- After reading Paradise Lost, why does the creature think he is like Adam in that book? why does he think he is like Satan? What are the specific reasons that the creature gives for hating his creator?
- How have the creature's experiences shaped his opinion of himself? Does he have the potential for good as well as evil?
- Thus far, do you find the creature more or less sympathetic than the character of Victor Frankenstein? Explain.
Monday, March 26, 2007
Frankenstein Chapters 11 - 16
Answer each of the questions below then include your line(s) and why it stood out to you.
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The creature feels like Adam in Paradise Lost because he was the first of his kind created and has no connection to any other being. He can also relate to Satan because he is cast aside and seen as something ugly and scary and also is subjected to happy families and people around him and that promotes anger and envy.
The creature hates Victor because he feels that he was heartless and just cast him aside for others to hate.
Being all alone the Creature has formulated some ideas about himself. He feels like an outsider, much like the group of people living in the cottage next to him, and once he catches a glimpse of his own face he realizes he is scary. Whenever he tries to help someone it always backfires and ends poorly for him. When he attempted to talk to the old man in the cottage and the others came back and scared him away he realized that his preconceived notions of them being an inviting, caring family were incorrect and that they were just like any other person that would want him gone just because he is different.
The monster should have the potential for good because he has already committed some caring acts. However, driven by anger, envy and hatred does not mean he will manifest any good deeds.
Honestly, I do not feel sympathy for the monster or Victor. Victor was an intelligent man who should of contemplated the consequences of his actions. Through all of my reading I keep relating the creature as being any regular teenager. I do this because it reminds me so much of so many kids that are just trying to fit in, I myself go through that all the time. Maybe sympathy should be given to the creature because of his lack of understanding and his exaggerated, grotesque exterior, but I cannot find any; because to me the creature is like any person trying to fight for acceptance which is a normal, everyday situation.
"Cursed, cursed creator! Why did I live? Why, in that instant, did I not extinguish the spark of existence which you had so wantonly bestowed?"
To me this line shows that the monster has expectations of hope rather than of despair. He contemplates death but in the end realizes that there is something that he must complete. This line makes me feel that this is where the creature realizes he must find Victor and right the wrongs that have been committed in his life.
Lydia~
In paradise lost it must describe how Adam was created by someone or something elseand that he was the first of his kind because the creature can relate to him in that way. Frankenstein created the monstor out of other parts and did not make anything else like him or equivilent to him. He feels like Satan because he just thrown aside and left alone. He is around haapiness and that makes him envious becasue he just wants people to like him for the kind of being that he is not because of what he looks like. The creature does not understand why his creator would create something so "hideous"(125) and then "[turn] from in disgust"
Everytime the creature has come into contact with any human they have run away from him and screamed in horror. Because of is overly large size and repulsive looks everbody is scared of him. When he wanted to meet the cottagers the only thing he wanted from them is for them to accept him. Before he could get his story to the old blind man the kids came back and got scared of him. Now he feels like there is no chance for him to ever be liked in society. Anything has potential for good and evil it is all how you deal with life. I think the creature wants to be good but when he feels anger and envy he does not know how to control his issues except for running away.
It is hard for me to decide if the creature is more or less sympythetic than Victor Frankenstein because they sould seem about the same in some situations. Victor does care for his family and other human beings but when he created this creature he was disgusted by it and just put aside and did not care about it or take any pride in the fact that he created a being. The creature seems to care about his villagers and he wants to learn to be like them so he can interact with them. However, when they act just like everyone else and get scared he gets angry and runs away just like his creator ran away from him.
1. The creature compares himself to Adam in Paradise Lost because they are both the first of their kind and have nothing else to relate to. He thinks he is like Satan because often when he saw how the family loved each other and how they acted together, he longed for that kind of interaction. So, he thought himself envious and bitter like Satan. He hates Victor because Victor is his creator and even he hates him. Victor is the one who abandoned him for the rest of the world to pick him apart as they pleased. Victor made him a "filthy type of [his], more horrid even from the very resemblance."
2. The creature thinks of himself as this awful wretch who does not fit in anywhere. Anytime he tries to do something good it never works out for him. All he gets is hate and fear in return. He does not like the thing that he is and only longs for a simple companion. He knows from his reflection that he is very different from any other human being, if that is what you would call him, and he knows he is an outsider. I believe he does have the potential. It was already proven a number of times. If one person could have given him the slightest bit of acceptance, or concern and not ran from the sight of him he might have acted very different. There are a number of good things he has done as evidence of some good in him. Such as when he saves the girl from drowning, and bringing would for the family. If you think about it his first actions towards mankind were that of kindness. However, things changed when people reacted to him the way they did. He has a lot of hate and anger built up now.
