- On page 361-362, Victor says "Alas! Why does man boast of sensibilities superior to those apparent in a brute; it only renders them more necessary beings. If our impulses were confined to hunger, thirst, and desire, we might be nearly free?" Do you agree with this statement? What significance does this have in terms of Victors actions and the experiences of the creature? Is the creature free? Victor?
- Beginning on Chapter 10, the creature is introduced. What, if any, evidence is there that the dialogue between the creature and Frankenstein could be a statement about creation and God? How might Darwin's theories be reflected in the argument? Examples.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Meeting the Creature -- Answers Due Oct. 27, 2010
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9 comments:
Leigh said, I agree, with only hunger, thirst, and desire to be concerned with, there will be an abundance of stress relieved. To go back to the basics of life itself would be a freedom all of its own. The actions of Victor and the experiences of the creature is one of inner horror. The torture and fear in which they both live on a daily basis was brought on themselves or through the action of another. I mean, Victor's creation or attempt to show his power as equal to God's not only caused him pain, but the ones he loves so dearly as well as the creature himself. The creature could not understand why someone created him and then turn him away. The creature will never be free. There will always be someone lurking around the corner waiting to attack him. He will live in constant fear his entire life.
Victor will never be free either. He will always be looking over his shoulder wandering if someone has found him out.
2.The creature see's Victor as a God. He say's this in so many words of page 364 when he said, "Remember that I am thy creature; I ought to be thy Adam, but I am rather the fallen angel, whom thou drivest from joy for no misdeed." He shows how God created Adam and used this in comparison to Victor and himself.
I don't think we'd be free if we had the basic instincts--we'd no longer be humans, but animals. Well, scientifically we are animals, but we're above that with a greater degree of reasoning. We would follow patterned behavior like other animals--it seems we would lock ourselves in a cage. The most basic necessity for a human is more emotional and mental: the need for love, acceptance, respect. That's significant. Victor and the monster are dealing with that conflict. Victor loved the idea of creation, and then he hated it, and his choice influence the monster's choices. Everyone must take responsibility for the choices they make. The fact other things influences how we live does not negate free will.
2. Is the Monster Adam or is he the fallen angel? The Monster learns that he was created from Victor's journal, he reads Paradise Lost and identifies with Satan. These are reasons for the connection between the novel and God and creation. I'm not sure if the argument is reflected in Darwin's theory of natural selection, unless we say that the Monster just got the bad end of the stick and is shun by society. That would be God uses natural selection on his creation: you're not fit, so you must die. For Victor, the Monster was not fit, so he must die. Other than that, readers, 19th and 21st century, identify more with the religious symbol of the novel.
1. As we see in the notes regarding this passage, Wm. Godwin's favorite theory was that the Principle of Necessity rules the world because it denies free will to man. To some extent this is true because we do have to satisfy basic needs in order to live. But we also have free will to choose our own path through the world -- our careers, our loves, our sense of identity. The creature does not have the same free will that is afforded to Victor. He is alone in the world; he cannot choose to satisfy any need other than the basic ones which sustain life. To a certain extent, the creature negates Darwin's ideas of the superiority of the fittest. The creature is stronger, more adaptable, etc. than most humans; he will survive, but at what a cost.
2. The creature sees Victor as his creator, but not a God-like one. God gave his creation, Adam, everything that he might desire, even communion with his creator. Victor has made the creature but then he abandons him to his fate. The creature has practically had to raise himself. He learns about fire; he learns to forage for food; he learns about language and communication, but he learns all of these things without a creator to guide him. The creature has survived, much as Darwin says the strongest will survive. But he is miserable without the communion with his creator and other beings.
1. If one need only worry about hunger, thirst and desire, one would be free from the typical emotional burdens of humans. At this point, Victor’s sensibilities are overwhelmed by the tremendous crimes he committed. Relief from these feelings, with only a reliance on the basest necessities, must seem a haven to him now. Yet extensive reliance on anything does not promote freedom. Furthermore, Victor immediately abandons his creation, depriving it of perhaps essential nurturing. Victor turns his back on his own creation; neither Victor nor the creature is free, and both suffer enormously as a result of Victor’s experiment, but also his abandonment. The creature’s anguish concerning this abandonment appears in his appeal to Frankenstein: “Oh, Frankenstein, be not equitable to every other and trample upon me alone, to whom thy justice, and even thy clemency and affection, is most due…Remember that I am thy creature” (364).
