Frankenstein and Hyde

Frankenstein and Hyde

These days, the idea of creation is not unheard of, it is not disregarded and, rather, taken in as inspiration. However with respect to two specific novels, one will find that creation is more a fear than an inspiration. Mary Shelley's famous novel Frankenstein, when compared to R.L. Stevenson's classic tale Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde both, in their treatment of the theme of creation, hold some strong similarities. Both stories touch on the notion of how modern science plays God with the attempt of human creation, using the main characters Victor Frankenstein and Dr. Henry Jekyll as these gods. Unfortunately these characters did not estimate the effects their creations would have on the outside world and, more importantly, their internal selves. Both Victor and Dr. Jekyll had the desire to create life form, but they did not anticipate the effects. There is only one creator that can successfully conceive life, and this is God. Obviously if God is not present in this creating process, and science has instigated the responsibility, the failure of the creation is inevitable. Science cannot create emotions or morality, no soul comes from science, so how could any monster or creation of the hands of man even know the difference between good and evil? Hence to why evil must also be the result. The Monster of Frankenstein finally admits that he is but a creature of Victor and says, I ought to be thy Adam but I am rather the fallen angel. (Shelley, 77) There is a dual allusion present in this quotation. One is referring to in John Milton's classic Paradise Lost, a tale which is often mentioned in Shelley's Modern Prometheus. The other is undoubtably the Creation of Adam and Eve in the Bible itself, not just t! he ! allusion given in Paradise Lost. This quotation shows the very failure that is being discussed. The monster knows he was not meant to be, a creation by the hands of God, a perfect creature (Shelley, 100) would be a success, an Adam, but rather because it was...

Similar Essays