Tragic Hero Noah Fister -- Brandin McAlmond -- Kiristin McDowell -- Brittany Lunsford

Introduction A tragic hero is a character in a piece of media such as a movie or a piece of literature, whose actions during the timeline cause their untimely demise later on. In this example, we believe the Monster to be a tragic hero because even through his good intentions, his monstrous actions cause society to look more at him like a monster, which he is attempting to get away from. Example 1: Elsa from the movie Frozen Example 2: Carrie White from the movie Carrie

THESIS STATEMENT The monster is a tragic hero in the novel, Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley because his good intentions o bettering himself to fit more with society are ruined by his rash decisions and poor anger management that only reverse his progress, making him look more like the creature he resents.

The monster, while attempting to make Victor like him, only causes more loathing and even causes Victor to feel guilty and blame himself for the situation. Despite Victor not even knowing the Monster’s intention, he assumes the emotion of terror just because of his looks. The Monster, just born, is probable simply confused as to why his creator has ran away from him. This is the beginning of the Monster’s self-loathing experience. “His jaws opened, and he muttered some inarticulate sounds, while a grin wrinkled his cheeks. He might have spoken, but I did not hear; one hand was stretched out, seemingly to detain me, but I escaped and rushed downstairs.” (Shelley, 144)

The monster, while attempting to make Victor like him, only causes more loathing and even causes Victor to feel guilty and blame himself for the situation. “A fiendish rage animated him as he said this; his face was wrinkled into contortions too horrible for human eyes to behold” (Shelley, 135) Even though the Monster is attempting to be civil while Victor verbally abuses him, Victor is unable to see past the monsters looks. The Monster once again shows his rash decision, showing his anger and scaring Victor. Victor promises to create a female counter-part, but pushes the Monster over the edge when the Monster watches Victor destroy his partner.

The monster jumps the shark with De Lacey, making him distressed, which in turn causes Felix to beat him. The monster later burns their house down. “Seizing the hand of the old man, I cried, “Now is the time! Save and protect me! You and your family are the friends of whom I seek. Do not you desert me in the hour of trial.” (Shelley, 123) The Monster has spent a large amount of time, preparing himself to talk to the man, but his social skins shut down. He then at the moment, looks like a Monster to De Lacey, who then freaks out, causing a panic in the family. This is the most amount of effort the Monster has ever put in into fitting into society.

The monster jumps the shark with De Lacey, making him distressed, which in turn causes Felix to beat him. The monster later burns their house down. “Unable to injure anything human, I turned my fury towards inanimate objects. As night advanced, I placed a variety of combustibles around the cottage.” (Shelley, 127) The Monster has now given up on the French family, now resorting to harsh actions, showing his monstrous attributes like anger. Later attempts to get the fire to go out, but is too late, the monstrous ways have won. This is the first time the Monster has been disappointed in himself without the help of society.

The monster saves a girl life, but when shot, runs off to accidentally find William, whom which he kills. “I rushed from my hiding place and with extreme labour, from the force of the current, saved her and dragged her to shore….On seeing me, he darted towards me, and tearing the girl from my arms, hastened towards the deeper parts of the wood.” (Shelley, 130) Even saving her life was not enough for her to see past the Monster’s outside appearance. Looking out for the girl causes the Monster to get shot like he was an animal, then he passes out. He then vowed hate and torture on all of mankind. (Acting more like a monster.) Later on he meets William.

The monster saves a girl life, but when shot, runs off to accidentally find William, whom which he kills. “Urged by this impulse, I seized on the boy as he passed and drew him towards me. As soon as he beheld my form, he placed his hands before his eyes and uttered a shrill scream…I grasped his throat to silence him, and in a moment he lay dead at my feet.” (Shelley, 127) Once again, (a common theme), the Monster is judged on his appearance although in William’s defense the Monster grabbed at him. Once hearing he is Victor’s brother, he becomes enraged, seeking revenge on him. The Monster believes that because William is so young, he would not yet shun the Monster as a demon as he was not yet may by impressioned by society, but unfortunately is wrong.