In Mary Shelleys FrankensteinCharaktere müssen mit dem Konflikt zwischen persönlichem Ruhm und menschlicher Verbindung rechnen. Durch die Geschichte eines entfremdeten Monsters und seines ehrgeizigen Schöpfers wirft Shelley Themen wie familiären Verlust, die Suche nach Zugehörigkeit und die Kosten des Ehrgeizes auf. Andere Charaktere dienen dazu, die Bedeutung der Gemeinschaft zu stärken.
Victor Frankenstein
Victor Frankenstein ist der Hauptdarsteller des Romans. Er ist besessen von wissenschaftlichen Errungenschaften und Ruhm, die ihn dazu bringen, das Geheimnis der Manifestation des Lebens zu entdecken. Er widmet seine ganze Zeit seinem Studium und opfert seine Gesundheit und seine Beziehungen für seinen Ehrgeiz.
Nachdem er seine Jugend damit verbracht hatte, veraltete Theorien weiterzulesen Alchimie und der Stein der WeisenFrankenstein geht zur Universität, wo es ihm gelingt, das Leben zu keimen. Bei dem Versuch, ein Wesen in der Form eines Menschen zu erschaffen, gestaltet er jedoch ein schreckliches Monster. Das Monster rennt weg und richtet Chaos an, und Frankenstein verliert die Kontrolle über seine Schöpfung.
In den Bergen findet das Monster Frankenstein und bittet ihn um eine weibliche Begleiterin. Frankenstein verspricht, eine zu erschaffen, aber er will sich nicht an der Verbreitung ähnlicher Kreaturen beteiligen, also bricht er sein Versprechen. Das wütende Monster tötet Frankensteins enge Freunde und Familie.
Frankenstein repräsentiert die Gefahren der Erleuchtung und die Verantwortung, die mit großem Wissen verbunden sind. Seine wissenschaftliche Leistung wird eher zur Ursache seines Untergangs als zur Quelle des Lobes, auf das er einst gehofft hatte. Seine Ablehnung der menschlichen Verbindung und sein entschlossenes Streben nach Erfolg lassen ihn ohne Familie und Liebe zurück. Er stirbt allein auf der Suche nach dem Monster und drückt Captain Walton die Notwendigkeit aus, Opfer für ein größeres Wohl zu bringen.
Die Kreatur
Frankensteins unbenanntes Monster, das als „die Kreatur“ bezeichnet wird, sehnt sich nach menschlicher Verbindung und Zugehörigkeitsgefühl. Seine schreckliche Fassade macht allen Angst und er wird aus Dörfern und Häusern vertrieben, was ihn entfremdet. Trotz des grotesken Äußeren der Kreatur ist er jedoch größtenteils ein mitfühlender Charakter. Er ist Vegetarier, er hilft, der Bauernfamilie, in der er lebt, Brennholz zu bringen, und er bringt sich selbst das Lesen bei. Doch die ständige Ablehnung, die er erleidet - von Fremden, der Bauernfamilie, seinem Herrn und William -, verhärtet ihn.
Angetrieben von seiner Isolation und seinem Elend wendet sich die Kreatur der Gewalt zu. Er tötet Frankensteins Bruder William. Er fordert Frankenstein auf, eine weibliche Kreatur zu erschaffen, damit das Paar friedlich von der Zivilisation wegleben und sich gegenseitig trösten kann. Frankenstein hält dieses Versprechen nicht ein und aus Rache ermordet die Kreatur Frankensteins Lieben und verwandelt sich so in das Monster, das er immer zu sein schien. Verweigert eine Familie, verweigert er seinem Schöpfer eine Familie und rennt zum Nordpol, wo er alleine sterben will.
Somit ist die Kreatur eine komplizierte Gegner- Er ist ein Mörder und ein Monster, aber er begann sein Leben als mitfühlende, missverstandene Seele, die nach Liebe suchte. Er zeigt, wie wichtig Empathie und Gesellschaft sind und wie sich sein Charakter verschlechtert Grausamkeit steht er als Beispiel dafür, was passieren kann, wenn das grundlegende menschliche Bedürfnis nach Verbindung nicht besteht erfüllt.
Kapitän Walton
Kapitän Robert Walton ist ein gescheiterter Dichter und Kapitän auf einer Expedition zum Nordpol. Seine Präsenz im Roman beschränkt sich auf den Anfang und das Ende der Erzählung, spielt aber dennoch eine wichtige Rolle. Bei der Gestaltung der Geschichte dient er als Stellvertreter für den Leser.