3.I think he is more sympathetic. He has tried to be kind and care for people, but events have changed him. However, he hastily lets revenge take over him. In that way I think he is almost the same as Victor. Victor did not give the creature a single minute of his time after he came to life. It was something that he created, but then he let his disgust take over. At one point he actually feels sorry for the creature, but then lets his disgust at its appearance almost make the decision for him to not consider what the monster wants. "I compassioneated him and sometimes felt a whish to console him, but when I looked upon him, when I saw the filthy mass that moved and talked, my heart sickened and my feelings were altered to those of horror and hatred." This is also the quote that caught my attention. It is obvious how Victor allows the monster's appearance to overcome his sense of responsibility and the little ounce of compassion he has for the monster. It is his creation; yet, he still shuns him, and hates him due only to his appearance. Yes, he killed William and Justine, but it was because of Victor's own actions that lead to the monster acting so wicked. It's like he didn't hear a word of the kindness that the monster had spoke of, or the good deeds he had done on his own. Everything disappeared from Victor's mine once he looked upon the face of his creature.
The monster feels like Adam in the book Paradise Lost because he is the only one of his kind, all alone, just like Adam does. He also relates to Satan because Satan is looked upon as an ugly outcast that is forced to be around happy families and people that in turn make him envious of what they have, just as the creature does. Frankenstein’s monster hates his creator because he feels that Victor was cruel in the fact that he was thrown out into the world alone, only to be hated by others. The monster’s opinion of himself has been influenced by the experiences he has had. All of the humans that have seen him have been terrified, and he also comes to realize that he is very different, with quite the grotesque appearance.
He most assuredly has the potential for being a good individual. He gets very confused with some aspects of life, but also is easily able to understand other aspects of it. It would appear that the only time he has shown an evil side is when the name “Frankenstein” was mentioned. Thus far, I feel that the creature has been more sympathetic than the character of Victor because he at least understands that his appearance is overwhelming. Victor Frankenstein does not seem to show much sympathy, even after he abandoned his creation.
“Cursed, cursed creator! Why did I live? Why, in that instant, did I not extinguish the spark of existence which you had so wantonly bestowed? I know not.” (130) This line really stands out to me because it shows how the monster feels about being alive. He not only feels hatred towards his creator, but in just the simple act of living.
The creature relates himself to Adam because he is not like anything else on earth. He has a creator, but no family. He feels like Satan because he is detested by everyone and he has a bunch of anger and hatred built up. He hates his creator because he abandoned him. He made no friends for him to be around and he said he hated the creature.
I think he has the potential to be good if he ever wanted to. When he watched the people getting along and having a great time, he seemed to long for something like that. He was intrigued by all the compassion everyone felt for each other and just wanted to be a part of that. However, seeing this brought down his opinion of himself. His surroundings just showed that he doesn't have any companionship or love, which made him feel bad.
I think the creature is more sympathetic than Victor for a few reasons. They both are very angry and unsatisfied, but the creature shows that he could possibly let all that go eventually. He liked seeing people care for each other and would love to be a part of that. Victor is just bitter and won't let anything go. However, it was nice that he took the time to hear his creature's side of the story. It kind of surprised me that he listened since he was so set on hating and accusing.
On page 136, the creature told the little boy, "You belong then to my enemy-to him towards whom I have sworn eternal revenge..." This line sort of conflicts with my thoughts about him being able to be compassionate. Deep down, I think he really wants friendship and peace, but if he swears something eternally, then he'll never find the peace he's looking for, and he won't become everything he potentially can.
When the creature read Paradise Lost he thinks he is like Adam because like himself Adam was not like other people and was the first and only thing like him. The creature related to Satan because he was shunned by all the people around him. He was unable to find happiness with other people which turned his emotions to hate and envy. “Accursed creator! Why did you form a monster so hideous that even you turned from me in disgust? God, in pity, made man beautiful and alluring, after his own image; but my form is filthy type of yours, more horrid even from the ver resemblance.” The creature hates his creator because he created him in such a terrible way that he could not interact with society and then his creator abandoned him to suffer.
Thus far the creature has not had any good experiences that involved other people. By being completely shut off from human company he has began to believe that he will never have a place in society because his appearance is terrifying to all people he has come in contact with. I think he does have the potential for good as well as evil because even after the way he was treated by the cottagers he still was able to enjoy the beauty of the day and save the girl from the river. “The first of spring, cheered even me by the loveliness of it’s sunshine and the balminess of the air. I felt emotions of gentleness and pleasure,” If someone would take the time to accept the creature I think he would become a gentle person, but to reverse that if someone does not accept the creature I don’t think he will have any motive to do good things. He will only experience the emotions that will lead him to evil such as hate and envy.
