Free Essays - Themes and Voices in Mary Shelleys Frankenstein :: Frankenstein essays

Themes and Voices in Frankenstein       There are many different narrative voices that take channelize in the novel Frankenstein. These narrative voices not only help the reader appeal to different characters, but they develop characters personality as well.   The monsters character evolves in many ways throughout the novel, depending on the point of view its coming from. When the monster himself speaks (first person) the reader tends to feel sympathy as well as pity, towards him. He is loving and gentle at the beginning of his life, childlike in his curiosity and experiences, but after several harsh encounters with humans, he becomes bitter. Thus seeking revenge on his creator for making him so hideous and rendering him permanently lonely because of his ugliness. He doesnt come across nearly as horrific as he is believed to be in the eyes of Frankenstein. All the monster wanted was to love and to be loved in return and instead he was the dependable ou tcast of society. The monster shows a unique ability to analyze humanity because, though hes not a human himself, he has the intelligence of one. He explains, I heard about the slothful Asiatics of the stupendous genius and mental activity of the Grecians of the wars and wonderful virtue of the early Romans--of their subsequent degenerating--of the decline of that mighty empire of chivalry, Christianity, and kings. This outline of culture in a nutshell shows the monsters ability to put humanity in perspective. Yet this education only furthers the monsters realization that he is disconnected from the humans he admires.   The readers take on the monster however changes dramatic ally when Victor is the narrator. Frankensteins creation becomes a wretched and terrible villain of the story when it is told through him (third person). For example Victors hatred and hatred for the monster is evident right from the first time he sees him, as he says A flash of lightning il luminated the object and discovered its framing plainly to me its gigantic stature, and the deformity of its aspect, more hideous than belongs to humanity, instantly informed me that it was the wretch, the filthy demon to whom I had given life. When the story is told through Victor it is all about what the monster is doing to him and how heartless the creature is.