Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Describe the cycle of vengeance that consumes both the Creature and Victor in the last part of this novel. Does either one truly renounce this sentiment?

The creature sought revenge on Victor because Victor created him without regard for what his life must be like. Monstrously ugly, the creature felt that he would be alone, and hated, forever, and so he planned to kidnap William, Victor's brother, to be his companion. When William insulted him, the creature killed him and found that he, too, could create misery. He entreated Victor to make him a female companion, as ugly as he; while Victor obliged, the creature was calm. When Victor tore the companion apart, the creature retaliated by killing Victor's best friend, Henry Clerval. Then, on Victor's wedding night, the creature killed Victor's wife, Elizabeth, denying him the companionship that Victor has denied him. Victor then vows eternal vengeance against the creature and promises to kill him, and then the chase ensues. Ultimately, Victor asks Captain Walton to kill the creature when he, himself, is dead; thus, Victor never renounces his desire to avenge the creature's wrongs against him. However, the creature himself promises to build his own funeral pyre and end his own life; the guilt he feels about the wrongs he committed, the innocents he killed, ends the cycle of vengeance with him.

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