Reading Response (Frankenstein Vol 2) Roman Shelkov
October 1, 2014
Most of the time, children during their adolescent years tend to love attention and constantly act to receive that attention from their parents. Just like a child, Frankenstein’s creature wants attention from his mother/creator. A child is born innocent and pure and what happens around him greatly effects how the newborn will act and who it will become. The creature was denied by his creator, marked as hideous and dangerous. Not only did his created betray him but all human beings are scared even of just the sight of the creature. He can not be blamed for his evil actions because the creature wasn’t even raised to know what is moral and what isn’t. Isolated and banished, the creature had no other means of grabbing the “attention” of his master but murder and direct conformation. “How can I move thee? Will no entreaties cause thee to turn a favorable eye upon thy creature, who implores thy goodness and compassion. Believe me, Frankenstein: I was benevolent; my soul glowed with love and humanity: but am i not alone” (86 Shelley). It is Frankenstein’s responsibility for all that the creature has done; if he were to accept the creature and nurture it properly into the chaotic world, then maybe Frankenstein’s successful experiment wouldn’t have been a giant stress which causes Frankenstein to get extremely ill.
October 1st, 2014 at 10:04 pm
I agree with you that Victor has treated his creature very poorly right from the beginning. But in my opinion, that does not justify the creature from acting brash and immorally. He practically examined every movement and action done by the French family in the village. He understood basic emotions and was able to self-educate himself. He blamed Victor for his misfortunes and rightfully so, but was it right to murder Victor’s brother? I don’t think that the creature even made an attempt to directly contact Victor before he murdered his brother. The creature is displaying his power that he has learned to acknowledge, and subsequently being corrupted by it. I find that both Victor and the creature are at fault.
October 2nd, 2014 at 8:03 am
I agree with both of you on the fact that Victor neglected and abandoned the Creature since his creation. While the Creature learned learned language and reason during his time with French family, he had a legitimate reason to lash out against his creator. Since he escaped from Frankenstein’s lab, every human being he comes in contact with is terrified by his appearance and refuses to speak with him, despite his good intentions. When he finally approaches Frankenstein, he makes a reasonable request for a companion in exchange for moving away from Europe. As a creation of man, the Creature shows that he is as flawed as man, yet he shows strong emotions (if not stronger emotionss) than his human creator.
October 7th, 2014 at 12:50 pm
I dont think it is safe to take either side of Frankenstein or the creature. However, I would lean a bit more towards the side of the creature due to him being the primary victim as Victor has been the receiving end of seeing his family and friends dying one by one. The creature has been abandoned since he was born and in trying to channel his frustration and rage, he tries to get the attention of Victor by attempting hurt Victor emotionally while the ones close to Victor, physically, killing them. I wouldnt justify the creatures murder but in a way, that was the only way he knew how to get Victor to understand what he has been through for all this time.