These images could depict some of the main plot points of Chapters 11-16. While these are moments are important, they are by no means the only significant points in these four chapters.
Mercy Jackson
11/9/2018 10:50:20 am
In chapter sixteen, Frankenstein's creature finally discovers the courage to introduce himself to the De Lacey family. However, the family rejects the creature due to his horrifying exterior. After his heartbreaking experience with the De Lacey's the creature seems to have a huge wave of anger towards humans, and especially human that created him. On the creature's way to Geneva he runs into Frankenstein’s younger brother and he “seized the boy as he passed and drew him towards me. As soon as he beheld my form, he placed his hands before his eyes and uttered a shrill scream… ‘Hideous monster! Let me go. My papa is a Syndic- he is M.Frankenstein”(Shelley 126). Frankenstein’s monster, filled with the thirst for revenge proclaims “my enemy is not invulnerable: this death will carry despair to him, and a thousand other miseries shall torment and destroy him” (Shelley 127). Because Frankenstein never handled his discoveries property, this creature is full of despair and loneliness. As the creature got more intelligent, these emotions transformed to anger as the creature knew that he would never belong in the “normal” world and is destined to be alone. This anger made the creature swear revenge on Frankenstein and lead to the murder of William. Frankenstein is reckless with how he handles the situation with his creation and in turn, this death is on him as well of the death of Justine who was framed for this murder by the creature. On Frankenstein's part, scientific advancement and exploration be bad because of his inability to take responsibility for his actions. If Frankenstein didn’t abandon his work the creature wouldn’t be on a vengeful, murderous rampage.
Isobel Ida Bennett
11/11/2018 12:34:45 pm
I think this quote can also comment on the essential question: Is evil innate? The creature was not evil when he was first created. He would not take the De Lacey's wood and food because he realized they were poor and needed the limited supplies they had. The monster was never truly evil until he was abandoned by the De Laceys. He stepped out of his hut to confront them, hoping the would accept him, but they did not accept him. they saw him, beat him, and fled from the area they saw him in. This abandonment taught frankenstein the evils of the world. This is how he learned about revenge and hatred and acted upon these learned feelings through killing young William Frankenstein for revenge.
Sofia Kovalevskaya
11/11/2018 08:20:28 pm
I think this section can also comment on the essential question: What does it mean to be human? All humans have a breaking point. There is only so much one can handle-- for Frankenstein, things were just piled one on top of the other. He was created, abandoned, hated, feared, and rejected by more than one person. When the family he was so interested in did not accept him, that was his breaking point. His humanity showed when he started showing his feelings of evilness and hate by pointing the blame on others and killing people.
Ada Lovelace
11/9/2018 10:50:20 am
In Chapter 15, the creature is set and determined to approach the De Laceys and befriend them. As the creature speaks with the blind old man, Felix, Agatha, and Safie enter the cottage. “Felix darted forward, and with supernatural force tore me from his father...struck me violently with a stick. I could have torn him limb from limb...But my heart sunk within me as a bitter sickness, and I refrained” (Shelley 120). The creature pleads to the old man and his family to take him in and save him in “the hour of trial”, but is interrupted, beaten, and forced out by Felix. The creature also explains how although he is capable of killing Felix, his attachment to the family and feeling of betrayal restricts him from doing so. This passage relates to the question of whether humans are naturally violent or if violence is learned; while the creature observed the De Laceys, Felix and the rest of the family did not show any violent tendencies and appeared to be rather good. But when faced with the unknown (the creature) and the potential danger that could come, Felix’s automatic response was to fight him. This reveals that violence can be the body’s response to a potentially dangerous situation (fight or flight) and not necessarily the character of a person. The creature, on the other hand, can be seen as the opposite: he is aware of his violent capabilities, but in the moment of this attack, refused to hurt Felix. Therefore, it is possible that humans are naturally violent (as a way of self-defense), but these violent tendencies can be controlled.
Isobel Ida Bennett
11/9/2018 10:59:06 am
What qualifies one as “human” or “humane”? This is a question Mary Shelley discusses frequently in her novel, Frankenstein. In this novel, scientist Victor frankenstein has created a “monster”; he created a life out of spare body parts, defying the laws of nature and death. Through this creation, Mary shelley is effectively investigate the ideas of “humanity”. In chapter 11, after Victor Frankenstein has abandoned his creation, the creature is left in the wild to fend for himself, having to learn how to live without ever having lived before. In the beginning of chapter 11, the creature recalls, “”It was dark when I awoke; I felt cold and half-frightened,... finding myself so desolate,.... I was a poor, helpless, miserable wretch; I knew and could distinguish nothing, but feeling pain invade me on all sides, I sat down and wept… When night came again, I found, with pleasure, that the fire gave l;ight as well as heat… Food, however, became scarce; and I often spent the whole day searching in vain for a few acorns to assuage the pangs of hunger.” Through this quote, Mary shelley reveals her belief that humanity means to feel sad, the effects of weather, learn, joy, and hunger. Mary Shelley reveals this idea through what the creature experiences and personifying him.
