AN EXISTENCE OF VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN’S LIFE IN FRANKENSTEIN BY MARY SHELLEY
THESIS
Submitted as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for Barchelor Degree of English Department Faculty of Arts and Humanities State Islamic
University of Sunan Ampel Surabaya
By:
Risqi Maydia Putri
Reg Number. A73213126
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES
AN EXISTENCE OF VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN’S LIFE IN
FRANKENSTEIN BY MARY SHELLEY
A THESIS
Submitted as partial fulfillment of the Requirements for the Sarjana Degree
of English Department Faculty of Arts and Humanities States Islamic
University of Sunan Ampel Surabaya
Risqi Maydia Putri Reg. Number : A73213126
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES
STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY SUNAN AMPEL SURABAYA
ABSTRACT
Putri, Risqi.M. 2017.An Existence of Victor Frankenstein’s life in Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. English Department, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, State Islamic University (UIN) Sunan Ampel Surabaya.
Advisor : Abu Fanani, S.S, M.Pd.
This thesis aims to analyse a classic science-fiction novel Frankenstein written by Mary Shelley using Soren Kierkergaard’s existentialism. The novel tells about the life journey of Victor Frankenstein as the main character. Victor Frankenstein is a genius man who is mastering science and wants to create human being from his knowledge and combine it with supernatural elements. Victor feels like he can create a creature like human. With all his ambition, he tries to build human being. Unfortunately his ambition comes into misery when his creature turns into monster. This thesis focuses on Victor Frankenstein life process. This thesis uses New Criticism to analyse the basic data, and going further with Existentialism to analyse the main point by using Soren Kierkergaard’s existentialism theory (Aesthetic, Ethic and Religious stages of life), and it uses descriptive qualitative research. As the result, this thesis finds that Victor Frankenstein’s life existentialism leads by his obsessional character
INTISARI
Putri, Risqi.M. 2017.An Existence of Victor Frankenstein’s life in Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. Sastra Inggris, Fakultas Adab dan Humaniora, Universitas Islam Negeri (UIN) Sunan Ampel Surabaya.
Pembimbing : Abu Fanani, S.S, M.Pd.
Skripsi ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis novel fiksi sains klasik Frankenstein oleh Mary Shelley menggunakan teori eksistentialisme Soren Kierkergaard. Novel ini bercerita tentang perjalanan hidup Victor Frankenstein sebagain tokoh utama dalam novel. Victor Frankenstein adalah seorang jenius yang menguasai ilmu pengetahuan dan dengan pengetahuannya tersebut, ia ingin menciptakan makhluk hidup layaknya manusia dan menggabungkannya dengan ilmu hitam. Victor merasa bahwa dia mampu menciptakan makhluk hidup. Dengan semua ambisinya dia mencoba membuat manusia. Malangnya, ambisi Victor berubah menjadi penderitaan ketika makhluk ciptaannya justru menjadi monster. Skripsi ini fokus pada perjalanan hidup Victor Frankenstein. Skripsi ini menggunakan teori New Criticism sebagai teori dasar. Dan menggunakan teori Eksistentialisme sebagai fokus utama dengan menggunakan teori Eksistentialisme milik Soren Kierkergaard (tahap estetik, etik dan religi) skripsi ini juga menggunakan metode deskriptif kualitatif. Hasil dari penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa kehidupan eksistentialisme Victor desebabkan oleh obsesi dalam dirinya.
Table of Contents
Inside cover page... i
Inside title page ... ii
Declaration page... iii
Approval sheet ... iv
Examiner sheet ... v
Motto ... vi
Dedication sheet ... vii
Acknowledgements ... viii
Table of Contents ... ix
Abstract ... xi
Intisari ... xii
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background of the Study ... 1
1.2 Statement of Problem ... 5
1.3 Objective of the Study ... 5
1.4 Significance of the Study ... 5
1.5 Scope and Limitation ... 6
1.6 Method of the Study ... 7
1.6.1 Research Design ... 7
1.6.3 Source of the Study ... 8
1.7 Definition of Keyterm ... 8
CHAPTER II REVIEW OF LITERATURE 2.1 Theoretical Framework ... 9
2.1.1 Existentialism ... 9
2.1.2 New Criticism ... 17
2.2 Previous Studies ... 21
CHAPTER III ANALYSIS 3.1 Victor Frankenstein’s Characterization ... 24
3.1.1 Direct Characterization ... 25
3.1.2 Indirect Characterization ... 29
3.2 Victor Frankenstein’s Existentialism ... 35
3.2.1 Aesthetical Stage ... 36
3.2.2 Ethical Stage ... 43
3.2.3 Religious Stage ... 48
CHAPTER IV CONCLUSION... 52
REFERENCES ... 54
APPENDIX I ... 57
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
1.1Background of The Study
Literature has unlimited meanings. It can be globally defined as
written work which is created aesthetically which contains an exact sense of
the word. Literary work is written works which are imaginative and
distinguished by either the intentions or the aesthetic or artistic side of the
authors to make it different with other daily readings. Therefore, many people
think that literary works just an imaginative word that explosively expressed
(Klarer 1). Whereas, actually literary works is not just an imaginative word
that exist but also there are some aesthetic perspective from real human life
which represent inside the character or the plot of the story.
Literary work as the product of author’s thought grows faster
nowadays. It has developed around the world. The existence of literary work
can be seen in every part of the world. The existence of literary works or
literature itself, combine a factual writing and a lot of fiction (Eagleton,2).
Human tend to be exist in his own way. Every human has his own human
rights to do something to show his existence. Even in literary work, there are
characters which lead the think about Existentialism. Existentialism is a
philosophy of living life as an active, aware, and authentic individual as an
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human life usually has a close relation with his obsession to show his
existentialism. In psychoanalysis 1925, Sigmund Freud states that obsessional
syndrome is a mad disease when human do not really pay attention to his
nonsensical practices and human tend to bring himself to believe that what he
want is actually right
Obsession as existentialism happen when human trying really hard to
show his willing to everyone and that what he think is right. Here, in
Frankenstein novel. In order to showing his existentialism, obsession is the
main cause which makes his life process change. And his character become
someone different from what he used to be before.