Die Romane beginnen mit Waltons Briefen an seine Schwester. Er teilt ein Hauptmerkmal mit Frankenstein: den Wunsch, durch wissenschaftliche Entdeckungen Ruhm zu erlangen. Walton bewundert Frankenstein sehr, wenn er ihn aus dem Meer rettet, und er hört Frankensteins Geschichte.
Am Ende des Romans, nachdem er Frankensteins Geschichte gehört hat, wird Waltons Schiff von Eis gefangen. Er steht vor einer Wahl (die parallel zu der thematischen Kreuzung von Frankenstein verläuft): Machen Sie weiter seine Expedition, sein eigenes Leben und das seiner Besatzungsmitglieder riskierend, oder nach Hause zu seiner Familie zurückkehren und seine Träume von aufgeben Ruhm. Nachdem Walton gerade Frankensteins Unglücksgeschichte gehört hat, versteht er, dass Ehrgeiz auf Kosten des menschlichen Lebens und der Beziehungen geht, und beschließt, zu seiner Schwester nach Hause zurückzukehren. Auf diese Weise wendet Walton die Lehren an, die Shelley durch den Roman vermitteln möchte: den Wert der Verbindung und die Gefahren der wissenschaftlichen Aufklärung.
Elizabeth Lavenza
Elizabeth Lavenza ist eine Frau des Mailänder Adels. Ihre Mutter starb und ihr Vater verließ sie, so dass die Familie Frankenstein sie adoptierte, als sie noch ein Kind war. Sie und Victor Frankenstein wurden zusammen von ihrer Nanny Justine, einer anderen Waise, großgezogen und haben eine enge Beziehung.
Elizabeth ist vielleicht das Hauptbeispiel für das verlassene Kind in dem Roman, in dem viele Waisenkinder und provisorische Familien leben. Trotz ihrer einsamen Herkunft findet sie Liebe und Akzeptanz und steht im Gegensatz zu der Unfähigkeit der Kreatur, eine echte familiäre Verbindung zu finden. Frankenstein lobt Elizabeth ständig als eine schöne, heilige, sanfte Präsenz in seinem Leben. Sie ist ein Engel für ihn, wie es auch seine Mutter war; Tatsächlich sind alle Frauen im Roman häuslich und süß. Als Erwachsene offenbaren Frankenstein und Elizabeth ihre romantische Liebe zueinander und verloben sich, um zu heiraten. In ihrer Hochzeitsnacht wird Elizabeth jedoch von der Kreatur zu Tode erwürgt.
Henry Clerval
Henry Clerval, der Sohn eines Genfer Kaufmanns, ist Frankensteins Freund von Kindheit an. Er dient als Frankenstein vereiteln: Seine akademischen und philosophischen Aktivitäten sind eher menschlich als wissenschaftlich. Als Kind las Henry gern darüber Ritterlichkeit und Romantikund er schrieb Lieder und Theaterstücke über Helden und Ritter. Frankenstein beschreibt ihn als einen großzügigen, freundlichen Mann, der für leidenschaftliche Abenteuer lebt und dessen Ehrgeiz es ist, Gutes zu tun. Clervals Natur steht dann ganz im Gegensatz zu Frankensteins; Anstatt nach Ruhm und wissenschaftlicher Leistung zu suchen, sucht Clerval nach moralischem Sinn im Leben. Er ist ein beständiger und wahrer Freund und er pflegt Frankenstein wieder gesund, wenn er nach der Erschaffung des Monsters krank wird. Clerval begleitet Frankenstein auch auf seinen Reisen nach England und Schottland, wo sie sich trennen. In Irland wird Clerval von dem Monster getötet und Frankenstein wird zunächst beschuldigt, sein Mörder zu sein.
Die Familie De Lacey
Die Kreatur lebt einige Zeit in einer Hütte, die mit einem Häuschen verbunden ist, in dem die Bauernfamilie De Laceys lebt. Durch das Beobachten lernt die Kreatur sprechen und lesen. Die Familie besteht aus dem alten, blinden Vater De Lacey, seinem Sohn Felix und seiner Tochter Agatha. Später begrüßen sie die Ankunft von Safie, einer Araberin, die aus der Türkei geflohen ist. Felix und Safie verlieben sich. Die vier Bauern leben in Armut, aber die Kreatur wächst, um ihre mitfühlenden, sanften Wege zu vergöttern. Sie dienen als Beispiel für eine provisorische Familie, die mit Verlust und Not umgeht, aber Glück in der Kameradschaft des anderen findet. Die Kreatur sehnt sich danach, mit ihnen zu leben, aber als er sich den Bauern offenbart, vertreiben sie ihn aus Angst.