Emma G Cummings
11/11/2018 11:16:41 pm
Interesting take on what Mary Shelley believes to be human. One could say that the actions and environment around the creature are what shape his personality and beliefs. All of the things he learned from watching the family or how he dealt with the situation with Justine stuck with him. In the sections where hes alone in the wild, we can also see how he reacts to the environment and basic needs. He adapted very quickly, without the need for any mentor, putting an interesting take on the Nature vs. Nurture debate.
Phoebe Lankester
11/11/2018 11:36:07 pm
I feel like you need to expand on why and how this correlates to Mary Shelley’s perspective. The humanification is clarified by mostly the realistic and almost relatable problems the creature has. Primal instinct clarifies his want to survive and revealing all the difficulties he face really pulls the creature closer down to earth as a being of needs. The challenges allow the reader to give a more sympathetic attitude towards the creature since the flaws are more effective in bringing out the humanity in a being. While that is said, it brings up the question of why flaws and challenges are what make one human.
Ada Lovelace
11/12/2018 09:10:28 pm
Your claim on how Shelley portrays what it means to be human through the creature makes sense; rather than feeling and observing the effects of these various things, I believe that understanding them and seeking more knowledge or a solution to them is what qualifies us as "human". When faced with the issue of hunger and coldness, the creature found out ways to resolve both. The creature felt and understood pain when he was abandoned by the person who created him, and eventually turns this pain into violence and anger. This higher level of cognition and evaluating oneself and their surroundings can be a characteristic of being human.
Sofia Kovalevskaya
11/9/2018 08:43:09 pm
In Mary Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein, the discussion of what it means to be human is extremely prevalent. In chapter twelve of the book, Shelley shows many of the ways that the creature tries to be, as well as becomes, human. For example, when the creature saw that the family he had been stealing food from was impoverished, he stopped taking their food. Even though the creature was stealing to begin, it was still like he sacrificed his own desires to benefit the family. In order to sacrifice something for someone, you have to have emotions toward them or it. Being emotional is a major contribution to what it means to be human. Even in his state of homeless/ helplessness, the creature felt sorry for the family and wanted to do what he could to help— displaying a form of pity and care.
Mary treat
11/11/2018 09:37:48 pm
I agree with you 100% that we humans never stop even when there is a time where it is necessary for us to just stop and look the other way we just don't do it and our ego is one of the main factor in some situations which contributes to our destruction sometimes, the best example would be when victor was working tirelessely to make this creature but it never once struck his mind that he was creating this thing, would it be easy for the people of that time to accept it, how would the creature react to this new world; will he survive? These questions were not considered valueable because the ego was at that time had more value.
Isobel Ida Bennett
11/11/2018 09:37:54 pm
I like what you have to say, however, I do not see how desiring to learn is the same as being emotional. The two seem extremely different. wanting to learn is a characteristic of human nature and part of the answer to the question: what does it mean to be human? being emotional is also a part of the anwer as well. The two concepts are only connected by the question mentioned before. The connection they share is being a part of the answer to this essential question.
Julia Lermontova
11/9/2018 09:58:32 pm
To be human means to grow and evolve, which is what the creature did in chapter 12. “I learned and applied the words, fire, milk, bread, and wood. I learned also the names of the cottagers themselves...I learned ideas appropriated to each of these sounds...I distinguished several other words...such as good, dearest, unhappy” (Shelley 101). Per the story of evolution, we evolved from monkey-like creatures. We learned to walk on two feet, we learned to talk, we learned to make. Per the story of creation, we were made as we are now, but we learned to create new ways to make our lives easier, to grow as a race. The creature’s passion, drive, and process of learning is the same one little children go through when being taught the alphabet or numbers. In the creature’s case, his “education” was much more accelerated, as he skipped individual letters and went straight to whole words and their associations. This shows that, though he was shunned by his creator and by the village he stumbled upon for not being human, he is just as human as the rest of them. He is able to evolve himself based on his surroundings and figure out the best way for him to learn.
Julia Lermontova
11/9/2018 09:59:20 pm
Word Count: 210
Sofia Kovalevskaya
11/11/2018 08:44:11 pm
I agree with this statement. I really like the way that you included evidence to support the way in which he learned words -- by learning the whole word at once and not just the individual sounds. I also strongly agree with you when you said that “to be human means to grow and evolve” because those are two things that all humans have done or will do at some point in their lives. Over time people evolve and change as a part of life, which can be seen through Frankenstein who started out as nothing and evolved into something that has human characteristics such as emotions.
Mercy Jackson
11/11/2018 11:46:58 pm
I agree that Frankenstein's creature was able to evolve himself based on his surroundings and figure out the best way for him to learn. Throughout the book the creature has proven himself to be intelligent and very human like. Although childlike, the creature shows various emotions and the process of being truly human.
Ada Lovelace
11/12/2018 09:24:45 pm
I agree with what you consider to be human; although, since its creation, the creature was faced with many issues, he did not stop and allow it to alter his intentions. Understanding how certain things work and applying this knowledge to enhance further in life is typically a trait we find when considering if something/someone is human. Within a short period of time, the creature was capable of adapting to his surroundings and comprehended how others perceived him. Because Shelley personified the creature and expanded on his sufferings, readers were able to connect to him on an emotional level and therefore perceive him as human.
