Clearly, the Creature in
Frankenstein is not created in the normal way of humans. But would you identify him as human? How does he fit the definition of human beings? Or is he more than human or less than human? What identifies someone as belonging to humanity?
8 comments:
I think the monster of Frankenstein is a superhuman but definitely related to humans in a way. Frankenstein wanted to push the boundaries of human creation and go where no one had gone before. Though he changed the concept of human conception in both the story and in pop culture, he still stayed within the boundaries of "humanity". The monster still has human emotions-he wants a lover, he is revengeful, but at the same he is caring. He also goes through a stage that I feel many humans, especially young adults adhere to. He questions his identity and is aware that he different. These emotions and inquiries justify the fact that the monster is a part of humanity.
As you said professor Donovan, clearly the monster Frankenstein was not created in the same way as humans are. Aside from this point though, I believe that he is just as human as we are. He thinks logically, has the same senses as we do, and he feels emotion such as pain, sadness, and grief. To go beyond this point though he has some abilities that we as humans do not possess such as how fast he runs and climbs. He has abilities that we as humans see as superhuman powers. In this sense the creature couldn't be human.
It is very difficult to decide whether he is human or not. As far as I believe being human is having a beating heart, being able to walk on two feet, feeling emotion, being able to comprehend language, and the ability to understand, feel, and think. The creature posseses all of these, he just goes beyond them in certain areas too.
In my opinion I would say he is part of humanity. The only difference is he was created through science and not through natural processes.
While I would initially argue that the monster's scope of human emotion classifies him as human, it is important to note that because of his circumstances (appearance, lack of average parents etc.) the creature will never participate in the "human experience." That is to say, while he has the capability to think and reason as we do, he will never be put in average situations.
For example, while the creature may contemplate his place in the world, he has fever options than most. Should he decide he feels a responsibility to help others he has no hope of becoming a doctor. Furthermore, although he would like to share his life with a loved one he cannot because there are non like him.
Because humanity will not accept him as a human he can never experience the human experience and can consequentially never know what it truly is to be human.
While yes, "the monster" did not come into existence in the manner that every other human being did, but I feel that he should still be considered human. His proportions may be incorrect, and he may be pieced together, but he still has all the parts of a human being. He wasn't pieced together with animal parts, or anything other than human parts. Not only that, but he has the feelings of a human. His emotions make him human. He feels everything that a normal person does. One thing that separates humans from every other living creature on this Earth is humans have free agency. Animals act on instinct, and do not have agency. The monster acts freely, not by instinct. His free agency is the largest factor that makes him a human. That is why I feel he constitutes being human.
I would not classify Frankenstein as being human in the conventional sense. He was not born as a natural human would be. On the other hand he was more human than some "real" humans are. Frankenstein experienced human emotion, pain, and had very human experiences. In his short life he had more human experiences and human emotion than some people experience in their life. So biologically Frankenstein was not human but I would definitely say he was human in every other sense.
While his physical appearance is anything but human, the Creature definitely experiences human feelings which is hard to comprehend since he lacks the outward components of a human. However, in terms of being human, yes the creature is very humanlike in his behavior and in the ways he talks and feels. It's the inside characteristics that define him as human in ways that are hard to connect to the physical aspects of the human appearance. Even in terms of human nature and the Creature's desire for a partner is something that any person can relate to.
The Creature's physical appearance is what drives such a vast distinction between the issue of his humanity and the way that ordinary people see him.
Most people here said that the creature didn't appear human or he wasn't biologically human but I see it completely opposite. He had all the correct internal organs and they were all placed correctly. He has the the correct body parts even though they may be more effective than ours. I believe his only humane features where his looks and anatomy.
He chose not to be a human by killing and by opposing human society. He decided that he would rather be a monster than to be a human.
I believe that the creature was very human. He has all the same emotions humans have, though his seem to be an extreme version of them. I'd almost say that Shelly was giving us an extreme version of ourselves. Greed, selfishness, hate, anger, and love are some of the strongest human characteristics that we have. I think the frightening aspect of this story was how human the creature was! I've always thought that if a "true human" were put in the same place as the creature, he'd turn out the same. Sadly, even humans resort to murder far too easily so I can't say the creature is inhuman in that aspect. In fact, I think the creature displayed an amazing amount of patience here.
I think the only thing "inhuman" about the creature was his birth. In this way, there would be no difference between the creature and a human clone, and I've made the decision long ago that clones should accepted as humans.
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.