In response to the second prompt option,
Frankenstein's monster is arguably more
human than any other characters in the earlier version of the novel. I think
its image has changed to a more monstrous form to try fit the mold of what
people view as a monster. An eloquent being gradually transitions into the
monster it is know for because people do not like to look inward on themselves
and ask what the differences between the human and the monster are. The very existence
of a being that was created by unnatural means creates an identity crisis. Humanities method to counter this - the being has to be lesser, or unequal to humans. This identity
crisis is furthered to an inexcusable extent when such a being is superior to
humans in some ways. This transition into a slow, dumb, conventional monstrous form seems
to just be the embodiment of the idea of clear-cut differences between humans
and the monsters we create. Take the YouTube link below, for example (a robot
sings a song and its really unsettling).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLy-AwdCOmI
Although there are other things occurring
in this clip, I think the thing that disturbs me the most is the humanesque
form it has. It’s almost human, but just slightly off. Robots should be robots,
not humans, and I feel the same can be said for Frankenstein (the monster). The naming of the
monster further illustrates this desire to separate the monster from humans by
categorizing it. An unnamed monster is a bit nebulous whereas the name
Frankenstein is specific and fits into a specific place.
I completely agree that the monster is portrayed as being more human. In fact I mentioned the same thing in my post. It is true that people don’t want to be compared with a creature that, for all intents and purposes, shouldn’t even exist. The fact that the monster relates to the rest of humanity (human-like form, feelings, able to form a connection with other living things, etc.) is a threat to the understanding of what makes one human. This is a question that people do not wish to ask in comparison of oneself to the monstrous. Victor Frankenstein must have experienced this conflict of identity and that is why he chose to dispose of the monster’s potential mate. To put a stop to the madness before it went too far.
ReplyDeleteBut the similarities in our thinking are not why I commented on your post. I recently was shown the same linked video clip by a friend. My first response was: “What the @#$% is this?!” My second was: “Is that a robot?” I love robots, but as you described, the human-like form of the robot is very unsettling. I have the same thought whenever I see a robot attempting to mimic human facial expressions. It is a somewhat pointless function for a robot as well as being just plain wrong.