Frankenstein assessment
.docxSchool
Western University **We aren't endorsed by this school
Course
LANGUAGE 3071
Subject
Arts & Humanities
Date
May 10, 2024
Pages
3
Uploaded by BrigadierToadMaster1159
One important theme in
Frankenstein
is that of education. Briefly describe the education of the Creature. How does it compare to that of Victor Frankenstein?
Education is an important theme in Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein." Both Victor Frankenstein and his Creature are both greatly impacted by the education in the novel. The two characters' differing educational backgrounds provide important insights into Shelley's comments on knowledge, duty, and morality.
The creature commences with an unstructured and raw education, reflecting on his unnatural creation and abandonment by his creator. Shelley depicts him as a wretched figure who attempts to understand a world that he had been abandoned in. In (Chapter 11), the creature states
"I was a poor, helpless, miserable wretch; I knew, and could distinguish, nothing." Here, the diction of "wretch" and "miserable" reinforce the idea that the creature has no one to guide or educate him. He must understand
the world on his own. Despite his initial struggles, the creature demonstrates a capacity and determination for learning and growth. The creature's education is also not limited to the books he reads. He also learns about language, values and social interactions from the De Lacey family he watches. In (Chapter 15), he reflects on his encounters with the family, stating "I admired virtue
and good feelings and loved the gentle manners and amiable qualities of
my cottagers", which emphasises how the creature begins to develop a sense of empathy and morality, but only to the extent of his limited comprehension. However, the creature struggles with his education, and it
is essentially incomplete due to his experiences of rejection and isolation. The creature is never given a chance to be an adult, his encounters with the villagers, the creature is given a label which is "monster". His education is not only incomplete, but also and used against him. His moral
"education" is perverted and ends up being used as a basis for his eventual destruction. He is only taught about morality in the context of his
own experiences. As a result of his education remaining fragmented and distorted, his moral development was limited. In contrast, Victor Frankenstein's education is privileged and conventional.
He is offered the opportunity to study at prestigious institutions and engage with prominent thinkers of his time. Shelley portrays victor's education as guided by established academic disciplines and intellectual traditions, providing him with a structured framework for understanding the natural world. As well as he has access to a wide range of books and scientific resources, he has a supportive father that is depicted as a loving
and caring parent who encourages Victor's academic pursuits, he is also offered the freedom to pursue his academic interest without societal pressures. This is evident in (Chapter 3) "more, far more, will I achieve .... mysteries of creation"
In comparison, the creature's education and Frankenstein's are both shaped by their respective environment, experiences and moral choice. While Frankenstein's education is privileged and structured, it is ultimately
overshadowed by his moral failings and disregard for the consequences of
his actions. Conversely, the Creatures education is marked by adversity and isolation, hindering his moral development. Ultimately, Shelley's exploration of education in "Frankenstein" highlights the importance of empathy, compassion and moral responsibility in the pursuit of knowledge.
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