The curious thing is that the protagonists in some of the works actually portray monster-like characteristics--a role reversal between the monster and the hero of the work: "We have found the enemy and he is us." The analogy of the monsters is actually depicted in each of the work's respective humans' thoughts and deeds. This also shows the authors' portrayal of the monster-like and thus human-like characteristics of the human unconscious and the conscious mind. The role-reversal of an antagonistic monster and the human hero is never more blatant than in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. In modern pop culture, the name of Frankenstein is often associated with the monster of the novel.
Grendel had no hall, no lord, and he disobeyed the laws of warfare by attacking at night. For this, Grendel’s point of view is a little skewed for he has such a burning hatred for men that he murders and eats them. When hearing of Beowulf, he is the shining example of everything that Grendel hates. Over the course of the novel, the reader realizes how much Grendel acts like a human and how his train of thought is more rational than portrayed in Beowulf. This personification is shown throughout because of his complex thought patterns.
Soumitra Sarkar ENGL 220 Section 62 Instructor: Mikael Awake Frankenstein Research Proposal 04/22/2015 Frankenstein Research Proposal - Human Nature Branching off of the third topic of the research prompt, I’m making a proposal to work on how Shelly has portrayed human nature in Frankenstein. In the novel, Dr. Frankenstein makes a monster from the best body parts and yet others reject that monster along with it’s own creator. The status quo is that humans are naturally accepting and good people. However, in every single instance, the monster in the novel is rejected. Initially the monster seeks to somehow befriend others.
In this mission he encountered Victor Frankenstein, an extremely weak and moribund man. Victor soon explains to Walton his treacherous journey to find and exterminate his “monstrous” creation. Most people who read “Frankenstein” have the same perception of the characters involved in the novel. This perception usually has to do with Victor Frankenstein being a victim of his so-called “monster”, in other words his creation. This “monster” with grotesque features and actions ends up killing every one close to his maker out of hatred and vengeance.
Reading the Frankenstein, there was really one question that really stud out among the many others: Who is the real monster in the novel? Beginning the story, one would think that the creation was the real monster. The creation is the mysterious character that was brought to life. The book described the creation as the monster because of its appearance.” His yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscle and arteries beneath; his hair was of a lustrous black, and flowing; his teeth of a pearly whiteness; but these luxuriance’s only formed a more horrid contrast with his watery eyes that seemed almost of the same color as the dun-white sockets in which they were set, his shriveled complexion and straight black lips” (pg.42Ch5). This was
The first thing that pops into your head when I say Frankenstein, is this grotesque monster that was created with body parts from the dead with bolts sticking out his neck, but after reading this classic masterpiece by Mary Shelley I found out the true story behind Frankenstein. Victor Frankenstein was actually the scientist that created the monster, but because Victor and the monster are really one in the same person it makes it very simple for the monster to take on the last name of Victor. The Monster can be seen to mirror and to parallel the life of his creator, where their fates are horrifically intertwined. As the novel unfolds, the Monster and Frankenstein can be viewed as more similar than different in their emotions, actions, and desire for knowledge.
This action leads to him being considered a tragic hero. Creon’s human flaw of arrogance causes him to ignore reasoning and advice and listen only to his own thoughts. He states, "My voice is the one voice giving orders in this city". He is afraid to go back on his word because it will hurt his pride and he is afraid that it will cause him to lose power with his subjects. This action causes him to lose everyone that he loves.
In contrasr to Beowulf, Grendel is envious, resentful, and angry toward all human kind for the fact that he feels as thou God blesses all b ut the ogre he is, and thinks he could never be blessed. Although Grendel's feautures are like a common man having two arms, two legs, one head, etc. he is very much larger than an average male and can defeat many at a time. His magic charm is his source of protection from weapons. After a defeated battle Grendel is known for devouring the deceased body off the spot or carries others back to where he resides and shares feast with his mother.
In the translation of the poem Beowulf by Seamus Heaney, Grendel isn’t just a monster put there for Beowulf to fight; he is a monster battling his own demons as well as Beowulf. In the scene in which Grendel goes to Heorot and prepares to attack, on lines 702 through line 734, Grendel shows signs of rational thought and a conscious motive for attacking. Grendel seems to be attempting to fulfill a blood-feud against Hrothgar during his conquests and to punish him for using the ill-gotten treasure from these conquests to build himself Heorot. If an animal attacks a group of people, its only motivation usually is survival, but if a person goes into a building and kills people but doesn’t take anything but human life there must be some motive, which requires rational thought. In these lines Grendel is described as having these rational thoughts.
Abbey Hagen Mrs. Delong Honors British Literature and Composition 20 October 2011 Are the Supernatural Characters Really Monsters? *In the epic, Beowulf, Grendel is perceived as a vital killing machine, as well as his mother and the dragon: however, their actions are not necessarily based off of wicked thoughts or pure evilness. Grendel is a disgusting, evil, and cunning monster that resides in the lands of Denmark. In the epic, Grendel is described as, “ A powerful monster, living down / In the darkness, growled in pain, impatient ” (Raffel 40). This part of the epic is starting to describe the torment and badgering that Grendel receives from the Danes in Herot.