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Frankenstein Revenge and Justice

Prompt

Complete the handout for Revenge (Ch.17-24)

Questions to Consider:

  • At the end of the novel Victor and the creature are playing a game of cat and mouse how does that influence our understanding of revenge?
  • What are the motives of each?
  • What are their feelings and state of mind?
  • What themes might we pull based on these ideas? How does the quote you selected connect back to the big idea relationship of hatred/enemies?

Response

Quote

I continued for the remainder of the day in my hovel in a state of utter and stupid despair. My protectors had departed and had broken the only link that held me to the world. For the first time, the feelings of revenge and hatred filled my bosom, and I did not strive to control them, but allowing myself to be borne away by the stream, I bent my mind towards injury and death... (Shelley 101)

  • Creature's Emotions and Motives: This quote reflects the Creature's transition from despair to hatred and revenge. Initially seeking connection and acceptance, the rejection and abandonment by his protectors (the De Lacey family) trigger a profound transformation in his psyche.
  • Themes: This moment marks a pivotal shift where the Creature embraces destructive emotions, signifying themes of alienation and the psychological impact of rejection. It illustrates how deep-seated hurt can evolve into a vengeful mindset, impacting one's actions and decisions.

Quote

You are in the wrong,” replied the fiend; “and instead of threatening, I am content to reason with you. I am malicious because I am miserable. Am I not shunned and hated by all mankind? You, my creator, would tear me to pieces and triumph; remember that, and tell me why I should pity man more than he pities me? ... Yet mine shall not be the submission of abject slavery. I will revenge my injuries; if I cannot inspire love, I will cause fear, and chiefly towards you my arch-enemy, because my creator, do I swear inextinguishable hatred...

  • Creature's Rationalization: Here, the Creature articulates his rationale for his malevolence, linking it directly to his misery and societal rejection. He challenges Victor, pointing out the hypocrisy in how humans treat him.
  • Themes: This quote underlines themes of justice, morality, and the consequences of playing God. The Creature's argument about receiving kindness versus injury reflects on the nature of human relationships and the concept of reciprocal behavior. It also highlights the theme of creation turning against its creator, underscoring the dangers of unchecked scientific ambition.

Quote

You must create a female for me with whom I can live in the interchange of those sympathies necessary for my being. This you alone can do, and I demand it of you as a right which you must not refuse to concede

  • Creature's Desire for Companionship: The Creature's request for a female companion stems from his profound loneliness and desire for empathy and understanding, which he has been denied by humans.
  • Victor's Reaction and Ethical Dilemma: Victor's refusal, driven by his fear of creating another being capable of destruction, reflects his moral and ethical concerns. He fears the potential consequences of his actions, particularly the possibility of bringing more harm to the world.
  • Themes of Responsibility and Consequences: This scene underscores themes of creator's responsibility and the consequences of one's actions. Victor grapples with the ramifications of his scientific pursuits and the moral implications of his decisions.