1.

Choose one of the following statements to discuss – provide 3-4 textual reasons,
examples, etc. for support:
-Victor Frankenstein is selfish.
-Victor Frankenstein is unselfish.
I think victor Frankenstein is selfish because when he faces the death of his love

that has been killed by the monster, he always tries to run away. For example,

Shelley writes: “I couldn’t bear to look at him. I ran out of the room” (Shelley 25).

When he puts life in the creation, his beautiful dream disappeared, he feels

horror when he sees the Frankenstein’s ugly face, Victor chooses ran away to

escape. Shelley also writes: “ I went to the Alpine valleys because I thought i

could forget my sorrows there” (Shelley 50). When Victor murders undirectly

Justine, he feels guilty, so he chooses to leave his home to forget the sadness.

Thus, when Victor faces difficulties, his first thought is to leave the place and

forget the sorrows that he could not bear, not to solve those immediately. Victor

Frankenstein is selfish.

2. What would have happened if Victor had given the creature a female? How would
the novel’s outcome be different? Do you believe Victor made the right choice? Use
textual evidence to support your claim.

In my opinion, the story will go the same if Victor had given the creature a female. I
believe Victor made the right choice even though this choice will let his family and
friend die for it. The author writes: “Perhaps she would be worse than her mate and
kill for pleasure”(Shelley 93). She also says: “She might turn away from him.She
might leave him and make him more miserable” (Shelley 94). These quotations are
Victor’s worries when he almost finishes the female monster. The thoughts are
reasonable. Nobody can predict the female’s character and mindset, whether it is the
same as Frankenstein. Thus, the choice of destroying that creature is right and useful.

3. What should Victor have done from the very beginning to be a “good father” to the
creature? Would the novel have turned out differently, if he had done these things?
Why or why not? Again, use textual support.
 Victor should tell Frankenstein’s origin and teaches him to understand what is

“right” and “wrong”. If he could face his wrong and tries to let Frankenstein

understand himself and this world, i think the novel would have turned out differently.

Shelley writes: “No parents had taken care of me and loved me as a child” (Shelley

66). This quotation reflects the Frankenstein’s sadness; he is furious because of

Victor’s attitude. Shelley is mentioned: “I felt sorry for Frankenstein, but when I

discovered that he hoped for happiness, I wanted revenge” (Shelley 124). The

monster’s nature is kind; the real reason that pushes him to become evil is revengeful

angry to Victor’s ignorance. Therefore, the story will happen differently if Victor

treats Frankenstein as a child, not a monster.

4. In modern times, who do we, as a society, ostracize and/or alienate like the
creature? Why do we do this? What steps must be taken to stop this from occurring?
Do you think Mary Shelley wanted her novel to send a deeper message to society, or
was it more about writing an entertaining, Gothic novel? Explain.
Nowadays, alienation happens often as well. We usually ostracize people who have

“strange” ideas, even though they are very kind. In school, some bad students might

bully those who have diffidence personality. We alienate these kinds of people

because we do not allow the appearance of the queer idea that challenge the “truth”

that the majority hold. Human is afraid of unknown truth and fear to change. Society

should cultivate an open mindset; educational institutions should encourage children’s

creative and unique ideas. I do think Mary Shelley wanted her novel to send a more

profound message to society. In this story, Shelley details the experience that humans

do not trust Frankenstein and hurt him. 

5. Discuss Victor Frankenstein’s psychological make-up. List three redeeming
qualities he possesses and three to four flaws. Explain how these are illustrated
throughout the novel.
Victor tells his story to Walton; he hopes the mindset will not hurt Walton as it hurt to

himself. Shelley writes: “ I had bought my own peace of the existence of the whole

human race” (Shelley 94). When he almost finish the female monster, he realizes the

bad influence of his excitement. So, he decides to destroy the female, even though this

decision will kill all the people he loved. The author says: “ Only one thought keeps

me alive, I must follow and destroy the monster I created” (Shelley 118). He has the

perseverance to kill the monster when he realizes how a powerful disaster he made is. 

6. Victor Frankenstein’s ultimate pursuit of knowledge is one of the elements that

eventually destroy him. How could he have achieved this knowledge without it
turning disastrous? Do you believe Shelley was trying to say that there are certain
pieces of knowledge that mankind is simply not supposed to know? Explain with
textual evidence.
I think Victor choose the wrong way in pursuit of knowledge. If he learns human

bodies rather than creating another life-being, maybe this knowledge without it turns

disastrous. I believe the author aims to say there is some kind of knowledge that

humans should not search for. She writes: “I wanted to know where life came from”

(Shelley 20). The author also writes: “I wasn’t sure how to use this astonishing

power” (Shelley 21). Creating life is too heavy for the human race; maybe we should

not find human beings’ origins. Victor opens the pandora’s box and creates an

unchangeable disaster.
7. Briefly name and describe the DeLacey family. Why are they included as part of
the story? Are they critical to the plot or character development? Why or why not?
Could they have been dropped from the story without drastically harming the overall
tale?

They are critical to character development that describes Frankenstein from a kind

child become truly evil. The experience between the monster and the Delacey family

is the key clue to pushing Frankenstein to have mad and dangerous ideas to all the

humans. We could not drop this plot; otherwise, the development of Frankenstein will

not complete.

8. Discuss Walton’s search for a kindred spirit. Does he find this in Victor? How are
he and Victor similar, and why do you believe Shelley focuses so inherently upon
this?

 They both have a goal to get the glory of finding a mysterious discovery, they all
have a sister and wealth background. Walton finds the kindred spirit in Victor.

Shelley writes: “ I have finally found the friend I was looking for” (Shelley 118). This

is the evidence shows that Walton thinks Victor has a similar mindset with himself. I

believe Shelley sets off this doppelgangers setting is to show the influence of this

story. Walton and Victor have the same idea and background, but they have different

ends. Victor teaches the precious experience to Walton by describing his mad story.

In the end, Walton recognizes his scheme is crazy; he returns home before sacrificing

many people’s life. By contrast, Victor has gone permanently in the icy place.

9. Is man inherently good? Are we born without sin and then corrupted by society
and the institutions of mankind – or are we born sinners? What would Mary Shelley
say about this? Use her novel (or her life) as evidence.
I think the man is inherently good. Everyone is born without sin and the corrupted by

society and mankind's institutions of humankind, just like the monster in this story.

Shelley writes: "I began to love the people in the cottage. When they were unhappy, I

felt sad. When they were happy, I was happy, too." (Shelley 63). Frankenstein has

human emotion; he also could feel sad or happy. Shelley also writes: "I collected my

own food and wood for the family" (Shelley 63). Frankenstein helps the family

Delacey; he wants to get this family's love. 

The author mentions: "I promised that in the future, I would only hate people and

injuries them" (Shelley 76). The monster changes his attitude towards humans

because he suffers many injuries that humans gave to him—the vicious seed plant in

his heart.

Thus, Frankenstein or anyone has a kind heart at first but changed by the different

nurture environments.

10. In a general sense, what are the consequences of the choices we make in life?
How does Shelley tackle this question in the novel? What is her answer?
We could not change the thing that happened before. Shelley writes: “You will see

how nothing can change my destiny now” (Shelley 12). In her words, we could

change the consequences of the choice we made before. Just like Victor, no matter

how far he escapes to forget the unbearable sorrow, he must face the severe

consequence at the end. Those choices resemble our “destiny.”