Family and Perception
Frankenstein is a tale within a tale. Three different storytellers explain their lives. The two main characters, Victor Frankenstein and his creation, take up the majority of the book explaining all the horrible tragedies that have befallen them. Throughout both of their tales, several prominent themes are evident in the text. Shelley also uses similar setting to further her story. Two questions are raised throughout the novel, "What is Shelley saying about the nuclear family?" and "Is the creature good or evil?" Through the creature, Shelley and Frankenstein confront these questions of family and perception. Understanding Mary Shelley's life gives the reader important information on why she feels the necessity of a strong family life. Shelley's life was not an easy one for a little girl growing up. Her mother, Mary Wollenstonecraft, died during childbirth. Shelley lacked a nurturing mother for most of her child hood. Growing up, Shelley attached herself to her very famous author-father, William Godwin. She held her father in very high esteem. Shelley enjoyed listening to her father's discussions with other famous authors and thinkers of the time. All during her early childhood Shelley had him all to himself. Godwin
How could the human world ever not be frightened when the creature was just as terrified? No one can. He is beaten back every time he tries to make contact with humans. It is because "in the novel, all the characters impose a semiotic construction upon the creature. They...interpret his appearance as having a determinate meaning," (Mellor 128). First impressions lead everyone to judge immediately. Shelley is commenting on how people are so quick to judge what they do not understand. Shelley shows us this with even more clearly with Father De Lacey, a blind man living in a hovel. He is the only character that does not try and murder the creature because he is "blind and cannot judge of your (creature's) countenance, but there is something in your words which persuades me that you are sincere," (Shelley 130). He takes time and hears who the creature is behind all that ugliness. The moment is short lived, though, as the son comes back and chases the creature out. It is because the creature "cannot pretend to be something it is not; it cannot enter the human community it longs to join," (Poovey 90). The creature realizes this, which starts his bloody revenge. Along with trying to play God comes god-like responsibility. All the creature wants is acceptance. . The creature still feels a strong attachment towards Frankenstein. He is the only connection that the creature has to the outside world (Oates 69). The creature argues that "I am thy creature, and I will be even mild and docile to my natural lord and king if thou wilt also perform thy part," (Shelley 9
Some common words found in the essay are:
Victor Frankenstein, Percy Shelley, De Lacey, Eventually Frankenstein, Throughout Frankenstein, Mary Shelley's, William Godwin, Clairmont Shelley, Mary Wollenstonecraft, , shelley's life, creature's innate, creature shelley, creature terrified, human world, nuclear family, human community, family mellor, victor frankenstein, percy shelley,
Approximate Word count = 1065
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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