By Jacob Kennedy Lois Tabios Kevin Forte Jaedon Compton Nikolas Hernandez Presentation Map Definition Innocence and Guilt in the book Point of View Literary terms Significant Moments ID: 710569
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Slide1
Guilt and Innocence within Frankenstein
By Jacob Kennedy, Lois
Tabios
,
Kevin Forte,
Jaedon
Compton, Nikolas HernandezSlide2
Presentation Map
Definition
Innocence and Guilt in the book
Point of View
Literary terms
Significant Moments
AP QuestionSlide3
Guilt and Innocence
Literal meanings
Guilt -
Noun
. the fact or state of having committed an offense, crime, violation, or wrong, especially against moral or penal law; culpability
Innocence – Noun. Free of sin or wrongdoing
Guilt and innocence relates to Frankenstein in that the creature and Frankenstein both feel innocent and justified for their actions but believe that the other is guilty.Slide4
Innocence
"I
was benevolent
; my soul glowed with
love and humanity; but am I not alone, miserably alone
? " (69) This represents innocence because the creature "
was benevolent" or created kind, not with malice but with "love and humanity". Through the hatred of humanity, he became "
miserably alone". Slide5
Guilt
"The poor sufferer tried to comfort others and herself. She indeed
gained the resignation she desired
. But I,
the true murderer,
felt the never-dying worm alive in my bosom, which allowed of no hope or consolation" (59).
Even though it is Justine who is being punished, she is the one who "gained the resignation she desired
", while Victor, "
the true murderer", is left with "no hope or consolation" due to his guilt.Slide6
Literary Term- Point of View
The point of view is essential because it shows different viewpoints in the story. So what may seem guilty to one character may be justified to the one committing the crime.
"The guilty are allowed, by human laws, bloody as they are, to speak in their own defense before they are condemned... You accuse me of murder, and et you would, with a satisfied conscience, destroy your own creature."(69)Slide7
Literary Term- Dynamic Character
Throughout the novel, the monster changes from a creature of innocence to a creature of malice, making him a dynamic character. This is the primary method in which Shelley convey the idea that men are born good and gradually become evil through injustice.
"I had saved a human being from destruction, and as recompense I now writhed under the miserable pain of a wound which shattered flesh and bone. The feelings of kindness and gentleness, which I had entertained but a few moments before, gave place to hellish rage and gnashing teeth" (101).Slide8
Literary Term- Tragedy
One component that contributes to the theme of guilt within the novel is tragedy, the fall or anguish of a character brought about by their own actions. In Frankenstein, the deaths of his loved ones leaves Victor with an unbearable feeling of guilt, for it is because of his creation of the monster that leads to their murders.
"'Have my murderous machinations deprived you also, my dearest Henry, of life? Two I have already destroyed; other victims await their destiny: but you, Clerval, my friend, my benefactor-'" (129).Slide9
Point of View- Frankenstein
Quoted by Robert Walton is his numerous letters, Victor's point of view is told in first person. Through out the novel Frankenstein expresses that he feels an attribution to his demise and tragedy is his constant and restless craving for further knowledge and discovery. Similarly, he consistently reassures his disgust and terror in the creature he created, not only in his private thoughts, but he expresses so to the creature himself as well. The creature's request for a female companion, invokes further terror in Frankenstein, for he fears the creature may create further and worse issues than the first.
Mary Shelley portrays Victor, concerning the real world, as a man/men being cruel and egotistical during this time period, especially so in the eyes of the monster. This can be related to the harsh and unequal treatment of women during this era that Shelley feels firsthand. Slide10
Point of View- Creature
The creature, as portrayed by Victor Frankenstein, then Robert Walton, and ultimately Mary Shelley, is a creature made bitter by the injustices done unto him by man. These injustices stem from the creature's appearance. The creation, when describing his situation, uses words like "horrid", "accursed", and "odious". The monster knows then, that the way he is perceived by the world is as a wretch. The monster also knows that he internally he is no different than the other humans. This then could work on his point of view by making him act in a defensive manner. In much the same way, Shelley was viewed by society as inferior only because of her physical appearance (her being a woman). Intellectually, she was any man's equal and yet society could not understand that. The monster then, would also be telling Mary Shelley's point of view.Slide11
Point of View- Robert Walton
Captain Robert Walton is the head of a ship on an arctic voyage. Being a learned man on a ship full of sailors, Walton feels lonely. This could work on how he relates the story of Frankenstein in that he would be more simpathetic to the creature in his recounting of the tale. Yet, the character's own hubristic tendencies as seen in the quote where he states he would like to bestow
"
inestimable benefit … on all mankind" would maybe relay Victor's actions more favorably. From his point of view, Victor would be an ideal man who was educated and had wielded an awesome power, that of life. In Shelley's eyes, Walton represents a extant hope of mankind, in which man renounces its obsession of discovery and returns back to it life of familiarity.
Slide12
Significant Moment
"The child... struggled, and loaded me with epithets which carried despair to my heart: I grasped his throat to silence him, and in a moment he lay dead at my feet" (102).
It is at this moment that the monster commits his first act of malice, turning him from a creature of innocence into a creature of guilt.Slide13
Significant Moment
"I shall
die
. I shall
no longer feel the agonies which now consume me, or be the prey of feelings unsatisfied, yet unquenched." (166)
The creature has been struck with guilt and wants to feel peace, but knows that it is no longer possible to feel innocent. The creature believes that to rid himself from the guilt
, death is the only answer.Slide14
AP Question: 2015
Q. How does
cruelty
function in the novel and does the cruelty reveal about the perpetrator and/or victim?
A. In the novel, cruelty functions as the intermediate event between
innocence and guilt. Throughout the creature's storyline, the creature is born in an initial state of
innocence. It is only after being the victim of cruelty (being created as a wretch, being beaten by Felix, getting shot by the rustic) that he himself becomes
guilty through his injustices against Victor. This constructs one of the novel's central messages:
man is born good and becomes evil due to injustice.Slide15
Citations
Shelley, Mary.
Frankenstein.
New York: Dover Publications. 1818. Print.
Dictionary.com
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