Free English Literature Dissertations - Although These Monsters Are Usually Formed By People And In The Images Of
Although these monsters are usually formed by people and in the images of human beings, in the majority of cases they are terrifying creatures that do not have soul and, thus they evoke emotions of horror in people. However, some gothic novels move away from such a stereotypic representation of supernatural creatures; this is especially obvious in the novel Frankenstein written by Mary Shelley, where the writer reveals that despite the fact that Frankenstein’s creature is horrid, usually shocking people, he may also demonstrate some human feelings and emotions. On the other hand, Shelley’s gothic novel challenges the existing viewpoint that evil and horror cannot emerge from good. As Christopher Small points out, The [Shelley’s] Monster has potentialities for good but becomes satanic; his maker is perfectly good or at any rate has no reason not to be but produces evil12.
This controversy may be understood, utilising Lacan’s explanation of desires. Lacan considers that a person is not able to guide his/her desires, because these desires are detached from person’s needs13. Frankenstein’s Creature is not able to suppress his natural instincts and desires for murder, similar to his Creator who has no control of his desires to achieve power over life. Both the Creator and the Creature exist in their own dreams, but as these dreams collide with reality, they may transform love into hatred, as is just the case with the Creature. In regard to Frankenstein, his unconscious dreams are formed by fantasies and are restricted by cultural stereotypes, and this contradiction reduces the possibility for a person to satisfy his desires. Although Frankenstein wants his Creature to possess a certain identity, he loses his own identity in the process of creating this monster, while Frankenstein reveals rather powerful identity. The Creature reaches out for love and sympathy, but realises that people can only feel hatred and disgust towards such an awful monster; thus when he finally kills Frankenstein and his relatives, he also kills himself, understanding that he has no future. Contrary to Frankenstein’s monster, a female cyborg in Fritz Lang’s horror film Metropolis (1926) initially lacks any identity and feelings. According to Freud, every child has to pass through the Oedipal process, only then he/she is able to acquire a certain identity.
But Rotwang who creates this cyborg in the image of his daughter deprives this creature of the possibility to acquire her subjectivity. On the other hand, Rotwang provides the cyborg with an image of his daughter, conforming to Freud’s conception of phallus envy; that is he hopes that the cyborg will be identified with the Creator, the father.
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