Victor Frankenstein Epic Hero Essay - 1093 Words

The typical horror story in the current century is the idea of the dead, coming alive. Yet in the status quo, 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. Gregory Nagy describes these traits when he writes: â€Å"The words ‘epic’ and ‘hero’ both defy generalization, let alone universalizing definitions.†¦show more content†¦Prometheus gave fire to man, and Frankenstein lifted the dead. This act though, is one that isn’t easy to accomplish easily. Shelley writes: â€Å"How dangerous is the acquirement o f knowledge and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspires to be greater than his nature will allow.† (Chapter 4) Dangerous is an understatement and led to the demise of both Victor Frankenstein and Prometheus. However, they intended for their creations to help mankind which makes them heroic. Secondly, the love that Victor Frankenstein has for his family gives him heroic qualities in Shelley’s book. Throughout the entire book, he frequently talked about his love for his family. Mary Shelley writes: â€Å"No human being could have passed a happier childhood than myself. My parents were possessed by the very spirit of kindness and indulgence. We felt that they were not the tyrants to rule our lot according to their caprice, but the agents and creators of all the many delights which we enjoyed. When I mingled with other families I distinctly discerned how peculiarly fortunate my lot was, and gratitude assisted the devel opment of filial love.† (Chapter 2) The love that he has for his family is one of the only things that keeps him hopeful. This hope is what led to his strive for happiness.Show MoreRelatedEssay on Monsters and Men in Macbeth, Beowulf, Frankstien1179 Words   |  5 Pagesmen. In the literature pieces of Macbeth, Beowulf and Frankenstein; there are countless instances where one might be able to distinguish between Monsters and Men. But they all fall in different genres. Macbeth is a story about a tragic hero; the fallen one or the man who brought misery upon himself. The monster can be identified as guilt. This guilt built stronger and stronger and led him to be his worst enemy. Beowulf is an epic about a hero (men) who takes on great challenges and adventures. HisRead MoreMonsters and Men in a Array of Literature 727 Words   |  3 Pagesare obscure from the: Macbeth, Beowulf, and Frankenstein. All three writers published each for separate purposes. William Shakespeare Const ructed Macbeth for the king and was hinting advice toward the king. In reflection, the epic poem of Beowulf is not similar to Frankenstein in anyway. However all of these pieces of literature have an allusion to monsters and men. In stating this monsters and men are not universal throughout the genres of tragedy, epic poem, and romanticism novel. The play ofRead MoreFrankenstein And Frankenstein Essay1474 Words   |  6 Pagesfictional characters, most famously in John Milton’s Paradise Lost, in 1667, and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, in 1818. The complexity of the characters in these texts creates the theme of nature versus nurture before they diverge and arrive at differing conclusions. Many critics arose over the years to contest the main character of Milton’s epic. Shelley, arguably Milton’s greatest critic, wrote Frankenstein to contrast her views on the conflict between creator and creation. She also uses an unconventionalRead MoreUnreliable Narrator1567 Words   |  7 Pagesperspective of their story. The concept of the unreliable narrator (as opposed to author) became more important with the rise of the 18th Century. Until the late 1800s, literary criticism as an academic exercise dealt solely with poetry (including epic poems like the Iliad and Paradise Lost, and poetic drama like Shakespeare). Most poems did not have a narrator distinct from the author. But novels, with their immersive fictional worlds, created a problem, especially when the narrators views differedRead More Essay on Shelleys Frankenstein and Miltons Paradise Lost3164 Words   |  13 PagesShelleys Frankenstein and Miltons Paradise Lost   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Even upon first glance, Mary Shelleys Frankenstein and John Miltons Paradise Lost seem to have a complex relationship, which is discernible only in fractions at a time.   Frankenstein is Mary Shelleys reaction to John Miltons epic poem, in which he wrote the Creation myth as we perceive it today.   His characterizations of Adam and Eve and the interactions of Satan and God and the impending Fall seem to have almost taken a Biblical proportionRead MoreCritical Analysis of the First Four Letters of ‘Frankenstein’1172 Words   |  5 PagesCritical Analysis of the First Four Letters of ‘Frankenstein’ We are first introduced to Robert Walton, a 28 year old sea captain who is embarking on a journey to the North Pole in order to find a passage from the Pacific to the Atlantic. The letters are written to his sister, Mrs Saville, in London, England. He has talked about making this expedition for six years; it has been his favourite dream and he is pleased that he finally has a chance to make good on his promise to himself. Although heRead MoreBeowulf Analysis921 Words   |  4 PagesBeowulf, an old english epic poem, written a long time ago roughly around the eight and ten century. Beowulf is introduced as â€Å"Nor have I seen A mightier man-at-arms on this earth Than the one standing here: unless I am mistaken, He is truly noble. This is no mere Hanger-on in a hero’s armour.† (247-51) a character of humility, honesty and bravery, which is the perfect definition of a dane.English novelist and scholar J. R. R. Tolkien and author of (Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critic s, ProceedingsRead MoreThe Modern Prometheus By Mary Shelley Essay1839 Words   |  8 Pagesorder to survive. Because men were aware of their so-called superiority over women, they let this power effect their understanding of their role in society. Mary Shelley wrote and released her first world famous novel, Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus, in 1818. Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus consisted of mostly male characters, with little to no attention to female characters. This abundance of attention to male roles represented the dominance of males in society that tended to silenceRead More Opening Sequences of Frankenstein by James Whale and Kenneth Branagh5160 Words   |  21 PagesOpening Sequences of Frankenstein by James Whale and Kenneth Branagh Frankenstein Compare the opening sequences of Mary Shelleys novel Frankenstein filmed by James Whale (1931) and Kenneth Branagh (1994). Describe and account for the major differences and similarities between the versions. The gothic horror novel, Frankenstein, was written by Mary Shelley during the Industrial Revolution, which was a period of dramatic change. It was a groundbreaking and controversial novelRead MoreThe Family Ties in Frankenstein, Metamorphosis and Mother Courage and her Children1914 Words   |  8 Pagesfollow along with. There are many examples of this throughout this course, but this paper will focus on how three of them use the family dynamic to connect with the reader: Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Kafka’s Metamorphosis, and Brecht’s Mother Courage and her Children. One does not have to read far into Frankenstein to get a feel for this idea. The beginning of the story is a series of letters between an explorer named Walton and his sister, Margaret. These content of these letters suggest that Walton