Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Contemplate this as well...
How does Shelley show that evil is learned through society? Does consistent rejection and attack justify revenge? What should be an individual's response be to repeated injustice? Discuss this topic using appropriate evidence from what you've read, observed, or experienced.
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Society seems ignorant to the caring and harmless actions of the monster as he goes from place to place. He is continually attacked while consistently showing kindness to others. This highlights the defense mechanism of humanity to attack those that are unusual, distinct, and do not conform to societal norms. The constant rejection from people thought to be kind, such as the De Lacey family, ignites a fire in the monster where he was, “like a wild beast that had broken the toils; destroying the objects that obstructed me, and ranging through the wood with a stag-like swiftness” (121). Whether consistent rejection and attack justifies revenge is a matter of personal opinion. Some may have an eye for an eye attitude while others see it as a dangerous cycle to avoid. The instance in The Help by Kathryn Stockett where Minny serves Hilly, a snobby, cruel woman, a helping of “Chocolate” pie is the decision to fight fire with fire no matter the consequences. Minny was in an environment where she was frequently verbally degraded and her patience had worn thin. The choice of an individual to answer to the constant injustices withstood is a matter of realizing strength to forgive and keep going or to dole out retribution that can come with a big price.
ReplyDeleteShelley shows that evil is learned through society, by displaying to the audience the constant judgements that were passed on the monster due to it's grotesque appearance. At one point the monster evens states that he "once falsely hoped to meet the beings that pardoned [his] outward form, and would love [him] for the excellent qualities which [he] was capable of unfolding"(223) Unfortunately, by venturing out into society the monster was only torn down and rejected. To agree with what Christiana said, revenge is indeed quite a tricky matter in the fact that's it's debatable to whether there's any justification for it.
ReplyDelete"Thanks to the lessons of Felix and the sanguinary laws of man, I learned now to work mischief" (Shelley 127). After committing the murder of William, the monster use defamatory libel and places the blame, by putting evidence on an innocent sleeping bystander, Justine Moritz. Constant rejection and attack does and does not justify revenge. If an individual is in constant contact with injustice, the response should be bitter and malevolent. "Cursed, cursed creator! why did I live? Why, in that instant, did I not extinguish the spark of existence which you had so wantonly bestowed? I know not; despair had not yet taken possession of me; my feelings were those of rage and revenge. I could with pleasure have destroyed the cottage and its inhabitants, and have glutted myself with their shrieks and misery" (Shelley 121). After another unsuccessful attempt to socialize with the human race, the monster is once again turned down and rejected by the cottage inhabitants. He endured may encounters with human which ended in the rejection and horrification from the humans. "I was like a wild beast that had broken the toils; destroying the objects that obstructed me..." (Shelley 121). He [monster] becomes bitter and revengeful, destroying and having malevolent thoughts.
ReplyDeleteIn Frankenstein, society has proven to judge a book by its cover. Through fifteen chapters everyone has viewed the monster as a hideous beast, destined for evil and malicious acts. Because of this outlook, the monster has encountered nothing but hatred from the human race. In retaliation, the monsters vows to seek revenge. In the bible, Romans 12:19 states: "Do not take revenge, my dear friends, leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord." In society you are taught to not seek revenge, but leave it in the hands of the creator. However can this be applied to the monster? "No: from that moment I declared everlasting war against the species, and more than all, against him who had formed me, and sent me forth to this insupportable misery (Shelley 121). It is the monster's creator for whom the monster wants revenge. In this circumstance revenge is justified.
ReplyDeleteShelley shows evil is learned through society by the way Frankenstein was treated. He was continously judged by his looks. To tries to show compassion to others and was always rejected. Society reject the ones who are diffreent and try to help and ignore any of their actions. "I was like a wild beast that had broken the toils; destroying the objects that obstructed me..." (Shelley 121). Know payed him no attention so he wanted revenge .
ReplyDeleteShelley conveys to the reader that evil is learned through society by having the monster be attacked on several occasions based solely on his outward appearance. Despite the monster being kind at heart, society only saw him as this dangerous, hideous creature. Consistent rejection and attack do not justify revenge however they often trigger it. An individual's response to repeated injustice should be an increased drive for success. Success is said to be the greatest revenge.
ReplyDeleteShelley shows that evil is learned through society in many instances. For one, in chapter 15, Frankenstein is being run off when he is trying to show that he wants peace with humans. Constant attack and rejection does not justify revenge. The monster should have learned to overcome these obstacles without getting revenge. The monster should have just stayed to himself.
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