Frankenstein Essays (964 words) - Frankenstein,

Frankenstein As Victim "Am I to be thought the only criminal, when all human kind sinned against me?" (Shelly 165) - Frankenstein's Monster Upon reading Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, it is all too easy to come to the conclusion that the creature Dr. Victor Frankenstein creates is a "vile insect" (68) that should be "overwhelm [ed] with... furious detestation and contempt" (68). But is this really accurate? Is this "monster" truly the "wretched devil" (68) Victor believes him to be? Or is he actually a "fallen angel whom [Victor] drove from joy for no misdeed... [and that] misery made a fiend" (69)? The case for the creature being a "hideous monster" (102) is quite strong. He murders young William Frankenstein with his bare hands; afterwards, he frames Justine Moritz for the crime because he "is forever robbed of all that she could give [him, therefore] she shall atone" (103). Victor's best friend, Henry Clerval, is murdered by the creature as well. Finally, the monster fulfills his promise of being "'with [Victor] on [his] wedding night'" (139) by killing Elizabeth, Victor's cousin and new bride. It would seem that this beast truly is, in Victor's opinion, unequaled in "deformity and wickedness" (122). However, after closer examination, one finds that the creature, though he has committed heinous acts of violence, is not entirely at fault. In fact, it would seem that the individual responsible for the monster's actions is Dr. Victor Frankenstein himself. When Victor first creates the creature, he is struck with "breathless horror and disgust" (35) at its very appearance. Because of this, he abandons it, not caring about its welfare or safety. This could be seen as somewhat analogous to giving birth to a baby, then leaving it in the woods to fend for itself. After being deserted by his creator, the creature becomes nothing more than a "poor, helpless, miserable wretch" (71), living on a diet of berries and acorns, and feeling Do 2 "frightened... [and] desolate" (71). He learns the language and ways of man by observing a small family for a couple of years, and yearns for their company so that they can be "sympathizing with [his] feelings and cheering [his] gloom" (93). However, all his encounters with humans end with the humans experiencing feelings of "horror and consternation" (96) (due to his disfigured appearance) while his heart sinks "with bitter sickness" (97) from these rejections. When he approaches an old man eating breakfast, the old man flees in terror. When he attempts to befriend the blind De Lacy, Felix darts forward and tears him "with supernatural force... from his father" (97). And when he rescues a young girl from drowning in a swiftly flowing river, he is not thanked with kind words, but instead with bullets. Thus, the "reward of [his] benevolence... [is] the miserable pain of a wound which shattered the flesh and bone" (101). It comes as no surprise, then, when the creature comes to the conclusion that "there was none among the myriads of men that existed who would pity or assist [him]" (97), he declares "ever-lasting war against the species, and, more than all, against him [Victor] who had formed [him, the monster], and sent him forth to this insupportable misery" (97). He murders William Frankenstein because he is a relative of Victor, and frames Justine because he knows she will never be sympathetic towards him, since she is a member of the human race (talk about being in the wrong place at the wrong time). When the monster finally gets a chance to speak with his creator, he has but one request: "a creature of another sex, but as hideous as [him] self" (105). If Victor complies with this request, the creature will, for once in his existence, "excite the sympathy of some living thing" (105) and promises that no "other human being shall ever see [them] again" (105). Victor agrees to this at first, but later decides that it will be too risky to create another being which might be "ten thousand times more malignant than her mate" (120). Upon coming to this conclusion, Victor destroys the second creature, leaving the first, once again, alone to "grovel in the intensity of [his] wretchedness" (123). At this point, out of rage and desperation, the monster kills Henry Clerval, and later, Elizabeth. Can the creature really be blamed for his behavior and actions? His heart "was fashioned to be susceptible of love and sympathy" (164); however, in all his years of Do 3 existence, he has seen nothing but violence and hatred towards himself. It is

My Values essays

My Values essays People have very different reasons on why going to college and getting an education is important for them. Some people go to college because that is what is expected of them, and others go because they have nothing else better to do. However, I am interested in going to college and obtaining a good education because it will benefit my family, my country, and me. My parents have this perfect life for me pictured in their heads, and the first thing they see me doing is going to college. They expect the best of me, and so by going to college, I will not only have fulfilled their goals for me, but I will have accomplished one of the goals I have set for myself. In our culture, when parents come to the age where they cant support themselves, it is the duty of the children to look after them. We dont just throw our elders into retirement homes and visit them twice every year. We are expected to meet their wants and needs, and that will not be possible without a good education, which will then lead to a good job. As you know, a college education is good for each individual, but not only that, it is good for the country. As a college education becomes more obtainable through the use of financial aid, our country benefits the most. We are the future businessmen and women of America, and through our knowledge, the country will grow. The education we get today will help us prosper in the future, and the more we expand our horizons, the more the economy will increase. If students are denied an education because they dont have the means to pay for college, then they are deprived of accomplishing their goals and reaching their fullest potential. In the words of Michael Jackson, The dream we were conceived in will reveal a joyful face, and the world we once believed in will shine again in grace. With the students of today being educated, the people of tomorrow will prosper. Now that Ive explained how my goi...

Benjamin Franklin and his contribution to US Essay

Benjamin Franklin and his contribution to US - Essay Example He is favourably considered by many historians as a person who valued personal freedom and fought to see the wishes of the people prevail. This paper is dedicated to the analysis of the contributions of Benjamin Franklin to the country he played a role in founding. Fire was very a dangerous threat to Philadelphians therefore Benjamin Franklin created the Union Fire Company in 1736 to remedy the situation. The company became one of the first volunteer firefighting companies in the United States of America. In 1752, Benjamin created the Philadelphia Contribution for Insurance against Loss by Fire to help those who often suffered irreversible economic loss because of fire damages (Brands 83). Those who had insurance policies were lucky because they could not be wiped out financially by fire damages. In London Benjamin opposed the Stamp Act but failed to prevent its passage. Consequently, he made a political miscalculation by recommending a friend of his to the post of stamp distributor for Pennsylvania. This act annoyed the Pennsylvanians and they threatened to destroy his home in Philadelphia because they believed he had been supporting the measure that they were against all along. However, Benjamin soon realized the extent to which the colonies were resistant to the Stamp Act and gave a testimony before the House of Commons that led to its repeal as noted by Brands (56). In his testimony he said that the Americans would not pay taxes if the Stamp Act was adopted. This made Benjamin the leading American spokesman for American interests in England. He wrote famous essays on behalf of the colonies and was appointed by as an agent of many other colonies to the crown. In 1773, Benjamin wrote two essays that were his most celebrated pro American satirical writings. His essays were An Edict by the King of Prussia and Rules by Which a Great Empire May Be Reduced to a Small One (Houston 312). After the return of Benjamin to Pennsylvania, in 1963, the western frontier