How were the characters in Frankenstein selfish?

Answer 1

Victor is a main character in Frankenstein obsessed with knowledge. In Frankenstein, there are three characters that are very similar when it comes to trying to acquire knowledge; Victor (Frankenstein), Robert Walton and the monster all thirst for knowledge. These three characters will do anything to get their way; they all hurt people close to them and put themselves first. In the end, their obsession with knowledge results in a life a misery for all of them. The quest for knowledge of these three characters becomes very selfish, and is the downfall of all three of them.

Victor was a very selfish person who never focused on the life that he had or the people in his life. He never appreciated what he had; he was obsessed with knowledge and always wanted to learn more and to create something that was unheard of. Frankenstein states, "One man's life on death were but a small price to pay for the acquirement is the knowledge which I sought for the dominion I should acquire and transmit the elemental foes of our race."(Shelley) He was so focused on created his monster and gaining more knowledge. Frankenstein believed," Wealth was an inferior object; but what glory would attend discovery, if I could banish disease from human frame and render man invulnerable to any but a violent death!" (Shelley) Frankenstein is focus on glory, he wants people to remember him because of the amazing creation he made; because of this he not only ruins his own life but he ruins many loved ones lives because of his selfish ways.

Before Victor creates his monster he is very joyful about the endeavor; he can't wait to create his creation and gain more knowledge. He will do anything for this to work and devotes all his time to creating his new species. He even says: " Life and death appeared to me ideal bounds, which I should first break though, and pour a torrent of light into our dark world. A new species would bless me as its creator and source; many happy and excellent natures would owe their being to me. No father could claim the gratitude of his child so completely as I should deserve theirs." (Shelley) After Victor created his monster he was mortified by the monster, "For this I had deprived myself of rest and health. I had desired it with an ardour that far exceeded moderation; but now that I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless Horror and disgust filled my heart." (Shelley) Frankenstein didn't want anything to do with the monster he had created. Philip Allingham a literature professors at University of British Columbia in Vancouver stated the following about the monster being abandoned: "the fault is not the monster's but his creator's; the monsters is a sympathetic consciousness trapped in a repulsive form that even Victor, his mother-and-father, detest." (Allingham) Victor didn't take responsibility for his own creation. Victor describes the moment he see the monster "A flash of lightning illuminated the object and discovered its shape plainly to me; its gigantic stature, and the deformity of its aspect, more hideous than belongs to humanity, instantly informed me that it was the wretch, the filthy demon to whom he had given life."(Shelley) He thrived for this knowledge and wanted this creation so badly, but in the end he abandoned the monster because of the monster hideous looks. In the monster destroys his life and many of his love ones lives as well.

As for Walton, he too wanted to surpass others with finding a new uncharted territory in the North Pole that no one had discovered yet. In the begin, no matter how dangerous the voyage is, he wants to discover the uncharted territory so he puts his men on the ship and himself in danger. When Frankenstein meets Walton, he says " you seek for knowledge and wisdom, as I once did; and I ardently hope that the gratification of your wishes may not be a serpent to sting you, as mine has been." (Shelley) Frankenstein had already been through so much at that point but still was not going to give up even if it killed him. Victor tells Walton, "Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow." (Shelley) He was warning Walton of what he had learned from his misfortunes. Walton does finally stop and turn back when he and his crew are trapped between the ice and he learns of Victor's misery from trying to gain knowledge.

The monster was abandoned by his maker Frankenstein and therefore had to learn and manage on his own. He too wanted to learn and thirst for knowledge. When living by the De Lacey's farm he taught himself how to speak and read from listening to the farmer and his son and daughter. He gained human emotions because of the knowledge he learned and he wanted to be with people and have someone love him. When the family rejected him because of his hideous looks, he wanted revenge on his maker for making him this way. The monster then spoke with Frankenstein saying, "Shall each man," cried he, "find a wife for his bosom, and each beast have his mate, and I be alone? I had feelings of affection, and they were requited by detestation and scorn. Man! You may hate, but beware! Your hours will pass in dread and misery, and soon the bolt will fall which must ravish from you your happiness forever. Are you to be happy while I grovel in the intensity of my wretchedness? You can blast my other passions, but revenge remains -- revenge, henceforth dearer than light or food! I may die, but first you, my tyrant and tormentor, shall curse the sun that gazes on your misery. Beware, for I am fearless and therefore powerful. I will watch with the wiliness of a snake, that I may sting with its venom. Man, you shall repent of the injuries you inflict." (Shelley) The monster didn't want to be alone in the world anymore and knew only something of his same species would accept him, he would do anything for this love. The monster threatens Victor that is he doesn't do what he wants he will make his life more miserable then it already is and he would lose everything he has left. When the monster learned all these things about the world and had these emotions it made him more human which in the end destroyed him because he had learned too much.

Frankenstein, Walton and the monster very different characters in the book but

all very alike. They all wanted to gain this knowledge and that wasn't a bad

thing but they wanted these things so badly they would do anything for it. They

were all very selfish in how they went about things, and hurt so many people

because of their actions. In the end they are all miserable and the knowledge

they gain is the destruction of all of them.