Write a comparative analysis of your research and what we see in chapters 9-11.

Justin Enriquez

2/6/13

P.6

Unattainable Truths Possessed by Nature

            In chapters 9-11, we begin to see how Shelley is portraying humanity via the monster and Victor. Through the monster we begin to see that he isn't included in society, as he desires. The monster’s development of understanding of the significance of family relates to his feelings of difference and loneliness. In addition, the cottagers’ devotion to each other serves as a more appealing example than that of Victor’s total abandonment towards the monster. This lack of interaction with others, in addition to his unknown identity, places emphasis on the monster’s lack of social identity. On the other hand, through Victor the reader begins to see how Shelley is portraying humanity through an actual human. After Justine’s execution, Victor becomes increasingly depressed. He rules in suicide but restrains himself by thinking of Elizabeth and his father. Like all humans when we are faced with consequences we, if possible, place the blame on others just like Victor did with the murders he was ultimately responsible for. Moreover, we also see Victor show sympathy towards the monster. The monster understands his position in the world, the regret of his existence and abandonment by his creator, and is out to seek either reasons or revenge for Victor’s attitude towards him. For the first time, Victor begins to realize that what he has created is not only the product of an experiment but an actual living being with needs and wants.

One of the many writers present during Mary Shelley's time was Percy Bysshe Shelley. The two serve as a great example due to their views toward humanity in their literary works. In Mary Shelley's, Frankenstein, humanity and nature are of great significance like that of the poems written by Percy Bysshe Shelley. For example, in Percy's, To Wordsworth, "and this intense connection with the natural world gives him access to profound cosmic truths", the poet is portrayed as having a deep, mystic appreciation for nature. This relates to the monster's great appreciation of nature in Frankenstein. As seen in chapter 12, the theme of nature’s divinity, resurfaces in the monster’s awe to springtime. Nature proves as important to the monster as it is to Victor: as the temperature rises and winter begins to fade, the monster takes comfort in a green and blooming world, appreciating nature’s creation when he cannot duplicate that for his own. For a moment, he is able to forget his artificial self-being. This shows how elements of both writers’ style incorporate nature as great significance to humanity. In Percy's, To Wordsworth, "and this intense connection with the natural world gives him access to profound cosmic truths", it is shown that nature reveals elements of life in ways nothing else can thus giving access to knowledge humanity could not discover any place else. On the other hand, in Shelley's, Frankenstein, nature serves as great importance for both Victor and the monster. For Victor, nature allows him to observe it in order to find a cure for disease in humanity and for the monster, nature allows him to see the reality of his self-being via the waters reflection and no longer having to ponder over reasons as to why humanity fears him.