In general, Existentialism focuses on concrete experience, but the
experience has various meanings. Some of existentialist figures show that
experience could come from many ways. There are four figures in
existentialism, such as Soren Kierkegaard (religious existentialism), Jean Paul
– Sartre, Friedrich Nietzche (will to power), Albert Camus (absurdist
existentialism). In this case, the issues to be discussed will be using religious
existentialism from Soren Kierkegaard. Existentialism not only conceives
man himself to be but also he is what he will and he should renew himself
after he exist (Sartre, 49). Soren Kierkegaard who has been known as the
founding father of existentialism states that there are three stages on human
life’s ways, those are aesthetic, ethical and religious (Solomon, 87). In
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Based on the explanation above and to explain how existentialism
theory works on literary work, therefore this analysis would analyze a novel
Frankeinstein by Marry Shelley which will focus on the main character Victor
Frankenstein, an ambitious man who want to create a creature with his
knowledge. as the existentialism theory, this analysis will apply the theory of
existentialism stages by Soren Kierkegaard which contains of Aesthetic, Ethic
and Religious as the main theory and New Criticism as the supporting theory.
Soren Kierkegaard was the founding father of existentialism believes that
there is no moral standard which limit oneself to be a being, faith is an
important basis for making choices, because only on the basis of faith does an
individual have a chance to become a true self (Solomon 13). Kierkegaard
argues that there are three stages on the way how human’s life. Those are
aesthetic, ethics, and religious.
Frankenstein is Marry Shelley’s most famous novel. Marry Shelley is
classic novelist who was born on 1797. Original Frankenstein novel is a
novel about an obsessed scientist named Victor Frankenstein who has a big
obsession to combine his knowledge of science and supernatural side of life in
order to discover a new walking dead creature. His obsession leads him to
meet the creature which he called as a ‘monster’. After all made and set,
Victor suddenly feels afraid of his new discovery. He leave that ‘monster’ in a
hidden part of his apartment with his fear about the physical appearance of the
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the monster woken up and experienced some bad moment in society by his
bad appearance and it is because Victor creates him like that. And the story
continued with the death of Victor’s family. Some of Victor’s family died
because the monster killed them as revenge to Victor. In the middle of the
story, point of view inside the novel change to the monster point of view, here
as a reader, I may conclude that the monster hates Victor because Victor
creates him in a terrible physical appearance. Unfortunately, Victor cannot do
anything but being terrorized by the monster. The ending of the novel is not
really clearing the problem, the monster succeeded to make Victor
psychologically suffered while Victor itself always want to catch monster and
kill it but unfortunately he died on his way to catch the monster.
The reason why the writer chooses the title is because this analysis
would like to explore further about Existentialism especially for
Kierkegaard’s Existentialism Stages which is represented by the character
Victor Frankenstein inside the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. While,
the reason why this analysis aims at it novel is because, in my opinion the
character of the novel fulfill all of the three stages (aesthetics, ethics and
religion) from Soren Aabye Kierkegraargd’s opinion about Existentialism.
Besides, the character of Victor Frankenstein is challenging to analyze it from
Existentialism point of View.
The main issue of this analysis focuses on how the obsession of Victor
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Frankenstein will help to show his existentialism which is in this analysis, it is
portrayed by using Soren kierkegraard’s existentialism that contain of three
stages (Ethical, Aestethical, and Religious).
1.2Statement of Probem
This Analysis focuses on three existentialism stages (Aesthetic, Ethic
and Religious) of Victor Frankenstein’s Life. Therefore, This analysis
following by these statements of problem:
a. How is Victor Frankenstein characterized in Frankenstein’s novel ?
b. How is the process of Victor Frankenstein’s life viewed from
Kierkergaard’s existentialism stages ?
1.3Objectives of The Study
Based on the research problem above, the objectives of the study are :
a. To describe how the character of Victor Frankenstein characterized in
Frankenstein novel
b. To describe Victor Frankenstein’s life from Kierkergaard’s
existentialism stages
1.4Significance of the Study
This analysis is expected to give a good contribution for readers
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understand the content of Frankenstein novel and existentialism theory
especially existentialism stages by Soren Kierkergaard.
And practically, as an English literature thesis, this analysis can be one
of the references for English literature Student. And this analysis can be a
contribution for the development of existentialism study especially for Soren
Kierkegaard’s Existentialism. In analysing existentialism theory, many of the
literary analysts prefer analyses using Sartre’s theory rather to Kierkegaard’s.
Therefore, this study will help as a reference for someone who wants to
explore Kierkegaard’s existentialism and to understand more about
Kierkegaard’s existentialism.
Moreover as an additional significance, readers will realize the fact
that a fiction can be used to represent the serious idea about stages of
existentialism as Kierkegaard does.
1.5Scope and Limitation
The scope focus of this study is about Victor Frankenstein’s obsession
to discover a new creature which unfortunately did not works as what he
thoughts. And Victor Frankenstein obsession lead him into three stages of
Existentialism life, therefore the writer describe the process of Victor
Frankenstein’s life through Soren’s religion existentialism. Because it is
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Frankenstein’s characterization analysis as the process of how the obsessions
of Victor begin.
This research limitation is on characterization analysis. Because not of
all Victor Frankenstein’s characterization is needed. The writer only focuses
on Victor’s character which related to his process of leading his obsession to
discover a new creature. This analysis won’t explain clearly about Victor’s all
characterization because it is focused on the obsession of Victor Frankenstein.
1.6 Method of the Study
In conducting this research into one related research, there are some
methods which are used. research design, source of the study and method of
the study.
1.6.1 Research Design
To answer the research question rearding the theory above, this
research use library based research such as reading the other reference,
reading the book about related theory and understanding the whole content of
the novel.
1.6.2 Method to Collecting Data
This study will use qualitative descriptive method and existentialism
theory and taken by this following steps :
a. Reading the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
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c. Collect the evidence based on the issue
d. Classifying the evidence which is included as the answer of the issue
e. Dividing the data in some stages (aesthetics, ethics and religious)
f. Concluding result of the analysis
1.6.3 Source of the Study
The source of the study will contain of Frankenstein novel, some of
literary theory books, and some thesis as a reference. As an additional, the
source of the study needs a biography of the writer, therefore an online
biography website is needed as a source.
1.7 Definition of Keyterm
Obsession: according to Merriam Webster, obsession is an unreasonable
idea or feeling or concern which sometimes has a persistent effect and it can be a
CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
2.1 Theoretical Framework
This chapter contain of the theories which is used as the guidance of the
analysis. It contains one main theory and one supporting theory. Existentialism stands
as the main theory. In this case, this analysis uses Existentialism by Soren
Kierkergaard which discusses about religious existentialism, and it is divided into
three stages of existentialism; Aesthetic, Ethic and Religious. And for supporting
theory, the writer uses New Criticism, especially for character and characterization
theory in order to describe the characterization for the character more details.
