While I read Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, I noticed how horrified Dr. Victor Frankenstein acted toward the monster he created. He acts this way because of the monster’s appearance. Without knowing anything about the creature besides its looks, Frankenstein immediately fears the beast and flees. This response is common in literature and society.
Upon the creation of his monster, Dr. Frankenstein instantly fears the creature. Without giving it much time, Frankenstein’s mind begins to wander and form irrational thoughts about his creation. Before it takes life, the monster already appalls Frankenstein. Dr. Frankenstein, “unable to endure the aspect of the being, […] rushed out of the room” (Shelley 84). Before he was able to recognize the true value of his creation, Frankenstein already made up his mind by pure ignorance. He could not bear to look at the horrible face of the creature. He based his decision strictly off of looks. After his initial panic, Frankenstein runs to his bed and sleeps. He wakes up from a nightmare and finds the monster looking right at him with “his eyes, if eyes they may be called” (84). Frankenstein only sees the mutilated eyes of the monster he created. He does not even bother looking beyond the surface of his creation. Even when the creature speaks, Frankenstein does not listen: “[the monster] might have spoken, but I did not hear” (84). Blinded by the monster’s ghastly appearance, Dr. Frankenstein shows little interest in what the beast has to say and immediately flees. He does not even give the monster a chance to prove itself a nice, delicate being. The monster’s appearance alone is enough to drive Dr. Frankenstein away from his house in fear.
This ignorant and rash assumption can also be seen in Natasha Trethewey’s Bellocq’s Ophelia. Ophelia lives in a special brothel specifically designated for colored girls. The prostitution world is very superficial and the men regularly make decisions based off of looks. For this reason, Ophelia takes pills to change the color of her skin to appear more desirable to men. In reality, Ophelia is an educated young woman waiting to prove herself to the world. In the brothel, however, men and protocol constantly extinguish these feelings.
It is important to note, however, that I do not entirely blame Dr. Frankenstein’s decision on ignorance. A massive monster with foreign features is scary and I do not blame him for being freighted by his creation. I argue, however, that Frankenstein should not remain fearful. After all, it is his creation and he knows how the monster works. I believe Dr. Frankenstein’s fault lies in his continuation of fear, powered by a rash decision of pure judgment. This ignorance and superficial examination plagues Dr. Frankenstein, the brothels, and society in general.
I think this is an interesting point Leo. I had not thought much about the initial fear of Frankenstein being because of the appearance of the monster. The way in which the creature looks frightens Frankenstein before he actually knows what it is capable of doing. The way in which we appear is important. Frankenstein thought he created a distasteful human being, but instead a monster. Similarly Ophelia did not want to come across as distasteful to her customers, which meant she must keep up her appearance and remain as pale as possible in skin tone.
I definitely agree Leo, the initial fear is something that is hardwired into us as humans. however, a continuation of fear, which is evident by Frankenstein, definitely something that is unnatural, and that is completely his fault. In addition the ignorance that is shown is something that can be found in portions of society, particularly Hollywood where the drive for money becomes bigger than life. As well as in the brothels shown in Bellocq’s Ophelia
This an interesting point, Leo. I like that you drew a connection between Frankenstein and Bellocq’s Ophelia. Indeed, Frankenstein makes a brash judgement about his creation based on his appearance alone, just as the people in Ophelia’s society judge her based upon her skin color, gender, and occupation. This is an issue that we, as a society, must continue to address. Virtually everyone has made judgements about others based on appearances alone without considering what is below the surface.