Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Compare/contrast the final words of Victor with the final words of the monster.Im reading Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

As he lies dying Victor Frankenstein tells Walton that he
no longer feels the "burning hatred and ardent desire of revenge I once expressed." Now,
Frankenstein states, he only feels himself justified in seeking the death of his
"adversary," the creature whom he has created.  In the final chapter, he examines his
past actions and behavior, and he says that he feels no
guilt:



My
duties towards the beings of my own species had greater claims to my attention, because
they included a greater proportion of happiness or misery.  Urged by this view, I
refused, and I did riht in refusing to created a companion for the first creature.  He
showed unparalleled malignity and selfishness, in evil: he destroyed my friends; he
devoted to destruction beings who possessed exquisite sensations, happiness and wisdom;
nor do I know where this thirst for vengeance may
end.



He rationalizes his
having caused the deaths of his family and friends with a declaration that his greater
obligation was to not acquiesce to the demand of the creature that he create another for
him.  Frankenstein feels that his only failure is in not destroying the creature he has
created.  Now, he asks the ship's captain to "undertake my unfinished work."  Victor
Frankenstein remains narrow-minded and selfish to the
end.


On the other hand, when the creature discovers that
Frankenstein has died, the creature boards the ship.  Walton describes the creature as
having



every
feature and gesture ...instigated by the wildes rage of some uncontrollable
passion.


'That is also my victim!' he exclaimed: 'in his
murder my crimes are consummated; the miserable series of my being is wound to its
close!  Oh Frankenstein! generous and self-devoted being! what does it avail that I now
ask thee to pardon me?  I, who irretrievable destroyed thee by destroying all thou
lovedst.  Alas! he is cold, he cannot answer
me.'



In contrast to his
maker, the miserable creature continues to utter "wild and incoherent self-reproaches." 
He blames himself for the death of Victor Frankenstein, whom he did truly love.  He
retorts to the castigation of Walton, telling him that he, himself, suffered great
anguish for his deeds.  For instance, after the murder of Clerval he felt pity for
Frankenstein, and abhorred himself. This is in contrast, also, to Frankenstein who calls
the creature his "adversary."


But, even though he has felt
pity, the creature admits to having become obsessed with his "demoniacal design."  In
this drive for the accomplishment of his plan, the creature resembles Frankenstein who,
also, was driven to destroy.  However, now "no guilt, no mischief, no malignity, no
misery can be found comparable to mine," he declares--feelings in sharp contrast with
those of Victor Frankenstein.


The creature asks Walton, "Am
I to be thought the only criminal when all human kind sinned against me?"  He cites
Felix's having spurned him and drove his friend from his door, and "the rustic," whose
child he saved.  Yet, he admits to his crimes, stating that Walton's abhorrence cannot
equal that with which he regards himself.  He, then, turns to the body of Frankenstein
and points to the great contrast between the two beings.  For creatures rankles
with guilt while Frankenstein felt justified in his actions; in his guilt, the creature
promises to destroy himself:  "Soon these bruning miseries will be
extinct."

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