Moreover, to support this analysis completely, attaching the previous study is needed.
2.1.1 Existentialism
Epistemologically, the word existentialism is derived from Greek word
Existere which means ex (out) and sister (the way of standing). It refers to the
meaning of something which is able to go out from the way its standing and exceeds
its presence (Abidin, 33). However, in real circumstances of life there is nothing can
go out of the way of its standing except human; animal and plants are limited by
environment. Therefore, existentialism is specially discussed about human existence.
Existentialism is defined in contemporary philosophy. Literature
existentialism definitely has a close relation toward the context of literature and
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on the existence of somebody or something (90). Existentialism was first introduced
by Soren Kierkergaard (1813-1855). Soren Aabey Kierkergaard is well known as the
father of existentialism in the history of western philosophy (Mayer in Saifullah, 55).
However, there are some various figures of existentialism such as Nietzsche, Martin
Heidegger, Karl Jasper, Jean Paul Sartre and Albert Camus. They are all included as
the great philosophers.
As it is said before, existentialism has many different concepts from some of
great philosopher figures. Hence, that different concepts come to the same definition
of existentialism which is called as freedom. Freedom as a theme of literature is
always carried on by existentialist to gain their own independence at their live
without getting an intervention by anyone (end, 87). Existentialism is a man’s effort
to build their own identity in his society. Thus, existentialism is related to individual
own life while living with other people around him (Stanfford, 369)
In line with the term Freedom, basically human has their own right and
freedom to choose his own choice which one is the best and the worst for his life
whether from family demand, political system, social and cultural system (Tjaya,147).
Although human has his own freedom, some term and condition of his society around
can influence his choice even limit their freedom.
In other cases some people see existentialism as a philosophical movement
viewed all phenomenon which come from human existence. Human existence means
the way how they live in this world. Human appears in this world with all his
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world exist but they do not realize or interact with each other, indeed they will have a
meaning because of human existence itself (Dagun 16). It indeed relate with the term
existence precedes essences by Jean-Paul Sartre which means that human will know
the decision of himself and the essences of himself after he exist in this world.
Existentialism appears as the philosophical movement protests again the view
that human being is an object, so that human existence should be taken seriously
(Martin, vii). Kierkergaard stated that human being should involve actively in every
event that happened to him. In this case, human cannot be passive observer of his
situations even though human have to leave his happiness behalf of existence and free
choices.
Soren Aabye Kierkergaard states that existentialism has a close definition
with the term freedom. In kierkergaard terminology, to exist means to understand his
own self through the freedom of choice and self-commitment. Kierkegaard states that
sometimes, although not always, human action cannot be causally explained. It is
because human action is not based on rational merely, but also based on free choices
and spontaneous emotional (146)
As a father of existentialism, Kierkergaard opinion about existentialism
influences numerous writers and thinkers. Soren Kierkergaard’s existentialism is also
known as Religious Existentialism. As a religious man, actually Kierkergaard
philosophy appeared as a reaction of Hegel’s opinion which is described human as a
passive creature, passive observer and just have a role as movie goer. Hegel’s
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they enjoy with their crowd only
.
Kierkergaard strongly opposed it. Therefore tochange Hegel’s view, Kierkeraard made up with his own existentialism theory which
focuses on individual experience. According to kierkergaard, there are three stages of
human existence; they are aesthetic stages, ethic stages and religious stages.
• Aesthetic Stages
Aesthetic is a stages about the aesthetic of person lives for the moment. They
have no deep commitments to one thing or another. They're not totally impulsive, but
will only pursue long term goals as long as they're appealing, and will drop them once
they are bored or something more fun appears on the horizon. They see life in terms
of possibilities to be considered and enjoyed, not in terms of projects to pursue or
ideals to live out. The aesthetic person is basically passive, and seeks satisfaction in
things over which they have no control, dependent on what happens externally
(Kierkergaard qtd on
marikablogs.blogspot.co.id/2009/03/kierkergaaard-on-aesthetic-ethical-and.html)
Kierkegaard states that sometimes, although not always, human action cannot
be causally explained. It caused that human action is not based on rational merely, but
also based on free choices and spontaneous emotional (146). Aesthetic included as
human spontaneous emotional because in aesthetic, human tend to think about their
current emotional feeling.
In his book either/or, kierkergaard illustrate the aesthetic condition of
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“Don Juan is an image which constantly appears, but does not gain forms and substance, an individual who is constantly being formed, but is never finished of whose life history one can form no more definite impression than one can by listening to the tumult of the waves” (Soren A. Kierkergaard, 91)
The illustration above explain that in aesthetic stages, human tend to be in his
uncertain condition which he does not have his own substance and form. It means
that in aesthetic stages, human emotion is not stabilized yet. In this aesthetic stages,
human only consider about the aesthetic aspect of his life. Human only consider
about their pleasure. Aesthetic man is controlled by sex’s instinct, pleasure hedonism
principle, and act based on their mood (148)
Aesthetic stages show the authentic manner which is marked by degradation
of manner (Kierkergaard on Wirahadi, 41). They do not have any universal moral
standard and specific religious beliefs which hold on their life due it will be limit
humans freedom and choice (Stumpf and Fieser 360). Therefore, in this phase of
aesthetic, human described as negative human nature more than positive human
nature. It is normal as a human being to have their own negative phase of their life
since we know that if human does not have their own certain, they will fall into other
people certain. Thus, in aesthetic stages, human has a strong will to enjoy his entire
experiences of emotional and desires.
Victor Frankenstein is a genius man of science, it is normal if he want to
create his own scientific product which is similar with human as God’s creature. He
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else opinion which says that scientific knowledge is not enough to make a creature
which is similar to human being.
Furthermore, if human only influences by his aesthetic emotion then where is
his soul going? His soul will go in despair. Human that only influences by his
emotion, does not understand his orientation and his real goals of living. Then, there
will only two choices, whether he would like to stay in his aesthetic stages by end up
his life or he would like to move to other stage of life which is call as ethic stage.
According to Kierkergaard, human being has to choose either they has to live
aesthetically or they has to live ethically, or across it into religious stage
(Kierkergaard, 8)
• Ethic Stages
The second stage is ethic stages. In aesthetic, human tend to be influenced by
his pleasure and his own taste, in ethical stage human starting to realize the rules and
conduct the reason formulates (Stumpf and Fieser, 361) According to the standard
reception, Kierkegaard presents the ethicist as a representative of this important
insight into human existence.
