create life the first time. It is then, not surprising that the abortion had the same disastrous results for Victor’s loved