Refer to the arguments (quote at least one directly) that VF and the Creature offer for and against making a female companion. Can you think of any additional reasons for or against making a female companion? Whose side do you feel more sympathy for? What do you think VF should do?
Post your response here, then be sure to read your classmate's postings, as well. Respond to at least ONE member of the class -- someone who disagrees with you, that is... When you respond, please begin your response, "In response to ____________'s comment,"
If you have questions, send me a quick email. karri_landeis@bismarckschools.org
The problem with making a female companion for the creature is that there are too many risks involved to know for sure if it won't backfire. The female creature may go insane upon creation, or it may refuse to do anything that either Frankenstein or the creature say. Also, should it decide to go with the creature, who's to say that they will indeed live peacefully away from humanity? Victor Frankenstein: "You will return, and again seek their kindness, and you will meet with their detestation; your evil passions will be renewed, and you will then have a companion to aid you in the task of destruction." If they are able to have children, odds are that they may be able to make an army to seek vengeance on humanity for shunning them. Again, there are too many variables to be sure that everything goes smoothly.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Gabe, first of all! There are too many variables in the creation of life. When equating God, Adam, and Satan to Victor and the creature, it becomes clear that the absence of companionship proves to be a catalyst in the pursuit of envy and revenge. Though I would like to point out that the woman, Eve, is the cause of the fall of Adam from Eden. If the female creature were to wish to exact revenge for her treatment, the creature would be unable to say no to his only love.
ReplyDeleteFurthermore, the creature, with no companion of any kind, states that he chooses "rage and revenge" (121). That is to say that his feelings are directly affected by lack of love. However, the cause of his feelings are a result of the rejection he had just found in Felix and the family of the cottage. The monster claims that his "evil passions will have fled, for I shall meet with sympathy" if the woman is made for him (131). However, if the creature's mate were to reject him, he would feel a spurn greater than ever before. If a woman made for love, instead hated the creature, he would not be able to handle it. Thus unleashing an attack on the world, focusing on Victor's family of course, that none had known before.
This is Jenny Galbraith's post. She was having issues posting, so any comments against her should be addressed to her and not me! Thanks :)
ReplyDeleteOne reason that the monster should not be made a mate is that the mate may become just as angry and bitter as the monster did. If she decides that she doesn’t want to stay with the monster and goes out into the real world she could see all of the injustices in the world and feel "shunned and hated by all mankind". This will lead her to be filled "rage and revenge" and want to kill Victor and the Monster for bringing her into the world. By making a mate for the monster two killer creatures would be unleashed on the world instead of just one. Also I don’t think that just by making a mate the monster will stop. I think that he may be happy for a little while but eventually he will realize that he needs more that a mate. He may feel he needs a family and go back to Victor and have him create a family for him. This may go on and on until the world is overrun by giant ugly people.
This may just be restating what others have said before me, but Victor should not create a second creature because of the original creation's inadequacies, and the inabilty to predict the reaction of the second creature to being birthed.
ReplyDeleteTo comment on the first point, how can a creature that has only been treated with hate and fear truly share love with another? Perhaps the creature may even fly into a rage and abuse its new partner, for not fulfilling the ideal of love and companionship it observed in the house of De Lacey. This would may a create a second creature that hates not only man, but the only thing in this world that is like it. "...and you will have companion to aid you in the task of destruction." Furthermore, if indeed the two beings had the ability to procreate, it could not father children, as it has had no example of a true father in its life. The creature would not know what to do for its children, and they may turn out the same way that their father did; hateful and alone.
Secondly, the attitude of the female would be impossible to determine. She too may be struck by the horrid features of the monster, and refuse to be with him. She would then go out into the world on her own, and learn the same lessons of hate the original creature learned. She may even be so struck by her own hideousness, or that of the monster she was birthed to be with (as the father of Safie wished her to be married to another man), that she may seek an even more direct means of escape; taking her own life. This act would send the original monster into such a horrible depression and rage that none of his more civilized qualities would be able to surface again.