At this point I find the creature more sympathetic than Victor Frankenstein. I feel that the creature has made the decisions he has because he is confused and alone. Frankenstein has made the decisions he has out of greed and selfishness. Frankenstein allowed the girl accused with his young brothers death to die even though he knew the truth. Frankenstein also could have stopped the tragedy from even occurring had he taken the time to help his creation.
After reading Paradise Lost the Creature relates to Adam because he is simply made up of nothing, not born to a family like normal humans. He is the first of his type of creation. He considers himself to be like satan because he is treated just as most would treat the devil, they repel him and flee at his gastly presence. The monster is jealous that Adam was given a creator who loved and cared for him, and you can see the the monster longed for that kind of nurturing. Without doubt the Creature hates his creator for making him dreadful and turning his back on him. He hates that his creator didn't think about how people would react to him and the monster is entitled to think that way.
Had people, even one person reacted differently and kindly toward the monster his demeanor and outlook of himself would change drastically. If I was shunned and treated as horribly as he was, I would believe that I really must be that terrifying and dreadful for everyone to act that way. Though, the monster was never given an act of kindness, he somehow acquired the ability to try and be kind, which suprises me. He tried to save the young girl from drowning and he cared for the family, when he already seemed to know that we would be greeted with nothing but hatred and disgust, yet he kept the hope alive for a while, which allows me to belive is definetely capable of good.
"This was then the reward of my benevolence! "I had saved a human being from destruction, and as a recompense I now writhed under the miserable pain of a wound which shattered the flesh and bone." (135) Finally after his last failed attempt at kindness the monster's vows revenge on man kind and I believe that can only be blamed on Frankenstein and other unaccepting people. So I feel much more sympathy for the monster than Victor. Victor set himself up for his pain and agony by not thinking about the consequence. The monster was given no choice to be hated and alone.
I realize that this posting is late, it has been hard to keep up on all my work lately due to being right in the middle of moving into a new house, and my dog having a beautiful litter of six puppies. So, my entries may be a little late, but I am working hard to make sure that I get them all done. Anyways, the creature relates, and believes they are alike, to the character of Adam in "Paradise Lost", because he too is the first of his kind, a whole new race of beings. Not only that, but in the story Adam disappoints his creator, as the creature disappoints Victor. Although, not the same disappointment, it is still there. He believes that he is also like Satan, because he is simply thrown away, perceived as an ugly beast to all that surround him, and a fallen angel. The creature dislikes Victor, because, like Satan, he was simply cast aside by his creator. Yet, he had done nothing wrong; there was no reason for Victor to carelessly and fearfully cast this being aside, his own creation. The creature has a very negative self image, when he sees his reflection he views himself as hideous; he realizes that he will always be an outsider because of the way that his creator made him. Then when he finally attempts to make friends he his shot down, simply because of his appearance. This does nothing for his outlook. I believe that he has a huge potential within him for good, it is somehow encoded into his very soul. His actions, thus far in the book, illustrate this. Just as he has a great potential for good so too does he have a great potential for evil. Hatred, is in itself dangerous, but when you are a being of this creatures stature, the cruel actions of others do nothing but poor gasoline on the already out of control fire. Not only does he have great potential for evil, but the size and muscle to back it up. I definitely believe that the creature is more sympathetic than Victor. He yearns for the love of others, whereas the only emotions that Victor has shown are those of fear and guilt. He abandons his creation, neglecting to give him the nurturing care that he needs, his sympathy is only directed towards himself.
So I’ve already posted this once, but I guess I did something wrong because…it’s not there. Good thing I checked. Sorry.
Chrystle
Frankenstiens monster is completely and uterly alone. In this way he relates himself to Adam in Paradise Lost. He is the first of his kind and he has no ties with anyone. The monster is able to relate with Satan because he is a hideous creature hated and feared by all who see him. This inturn causes him to hate and envy humans. Up until his condemnation by De Lacy's family. This causes the monster to lose all hope of acceptance by humans. The monster hates Frankenstein for many reasons one being his monstrous appearance and another being his abandonment. "Why did you form a monster so hideous that even you turned from me in disgust." (125)
After being detested by all who see him under any circumstances the monster begins to view himself the way others view him, as a hideous beast, his actions then begin to reflect this perception. Frankensteins monster never really wanted to hurt anyone and even after experiencing many hardships he still only wanted acceptance. It was after these hardships that his potential for evil greatly increased, he became jealous, infuriated and devious.