William Frankenstein
William ist Victor Frankensteins jüngerer Bruder. Die Kreatur trifft ihn im Wald und versucht sich mit ihm anzufreunden, weil sie glaubt, dass die Jugend des Kindes ihn vorurteilsfrei machen würde. William hat jedoch Angst vor der hässlichen Kreatur. Seine Reaktion scheint darauf hinzudeuten, dass die Monstrosität der Kreatur selbst für die Unschuldigen zu viel ist. In einem Anfall von Wut erwürgt das Monster William zu Tode. Justine Moritz, das Waisenkind, wird für seinen Tod verantwortlich gemacht und später wegen des mutmaßlichen Verbrechens erhängt.
FAQs
What is the character analysis of Dr Frankenstein? ›
He's an ambitious, intelligent, and hardworking scientist. Oh yes, and it's important to mention that he's completely obsessed with the concept of reanimation, or reawakening the dead, which is just what he does - create life from a corpse, and it pretty much ruins his life.
What is the theme of Frankenstein analyze? ›The pursuit of knowledge is at the heart of Frankenstein, as Victor attempts to surge beyond accepted human limits and access the secret of life. Likewise, Robert Walton attempts to surpass previous human explorations by endeavoring to reach the North Pole.
What does Switzerland symbolize in Frankenstein? ›For Victor Frankenstein, Geneva symbolizes the solid family foundation that the core of his being is based on: ''No human being could have passed a happier childhood than myself. '' (32). The familiar surroundings of Switzerland provide Victor Frankenstein comfort when he returns later in trying times.
What are the character traits of Caroline Beaufort in Frankenstein? ›Caroline Beaufort Frankenstein has a short role in the novel, but her character has an important role that helps shape the narrative by acting as a foil to her son Victor. She is ascribed angelic qualities like selflessness, empathy, and caring and she represents all of the goodness in the novel.
What does the monster represent in Frankenstein? ›What does Victor's monster symbolize? Victor's monster represents the hubris of thinking one can replace nature. The Creature is a grotesque creation which begins as Adam symbolically, but eventually sees more of Satan in himself.
What was the role of the main character in Frankenstein? ›One message conveyed by Frankenstein is the danger that lies with considering the negative consequences of science and technology after-the-fact, instead of before. More generally speaking, when people neglect to consider the potential negative impacts of their actions, it is a form of willful ignorance.
Why did Victor create the monster? ›Victor creates the monster in hopes of achieving glory and remembrance through his contributions to scientific advancement. However, he does not ever consider the many implications involved with the creation of life.
What are three themes in Frankenstein? ›Frankenstein, by English author Mary Shelley, tells the story of a monster created by a scientist and explores themes of life, death, and man versus nature.
What is the most important symbol in Frankenstein? ›One of the most important symbols in the novel is light. Light is tied to the theme of knowledge as enlightenment, as both Captain Walton and Frankenstein search for illumination in their scientific pursuits.
What are two major symbols in Frankenstein? ›
Mary Shelley makes use of gothic symbolism in Frankenstein. The most prominent symbols in the novel are light, darkness, Adam, Satan, and fire. They reflect the most important themes and concepts of the book.
What is the deeper meaning behind Frankenstein? ›Mary Shelley's novel carries the message that not all science and knowledge produces progress. The novel also carries the message that criminals are made rather than born. The horrific appearance of the monster generated fear and aggression in people, which is depicted as initially unfair.
Who is Beaufort in Frankenstein and why is he important? ›Beaufort. "Intimate friend" of Alphonse Frankenstein (I:1:2); father of Caroline, who becomes his wife. His seclusion shelters him even from Alphonse Frankenstein, who finds him only with difficulty.
Who is Beaufort to Frankenstein? ›Beaufort. A merchant and friend of Victor's father; the father of Caroline Beaufort.
What type of character is Elizabeth Lavenza? ›Elizabeth is an orphan child adopted by the Frankensteins. She becomes a devoted daughter, sister and eventually wife to Victor. She is an idealised character who is beautiful, loyal, trusting, sympathetic and caring towards others - almost too perfect.
Who is the true villain of Frankenstein? ›The Monster is Frankenstein's antagonist. He thwarts Frankenstein's goal both by what he does and what he is.
What does Adam symbolize in Frankenstein? ›Adam. Adam is one of many allusions to the Bible in this novel and is a symbol for the creation of man, or a new species. Okay, so human beings aren't exactly a new species by this point, but they are in the biblical creation story.
Who is the real monster in Frankenstein? ›This “monster” is the supposed murdered of several characters throughout the book and is presumably the main antagonist. However, the actions of Victor Frankenstein suggest that the monster is in fact Victor himself.
