Faust And Victor Frankenstein: Unconcerned With Reality
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein build on the Promethean myth that was so central to the Romantic Movement. Her work describes a character perhaps properly called übermensch: a man of exceptional learning and ability, veritable superman. Yet at the same time, Frankenstein is portrayed as a grand failure, heroic but fated, doomed by the very superiority that ennobles him. Victor Frankenstein struggles for control over the processes of life and death, but is horribly punished when his experiment goes askew. The exploits of Victor’s characters echo the myth of Prometheus: those who attempt to play at god come to poor endings. Many powers are much too mighty for mortal souls, a lesson that ...
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greed that Faust, with the help of Mephisto, exploits others in the pursuit of Faust's earthly desires. As Faust strives to become the "over man" through knowledge, he realizes that books will not satisfy his needs and perhaps sensual pleasures will:
I also have neither money nor treasures, nor worldly
honors or earthly pleasures; no dog would want to live
this way! (p. 95)
The moment Faust sees Gretchen he falls hopelessly in love with her:
By heaven, she's beautiful, this child! I have never seen
her parallel. (p.73).
The feeling of passion, however, is not mutual, and Faust realizes that his simple looks and personality will not attract Gretchen; rather he must deceive and manipulate this woman in order to possess her. He turns to Mephisto for help in his quest for Gretchen: "Get me that girl, and don't ask why"(p. 257) Mephisto replies, "We'd waste our time storming and running; we have to have recourse to cunning."(p. 261) Frankenstein’s drive for power ...
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another monster into the world would salvage Frankenstein's family, but the rest of the world would be forced to bow before two hideous creatures. This dilemma played heavily on Frankenstein's mind, possibly causing his brief lapse into the realm of the insane. Nonetheless, Frankenstein, as Faust, continued his exploits despite the foul ramifications.
To become the übermensch and pursue excellence, one must stay dedicated to one's goal and dismiss the world around him. Neither Faust nor Frankenstein is able to completely discard the outside world. Faust, possessed by desire for pleasure and lust through passion, had not expected love. This love temporarily draws him back into ...
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"Faust And Victor Frankenstein: Unconcerned With Reality." Essayworld.com. August 31, 2007. Accessed April 23, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Faust-And-Victor-Frankenstein-Unconcerned-Reality/70467.
"Faust And Victor Frankenstein: Unconcerned With Reality." Essayworld.com. August 31, 2007. Accessed April 23, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Faust-And-Victor-Frankenstein-Unconcerned-Reality/70467.
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