The monster seems much more sympathetic and kind hearted than Frankenstein. Frankenstein only focuses on the monsters hideous exterior and bases all of his views of the monster from that. The monster is willing to forgive Frankenstein for all of his unkind acts if only Frankenstien would accept him.
After reading Paradise Lost, the creature believes he is like Adam because he is "united by no link to any other being in existence" other than his creator. (124) I also believe that he feels a connection to Adam because he is his exact opposite. Adam "[came] forth from the hands of God a perfect creature, happy and prosperous, guarded by the especial care of his Creator; he was allowed to converse with and acquire knowledge from beings of a superior nature, but [the creature] was wretched, helpless, and alone." (124) This is also what leads him to feel a connection to Satan. The creature, like Satan, is viewed upon as hideous, vile, and is considered an outcast.
When the creature finds and reads from Frankenstein's journal, he begins to hate his creator. The journal contained exactly how the creature was created, and he felt extreme "agony" regarding his creation. He does not know why Frankenstein created him to be so monstrous when "God...made man beautiful and alluring, after his own image; but [his] form is a filthy type of [Frankenstein's], more horrid even from the very resemblance."(125) Another instance that leads him to further hate Frankenstein is his encounter with his beloved cottagers. He views them for the longest time as humans that have such a kind and caring nature that when he learned to talk, could possibly accept him despite his "personal deformity." However, his experience with the family turns sour and he is lead to believe that even such a loving family could not accept such a monstrosity. This only adds to his feelings towards his creator and confusion as to why he was created to look the way he does.
These experiences cause the creature to overlook his inner beauty and look upon himself as all others would...disgusting. Every time he looks at his reflection he is disheartened and becomes depressed. He feels so alone in the world and his one chance where his features may have been overlooked completely backfired. In previous chapters the creature was aware of his true innocence and was confused by man's actions towards him when he had done nothing to deserve it. His experiences afterwards just caused him to forget this and look at himself as a foul monster. Even his good deeds towards man don't go unpunished, and he is forced to continue feeling the way he does. Not even a child who would be "unprejudiced" failed him and caused him to turn towards a more wicked nature.
This leads me to believe that the creature has a natural potential to do good, yet can turn towards evil when pushed too far. He desires to feel love towards and have a relationship with his creator, and wished the same for the cottagers when he is pushed away from the first. He attempts to help his secret friends and continues to do so until they too turn him away. The same thing happens when he saves the young girl from drowning yet is still shot for it. All these examples show his tendency for good nature, but his feelings can take the better of him which is why he kills young William. However, I do not believe that this is necessarily "evil." I just think that he is overloaded by all his feelings and experiences.
So far, I feel no sympathy towards Victor Frankenstein. I feel that he deserved every misfortune he has encountered that resulted from what he did. If he had taken responsibility for his creation, circumstances would have been different, but since he chose to run away in disgust he deserves to be forced to fix things.
"The child still struggled and loaded me with epithets which carried despair to my heart..."(136)
This line really stood out to me and made me more sympathetic towards the creature because it shows that he has tried so hard to do good yet has been through so much pain that even a little child's words force him into a deeper depression. It is very sad that such a young child could feel such repugnance and fear towards something that is trying so hard to be accepted. And that a child's words could sting so bad that it pushes the creature over the ledge and causes him to kill makes me realize how horrible his experiences have made him feel.
After reading Paradise Lost, the monster relates himself to both Adam and Satan. He compares himself to Adam because he feel that he has no connection to anyone else in the world. The monster also believes that he is like Satan because he was envious of the poeple who protected him just like Satan was.
While the monster tells his story, he reveals many of his feeling towards his creator. The monster definitely has a lot of hatred for Frankenstein. He is mad because when he sees himself, he realizes how hideous he is and he blames that on Frankenstein. Also, he feels like an outsider and all of his attempts to help others and to fit in to normal society backfire because of his appearance. The monster feels very lonely and blames his creator for his depression and distress. The monster feels that he has been cast aside by Frankenstein.
The monster feels lonely and depressed because of his inability to fit in to society. He is so grotesque that even when he is kind people are frightened by him.
I believe that the monster has potential to be good and that all he really wants it to be accepted and loved. He only becomes angry and evil when his attempts to normalize himself fail. If Frankenstein had cared for the monster and showed it love it is very possible that the monster would have been more peaceful and would never have murdered anyone.
Neither the monster nor Frankenstein have much sympathy at all. The monster has respect for his creator but at the same time is angered by his actions against him. Frankenstein for a time seems sympathetic to the monster but his mood continuously changes and he eventually becomes even more angry towards the monster.
