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Essay / Acceptance versus Appearance in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
Acceptance versus Appearance in FrankensteinThe major theme of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is the emphasis on appearance and acceptance in society. In modern society, as in Frankenstein's society, people judge each other solely on their appearance. Social biases are often based on appearance, whether it's the color of one's skin, the clothes one wears, or even the way a person behaves. People make snap judgments based on these social biases. This perception based on appearance determines behavior towards the person. In Frankenstein, the society of that time is similar to ours today. This is a society based on appearance, and this topic is highlighted by the hideous figure of Victor Frankenstein's monster to an ordinary human being. Every human being in society wants to be accepted intellectually, regardless of their physical appearance. Human beings all want to be accepted into society for their intellectual and physical abilities. Certainly, some humans are not recognized for their abilities, but acceptance is necessary. If a person is not accepted by society, they become an outcast like Frankenstein's monster. The monster seeks acceptance immediately after acquiring its new life. “Unable to bear the sight of the being I had created, I rushed from the room and continued to pace around my room for a long time, unable to calm myself down to sleep.” This quote from Frankenstein shows that the monster's own creator will not look at him because his appearance is too revolting. Unlike a normal human being, the monster has no family or acceptance. When the monster sees the people in the house, he wants to learn the language to be accepted. After being rejected, the monster sought Frankenstein's help in creating a female counterpart. Someone who would understand the emotions of being an outcast would give the monster someone to be with in this lonely and cruel world. Acceptance is still a constant in today's society. It is an important part of social life, especially in high school and university. This determines a person's popularity as well as their friends. Humans perform activities in large numbers and are therefore accepted by a group of people. Acceptance as well as the search for glory is always a major aspiration of life. Racism is an obvious similarity between Frankenstein's society and today's..