Frankenstein Essay

Frankenstein is a fantastic novel by Marry Shelly. One of the fantastic elements in the novel is how Shelly writes the gothic antagonist (Frankenstein’s creature). The elements of a gothic antagonist are supernatural powers, dualism, control, and passion and drive. Frankenstein’s creature displays all of these qualities.

His supernatural powers are his superhuman speed and strength, he is able to withstand extreme conditions, and he has a massive physical presence. His superhuman abilities intimidate people as well with his different pieces of his sewn together face.

“At that instant, the cottage door was opened, and Felix, Safie, and Agatha entered. Who can describe their horror and consternation on beholding me? Agatha fainted, and Safie, unable to attend to her friend, rushed out of the cottage. Felix darted forward, and with supernatural force tore me from his father, to whose knees I clung, in a transport of fury, he dashed me to the ground and struck me violently with a stick. I could have torn him limb from limb, as the lion rends the antelope. But my heart sank within me as with bitter sickness, and I refrained. I saw him on the point of repeating his blow, when, overcome by pain and anguish, I quitted the cottage, and in the general tumult escaped unperceived to my hovel.” (15.36)

He displays dualism by the way he acts at the start of the novel he begins as an essentially a good character, but then after being turned away, attacked and feared, he becomes revengeful and develops a hatred for the human race. At the start of the novel, he displays a good character but then after he gets that rejection from Frankenstein his ‘father’ and that continuous rejection he feels that the whole world won’t accept him, because if his own father won’t accept him why won’t the rest of the world.

“Another circumstance strengthened and confirmed these feelings. Soon after my arrival in the hovel, I discovered some papers in the pocket of the dress which I had taken from your laboratory. At first, I had neglected them, but now that I was able to decipher the characters in which they were written, I began to study them with diligence. It was your journal of the four months that preceded my creation. You minutely described in these papers every step you took in the progress of your work; this history was mingled with accounts of domestic occurrences. You doubtless recollect these papers. Here they are. Everything is related in them which bears reference to my accursed origin; the whole detail of that series of disgusting circumstances which produced it is set in view; the minutest description of my odious and loathsome person is given, in language which painted your own horrors and rendered mine indelible. I sickened as I read. Hateful day when I received life!' I exclaimed in agony.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 a filthy type of yours, more horrid even from the very resemblance. Satan had his companions, fellow devils, to admire and encourage him, but I am solitary and abhorred.”(15.8)

He displays passion and drives to find a companion and when he tries to find acceptance. He tries so hard to get accepted by the human race, but after getting rejected so many times he thinks he needs someone who is like him so he can have someone who will accept him, and he goes to extreme lengths to get what he wants, he blackmails and murders Frankenstein’s family so he would be able to get a companion (a female creature).

Frankenstein’s creature has amazing control over Frankenstein by controlling him with the weakness of Frankenstein’s family, therefore getting want the creature wants whenever he wants. Th creature gets what he wants by blackmailing and murdering Frankenstein and his family.

“All was again silent, but his words rang in my ears. I burned with rage to pursue the murderer of my peace and precipitate him into the ocean. I walked up and down my room hastily and perturbed, while my imagination conjured up a thousand images to torment and sting me. Why had I not followed him and closed with him in mortal strife? But I had suffered him to depart, and he had directed his course towards the mainland. I shuddered to think who might be the next victim sacrificed to his insatiate revenge. And then I thought again of his words — “I WILL BE WITH YOU ON YOUR WEDDING-NIGHT.” That, then, was the period fixed for the fulfillment of my destiny. In that hour I should die and at once satisfy and extinguish his malice. The prospect did not move me to fear; yet when I thought of my beloved Elizabeth, of her tears and endless sorrow, when she should find her lover so barbarously snatched from her, tears, the first I had shed for many months, streamed from my eyes, and I resolved not to fall before my enemy without a bitter struggle.”(20.16) 

 

So conclude Frankenstein’s monster in my view is the perfect representation of a gothic antagonist, he keeps the protagonist on his toes, he makes it hard for the protagonist to reach his goals. He displays all the attributes of a gothic antagonist,

 

 

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