"Frankenstein! You belong then to my enemy--to him towards whom I have sworn eternal revenge." This quote stood out to me because I thought that it was weird that the monster blamed all of his troubles on his creator even though he has almost no contact with him. It seemed that the monster should take more responsibilty for himself instead of blaming his terrible life on the person who gave him life.
Once the creature reads Paradise Lost he compares himself to two of the characters, Adam and Satan. He believes he is like Adam because they were both the first of their kind and because of that cannot relate to any other. He then compares himself to Satan because they both are seen as deformities and frightening, not to mention that they both were outcasts. The creature hates Frankenstein for the fact that once he created him, Victor left him alone for society to shun him and show their disgust and hatred towards something so hideous and monstrous.
The creatures viewpoint on himself is based off of several experiences. Whenever someone sees him they are immediately frightened because of his dreadful appearance. Because of this he has no self confidence. Even when he starts out with good intentions, someone gets scared and ruins it.
Everybody has the potential for good, as well as evil. He tries several times to commit good deeds, but his frightening appearance ruin it for him. His anger and hatred for Victor are what drive him to commit evil deeds.
Victor deserves absolutely no sympathy in my opinion. He was an educated, intelligent man who took his endeavors too far. He did not think of the consequences of his actions, if he had all his grief would be nonexistent. I am very sympathetic towards the creature. After all, he is just a misunderstood creature looking to fit in. It is not his fault that people are frightened by his appearance. As for them showing sympathy within the novel, I dont believe that either of them really show sympathy.
Sorry I forgot the quote, so here goes. "Was I, then, a monster, a blot upon the earth, from which all men fled and whom all men disowned?" This quote stood out to me because he comes to the realization of how people will react towards him. Yet he does not believe it until later in the novel as he tries several times to get through to people.
Frankenstein's creature can relate himself to Adam and the Devil because he is the first of his species. The monster also is filled with intense envy because of all the happy families around him who consider him an outcast at first glance. The monster dispises his creator because Frankenstein rejected him and didn't show the fatherly care that the creature is now discovering. Frankenstein cast him out into the world, completely alone and clueless.
The creature realizes his true appearance when he catches his image in a reflection of a puddle of water. The creature realizes that he is unwanted by all when he works up the courage to introduce himself to the seemingly selfless people in the cottage and is rejected. It is this point in which he realizes that he truly will never fit in. The creature showed his good side when he brought wood to the doorstep of the cottagers, so he obviously has potential to be a good being. However, he has thoughts of ripping Felix from limb-to-limb when he is being attacked. This shows his darker side of wrong doing and misdeeds. The creature is far more sympathetic than his creator. For example, the creature could have easily taken instant revenge on Frankenstein by tearing him apart the second they came across each other. Instead, the monster attempts to compromise with him. Furthermore, from Frankenstein's point of view, he feels no mercy for his creation who clearly has feelings and emotions, and has no sympathy for this tormented being.
The creature relates to Adam from Paradise Lost because they are both the first of their kind cast into a world of unknowns. He relates to Satan because he gains feelings of envy and hatred. “Many times I consider Satan as the fitter emblem of my condition, for often, like him, when I viewed the bliss of my protectors, the bitter gall of envy rose within me.” (124) The hatred towards Frankenstein is felt because the creature was abandoned by him after he was brought to life and was formed “so hideous that even [his creator] turned from [him] in disgust.”(125)
The creature was cast off into a world looking like a monster and not being able to speak for himself. When another being first sees him he is looked at with fear and disgust and he doesn’t even know why. His lack of knowledge sends him into a life of solitude and despair. I think he has the potential to do good now that he is educated and can speak for himself because he shows that he wants the life of happiness. However, his knowledge and intentions cannot cover up his physical features. “But a fatal prejudice clouds their eyes , and where they ought to see a feeling of a kind friend , they behold a detestable monster.”(128)
I think the creature is more sympathetic than Victor. Victor brought this on himself maybe not intentionally but it was his lack of better judgment. His creation was thrust into the situation unwillingly on behalf of his creator.
The monster says he was like Adam because like Adam at frist he was created lonely and unique, then he thinks he is like Satan in that he saw the happiness in his protectors and an envy of them rose inside him. The monster says that he hates his creator for making so hideous that he turned from him in disgust. I full heartedly beleive that that the monster has more potential for good than evil, because he is helping the cottagers and the only evil he really does is when he is seeking revenge against his creator. I find the creature more sympathetic than Frankenstein because he actually cares about others than himself.
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