Concetti Chiave
- The novel "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley explores the creation of a monster by Victor Frankenstein, showcasing the consequences of scientific ambition.
- Victor Frankenstein's neglect and the monster's grotesque appearance lead to a series of tragic events, including the murder of Victor's family and friends.
- Mary Shelley highlights the theme of transcending societal limits, paralleling works like Marlowe's "Doctor Faustus" and Milton's "Paradise Lost."
- The novel examines the duality between creator and creature, portraying their intertwined destinies through pivotal scenes.
- Frankenstein reflects on the inner conflicts of humanity and science, emphasizing the monster within the profound human psyche.
Frankenstein is a work written by Mary Shelley, published in 1818.
The Creation of the Monster
The main character is Frankenstein, a monster that has been created with human appearance by Victor Frankenstein, an enthusiast of chemistry and natural philosophy, after his mother’s death (she feels ill because of the infection by husband’s orphan daughter). When Frankenstein takes life, his creator runs out. So he starts to kill creator’s relatives because Victor has made him with a bad appearance, and that bring him to look like a horrifying person. He kills Victor’s brother (William) and after the refuse of creating a woman friend for Frank, he kills also one of his friends and his wife during the night of ceremony. Later, Victor decides to look for the monster but when he reaches the North Pole, he’ll die soon. At the end, during the speech with a friend of Victor, Walton, he states that everything had been caused by the unmotivated hatred of men for his appearance and that the only thing he now wanted was to die.
The Desire to Overcome Limits
In this novel Mary Shelley wants to emphasize the desire to go beyond the limits allowed during her period. This theme is also present in Doctor Faustus, a theatrical work, written by Christopher Marlowe and in Paradise Lost (written by John Milton) when Lucifer rebels against God, just as the monster turned to its creator.
In addition to this theme, there is the theme of the double, that links the destinies of Victor and his horrifying creature. Two important consecutive scenes are in the first, Victor, terrified by what he is doing, he gets rid of the woman he is building for his "creature" while the monster spy him from the window; in the second, the monster kills Elizabeth as the protagonist looks through the windows. Thinking about the limits of man and science (during a period that was full of great discoveries and scientific innovations), Frankenstein indicates that the reasons for the conflict, the reasons for the conflict are an integral part of the person's profound personality, or monster that he is.
Domande da interrogazione
- What motivates Victor Frankenstein to create the monster, and what are the consequences of his actions?
- How does Mary Shelley explore the theme of overcoming limits in "Frankenstein"?
- What role does the theme of the double play in the relationship between Victor and the monster?
Victor Frankenstein, driven by his passion for chemistry and natural philosophy, creates the monster after his mother's death. However, horrified by the creature's appearance, he abandons it. This leads the monster to seek revenge by killing Victor's relatives, including his brother, friend, and wife, ultimately resulting in Victor's pursuit of the creature to the North Pole, where he dies.
Mary Shelley emphasizes the desire to transcend societal and scientific boundaries, a theme prevalent in her time. This is mirrored in other works like "Doctor Faustus" and "Paradise Lost." In "Frankenstein," the theme is illustrated through Victor's ambition to create life, paralleling Lucifer's rebellion against God, highlighting the dangers of overreaching.
The theme of the double is significant in linking Victor and the monster's destinies. It is depicted in scenes where Victor destroys the female companion he was creating for the monster, who then retaliates by killing Victor's wife, Elizabeth. This duality underscores the internal conflict and the inherent monstrous nature within individuals, reflecting on the limits of human and scientific endeavors.
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