Assignment #2: TEAR paragraph

Kevin Rodriguez

1st

Topic One: Analyze a character from your novel whose mind is pulled in conflicting directions by two   compelling desires, ambitions, obligations, or influences.

        

            In Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein Shelley characterizes Frankenstein as selfish and emotional. Frankenstein’s emotions are what lead him to have a life of despondent secrecy. Through the use of poignant conflict, Shelley is able to describe Victor Frankenstein’s true desires and influences, and demonstrate how life’s decisions have major consequences; either positive or negative. Frankenstein’s ambition to be glorified as on of the greatest natural scientists and creator of a new species is what drives him to make the monster. He was blinded by this desire and did not put thought in the consequences of his creation or what he would do if the creation was successful. When he completed his experiment he no longer was influenced by his selfish glorification but by the hideous appearance of his creation. He did not want to have anything to do with the monster and abandoned it. His ambition of being a great natural scientist conflicted with the actual appearance of the monster. If the monster had a more human appearance the superficiality of Frankenstein might have be satisfied. Frankenstein’s friend Henry Clerval is a major positive influence on the life of Frankenstein. Henry was childhood friends with Victor and almost the complement of him. Throughout the novel Victor continuously feels deep sorrow and stress due to the creation of his monster and the negative consequences the monster brought with its existence. Henry was able to influence his mind to forget about the monster and his sorrows, so he could enjoy life to the degree he did. Frankenstein describes Henry as the most joyful of people and the only thing that could save him from the deep wretchedness he felt. Shelley is able to create a conflict between Frankenstein and the feelings either the monster or Henry created. These conflicting emotions of Frankenstein reach a climax when Henry is killed by the monster. Frankenstein no longer having the lifeline which is Henry falls into a profound state of wretchedness that not only affects his mind but his physical state as well. Frankenstein’s mind is pulled in conflicting obligations the most when the monster he created demands of him a wife with the similar appearance of himself. Shelley through the use of Frankenstein’s narrative is able to describe the internal conflict of Frankenstein. Frankenstein felt an obligation to the monster, for the monster was his creation and he felt the need to content him. Frankenstein’s personal feelings toward the monster were also influenced by the monster’s threats and stories of loneliness. He pitied the monster and was again blinded by his emotions. During Frankenstein’s second experimentation, he contemplates the consequences of the completion of this experiment. Shelley again makes use of internal conflict to show Frankenstein’s true motives. He now feels a greater obligation to society not to his creation. He believes that the introduction of a woman monster could create a race that would doom the future human generations. His selfish attitude in the beginning of the novel changed to a mind-set that cared for the existence of other people. Although this decision was an immediate negative to Frankenstein he believed that his action would in time be positive.