Discrimination is one of society’s worst natures. Our blind judgment and assumptions have detrimental effects on those who are judged. In ‘Frankenstein’ by Mary Shelley, The Creature experiences this discrimination and mistreatment throughout his entire lifetime. The Creature is judged by both his creator and society, yet not by the blind man. Through these experiences, Shelley highlights the isolation felt by the Creature. The author’s purpose is to expose the damaging effects of society’s judgment, and how it can turn someone with good intentions into a monster.
The Creature experiences judgment from the minute he is created. Instead of being welcomed into the world, he is feared by his creator. Frankenstein is filled with ‘breathless horror and disgust’, and locks himself away until the Creature is gone. He shows no signs of care or paternal love, leaving the Creature feeling alone and confused. When Frankenstein and the Creature meet two years later, the Creature is once again faced with signs of fear and disgust by Frankenstein. The Creature is greeted with nasty and hurtful names, such as ‘vile insect’ and ‘abhorred monster’. The first thing Frankenstein says to the Creature is ‘Devil, do you dare approach me’. These abusive words affect the Creature, deepening his hurt and feelings of isolation. The Creature remains calm and polite, showing no signs of being a monster like his appearance and actions suggest. He wants to explain his actions and prove he is not the monster that he appears to be. He was ‘benevolent and good’ and ‘misery made (him) a fiend’. He asks ‘make me happy, and I shall again be virtuous’. If Frankenstein had not mistreated the Creature, the Creature would not have acted on his misery and killed William. Through these experiences, Shelley highlights the importance of love and acceptance. Victor’s reaction leaves the Creature craving human acceptance, and is what causes him to become a ‘monster’. Shelley shows the damaging effects that judgment and lack of acceptance have on people, in this case, the Creature.
Society’s treatment of the Creature is a representation of how society treats those who are different. The Creature’s first experience with humans after leaving Frankenstein is not a good one. He is shunned and attacked. A woman faints at the sight of him, and people chase him out of the village. Scared and confused, the Creature hides away, ‘miserable’ from the ‘barbarity of man’. This experience makes the Creature realise just how different he is to people. Society treats the Creature how they see him, as a monster. They are unable to look past his appearance and make judgments assuming that he will act in a way that his looks suggest. Through the perspective of the Creature, readers are able to understand just how hurtful society’s treatment to the Creature is. It enables us to reflect on the way we judge others, and how our blind judgments have affected others. The Creature represents every minority in society. He is oppressed, and is treated like he is a monster. As a result of society’s treatment, the Creature becomes the monster that they first assumed he was. He was not born with the intentions of killing and doing harm, but all the loneliness and misery he has translates to anger, making him a monster. If society had not treated the Creature as a monster, he never would’ve become one.
Ironically, the one person in the novel who sees the Creature for who he really is is the blind man. The blind man is the only person who cannot judge the Creature for what he looks like, and so cannot make the other assumptions that the rest of society does. He is the first person to understand the Creature, to converse with him without fear or judgment.
‘I am blind and cannot judge your countenance, but there is something in your words which persuades me that you are sincere’.
1 Comment
Add Yours →Hi Annabel,
I enjoyed reading over this. You have a nice personal voice in your writing. It is clear and direct.
A couple of things to think about when it comes to your portfolio:
– Dig into your evidence. You have mentioned in your first body paragraph that the language used to address the Creature is inhumane but you have not identified what that language is or how is dehumanises him. It’s vital that you explore the significant aspects of your evidence. Also, make sure you have sufficient quotations for each of your points. You are a little light in some areas.
– Develop your discussion of Shelley’s intentions past the sentence at the end of your body paragraph. This is the juice of your essay- you want it to be more than a passing thought. Don’t feel limited to just include it at the end of each paragraph. Comment on it throughout the work as it appears to be relevant.
– Look to bring in the relevant social context or critical theory to enhance your discussion of the above point.
Let me know if you want to talk through any of this.
Mrs. P