Frankenstein by Mary Shelley 1818 version (Essay Sample)

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Frankenstein by Mary Shelley 1818 version
Introduction
In principle, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein story is based on Victor Frankenstein’s success in reanimating a dead body to create a monster. However, he feels guilty about what he has done and chooses to reject the monster. Furthermore, Frankenstein’s Monster is said to have emotions and is hurt by the rejection it receives from mankind and the fact that it was made, added insult to the wounds. Therefore, the Monster chooses to assert its revenge on Victor Frankenstein’s family. In essence, the book was written by Mary Shelley in 1818 as a short story in reference to the poet Lord Byron, who had suggested that his friends should write individual ghost stories (Southard, par. 3). Significantly, legend has it that Shelley’s story was so frightening to Byron that he ran from the room scared for his life. Similarly, the first Frankenstein movie was produced in 1910, and it was a twelve-minute movie (Fournier, par. 3). Concurrently, it was wholly based on Mari Shelley’s book and hence, had the same character development and it is dubbed as the first motion picture to give the Frankenstein accounts. Contrary to the book the movie gives different views about the story with the Monster being referred to as Frankenstein yet Shelley has it in her book that the Monster’s creator was the one known as Victor Frankenstein (Branagh, pg. 3). For instance, in the book the writer tries to let readers see things through the Monster’s point of view unlike in the movie where the film tries only to focus on the horror and terror the Monster brings to the community. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein story should be analyzed critically to determine its significance to modern society in order to prevent technology from igniting nature’s anger and unscrupulous reaction.
Hasty Decisions and their Consequences
In essence, Victor’s urge to create the Monster can be attributed to the death of his adoptive mother, Caroline, who succumbs to scarlet fever (Shelley, Chapter 2, pg. 2). Significantly, one can argue that Victor was not ready to accept the loss of his mother that he tried to create a life and be more connected to Caroline. Concurrently, this train of thought is valid since it is only after his mother’s death that Victor devices the ingenious plan. Therefore, the lack of acceptance of the loss is the logical reason as to why Victor would try to reanimate a dead body so that he would not have to undergo the same painful feeling again. Principally, this has been the case in the modern society where individual, who have lost someone to death, finds it hard to accept this fact and devise ways to skip the need for dealing with it. Similarly, most people fall victims of drug abuse trying to drink their way out of the pain that mostly does not work but only leads to more mess (University of Melbourne, par. 3).
In principal, after reanimating the dead body to life Victor realizes that he cannot take care of the Monster and hence, opts to run away from this responsibility (Shelley, Chapter 24, pg. 3). Significantly, this shows that Victor was in a hurry and did not weigh in the gravity of his actions and what it would mean afterward. Therefore, he opts to take the easy route out by rejecting the creature he was determined to see live. Concurrently, this gives a symbolic representation of how modern society reacts towards responsibilities. Moreover, when an individual is faced with a result of his doing, such as teen pregnancy observation on today’s happenings show that most try to utilize the easiest way out such as having an abortion. Furthermore, one can point out that Shelley used Victor’s dilemma to explain how people will be quick to run away from their responsibilities after they realize that they cannot handle the aftermath. In essence, the story tries to teach people to weigh their actions and try to evaluate whether what happens as a result of such they can be held to account.
Significantly, Victor is called home by Alphonse due to the murder of his younger brother by an unknown assailant (Shelley, Chapter 7, pg. 1). However, knowing who the assailant is, Victor ducks out of Geneva. Principally, this part of the story paints a picture of an individual who still does not want people to know what he has done. Moreover, with the guilt overwhelming, he opts to run away from all that has happened claiming to refresh a tortured soul.
In essence, the writer is trying to showcase the lengths people would go due to denial. Furthermore, Victor’s act of concealing the truth shows that he realizes it is because of him that William is dead. On a similar note, readers are brought to understand that Victor’s actions are due to what society would have done, and condemn him without hesitation. Concurrently, this is a perfect presentation of modern society where individuals opt to hide information due to the fear of being judged by society. For example, an individual, who contracts HIV/AIDS, will not be at ease to share this information because of the stigmatization he/she would face from the community.
Taking Responsibility for One’s Actions
In essence, when Victor and the monster meet, the monster demands Victor to reanimate a mate for him. Principally, this shows that the monster felt Victor owed him that much because of the mistreatment he had received due to the rejection. Concurrently, this gives the understanding that some events come as a chain reaction where one leads to another and any attempts to stop the chain only leads to cataclysmic events. Similarly, the writer feared industrialization.
In essence, she tries to give her ideologies of what industrialization would lead to which, to her consisted of war and violence as depicted by the Frankenstein’s monster. Moreover, one can argue that by the industrialization of a country, then more demands on a need such as to protect the wealth would only result in war and violence. However, the story also goes deeper than explaining the effects of industrialization where in modern society; one can view the context to mean that one evil can force an individual to commit more evil just to cover up the original sin unless he/she takes a stand.
In principle, Victor refused the monster’s request that in turn cemented his fate of a dreaded war with the monster (Shelley, Chapter 7, pg. 4). Significantly, the writer tries to give an instance where one feels enough is enough, and it is time to do right. Concurrently, Shelley now introduces the concept of fighting for what is considered to be right. Moreover, the reader at this point is attracted to the switching of roles between him/her with Victor and it is at this significant point in time that one can relate to what he chooses to do.
In essence, Shelley tries to show that even the greatest of cowards there is always a breaking point where he/she will opt to stop and rethink even when such a move utters death. Therefore, the writer tries to show that there is a point that one cannot pass twice and not believe to be morally wrong in the race for technological advancement. Furthermore, even with the benefits of industrialization known when the risks surpass the benefits players in the game will opt to stop. On a similar note, the story tries to warn of unethical scientific and technological activities that jeopardize human life like was the case with Frankenstein’s monster. For example, if cloning of human beings will bring adrift in society with a given portion of the population being segregated then it is not right and by any means ethical (Dixon, par. 3).
Dangers of Late Reactions
In essence, after the monster killed Elizabeth Victor swore revenge and chased the monster all through Europe and is found dying by Robert Walton, who also has an encounter with the monster where it narrates its side of the story (Shelley, Chapter 24, pg. 7). Concurrently, the writer tries to show the efforts of a wounded man trying to assert revenge. Moreover, analyzing the writer’s attitude, one can argue that Shelley attempts to show that at times before an individual can see the repercussion of a given act and choose to stop it, it might be too late.
According to Shelley, Victor’s chance of dealing with the monster had passed and what he was doing was a mere fruitless act of a drowning man that had no effects on the already established events. Significantly, this compares to modern society where the implications of some events such as the discrimination of some communities have led to violent revolutions and even given birth to terrorism. Similarly, any acts to bring order and stability have failed with terrorism taking root to the extent that all nations on earth have suffered its devastating effects. Therefore, it is Shelley’s advice that one opt to deal with the situation first hand before it becomes unmanageable with lasting effects like was the case of Victor Frankenstein.
Significantly, Shelley uses the monster also to give a detailed example of how nature’s power will always bring balance amidst unnatural events. Concurrently, this is well observed at the end where the monster is left alone, and the only individual who could have created a mate for it dies at the end of the story. Moreover, this cements the fate of the monster’s lonely life while setting straight Victor for his actions to go against nature's will. In essence, this can be noted in today’s society where due to man’s activities on earth the Ozone layer has been eaten away and global warming has taken the world to its knees with unprecedented natural calamities such as hurricanes ...