2. The creature states that even Satan had companions, yet he does not. The creature lives as an outcast to humans, yet he seems particular abhorred, as no other being like him exists. He survives outside of God’s creation, rendering him utterly alone. Darwin upholds Spencer’s theory of “survival of the fittest,” yet the creature lives outside of this as well; he does not evolve from the natural means referenced in Darwin’s theories, yet he is also not of God’s creation. Neither Darwin’s nor God’s laws apply to this creature.
Leigh said, The creature compares Victor as a God like creator. That is why the creature is upset with Victor. Even God supplied all Adam's needs, why didn't he supply the creature's needs. This is the conflict.
1. I don’t think I can completely agree or disagree with this statement. In a sense, Victor is right—without the need for self-worth, self-esteem, or the love and acceptance of others, humans would in fact be free from many of the more often-destructive impulses. However, if mankind were free from those desires, it would simply make them animals. I think part of the human condition is a desire for more than necessities. I think the Creature starts out as “nearly free.” He is first satisfied with the beauties of nature, the simplicity of his food, a simple shelter. Later, though, he finds that there are better things to get, and he becomes more human in his quest for those things.
2. When the Creature and Frankenstein interact, there is an undercurrent of revulsion. Frankenstein despises the abomination he has created, and the Creature despises both himself and his creator. Insomuch as Christian ideology holds that mankind is capable of love because of God’s love for mankind, the Creature is incapable of anything but disgust because his creator despises him. Furthermore, in creating mankind, God also provided a paradise for mankind to live in. Frankenstein does not provide a home, a partner, or any affection for his Creature. I don’t think that Darwin’s theories are clearly reflected here.
1. I have to say that on very technical terms, the creature would be free if he only had impulses such as hunger, thirst, and desire. For instance, when he is foraging for berries and drinking water supplied by the earth, he lives in a very peaceful state. It is not until he must deal with humans such as Victor or the villagers that he realizes he is missing something and is different. Humans are horribly non-understanding, yet the creature craves companionship. Hence, he is forced to deal with humanity. Victor is significant simply because he created the creature. If any were to understand the creature's plight, it should have been Victor. However, Victor is shackled in horror and disgust. Neither of the characters are "free" but quite the opposite.
2. When I read this introduction, I felt that the creature was trying to explain himself for forgiveness and understanding. Victor ultimately is the creature's God; hence, Victor's opinion is the creature's judgment. As far as Darwin's theories, I would say it only reflects oppositely here. Physically, the creature is the fittest: stronger, taller, faster, etc. Yet, these abnormalities are what shun him from society. Ultimately, these superior physical traits are what ruin the creature.
1) This is a difficult question. One one level the creature is very much free. He doesn't seem to be burdened by human law and on that sense he leads a peaceful existence. It's only after he comes in contact with man does this all begin to change. He is subjected to cruelty and misuse. He is pushed into violence and possibly misled by some of his more favored readings after he teaches himself to read. Ultimately I think the creature becomes a slave to his own game. Victure is never free. He is always a slave to his desire for knowledge and his ultimate goal to defeat death. It's only after he violates the afterlife does he become aware of just how bad things have become. He flees instantly and runs from his problem. In that sense Victure is also never free ...
2) The creature states several times. You are my maker. You are my God. I could have been your Adam. There is a strong sense of attachment from the creature to Victure. As far as any Darwinian theories ... I think that the situation is a contradiction. Clearly, the creature is the strong, and Victure is the weak. The creature could easily dispose of Victure, but he doesn't.
The elements of God and Victor cannot be seperated in the birth of the creature as Frankenstein takes on a God-like role with disturbing undertones. It takes the idea of creation and the horrid consequences for disturbing the natural order. Darwin's theories are incredibly prevalent in the novel and in the idea of creation. The creature is an perfect physiological and mental specimen with incredible capacities for learning and physical endurance. He is comprised of many individuals taking the choicest parts of deceased individuals and making a single organism out of it. Furthermore, he is able to survive in many different terrains, such deserts and frozen areas, which a normal human being would be unable to endure. The only real flaw is a physical presence which, for all of his enhanced attributes, will be his downfall. Darwin notes heavily on physical displays for reproduction and the creature will never be able to reproduce without one of his own species. In a sense he is the perfect example of the best of evolutionary traits, but his race cannot survive for the physical features that society finds so repugnant.
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