Who are the three most important characters in Frankenstein? ›Who are the main characters in Frankenstein? The main characters in Frankenstein are Victor Frankenstein, the Creature, Robert Walton, Henry Clerval, and Elizabeth Lavenza.
What motivates the monster in Frankenstein? ›The Monster only seeks revenge against Frankenstein, but sometimes he seems to see Frankenstein as the representative of all mankind.
Who is the tragic protagonist in Frankenstein? ›
Mary Shelley's 1818 masterpiece, Frankenstein, presents one of the most iconic horror stories of all time. It also introduces audiences to one of literature's most controversial characters, Victor Frankenstein, who meets the criteria of the tragic hero, a good but flawed human being.
What is the moral failure of Frankenstein? ›Frankenstein made his most serious moral error when he neglected to consider his moral obligations to the being he was creating. The prospect of raising the dead remains squarely in the realm of science fiction.
What does Frankenstein teach us about society? › Frankenstein; or the Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley raises important ideals about rejection and loneliness and the effects they can have on individuals. Furthermore, Shelley shows in this novel that what makes an individual feel rejected and lonely are the people around them, in other words, society.
Which theme benefits the story of Frankenstein? ›The pursuit of knowledge is a major theme in Frankenstein. Victor wants to understand the secrets of life and death, but he is unprepared to take on the responsibility of caring for his creation.
Why did Victor destroy the female creature? ›In Mary Shelley's 1818 novel, Victor Frankenstein destroyed his female creature to prevent the rise of a 'race of devils.
How does Victor betray the monster? ›Frankenstein also betrays the monster by breaking his promise to create a mate for him. The monster comes to realize that no one will ever look past his exterior to see who he is underneath. As a result, he uses violence to make Victor Frankenstein share the pain he is feeling.
How did Victor reject the monster? ›While Victor initially created the creature to resolve the neglect he received as a child, his over-ambitiousness ultimately prevents him from empathizing with his creation, so he subsequently abandons it. Furthermore, Victor abandons his creation because of his realization of what the creature personifies.
What is the climax of Frankenstein? ›The novel climaxes with Walton finding the monster in the room, gazing at Victor's dead body and weeping.
How does Frankenstein end? ›At the end of Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein dies wishing that he could destroy the Monster he created. The Monster visits Frankenstein's body. He tells Walton that he regrets the murders he has committed and that he intends to commit suicide.
What are 3 Gothic elements in Frankenstein? ›Gothic Elements in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. There are numerous gothic elements in Frankenstein, including wild and exotic settings, the dark secret carried by the main character, the looming threat of the monster, and the destruction of the family.
What is the irony in Frankenstein? ›
The best example of irony in the novel is that Victor, who aims to create life, brings death to his family. Further, Victor, the creature's maker, does not take care of it and leaves. Irony makes Mary Shelley's Frankenstein a valuable piece of literature with a hidden meaning.
What are the major plot points in Frankenstein? ›A Plot Synopsis of Frankenstein
Victor Frankenstein tells Walton his story—a happy childhood, an unhealthy obsession with alchemy, and his engagement to his cousin Elizabeth. Victor enrolls at the University of Ingolstadt, where he discovers the secret of life and builds a creature from dead bodies .
In Frankenstein, Mary Shelley utilizes the names of her characters to simultaneously distance the reader from the characters and to make ironic comparisons between the true identity of a character and the identity a character portrays.
What does light symbolize in Frankenstein? ›Light symbolizes enlightenment in Frankenstein. Walton expects to find the secrets of the universe unveiled in the North Pole, which he describes as "a country of eternal light." Light also accompanies nearly all of Victor's epiphanies.
What does fire symbolize in Frankenstein? ›Fire symbolizes the gifts of the human rational mind and its ability to both create and, if not used wisely, destroy.
What does the boat symbolize in Frankenstein? ›The ship also fits the pervading theme of isolation. The men on the boat are alone, the only living things for hundreds of miles. Like Frankenstein and his monster, they are cut off from the rest of humanity. This sense of loneliness is part of what encourages Walton to bond with Victor.
What is the hidden message of Frankenstein? ›The main message that Frankenstein conveys is the danger in the pursuit of knowledge and advancement in Science and Technology. In the novel we see Victor try to push forward the limits of science by creating a creature from old body parts. The creation of the creature backfired on Victor once the monster escaped.
Why is Beaufort important? ›Written history began 500 years ago with the exploration of the area by Spanish Captain Pedro de Salazar between 1514 and 1516. Thus, Beaufort County was the site of the second landing on the North American continent by Europeans.