Ethical is the next stage which focused on 'choosing oneself' the ethical person
sees themself as a goal, and where the aesthetic is constantly concerned with external
things, the ethical person directs their attention and efforts towards their own nature,
being something over which they have control. They examine themselves to discover
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things they set out to achieve, but more the extent to which they throw their whole
selves into their activities (K.Roth, 268).
Objective thinking is relevant and appropriate when it comes to areas as logic,
nature, mathematics and history, because such areas of scientific research is ruled by
a certain necessity that makes it possible to achieve knowledge unrelated to particular
subjects. In ethical phase, human can control his emotion and can adjust it with
universal morality standard (253). Hence, ethic human does not live for him, but he
can follow the humanistic values.
Kierkergaard says that the movement of human from aesthetic to ethical phase
is like who left their temporal sexual desire and come into marriage with all its duties
(Ostina,36). In his book Either/Or, Kierkergaard also explain that the ethical stage
form of life is conceived as a stage superior to the esthetical one. it is only when
human reach the ethical stage that we choose our own self, our true or absolute self.
Absolute choice means choosing one's absolute self or choosing one's self according
to its absolute value. (196)
• Religious stage
The last stages and the highest stages of human existentialism mentioned by
Kierkergaard is religious stage. Here, human starting to realize the reality of God.
This is a phase where human carry on his authentically and face God as a single
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different understanding of how to conceive the pursuit of the good for its own sake
(Seite,8).
Religious mean does not influenced by a single humanity values. Religious
phase is distinguished by recognition of human towards the existence of God.
According to Kierkergaard, he illustrate the character modeling of religious man was
Abraham. He is a figure from Holy Scripture. He sacrificed his son because he
believes what God instructed to him. If human think rationally, what Abraham did
here is irrational and out of humanity values. But according to religious man thinking,
if Abraham did not obey God’s instruction, Abraham would be sinful. Hence,
Abraham thought out of humanity principle he entered a paradox. Here, Abraham left
his ethical phase to the religious phase. (20)
There will be two kinds of paradox which religious man will face. The first is
paradoxical of God. To explain this paradox, there is no rationally explanation. For
example, if God is very good but why there are a crime and crime victims in this
world? There is no way to get knowledge about it except through individual faith. To
receive this kind of God’s paradox, religious man should have his own
subjectivity-believe based on his true faith of God (Abidin, 137). The second paradox is anxiety.
Anxiety has a different meaning with frightened, anxiety refers to unreal something,
uncertain thing, and incoherent. Therefore, religious man believe that people
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Therefore, only people who have his true faith and self-belief toward God will
be survive in this phase of Religious Stage. Only the good one will survive and keep
himself into the highest stage of existentialism.
2.1.2 New Criticism
New Criticism or Russian Formalism is theory which is critically focused on
literature itself. New Criticism in practice came to focus almost exclusively on
problems of interpreting individual texts. (Searle,1). Hence, New Criticism is a theory
of literature criticism based on the text only. Wellek and Warren in Theory of
Literature (1949), attempt to explain the theory of new criticism. They distinguish
between the "intrinsic" and "extrinsic" study of element in literary works. Intrinsic
takes part from the literary work itself. Intrinsic approach emphasizes the analysis
intertext by describing the elements of the literary works that explained before.
Intrinsic approach applied by the writer in order to show the elements of the novel.
Parts of elements of the prose are characters, plot, setting, theme, and point of view.
While extrinsic element related to literary biography, history, psychology, and
sociology to the "extrinsic" domain, a move that incurred the ire of literary historians,
scholars, sociologists, and so on. In all of these major postwar efforts to consolidate
theoretical gains, the same general problem persists: there is no well-grounded way to
ascertain the validity of any particular interpretation. (139)
According on the statement above, New Criticism deals with the text only
which contains only inside the intrinsic element. Therefore, New Criticism deals with
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biographical, and other outside information of the novel include the author’s life. It is
ignoring any historical context, biographical statement about the author,
philosophical issues and moral or political information of literary works (Gillespie
172)
Based on the explanation above and related to this analysis, because this
analysis would like to explore more about Victor Frankenstein’s life through his
obsession, therefore it is needed to analyze using New Criticism theory especially
focuses on character and characterization analysis.
• Character
Character is one interesting point of intrinsic elements. In Literature especially
fiction, Character perhaps defined as a verbal representative of human being. Abram
states that “Character is people who are appeared in a narrative prose or novel and it
is interpreted by the readers as a person who has moral quality and certain tendency
such as being expressed in what they say and what they do” (76)
Characters can be flat or round character; and major or minor character.
General known of character varieties are protagonist and antagonist character.
Altenberd and Lewis stated that Protagonist character is a character with so much
admiration and attention by the readers. Protagonist character described as a hero
because of their ideal role, and they often follow the rules of condition and society.
Protagonist characters often get sympathy by the readers (1966) most of value from
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antagonist character; Antagonist character usually gives a conflict towards
protagonist. There is a point which sometimes the characters does not give us the
moral value (Luxemburg, 1992) and it usually done by the antagonist one.
Besides protagonist and antagonist, there is major and minor characters build
inside the story. The major character plays the biggest role inside the story. The major
character stand as the most dominant told in the story. While minor character has a
part as supporting role in the story. Major character usually has a round character
means that his character can be change as the story progresses while minor character
has a flat character means that his character stills the same from beginning to the end
of story.
There are many kinds of how character builds in story. Characters refer to
human beings who are created by the author to life inside the story (Mason, 9)
therefore, character is a fictions human being which is created by the author to
present the story or plot through word. Hence, all the characters in literary works are
fictitious. Although they are not real in fiction work, sometimes author created them
as representative of personal character from real word (Holman in Nevada, 24)
Author may create they characters, but they do not reveal whole of their
character through author’s description. Sometimes we can conclude the character
personalities by their dialogue or author’s narration. In order to reveal their
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• Characterization
The next point is about characterization, it explore more about the character.
