the bird on fire

 Frankenstein: The Modern Prometheus is about a young scientist, Victor Frankenstein, creating a creature which was made from different parts of human corpses. After the creature is “born,” Frankenstein–horrified–abandons his work and flees. The creature is born kind and innocent; however, after he encounters hostilities from human beings, he becomes brutal and starts killing. Frankenstein is no longer able to control the creature and the book ends as a tragedy. In his essay about this book, PVS senior Max Mulé expressed his opinions toward the protagonist, Victor Frankenstein.–Editor Amber Zheng

As part of the preparation for the AP English Literature and Composition Exam, Seniors write numerous in-class timed essays that must respond to very specific prompts. The challenge is threefold:

a) to construct a well-organized essay under the pressure of time;

b) to devise a persuasive argument that demonstrates a rich and thorough understanding of the work they are writing about;

and c) to articulate their thoughts with clarity and complexity.

Max Mulé wrote the following response to this Prompt, adapted from a previous year’s AP Exam.

–AP English Literature and Composition Teacher, Mr. Chris Griffin

A recurring theme in literature is the classic war between a passion and responsibility. For instance, a personal cause, a love, a desire for revenge, a determination to redress a wrong, or some other emotion or drive or obsession may conflict with an individual’s moral duty or responsibility. In Frankenstein there are several characters who struggle with a conflict of this sort.

In a well-organized essay, demonstrate how one or more characters confronts the demands of a private passion that conflicts with his moral, ethical or social responsibilities. Define the nature of this conflict, its effects upon the character or characters, and its significance to the work as a whole. Avoid plot summary.

Passion Vs. Responsibility
By Massimo Mulé
In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, a couple of major characters are torn by an internal conflict between passion and responsibility. However, the way these characters handle their inner demons and battles differs fundamentally and defines them and the work as a whole.

Victor Frankenstein, in his pursuit of knowledge and creation, gets so enveloped by his work that he fails to think on what his creation might mean or do to his fellow man. He neglects his duty to humankind and animates his creature without realizing the consequences of his actions (both of creation itself and of fleeing and abandoning the creature). Then everything flips 180° and he neglects his duty to ensure the happiness of his creature. He simply leaves it for dead without considering what may become of it or what may happen to those who encounter it.

In Victor’s passionate hatred and vengefulness for the creature he fails to see both the responsibility to his family and the duty he inherently owes the creature. From the moment that Victor sees the creature in the woods at night, everything becomes centered on Victor and how much he hates the thing. He never once considers the safety of his family and seldom reflects on his responsibility to the creature. His decision to terminate the mate he was making for the creature leads directly to the death of his friend Henry Clerval. Henry’s death could have been avoided had Victor stopped to think about the repercussions. Furthermore, his decision to go out and look for the creature on his honeymoon is fatal, as it leads to the murder of Elizabeth. He should know better than to leave her alone, especially following the creature’s promise, but he wants to search for it and possibly kill it, so Elizabeth perishes.

Explorer Robert Walton, on the other hand, suffers parallel internal conflicts and handles them entirely differently. Walton is torn between exploration and discovery in the Arctic and the safety and lives of his crew. But unlike Victor, he doesn’t let his passion get the better of him and he decides to turn back and not risk the deaths of the crew and himself. Instead of passion, responsibility prevails in Walton’s inner battle.

Passion versus responsibility is a prevalent motif in this novel, and the way by which different characters handle the conflict defines both them and the novel. Frankenstein’s decisions define him as a narcissist and illuminate the biased narrative of Shelley’s epistolary novel. Walton’s decision demonstrates the opposite, and provides for the reader a counter to Victor, helping us reach the conclusion that he is self-absorbed. Walton is a perfect example of not letting passion get the better of one’s self, while Victor’s story offers us a somewhat cautionary tale.