160 likes | 501 Views
Revenge. The Theme of Revenge in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein By Seth Vickers and Jason Ozment AP English IV. The Beginnings…. Shelley’s theme of revenge starts with the creature: The creature finds the family of cottagers, learns from them, and grows to love them.
E N D
Revenge The Theme of Revenge in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein By Seth Vickers and Jason Ozment AP English IV
The Beginnings… • Shelley’s theme of revenge starts with the creature: • The creature finds the family of cottagers, learns from them, and grows to love them. • “… I discovered some papers in the pocket of the dress which I had taken form your laboratory. At first I had neglected them; but now that I was able to decipher the characters in which they were written, I began to study them with diligence. It was the journal of the four months that preceded my creation…the whole detail of that series of disgusting circumstances which produced it is set in view… I sickened as I read. ‘Hateful day when I received life!’ I exclaimed in agony. ‘Accursed creator! Why did you create a monster so hideous that even you turned from me in disgust?” -The creature, pg. 111.
The Beginnings… • The creature finds hatred towards Victor in his abandonment • “I was alone. I remembered Adam’s supplication to his Creator. But where was mine? He had abandoned me: and, in the bitterness of my heart, I cursed him.” –The creature, pg. 112. • The creature decides to finally reveal himself to the family and they reject him for his appearance. In rage, he destroys the cottage.
The Beginnings… • While in search for his creator, the creature discovers William, who he learns “belongs then to my enemy,” and kills him in a rage. • The creature then frames Justine because he feels that, “The crime had its source in her: be hers the punishment!” pg. 122.
Victor’s Retaliation… • Victor decides to avenge his family by destroying the creature. • Victor finds the creature and speaks with him for the first time…
The Creature’s Proposal… • The creature brings forth an offer to Victor • "I have love in me the likes of which you can scarcely imagine and rage the likes of which you would not believe. If I cannot satisfy one I will indulge the other.“ –The creature • Victor denies the creature that which he wants…
The Creature’s Response… • The creature is infuriated that Victor denied him his one request. • Revenge now becomes the main objective for the creature. • “I may die; but first you , my tyrant and tormentor, shall curse the sun that gazes on your misery.” –Ch.20, pg. 143 • “It is well…but remember, I shall be with you on your wedding-night.” –The Creature, pg. 143
The Creature’s Response… • Initially, he puts his plan of revenge into action by murdering Victor’s close friend, Henry Clerval. • The creature fulfills his promise to return to Victor on his wedding-night and kills his wife. • Frankenstein 1994 clip 3 - YouTube
Victor’s Sustenance… • After the murders of Elizabeth and Henry and the natural death of Victor’s father, Victor is left with nothing. • As a result, he finds himself “awakened to revenge.” –Victor Frankenstein, pg. 168 • “…and I devote myself, either in my life or death, to his destruction.” –Victor Frankenstein, pg. 168 • Victor’s desire for revenge at this point is so great that it becomes his only reason for living. “But revenge kept me alive; I dared not die and leave my adversary in being.” –Victor Frankenstein, pg. 168
The Creature’s Satisfaction… • The creature finds satisfaction in Victor’s decision to live, making Victor suffer by traveling through harsh to terrain to pursue him. • “The triumph of my enemy increased with the difficulty of my labours.” –Victor Frankenstein, pg. 174
Victor’s Last Request… • Victor finally gets within a mile of the creature on the frozen ocean but the ice breaks and leaves him adrift with his enemy escaping yet again. • Victor is found by a ship, where the story connects back to Walton’s letters to his sister. • Victor’s dying wish is that Walton “…will seek him and satisfy my vengeance in his death.” –Victor Frankenstein, pg. 176
The End of the Cycle… • Walton finds the creature over Victor’s coffin and talks with him… • The creature asks for forgiveness and states that he is no longer a threat to humans as his revenge is satisfied. • He declares that he will kill himself saying, “I shall collect my funeral pile and consume to ashes this miserable frame.” pg. 184.
THE END! • But not without a little song… Monsters Need Love Too (Happy Halloween) - YouTube