Readers need this to build an understanding about the character not only from the
direct explanation of author. There are four basic steps to get the information about
the characters. The fir st is through the characters speeches and thoughts. In this case,
the author gives the readers an indirect insight through what the character says
because whenever author puts forward and opinion, author is giving some clues to his
characters. The second is through what the activity or action of characters it usually
explains in situational description. It means by seeing the character’s action, readers
can get information about the quality of the character’s personality. The third is
through what other characters think or say about them. The last is by evaluating what
the author says about characters, speaking as storyteller or observer. There is a part
where author uses narrative description as a storyteller (Holman, 139)
Once again, according to Harmon and Holman (A handbook to literature), the
role of Characterization is to present the character in action with a little or no explicit
comment by the author (89). Characterization help the analyst to understand more
about the character build inside the story. Characterization is what the author showed
and told about the character in specific way. Means that the author shows the reader
about internal and external side of character and the author describe the qualities of
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Characterization is a brief description of personage who symbolizes some
certain qualities in literary work (Holman, 81). Therefore in literary works, what the
author write about characterization is only a brief description, then reader will
summarize by his own opinion based on that brief description. Author commonly is
used to characterize their character in order to create life like characters in their
novels. (138)
Based on the explanation above, this analysis needs characterization theory to
open up about Victor obsession on his whole life and from his obsession causes many
destroying event of Victor’s Life.
2.2 Previous Studies
There are some studies which analyzed this novel. The first study is from
Victor Frankenstein’s Anxiety and Defense Mechanism as depicted in Mary Shelley’s
Frankenstein by Arnanta Putri. This study examined from the psychoanalysis point of
view of Victor Frankenstein’s character. This study focuses on Victor’s anxiety
which leads him into his defense mechanism stages of psychoanalysis. This study
shows that Victor’s anxiety comes after he created the monster. There are two kinds
of anxiety which occurs to Victor’s life, neurotic anxiety and moral anxiety.
Therefore to reduce his anxiety Victor uses repression, reaction formation and
projection which is included his Defense Mechanism tactics to overcome his anxiety.
The second study is written by Selen (Çevik) Baranoğlu entitled An Analysis
Putri 22
In Relation To Lacanian Criticism
.
It explore about Lacanian concepts ofpsychoanalysis desire, alienation and sexuality in novel Frankenstein by Marry
Shelley and novel Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Stevenson. According to this
study, the formation of human personality takes place in the unconscious where
desire, alienation and sexuality are formed. In this case according to this study,
Victor’s personality takes place in his unconscious desire to discover new creatures.
The conclusion of this analysis showed that the concept of desire integrated into the
lives of individuals. This study also attempted to illustrate the close relation between
psychoanalysis and gothic fiction.
The third study which has already examine Frankenstein novel entitled Good
and Evil in Man : The Desire of Victor in Frankenstein by Sara Marklund from
Goteborg University. This study uses Victor Frankenstein’s desire as the main focus.
It explore about how the desire of Victor leads him into two kind of human being
which is good and evil man. This study aims to describe what good and evil sides of
victor are. As the supporting evidence, this study also describes how the monster
which is created by Victor influence Victor’s character in a whole novel. As the result,
this study shows that Victor’s life ends up in misery because he is denies him of
being anything other than a perfect and good human being.
The last as an additional, I would like to add the study which has different
novel but same theory uses as the main theory. The thesis entitled The Existentialism
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UIN Maulana Malik Malang. This thesis uses Kierkergaard’s existentialism as the
main theory which focused on the character freedom of life. According to this thesis,
the complete existence of human can be seen through his whole life, and using
kierkergaard existentialism, this thesis would like to find out existentialism aspects of
character. As the result and conclusion, this thesis conclude that the way of the
character defend his existence is related much with the concept of existentialism
aspects and stages.
According to the first three previous studies, Frankenstein novel always uses
as psychological analysis subject. While the last previous study above, using
Existentialism as a theory. This research use existentialism theory especially
Kierkergaard’s Existentialism and focus on the way character life based on
Kierkergaard Existentialism three phases of life. Behalf on Existence, the character
reconcile many suffering problem which is causes by his obsession. He has to faces
risk and consequences. Therefore, there is several Existentialism discourses will be
CHAPTER III
ANALYSIS
Literature has a same path as philosophy which is talked about human life
(Sutrisno, 16). Philosophy talked about human life from its essence, while literature
talked about human life by using the sense of combine a word. The sense of
combining words usually comes from author imagination. Imagination of the author
can contain human desire, human existence and human life which portrayed by using
a certain character inside the storyline of the novel.
The appearance of literary works which is related to human life is a part of
existential novel. Frankenstein is one of novel which portraying about human
existence using an imaginative genre and specifying it through fantasy storyline.
Frankenstein major character leads us to understand philosophical values especially
the philosophy of human life through it characterization. Thus, this chapter contain of
the analysis of Victor Frankenstein characterization as major character in order to
open up his whole life process. From those life process, this chapter continue to
analyse using existentialism phases of life by Soren Kierkergaard in order to
Putri 25
3.1 Victor Frankenstein’s Characterization
There are two kinds of characterization, Direct and Indirect Characterization.
Direct characterization, author attempted to show the character’s characterization
directly by using his word. While indirect characterization, author try to makes reader
understand about characterization using character personality, how the character build
a dialogue and how the character has an effect towards another character inside the
novel.
3.1.1 Direct Characterization
A. Genius and Intelligent Man
Direct characterization not only can be seen from brief description, but also
from the other characters think about certain someone. And it happen in this novel,
which is Victor Frankenstein being described by the other characters.
As a good student of science, Victor often get a praise from his professor. One
of it is what M.Krempe said about him. according to M.Krempe, Victor is modest yet
he has a good quality of young man. M.Krempe is Victor professor; he knows how
Victor behaviour from Victor’s ability. According to M.Krempe,Victor has a good
quality because he knows that Victor has an excellent sense of knowledge of science.
Victor Frankenstein is also a modest young man which according to M.Krempe,
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‘M. Frankenstein is modest, an excellent quality in a young man. Young men should be diffident of themselves, you know, M. Clerval; I was myself when young; but that wears out in a very short time.’ (73) M.Krempe
B. Ambitious Man
“But my enthusiasm was checked by my anxiety”
Victor think himself as an over-enthusiasm while making for the project. He
knows his anxiety but he continue to build what he want.
Victor always described himself as always wanting to penetrates the secret of
nature. That he always want to get over the nature being, he wanted to open up the
secret of nature. Which is I think, this character included Victor as someone who
loves nature.
C. Romantic as a gentle and wise man
A story usually gives a brief description about the character from the third
person point of view. Here, there is an example where Victor character described
directly in the story. Victor is a gentle man, yet he is so wise, he is being careful with
his words. The way he speak shows his gentle side.