To all of the above posted so far (Gabe, Madi, Jenny, Jacob)
ReplyDeleteI have to say I disagree. I somewhat swayed towards your side when reading the ideas of the female companion not following the males orders, but then I got to thinking about how impressionable the monster was when he was first "birthed". If the monster immediately removes himself and his new mate from society, where she will be "hidden" from knowledge, who's to say that she will ever know the difference, and to ever know to argue or disagree with the monster? I think that just based on how impressionable the monster was, and how he only learned from what he saw in his surroundings, I would say it is safe to say the same thing would occur with the female companion.
Just my thoughts :)
-Amber
I think that the creation certainly deserves some sort of love and companion, especially some acknowledgement from Victor, other than you're horrible leave me alone or I'll fight you. However, I don't think making him a "creature of the opposite sex, that is hideous as [the creature's self]"(145) will solve his inferiority complex and feeling of abandonment from his creator and mankind. As stated above there are simply too many things that could go wrong.
ReplyDeleteFirst off, Frankenstein's creature is at least six years old, although childish in behavior has a more adult intelligence. The companion will be an infant that he will have to raise in the wilds of I'm guessing either the Amazon Rain-forest or somewhere else uninhabited. Already there will be a distinctive difference between their intelligence levels, merely by their age, and the creature has no prior knowledge of good parenting.
Secondly, there is no way of knowing that the companion will "be content with the same fare[ as the creature],"(145). At this point we do not know of the personality of the companion will be, or if it will mesh with the creature's personality. Up until this point in the novel, most of the women have relied upon their beauty, innocence, and ability to make those around them happy. The companion will be forcibly exiled from humanity and made ugly, will she be able to survive in Mary Shelley's world in this fashion before turning upon humanity and the creature? It is only by the creature's request that her life will be so difficult.
Thirdly, the creature has only an idealized form of a relationship from spying on his "adopted family," "Nothing could exceed the love and respect which the younger cottagers exhibited towards their venerable companion,"(109). He himself has never experienced an actual relationship with another being. I mean he whispered into the ear of Justine, "Awake, fairest, they lover is near-"(142), such behavior is more creepy than conducive. He has no idea if the companion will love him, and if he is not accepted by her, he will probably go off on a rampage.
@Gabe
ReplyDeleteGabe argues that creating a female would possibly create a whole other set of issues. One of which, being that the female would be unpredictable. Each female in this story is capable of wreaking such havoc, why should the creature's wife be any different? the Creature would be in charge of keeping his wife in her bounds, making sure she behaves, just as Victor must tend to Elizabeth and Felix, to Safie. The females in this book have to obey the males, i should think that the situation with the creature would be much the same. Last point is that the creature claimed he was "malicious, because he [is] lonely." By creating a companion, the creature would have no bounds for future wickedness, and the female would come into this world not knowing the pain and agony of lonliness, but rather the love of a friend and fellow creature, a combination that usually seems to make things docile and sweet.
This is Alyssa's post, she was having some technical difficulties.
