Three Tragic Heroes in Mary Shelleys Frankenstein Essay

In Mary Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein, Robert Walton, Victor Frankenstein, and Frankenstein’s Creation reach similar conclusions humanity by seafaring to the North Pole, delving into the dark depths of science, and observing the rejecting nature of humans. The three tragic heroes Walton, Frankenstein and the Creation are all character doubles in their initial enthusiasm for knowledge, inner dualist personalities, religiously glorified personal goals, possessive relationships and negative effects of gaining knowledge. The three character’s views of humanity are a microcosm of the culturally accepted importance of beauty, and how the culmination of knowledge can be blinding and lead to utter ruination. Robert Walton explores the North†¦show more content†¦The combination of his own motivation and the encouragement of his professor Waldman, Frankenstein possesses a â€Å"supernatural enthusiasm† for the study of galvanism and has no check on reality except for the disapproval of his father (Shelley 56). Frankenstein thinks that he can ‘play God’ in his studies at Ingolstadt and is a â€Å"disciple† of the ‘religion’ of galvanism that Waldman preaches (Shelley 54). Frankenstein believes that his exploration in the â€Å"hiding-places† of nature was a heavenly and glorified thing, however it turns out to be â€Å"thing such as Dante could not have conceived,† and is more related to hell than the pursuits of God (Shelley 58, 61). Frankenstein uses his power to mock God, and insinuates his power of making ‘life’ equal to God’s power of creating human birth. This mockery of God causes his own ruination, and thus loses his family and friends to the one thing he throws his whole life away on, the Creation. The Creation’s first knowledge of mankind is that humanity will only accept him if he is physically appealing because of the initial rejection from his creator, Frankenstein. Thus, the Creation or ‘monster’ devotes himself to learning how to make his ‘protectors,’ or the De Lacy Family, his friends through reason. He gathers wood for the family and stops stealing their food, demonstratingShow MoreRelatedVictor Frankenstein: Epic Hero Essay1093 Words   |  5 Pages the zombie era is truly coming to life, and it is easy to figure out where this idea originated. The historic book Frankenstein: The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley describes a man who creates a creature out of dead body parts of humans. Although this monster was meant for good purposes, it eventually leads to destruction including multiple murders. However, Victor Frankenstein can actually be determined as a hero by the ways in which he fits within the interpretation of an epic hero. GregoryRead MoreThe Development and Change of the Monster in Mary Shelleys Frankenstein3845 Words   |  16 PagesChange of the Monster in Mary Shelleys Frankenstein The structure of Frankenstein begins as an epistolary, narrative story by Robert Walton to his sister (Mrs Saville) in England. Walton’s letters tell us that he is exploring, searching for what lies beyond the North Pole and that he longs for fame and glory. Walton and Frankenstein connect in this novel as they both seek and have a thirst for knowledge. For Walton it is his exploration, for Frankenstein it is to discover