“Victor is so gentle, yet so wise; his mind is so cultivated, and when he speaks, although his words are culled with the choicest art, yet they flow with rapidity and unparalleled eloquence”
The paragraph above shows how Victor characters on the first story begin. It
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intelligence, wise and he speaks with a manner. It described most of Victor’s basic
characters trait.
D. An unhappy soul and his bad character traits
As the man who was found Victor when he is in misery, Walton’s point of
view it shown at the first chapter of the story. Here, Walton told all his opinion about
Victor. The first content of the novel shows about Walton opinion of Victor, a man
who he just helps in the middle of catastrophic strong wind. Walton talk about how
Victor appearance and how Victor act.
“Although unhappy, he is not so utterly occupied by his own misery but that he interests himself deeply in the projects of others”
“He said this his countenance became expressive of a calm, settled grief that touched me to the heart. But he was silent and presently retired to his cabin”
Such a man has a double existence: he may suffer misery and be overwhelmed by disappointments, yet when he has retired into himself”
According to what Walton sees from Victor, it can be seen that Victor is
actually a calm man, but he have such a misery looking on his appearance, Victor is
silent and the way Victor appear and speak is touching Walton’s heart.
According to the Monster, Victor is Injustice and irresponsible. Most of the
bad event happen to the monster is miserable. According to the monster, his
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not want to get responsible over the monster. That is why the monster thought that
Victor is not giving him a justice.
“Oh, Frankenstein, be not equitable to every other and trample upon me alone, to whom thy justice, and even thy clemency and affection, is most due” (114)
The word be not equitable shows what monster think of Victor. It clear that
according to Monster, Victor is not equitable person
According to Henry, Victor is a good and kind. Henry Clerval is one of the
closest character from Victor. He is Victor bestfriend who always in Victor side. He
is always saying something good to Victor, because Clerval think Victor is a good
friend of him.
‘My dear Victor,’ Clerval
Clerval is like someone who is really close to Victor. Not only close but also
Clerval consider Victor as his good best friend. When he talks to Victor, Clerval
always add some certain word like ‘dear’ or ‘my good friend’. This means that clerval
really considering Victor as a good man.
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As a niece and a woman who’s Victor loves. Elizabeth is one crucial character
with an innocent personality, she always lean on herself to Victor and think that
Victor is a good man. Elizabeth think that Victor is kind and generous in every
condition, especially in condition where no one else believes on her. Victor is a good
man to Elizabeth, and someone who worth to marry with. Thus, Elizabeth become
Victor’s wife before Elizabeth getting murdered by the monster.
3.1.2 Indirect Characterization
A. Genius and Intelligent Man
Victor is science’s genius. He has known as a man with a great knowledge of
science. Even he knows so much important theory of science at his lecturer level. He
is always enthusiast learning something new. He included as intelligence because he
is diligent and likely to learn everything to get what he want and it is hard to separate
Victor with science.
“When I had arrived at this point and had become as well acquainted with the theory and practice of natural philosophy as depended on the lessons of any of the professors at Ingolstadt, my residence there being no longer conducive to my improvements”
Besides, he is interest with science which is at that era; a man who has a big
knowledge of science can be a lecture or a person who is sees as an intelligent and
having higher level of knowledge.
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Even the way he speaks, showing his intelligence side, his noble-genius man
being. It appears on some dialogue of Victor. In all his dialogue Victor shows his
respect toward his talking friend.
B. Ambitious Man
Victor is a man with a big curiosity inside himself. He feels like he can do
everything as long as he knows the theory.
“I had contempt for the uses of modern natural philosophy. It was very different when the masters of the science sought immortality and power”
When Victor already intended into his work, he shows hi enthusiasm and his
ambition. He only sees one thing that he should finish his project soon. He does not
care about anything besides his project. Victor works overly hard to makes what he
wants become true. He does not think about his health condition. It can be shown in
the paragraph when he said that his physical appearance is regularly changing into
something worse.
“I expressed myself in measured terms, with the modesty and deference due from a youth to his instructor, without letting escape (inexperience in life would have made me ashamed) any of the enthusiasm which stimulated my intended labour”
Putri 31
He even realize that he have lost his soul completely because he want to build
that creature but he keep continue his work instead of stop and thinking about himself
and his future.
“I seemed to have lost all soul or sensation but for this one pursuit”
C. Romantic as a gentle and wise man
Being romantic is not always from man to woman or the opposite. According
to Percy Bysshe (Shelley husband), the romantic movement in literature following by
four terms, first, having a lot of feeling, second, a healthy sense of self importance is
needed, third, a sense of yourself as a lone individual trekking out to be knowledge
and enlightenment to the rest of the world. And the last is an ability to sense the
sublime in nature.
According to those four terms, Victor characterization is sounds familiar and
fit the character of being romantic. Victor is a dreamer with a big ego, this is one of
what he feels about nature showing his romantic side.
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Victor’s feeling of nature showing his romantic side. Victor appears to see a
nature as being beyond his control. It is massive, overpowering, frightening and yet in
short it can be called as somehow beautiful. Besides, Victor always described
himself as always wanting to penetrates the secret of nature. Victor actually have his
being perfect romantic man. his action shows everything for being romantic. But
unfortunately he still have some issues to work out and given his romantic side to
everyone he loves.
D. An unhappy man and his bad character traits
Victor Frankenstein had a mad scientist vibe. The point which clearly tells the
reader about Victor is that he is curious and more importantly he is always been this
way. Victor clearly insisting that he has been curious since he was a little kid, he
makes reader thinks that it his fault for his action to be born this way. Victor’s
statement giving us the evidence that explains if he is just victim of his genes by
pointing out that he had a happy childhood.
“My parents were possessed by the very spirit of kindness and indulgence. We felt that they were not the tyrants to rule our lot according to their caprice, but the agents and creators of all the many delights which we enjoyed. When I mingled with other families I distinctly discerned how peculiarly fortunate my lot was, and gratitude assisted the development of filial love.” (32)
Actually that statement of Victor is not convincing enough. Victor is really
trying to absolve himself of any responsibility by insisting that he just could not help
Putri 33
that Victor seems to blame his father and his teachers. And also, when he starts
obsessing over the alchemist Cornelius Agrippa, Victor start to blames his father for
not explain the principles of Agrippa’s science. And left him with his
childhood-blindness.
