A True Betrayal Of Nature :: essays research papers

In Mary Shelleys Frankenstein, Victor betrays nature by creating the Monster. Itis the responsibility of nature, and not man, to create forgiving beings. Victor has d whizzsomething unnatural, he has created life afterwards death, "I have created a monster." Victor is soon punished for interfering with nature when his own creation turnsagainst its former. The monster murders William Frankenstein, Victors brother HenryClerval, Victors best admirer and Elizabeth Lavenza, Victors bride. The Monster kills allthose that are closest in Victors life in a form of retaliation for Victors creation of amonster, one without a companion, one rejected by all of civilization. "I determined toseek that justice which I vainly attempted to gain from any other being that wore thehuman form" (Frankenstein, p.136, line 13). It is the death of Victors family thatsignifies his punishment " I have never seen a man so wretched a condition" (Frankenstein, p.20). Victors repentan ce comes in two parts when he decides to destroyhis own creation "I am going to unexplored region, to the land of mist and snow but Ishall kill no albatross, therefore do not be alarmed for my safety" (Frankenstein, p.15, line25) and when the blame shifts from Victor to the Monster, and the Monster decides to killhimself "Cursed, cursed creator Why did I live?" (Frankenstein, p.132, line 1). Thepenance is done by the end of the book and the Monster is removed from civilization. However, that is not to say that Victor is well-defined of his betrayal. Victor is in constantsorrow for his creation because it caused the death of so many in his life. In the poem "The Rime of Ancient Mariner," the mariner betrays nature bymurdering the Albatross "I had killed the bird that made the breeze blow" (AM, p.08, line 52). The Albatross represents nature. The representation is meaninglessto the mariner until he sees the how things are quickly changed after the dea th "Water,water everywhere, nor any drop to drink" (AM, p.10, line 02). Finally, after suffering,and losing his entire crew, the mariner realizes the Albatross as a symbol of nature and hecomprehends the evil he has done. The mariner receives a sufficient punishment, "I looked upon the rotting sea, anddrew my eyes away I looked upon the rotting deck, and there the stillborn men lay" (AM,p.18, line 11). After the killing of the Albatross and the loss of the mariners crew, hissuffering include having his soul in agoney soon afterwards.