Phoebe Lankester
11/9/2018 10:01:57 pm
The creatures turns and starts to seek revenge for being created and having to experience only loneliness and suffering. Frankenstein was the cause of his own eventual doom and pain.When someone hurts another being, it eventually comes back in a similar fashion to them. It is the concept of Karma. People give and then will receive similar treatment in the present or future from that given action. Frankenstein would suffer from misery and loss in order for him to have empathetic feelings towards the creature. This may sound weird, but this is what is happening. The creature wanted to get revenge and his way of suffering influenced how he would inflict pain onto Frankenstein. He murdered Frankenstein’s brother and got the court to accuse Justine so that Frankenstein would suffer from loss and loneliness.
Mary Treat
11/11/2018 09:50:30 pm
I think you spoke the truth about frankenstein. Many people fail to notice the real monster in this novel, which was the frankenstein. He was farmost the stupid character in this novel. He never thought that if he doesn't accept the responsibility of the creature then he would some serious consequences in his life. You generally talked about the everyday situation of every human being out there that you are not the only impotant person out there there are others whom you have to take care of.
Mercy Jackson
11/11/2018 11:34:25 pm
I think this statement about Frankenstein is accurate.throughout the novel it becomes clear that he should be the one to blame. His actions had huge consequences, although the death of his brother is technically his fault, Justine's blood is definitely on his hands. Frankenstein allowed her to be killed because of his own fears.Frankenstein’s priorities for self-preservation are what caused her death. Neglecting Justine and his creation shows the selfishness and poor moral of Frankenstein.
Mary treat
11/9/2018 11:55:06 pm
The subplot of Safie and the cottagers adds yet another set of voices to the novel. Their story is transmitted from the cottagers to the monster, from the monster to Victor, from Victor to Walton, and from Walton to his sister, at which point the reader finally gains access to it. This layering of stories within stories enables the reworking of familiar ideas in new contexts. One such idea is the sense of “otherness” that many characters in Frankenstein feel. The monster, whose solitude stems from being the only creature of his kind in existence and from being shunned by humanity, senses this quality of being different most powerfully. His deformity, his ability to survive extreme conditions, and the grotesque circumstances of his creation all serve to mark him as the ultimate outsider. Victor, too, is an outsider, as his awful secret separates him from friends, family, and the rest of society. In the subplot of the cottagers, this idea recurs in the figures of both Safie and her father. His otherness as a Muslim Turk in Paris results in a threat to his life from the prejudiced and figures in power. Her feelings of being oppressed by Islam’s confining gender roles compel her to seek escape to the more egalitarian ideas of Christianity.
Emma G Cummings
11/11/2018 11:12:29 pm
This is definitely an interesting take on a possible subtle theme of the story. In a way, I feel like the creature is an extension of Frankenstein himself. both are outsiders with different traits that dont allow them to blend well with society. And i feel that this is why the creature was able to connect so well with Safie. Safie probably feels like the monster that needs to be cast away since she strays away from the religion that is reinforced by her family. Hopefully we can see this theme develop itself further throughout the rest of the novel
Phoebe Lankester
11/11/2018 11:44:42 pm
I far do agree that the cottagers allows more life stories to be told under the main plot, and by adding these subplots, it doubles more variations, like you pointed out, of one concept like outcasts. The cottagers bring a different type of outcast feel in the way that society has more responsibility in pushing them out while Victor dissociates himself from society for the way he thinks and the actions he has done. By doing so, it allows the creature to connect to the cottagers and separate from the outcast that Victor was. The use of Safie and the others exaggerates the creature as its own being by giving a more understandable scenarios to the readers the creature can almost relate to.
Emma G Cummings
11/11/2018 11:07:21 pm
While Victor Frankenstein successfully created the physical body of the creature, how does he control what the creature thinks and feels when it becomes alive. Does the creature learn to feel emotion? Or does Frankenstein have to teach him how to be human. This raises the idea of Nature vs. Nurture which talks about whether human emotion is learned through genetics or our environment. While the Creature is spying on a family out in the woods, he becomes fascinated with the people and how they communicate and live their lives. Just through simple observation he was able to empathise with the hardships of the family. After he found out the family was poor, he said the “trait of kindness had moved me sensibly. I had been accustomed, during the night, to steal a part of their store for my own consumption; but when I found out that in doing this I inflicted pain on the cottages, I abstained, and satisfied myself with berries, nuts, and roots” (Shelley 100). Surprisingly, this passage supports both the nature and nurture sides of the debate. The creature at first acts solely on his needs and desires, ravaging food where he can without thinking about how it affects others or himself. However, after witnessing people having to pay for his actions, he starts to ponder about what is right and wrong. Ultimately deciding what's wrong. This mental development shows the creature learning to empathise with the villagers and understanding their emotions. But it could also proof how the creature was already born predisposed to understand emotions by nature. Either way, this is an interesting take on the nature and nurture debate and a great development for the creature as a character. Comments are closed.
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