ReplyDeleteTo add another argument against, creating a female creature is entirely the wrong choice. The creature’s reasoning as to why he wants a companion is because Victor created him in the first place, casting him out to a life of abandonment, and he feels that all adds up to Frankenstein’s debt of him. Especially, since Frankenstein was the first person who abandoned him. However, the complications that arose when the creature was born predominantly fueled his need for the acceptance he did not have. The hideousness of the creature wouldn’t be a problem if initial impressions weren’t based on outward appearance. Appearance is drastically important in society, any society, and the creature’s ugliness hinders him so much that he cannot be loved or accepted at all. Creating a woman for him would not make these facts of society go away, nor would the creature finally gain acceptance. The woman would be born for the direct purpose of companionship of the creature, and it stands to wonder if the creature would need her more so not to be alone rather than to be loved. Once this woman is created, she would understand her purpose of serving the creature’s needs (eliminating his loneliness, essentially) but there is no thought to necessarily how emotionally woman would react. If the creature himself is built to be able to think deeply, be literate, educated, have the mental capacities to interact in daily life, wouldn’t the woman’s humanity reflect that as well? Physically, the woman’s mate would cause as much fear as the creature himself had, and her reaction to society’s rejection is simply not considered. Would she be fine with the ridicule because she is the companion of someone else, or would she feel the rejection even harder, knowing that the only person who loves her needed her more to fill the void of acceptance from others? I agree with the others before me that there are too many variables in defying God, and, in that, creating human life. However, human emotion is a variable itself; how the mate will react, we don’t know. And as Victor had done with the creature, reanimating flesh to think and feel without thinking of what the creature would do or think or feel in turn, would only cause more rejection, loneliness, and isolation. And as Victor says to the creature, “How can you, who long for love and sympathy of man, preserve in this exile?” Meaning, the two creations cannot simply be happy together in a remote place with no human contact because the original purpose of creating a mate was to feel like the creature had social interaction. Eventually, both he and the mate will feel the lack of social interaction and society’s acceptance, even if they have each other, because simply having one person forever is not enough.
I feel like through the whole first half of this book, everyone is singing "One" by the Beatles. Victor starts out after his mother dies with "One is the Loneliest number that you'll ever do..." So he foolishly creates a monster, in an effort to cap his loneliness-but as we all know that plan back fired and both the creature and the creator are stuck singing about how one is the loneliest number. If Victor were to create a mate for the monster, it would be a disater. Either all three would be going around trying to make the others' lives miserable or the Creature and his mate would run off together and sing about how "Two can be as bad as one.." because even if they have eachother, the rest of the world rejects them. As others have already said, looks are important and I don't think having two freakishly tall, yellow monsters running around would be an intelligent solution to Victor's problems.
ReplyDeleteI would like to draw attention to the fact that whenever Victor's creation is refered to, it is never called human. It's called monster or creation or ceature but it's never even acknowledged as human. The creature said "Of my creation and creator I was absolutely ignorant, but I knew that I possessed no money, no friends, no kind of property. I was, besides, endued with a figure hideously deformed and loathsome; I was not even of the same nature as man. I was more agile than they and could subsist upon coarser diet; I bore the extremes of heat and cold with less injury to my frame; my stature far exceeded theirs. When I looked around I saw and heard of none like me. Was I, then, a monster, a blot upon the earth, from which all men fled and whom all men disowned?" It wouldn't be fair to make TWO almost-humans feel like monsters, it was bad enough that he made one-Victor would only be doing another injustice to the female by creating her and leaving her to live as an ugly companion to the melodramatic, manic depressive monster.
In response to Becky's comment i would like to point out that the reason the creature is never referred to as being "human" is the fact that because of his appearance no one can see his real intelligence, and he never would have become a monster if Victor had looked past his creation's and his own faults. The creature is very obviously not human, however he has many of the same qualities as he was meant to be an improvement on humanity. The creature shows his intelligence, understanding, and his ability to love many times in the novel. Although, i agree it may be too late now for the creature to be forgiven for his acts, i do think that it is still Victor's responsibility to do something for his creation. Whether that be making him a mate, or simply giving him some kind of companionship it is Victor's duty as the creator to take responsibility for what he has done. After all if Victor had looked past the frightful appearance of his creation that very same creation he saw as a monster would never have become the true monster he is now.
ReplyDelete--Robyn M.
@ Robyn
ReplyDeleteI agree the creature's nature and situation is Victor's fault-everything about the creature is Victor's fault. I also agree that Victor should take responsibility for him, but I don't think putting two creatures in the same situation will help anyone. Perhaps it is harsh to say, but as much as the creature may act like a human-or even be made from human remains, he isn't. He is the work of a man, a man who "worships the works of his own hands" and therefore is not and will never truely be human. Victor would only create more problems for himself and the rest of humanity by creating another non-human being.