What was Shelley's purpose in writing Frankenstein? ›The novel dramatizes the clash between the eighteenth-century enlightenment and nineteenth-century romanticism. Shelley targeted the enlightenment idolatry of reason and mechanistic forces by attacking the idea that man was a predictable and rationally controllable machine.
Why is Victor's name symbolically significant? ›The name Victor comes from the Latin word “victor,” which means “conqueror” or “winner.” It was a common name among the ancient Romans, who saw victory as a symbol of strength and power.
Who is Beaufort and how is he connected to Victor's parents? ›
Beaufort was a close friend of Alphonse Frankenstein, the father of Victor Frankenstein. Beaufort was a merchant but lost his entire fortune and moved away so that none of his former contacts would see his shame. He perished in poverty, leaving behind a poor young daughter, Caroline Beaufort.
Who was Beaufort in Frankenstein quizlet? ›Caroline Beaufort is the mother of Victor Frankenstein and wife to Alphonse Frankenstein.
Who is the good character in Frankenstein? ›Victor Frankenstein is the main protagonist of the novel. He is obsessed with scientific achievement and glory, which drives him to discover the secret of manifesting life. He devotes all his time his studies, sacrificing his health and his relationships for his ambition.
What is Frankenstein's wife name? ›Elizabeth Frankenstein (née Lavenza) is a fictional character first introduced in Mary Shelley's 1818 novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus. In both the novel and its various film adaptations, she is the fiancée of Victor Frankenstein. Victor departs from Elizabeth to study in Ingolstadt.
Who killed William in Frankenstein? ›William is murdered by the Creature, who discovers that he is a relation of Frankenstein (II:8:29), and Justine Moritz is framed for the murder (I:6:31).
Where was Elizabeth killed in Frankenstein? ›A storm arrives just after Victor and Elizabeth arrive at the cottage, causing Victor to grab his pistol in fear of the monster attacking. He sends Elizabeth to bed to keep her safe, but he soon hears a scream—Elizabeth has been killed.
What kind of character is the doctor in Frankenstein? ›Dr. Waldman is a fictional character who appears in Mary Shelley's 1818 novel, Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus and in its subsequent film versions. He is a professor at Ingolstadt University who specializes in chemistry and is a mentor of Victor Frankenstein.
What type of character is Frankenstein? ›Victor Frankenstein is the main protagonist of the novel. He is obsessed with scientific achievement and glory, which drives him to discover the secret of manifesting life. He devotes all his time his studies, sacrificing his health and his relationships for his ambition.
What character symbols are in Frankenstein? ›Mary Shelley makes use of gothic symbolism in Frankenstein. The most prominent symbols in the novel are light, darkness, Adam, Satan, and fire. They reflect the most important themes and concepts of the book.
How does Mary Shelley portray Frankenstein? ›Mary Shelley essentially writes herself into the novel as Frankenstein, with each encounter in each of their lives eerily similar to each other's. They create a monster to perhaps settle the need for a child for Shelley, and the need for a child of science for Frankenstein.
Who is the real villain in Frankenstein essay? ›
The Monster is Frankenstein's antagonist. He thwarts Frankenstein's goal both by what he does and what he is.
Who is the real protagonist in Frankenstein? ›Victor Frankenstein is Mary Shelley's protagonist (not to be confused with the monster) in her novel, Frankenstein.
Is Frankenstein the monster or the doctor? ›Frankenstein, the title character in Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley's novel Frankenstein, the prototypical “mad scientist” who creates a monster by which he is eventually killed.
What characters change in Frankenstein? ›Unlike Frankenstein, the Monster changes over the course of the novel. He comes to see the error of his ways and express remorse for his actions. Also unlike Frankenstein, who dies still pursuing his goal of destroying the Monster, the Monster dies because he can't live with who he is and what he has done.
Is Frankenstein a complex character? ›Victor Frankenstein is a complex and multi-dimensional character who embodies both the strengths and weaknesses of the human experience. He is driven by his desire to challenge the limits of science, but his ambition and disregard for the consequences of his actions ultimately lead to his downfall.
What point of view is Frankenstein? ›Frankenstein is narrated in the first-person (using language like “I”, “my” etc.) by different characters at different points in the novel. The shifts in narrator and the alternating points of view are central to the novel's theme of looking past appearances to reflect on what may lie beneath.
What is the tone of Frankenstein? ›The tone of Frankenstein is largely bleak and despairing. The tone begins with optimism from the perspective of Captain Walton who is excited and hopeful about his Arctic voyage.
What does ice symbolize in Frankenstein? ›Ice represents not only physical cold but also the coldness of loneliness and isolation. The creature also experiences both the physical nature of ice and the coldness and loneliness of abandonment. There are also several Biblical references that are used in Frankenstein.