“If, instead of this remark, my father had taken the pains to explain to me that the principles of Agrippa had been entirely exploded and that a modern system of science had been introduced which possessed much greater powers than the ancient, because the powers of the latter were chimerical, while those of the former were real and practical, under such circumstances I should certainly have thrown Agrippa aside and have contented my imagination, warmed as it was, by returning with greater ardour to my former
studies………..My father was not scientific, and I was left to struggle
with a child’s blindness, added to a student’s thirst for knowledge.” (34/36)
And then, when Victor finally goes off to University, he met his teacher of
Natural philosophy. Again, Victor seems like to makes an excuses saying that he
could not help being interested in chemistry because M. Krempe was ugly and M.
Waldman was essentially George Clooney.
“This professor was very unlike his colleague. He appeared about fifty years of age, but with an aspect expressive of the greatest benevolence; a few grey hairs covered his temples, but those at the back of his head were nearly black. His person was short but remarkably erect and his voice the sweetest I had ever heard.” (45)
Not only had that, Victor even tried to blame the destiny like it is destiny-fault
his life become miserable like this. And its do sounds like a man who is desperately
Putri 34
“Destiny was too potent, and her immutable laws had decreed my utter and terrible destruction.” (38)
E. Idealist
An idealist is someone who holds a certain finite which has no veritable being
is his ideal (Pippin, 41). Therefore someone who has an idealist personality believes
on what he believes even the other do not believe him. An idealist has his own firm
believe and no one could not interfere his belief.
Victor is someone with his own belief. Which is when someone stated that he
should not wasting time for believing something unimportant. He keep doing what he
think that is right without considering the other’s opinion.
“A new light seemed to dawn upon my mind, and bounding with joy, I communicated my discovery to my father. My father looked carelessly at the title page of my book and said, ‘Ah! Cornelius Agrippa! My dear Victor, do not waste your time upon this; it is sad trash’
Rather than believing his father who has said that Cornelius Agrippa’s science
is not good to believe, Victor believing himself because he think that Agrippa’s
scence is something worth it to be learned. It happens again when M.Krempe his
professor said that Victor should not make a difficult project. When M.Krempe said
that Victor studied a wrong theory, Victor did not believe that and continue to learn
Putri 35
M. Krempe with warmth, ‘every instant that you have wasted on those books is utterly and entirely lost. You have burdened your memory with exploded systems and useless names. Good God! In what desert land have you lived, where no one was kind enough to inform you that these fancies which you have so greedily imbibed are a thousand years old and as musty as they are ancient? I little expected, in this enlightened and scientific age, to find a disciple of Albertus Magnus and Paracelsus. My dear sir, you must begin your studies entirely anew.’ (43)
Even M.Krempe already told what is wrong by Victor’s knowledge; Victor
cannot accept that and continue to learn. He believes that he has possessed by science.
a science theory which he believes. And he believe himself that he has a natural talent
to do a science project.
“There only remained a resolution to return to my ancient studies and to devote myself to a science for which I believed myself to possess a natural talent
It can be concluded that the quotation and explanation above shows how
Victor behave in his life. He has a strong willingness, although he is kind and nice
man, when it comes to his ambition, he may change himself into someone else which
he does not think about his surroundings. He left his friend, father and his closest
relation to fulfilling his obsession
3.2 Victor Frankenstein’s Existentialism
Based on the existentialism theory by Soren Kierkergaard in previous chapter,
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continue into the higher phases which is Ethical stages, and then the last one is the
higher phases of Existentialism is Religious stages. Kierkergaard defined that human
in existentialism have those three of phases to gain his existence. Thus, the analysis
below will explain about Victor Frankenstein’s Existentialism which leads by his
Obsessional and Ambitious characterization that already explain above in
characterization part. In analysing Frankenstein’s existentialism, it needs to
understand Victor whole life process.
3.2.1 Aesthetical Stage
Aesthetical stage is where human feel boredom as the root of evil (Roth, 263).
Basically, human wants to show his existentialism to avoid that boredom which
happens in his life. To avoid that boredom, of course human need to experiences new
stages of his life which is lead it into the feeling of power and over confidence. As it
shows inside the novel through the life of Victor Frankenstein, Frankenstein in a
genius man who is currently studying science. He though that he is understand the
concept of creating human through science. Most of Aesthetic side of Victor will be
concern on his Science ambition. And his interest of science begins when he was
thirteen. He found some interesting aspect because of Cornelius Agrippa’s book.
“Natural philosophy is the genius that has regulated my fate; I desire,
therefore, in this narration, to state those facts which led to my predilection for that science. When I was thirteen years of age we all went on a party of
Putri 37
to remain a day confined to the inn. In this house I chanced to find a volume of the works of Cornelius Agrippa. I opened it with apathy; the theory which he attempts to demonstrate and the wonderful facts which he relates soon changed this feeling into enthusiasm. A new light seemed to dawn upon my mind, and bounding with joy” (34)
After finding the scientist work of Cornelius Agrippa, Victor becomes more
interest to science. It leads his obsession grow bigger. Victor’s father already stated
that Victor should not waste a time to read Agrippa’s science. But his father only
explains that point without further explanation about Agrippa’s theory. It makes
Victor more and more curious about science. And it leads him into a big ambition
which comes as the result of his boredom and his thinking which is only lead by his
emotion without thinking that it would destroy him later.
“If, instead of this remark, my father had taken the pains to explain to me that the principles of Agrippa had been entirely exploded and that a modern system of science had been introduced which possessed much greater powers than the ancient, because the powers of the latter were chimerical, while those of the former were real and practical, under such circumstances I should certainly have thrown Agrippa aside and have contented my imagination, warmed as it was, by returning with greater ardour to my former studies. It is even possible that the train of my ideas would never have received the fatal impulse that led to my ruin. But the cursory glance my father had taken of my volume by no means assured me that he was acquainted with its contents, and I continued to read with the greatest avidity. When I returned home my first care was to procure the whole works of this author, and afterwards of
Putri 38
After he read many book of science, Victor started to have a big imagination
that science will make him into a better person. Without anyone to lean on, Victor
with his child imagination and blindness started to get thirsty over knowledge.
Victor’s father is not a scientific person; therefore no one can teach Victor what is
right and what is wrong about science. He started to have his own perception of
science.