@ Gabe, Maddie, Jen, Jacob
ReplyDeleteWith reading your comments I understand your points completely. Nobody knows the outcome if there is a female creature and the variables are high. The situation in all is difficult and it's very possible it could result to disaster. If Victor makes a mate there is a chance for disaster, but if he doesn't make a mate disaster will be guaranteed.
First, I think the worry of the monster becoming violent again is unlikely. The monster tells Victor he is unhappy, because he has no mate. If he receives a mate he loses that drive to be violent. He wouldn't have to focus so much hate on man and focus more on his mate. Secondly, people worry the female will become angry with man, which I think is less likely. The monster did indeed form a hate for man, but he experienced rejection from man right off the bat. If the monster receives his mate and leaves for the jungle right away, his mate will experience little to no human interaction. The mate will mainly experience all interaction with the monster and just like a human baby her mind will be easy to mold in anyway the monster wants it to be. The monster will have the chance to educate and love his mate giving her the chance he never received! The mate’s outcome can be foreseen and somewhat controlled to help the situation and prevent a bad turnout. The monster has shown potential of good and this is a second chance to make things right. Yes, it’s risky, but there is a chance for a happy ending and this is the only way for a good possible outcome. If Victor doesn’t create the mate, death for sure will be created.
In response to Jacob's comment:
ReplyDeleteWhile I do understand and even acknowledge your concerns for the unpredictability of a mate for the creature, there is no doubt in my mind that the benefits will largely outweigh the uncertainties. What may appear to be a game of Russian roulette in which Victor tries the validity of the statement 'lightning never strikes twice,' is really just his agreement to allow the creature to have what is right, just, and truly necessary for his (and the public's) well-being.
As we know, the monster was taught simply by instinct and observation. What reason, then, is there to suggest that a mate would not have the same capability for learning? In fact, her security in terms of safety to society would be largely increased, seeing as she has the original creature to help her discover what is morally just. Also, there is hardly a risk of her not accepting the original creature; if past experiences serve as any indication, she will try her luck in human society- to no avail, due to her similar appearance to the original- and come back, heartbroken, to find her fated mate in waiting for her return. They would then, I presume, head to a remote location where their exile from society would be but a faint memory, and would no longer pose a threat to society, because their 'human' need for love and companionship would be fulfilled.
In response to Jenny's comment...
ReplyDeleteI agree that is is impossible to determine the attitude of the female, however, who says that the creatures would be killers? The monster is capable of love and kindness, as we saw when he was observing the De Lacey household and when he saved a random girl from drowning. Although he says that he hates the human race he only kills to hurt Victor. If the monster does have a mate he will be occupied teaching and raising her instead of hunting people down and killing them. It is possible that he would be content if he had a mate to accompany him in his misery- someone who would listen to his frustrations.
-Karly
P.S. Happy Birthday Jenny :)
In response to Alyssa’s comment I like her argument about how the mate for the creature may feel the rejection even harder, knowing that the only person who loves her needed her more to fill the void of acceptance. No one knows for certain whether the mate will be happy living with the creature as her only companion or not. Since the women creature, when birthed, should be like a child with no knowledge, what if the creature teaches her that the human race is evil; that’s all she’ll know. And even if the creature takes his mate to live away from society, how do we know for certain that the creatures mate will be happy and never, also, feel rejected and find out the truth of her existence - that she’s here for the creature, like Alyssa said.
ReplyDeleteAgain, like everyone has been saying, there are just so many variables.
Sorry this is late I was in Sioux Falls and very busy all weekend without access to computer at appropriate times. I will explain tomorrow. In response to Gabe's comment: I definitely understand where you are coming form but I partially disagree. There are risks in everything in life, ESPECIALLY marriage and finding a companion etc. There is no way to eliminate those risks. The monster has shown signs of compassion and good-doing and with correct companionship every problem would be solved. This is definitely a risk worth taking. The monster has basically already vowed to wreak havoc on all mankind if he doesn't get a companion; can it get much worse than that? I agree that there are variables but i disagree that the possible cons outweigh the pros.
ReplyDeletedude frakenstien is raw
ReplyDelete