Tuesday, July 31, 2012

How is Victor Frankenstein intelligent, and what are some of his character traits?

In Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein
is a scientific genius.  He masters the natural science of biology, anatomy, galvanism,
alchemy, electromagnetism, and natural philosophy.  He does what his professors only
dreamed of.


But, like many geniuses, he is a rogue; he has
no community.  His genius is the kind that is dangerous, rebellious, reckless, without
standards, or scientific ethics.  Victor suffers from hubris, extreme self-pride.  He
isolates himself from loved ones: friends, family, women, and
colleagues.


He is a kind of satanic
hero:


•“The Will become Satanic pride and
rebellious self-idolatry” •“to find in itself alone one absolute motive of action…”
•“outward Restlessness and whirling Activity; Violence with guile; Temerity and Cunning…
Interminableness of Object with perfect Indifference of Means.” •“COMMANDING GENIUS!” •
like Napoleon – “palliative admiration” •“Evil, be thou my
good!”



He is a kind of Byronic
hero
:


•unusually handsome, or inextricably
attractive, often to both sexes •wounded or physically, disabled in some way •moody,
mysterious, and/or gloomy •passionate (both in terms of sexuality and deep emotions
generally) •remorse laden (for some unnamed sin, a hidden curse, or crime) •unrepentant
(despite remorse) •persecuted by fate •self-reliant (often rejecting people on both
physical and emotional levels) •is an admirable rebel (against convention, society,
religious doctrine) •has a distaste for society and social institutions •is isolated
(both physically and emotionally) from society (a wanderer, an exile) •is not impressed
by rank and privilege (though he may possess it) •is larger-than-life in his
ability--and his pride •suffers gloriously from titanic passions •tends to be
self-destructive

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