Is Victor Frankenstein A Tragic Hero

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“Tragic heroes are so much the highest points in their human landscape that they seem the inevitable conductors of the power about them, great trees more likely to be struck by lightning than a clump of grass. Conductors may of course be instruments as well as victims of the divisive lightning.” (Northrop Frye) A tragic hero is someone who can be great help to himself as well as others, but can also be the cause of others downfall as well as his own. In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein the creature functions as the tragic hero. He fits the definition of a tragic hero, which is that he is his own climax and downfall. He is a hero because he has a very caring and loving personality, he desires to please others and make everyone happy. He is a tragic …show more content…
"Relieve me from the site of your detested form." Is something that was said by his creator. Through all of the verbal abuse and shadows the creature faced, he still held his own. Towards the end though he became down on himself as well, “I had admired the perfect forms of my cottagers […] but how was I terrified when I views myself in a transparent pool.” As previously stated, he feeds off the energy of others and being judged by his appearance had started to get to him. Another quote that shows how he functions as a tragic hero, and how in tune he is with his emotions is, "If the multitude of mankind knew my existence, they would do as you do, and arm themselves for my destruction." It is not a secret that the creature is ugly, but to understand how strangers and his creator want him dead, makes him the most in tune with his feelings. To internalize these feelings of deep hatred drives him into that depression. He feeds off of the energy of others and tries to fit in socially but is excluded. This battle against himself and his emotions shows us his tragic hero characteristics and allows him to function as the tragic hero throughout the

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