In Shelley's novel, Frankenstein represents an indifferent, neglectful god who creates a life and then abandons it to a cruel world. This can be interpreted as commentary on the Genesis story, as God creates beings, allows them to be tempted, and then casts them into a cruel world for defying expectations.

How does Frankenstein relate to God?

In the novel Frankenstein, the protagonist, Victor, ''plays God'' in his experiment to create life. The creature also identified with both Adam and Satan in Milton's Paradise Lost, in which Satan similarly is expelled from society and seeks revenge.

What allusions are in Frankenstein?

Mary Shelley uses allusions in Frankenstein to help the reader better understand her characters and themes. She uses allusions from works such as the Bible, Milton's Paradise Lost, and Dante's Divine Comedy to help the reader connect her characters to known characters and themes from these works.

What are the biblical allusions in Chapter 15 of Frankenstein?

In Chapter 15, the Monster alludes to Eve from the Bible as it describes its feelings of isolation to Victor: But it was all a dream; no Eve soothed my sorrows nor shared my thoughts; I was alone. I remembered Adam's supplication to his Creator.

What does playing God mean in Frankenstein?

Victor Frankenstein is conventionally accused of playing God, that is of usurping the role properly reserved to a divine being of creating life and in doing so, of creating a life that wreaks murderous revenge on its creator. Yet the charge of 'playing God' is more rhetoric than serious criticism.

4 Key Allusions in Frankenstein

What is the problem with playing God in Frankenstein?

Victor Frankenstein's sin was to play god, to attempt to create life out of non-life. “Life and death appeared to me ideal bounds, which I should first break through, and pour a torrent of light into our dark world.

What is an example of a God complex in Frankenstein?

Lastly, his god complex is revealed when he exclaims, “A new species would bless me as its creator and source; many happy and excellent natures would owe their being to me…” (32). Frankenstein's hubris radiates throughout his tale. In his early years, Frankenstein's hubris blinded his foresight. He worked to play god.

What is the allusion in Chapter 23 of Frankenstein?

Chapter XXIII

"Man,” I cried, “how ignorant art thou in thy pride of wisdom! Cease; you know not what it is you say." These words are an allusion to Jesus's proclamation to God before his crucifixion during which he asks, “Forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

What is the allusion in Chapter 24 of Frankenstein?

Allusion in Frankenstein Chapter 24

Victor's statement, ''I was cursed by some devil and carried about with me my eternal hell,'' is an example of an allusion. Victor is discussing his current situation, and he does so by referencing the devil and hell to communicate the misery of his circumstances.

What is the religious reference in Frankenstein?

Frankenstein as a Biblical Reference In Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley's novel, Frankenstein, had an inter-textual connection to the bible. Shelley connects the creature to Satan, his relation to Adam, the story of Adam and Eve, the book of Genesis and his reading of Paradise Lost.

How do the biblical allusions in the text help the reader to understand Dr Frankenstein's point of view about his creature?

Final answer: The allusions to the Bible in Chapter 10 of Frankenstein reveal the complex views Frankenstein and the creature have of each other and themselves. They compare each other and themselves to God, Adam, and Satan, which elucidate their relationship dynamics and individual characteristics.

What are 5 examples of allusions?

What literary allusion is found in letters 1 4 of Frankenstein?

Shelley actually alludes to The Rime of the Ancient Mariner in Frankenstein when Frankenstein is describing his feelings of loneliness and fear of his creation and actually quotes Coleridge's work.

What is the allusion to the book of Genesis in Frankenstein?

Not only does Frankenstein propose to introduce light into darkness, as did God in Genesis 1, he would ultimately attempt to overcome death itself—reminiscent of the tree of life planted in the midst of the garden (2:9)—but this time through science: “Life and death appeared to me ideal bounds, which I should first ...

What is the allusion of the albatross in Frankenstein?

The albatross symbolizes all of God's creatures, and sailors consider the bird a symbol of good luck. Killing the albatross curses the entire ship. Walton assures Margaret of his safety by claiming that he will not return as the “Ancient Mariner.”

What is Chapter 17 about in Frankenstein?

In chapter 17 of Frankenstein, Victor was confronted by the creature on the slopes of Montanvert, a glacier in the Chamonix valley that overlooks Montblanc. The creature informed Victor of his role in William's death and the death of Justine Moritz, blaming his anger and violence on Victor's rejection of him.

What does Chapter 16 of Frankenstein symbolize?

He burns down the cottage and heads for Geneva and Victor. Its innocence and hopes of inclusion in society dashed, the monster is left with only pain, and naturally wants to hurt those who hurt it. That includes human society (symbolized in the house he burns) and its creator, Victor.

What happens in chapter 22 of Frankenstein?

Frankenstein: Chapter 22 Overview

Victor discovers that it is the body of his friend, Henry Clerval. Victor collapses with shock and awakens two months later in prison. While he was sick, Victor raved and ranted, and the authorities believed he murdered Clerval. However, Frankenstein's monster actually killed the man.

What is Chapter 12 of Frankenstein about?

Chapter 12 of Frankenstein is from the perspective of the creature. He is telling what has happened in his life since Victor shunned him on the day of his creation. This part of the story is about the creature's early interactions with the De Lacey family.

What did Frankenstein steal from the gods?

This is exactly what Victor does. Locking himself for weeks at a time in his lab, he uses Enlightenment science to steal the sacred fire of immortality from the gods and, in the process, free humans from their dependence on the gods.

What does the monster call a godlike science in Frankenstein?

While aware that his physical appearance would cause only revulsion if he confronted the family, the monster believes that by becoming an adept in the godlike science (p. 115) of language, he will be able through his gentle words to win their affection.

What are examples of god complex?

Why does Victor want to play God?

Victor Frankenstein, in his quest to create life, plays the role of God and ultimately is unable to control his creation. This serves as a reminder that the role of the creator is not one that should be taken lightly and that we must be prepared to accept the responsibilities and consequences of our creations.

Why did Frankenstein's monster turn evil?

The Monster turns to evil after being cast out from his "family." Frankenstein has caused evil, in part, because, "In his obsession, Frankenstein has cut himself off from his family and from the human community; in his reaction to that obsession, Frankenstein cuts himself off from his creation" (Levine 92).

Why does Frankenstein's monster hate Victor?

The Monster hates Frankenstein for abandoning him after his creation: “He had abandoned me: and, in the bitterness of my heart, I cursed him.” The Monster is also angry with Frankenstein for making the Monster the only one of his kind: “I was dependent on none and related to none.” The Monster also feels hatred and ...