“My father was not scientific, and I was left to struggle with a child’s blindness, added to a student’s thirst for knowledge. Under the guidance of my new preceptors I entered with the greatest diligence into the search of the philosopher’s stone and the elixir of life; but the latter soon obtained my undivided attention. (36)”
Not only about science. Victor thought that science is not enough. Yet, all his
writer whom Victor believes is also talking about supernatural element because they
are all the ancient writers. Thus, Victor tried to wider his knowledge into supernatural
knowledge that is talked about ghost and spirit. He does not know that is not good to
read about this without anyone to guide him.
“Nor were these my only visions. The raising of ghosts or devils was a
Putri 39
Unfortunately, Victor experience some confusing moment, where he wants to
analyse the law of electricity, eventually the theories he learned from many genius
scientist has different explanation. Victor feels like all the great researcher of natural
philosophy does not astonish enough for him. And learning all those theories will
throw him into fatality. Victor thought it will be useless to learned about that theories.
Therefore, he decided to give up of science.
“…..Cornelius Agrippa, Albertus Magnus, and Paracelsus, the lords of my imagination; but by some fatality the overthrow of these men disinclined me to pursue my accustomed studies. It seemed to me as if nothing would or could ever be known………….I at once gave up my former occupations, set down natural history and all its progeny as a deformed and abortive creation, and entertained the greatest disdain for a would-be science which could never even step within the threshold of real knowledge.” (37-38)
But after his mother passed away, Victor started to move to Ingolstadt and
starting to study in higher level. Here, Victor met some professors which make his
obsession of science back again.
“The next morning I delivered my letters of introduction and paid a visit to some of the principal professors. Chance—or rather the evil influence, the Angel of Destruction, which asserted omnipotent sway over me from the moment I turned my reluctant steps from my father’s door—led me first to M. Krempe, professor of natural philosophy. He was an uncouth man, but deeply imbued in the secrets of his science. (43)”
After meeting the professor from his university, Victor starts to interest in
chemistry which has a big role in science. He was starting to read science book over
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“From this day natural philosophy, and particularly chemistry, in the most comprehensive sense of the term, became nearly my sole occupation. I read with ardour those works, so full of genius and discrimination, which modern inquirers have written on these subjects. I attended the lectures and cultivated the acquaintance of the men of science of the university, and I found even in M. Krempe a great deal of sound sense and real information, combined, it is true, with a repulsive physiognomy and manners, but not on that account the less valuable.”
His interest over science became an obsession. He feels like he knows every
construction of human being over science. He wants to create a creature which is
similar with human because he feels he can do that with all the knowledge he already
learned in his whole life.
“I doubted at first whether I should attempt the creation of a being like myself, or one of simpler organization; but my imagination was too much exalted by my first success to permit me to doubt of my ability to give life to an animal as complete and wonderful as man”
The paragraph above said that Victor has too much imagination because his
first work of science has been successful. It leads Victor to be greedier with his
ability. And he decided to create a creature which is in it process, it causes many
things happen in Victors life. Besides, when Victor has already meet professor
Waldman, he felt obsessed by what M.Waldman done, he obsessed over M.Waldman
science experiment and M.Waldman ancient studies of science. Victor started to have
a hallucination and imagination about making new experiment of science which can
Putri 41
think about pleasure. Here, Victor thinks that his nature knowledge of science and his
experiment-to-be will make an immortality and power.
“Besides, I had a contempt for the uses of modern natural philosophy. It was very different when the masters of the science sought immortality and power; such views, although futile, were grand…..”
Victor’s ambition of making a creature grow bigger, he even cannot sleep at
night, think about the next day he will making something. Shortly, after a while of
thinking, Victor started to dong his imagination. He started to doing an observation,
investigation over something which related to what he want to do. He starting to get
impresses with some kind of supernatural horrors. He analyse everything like making
a creature is the only aim of his life.
“As I applied so closely, it may be easily conceived that my progress was rapid”
“After days and nights of incredible labour and fatigue, I succeeded in discovering the cause of generation and life; nay, more, I became myself capable of bestowing animation upon lifeless matter.”(52)
“But this discovery was so great and overwhelming that all the steps by which I had been progressively led to it were obliterated, and I beheld only the result. What had been the study and desire of the wisest men since the creation of the world was now within my grasp”
At this stage, Victor ambition changes himself become someone with a
different personality. He does not think about his surrounding anymore. Not only
about his surrounding, Victor seems like a man who did not care about his health. He
Putri 42
“These thoughts supported my spirits, while I pursued my undertaking with unremitting ardour. My cheek had grown pale with study, and my person had become emaciated with confinement.”(54)
“And the same feelings which made me neglect the scenes around me caused me also to forget those friends who were so many miles absent, and whom I had not seen for so long a time. I knew my silence disquieted them, and I well-remembered the words of my father”(56)
“Winter, spring, and summer passed away during my labours; but I did not watch the blossom or the expanding leaves—sights which before always yielded me supreme delight—so deeply was I engrossed in my occupation. (57)”
This stages keep continue until Victor faces something which he did not hope
before, which he cannot even figure out before. He saw that his experiment did not
work as what he thought. His experiment result did not please him. It happened
eventually after some progress he made but he still can’t get what he imagine at first.
“How can I describe my emotions at this catastrophe, or how delineate the wretch whom with such infinite pains and care I had endeavoured to form?...”
And because of that creature appearance, Victor feels defeated like he has
make something wrong. He feels like his dream is shattered and nothing can do with
it anymore. Victor has being stress and sick because of that monster appearance.
Victor even can back to the place where he makes that creature. The appearance of
the creature is look like monster. And it makes Victor suffer a lot from fear.
Putri 43
“I trembled excessively; I could not endure to think of, and far less to allude to, the occurrences of the preceding night. I walked with a quick pace, and we soon arrived at my college. I then reflected, and the thought made me shiver, that the creature whom I had left in my apartment might still be there, alive and walking about. I dreaded to behold this monster, but I feared still more that Henry should see him.”(63)
And because of this, Victor Aesthetical stages ended here and continue into
the next stage which is ethical stages
3.2.2 Ethical Stages
Kierkergaard described an ethical stages is where human leave his satisfaction
or his temporary desire and starting to accepting all obligations (Hardiman 253) . at
this stage, individual can control and identify himself. Mean that in this stage, an
individual starting to have his conscious back. In Ethical stage, human starting to
have his “free choice” that human can begin his free consciously choice.
Because at this stage human can have his conscious choice, therefore human
can control himself even he can control his ambition. He is starting to have himself in
reality and concrete option under rational consideration. Kierkergaard stated that in
ethical stage, human have attempted to achieve a moral value though human being is
