21st May 2018

Conflict

Types of Conflict Internal or External? Evidence
Man vs Self Internal (A conflict that occurs within the mind of a single character.) ” I was tempted to plunge into the silent lake, that the waters might close over me and my calamities forever. But I was restrained, when I thought of the heroic and suffering Elizabeth, whom I tenderly loved, and whose existence was bound up in mine. ” – Struggling with reasons to live (Elizabeth) and reasons to die (guilt and grief) Hate vs Love

“Often did my human nature turn with loathing from my occupation whilst still urged on by eagerness which perpetually increased, I brought my work near to a conclusion.” – Whether to go with his morals of human nature or go with his eagerness.

“Life although it may only be an accumulation of anguish, is dear to me, and I will defend it.” – Hates hoe he has been treated and is miserable but also recognizes the value of life and is willing to fight for it.

“How can I describe my emotions at this catastrophe, or how delicate the wretch whom with such infinite pains and care I had endeavored to form? – Guilt, does he expose what he has done or let Justine take the fall?

Man vs Nature External (A conflict that occurs between one or more characters and an opposing force. This could be a character, act of nature, technologically based etc.) ” I have described myself as always having been imbued with a fervent longing to penetrate the secrets of nature.” and “I pursued nature to her hiding-places. Who shall conceive the horrors of my secret toil as I dabbled among the unhallowed damps of the grave or tortured the living animal to animate the lifeless clay?” This quote indicates that Victor has robbed nature of its balance, its hidden treasures which lie beneath the soil and therefore creating conflict between himself and nature.
Man vs Man External Creature “You accuse me of murder, and yet you would, with a satisfied conscience, destroy your own creature. Oh, praise the eternal justice of man! Yet I ask you not to spare me; listen to me, and then, if you can, and if you will, destroy the work of your hands.”  The creature detests the unfair treatment and discrimination that Victor puts on him. That Victor is willing to blame the creature for murder, though he himself had created the murderer. The monster requests for Victor to listen and chose to sympathies or act on anger.

Victor “I shudder to reflect, that I have been the miserable origin and author? Cursed be the day, abhorred devil, in which you first saw light!” Victor wishes he had never created the creature, the event which had created the conflict in the first place.

” Beware, for I am fearless and therefore powerful. I will watch with the wiliness of a snake, that I may sting with its venom. Man, you shall repent of the injuries you inflict.’ ‘Devil, cease; and do not poison the air with these sounds of malice. I have declared my resolution to you, and I am no coward to bend beneath words. Leave me; I am inexorable.’ ‘It is well. I go; but remember, I shall be with you on your wedding-night.” The creature insists that he has nothing to lose and therefore is fearless and more powerful whereas Victor has his family being threatened as his weakness. This concept therefore forms this dominant and inferior relationship between the two. The monster able to watch and inflict poison on Victor’s life like a snake acting as a predator threatening the life of its prey (‘I shall be with you on your wedding night’). Victor however dismisses these threats as mere attempts for Victor to submit to the creature’s demands to create a companion. This therefore proves the poison to be ineffective, Victor now changing his morals of placing the world above his family.

“…to pursue the daemon who caused this misery, until he or I shall perish in mortal conflict. For this purpose I will preserve my life; to execute this dear revenge will I again behold the sun and tread the green herbage of earth, which otherwise should vanish from my eyes forever.” This conflict between Victor and the monster will end with one or the other perishing, this being the only way for the conflict to end (mortal). Victor is now fueled by revenge to be the one to live and the creature to perish in order to end this conflict and restore happiness and faith in life which cannot be achieved otherwise.

Man vs Technology External
Man vs Society External ” 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.” “M. Krempe was a little squat man with a gruff voice and a repulsive countenance; the teacher, therefore, did not prepossess me in favor of his pursuits.” This is M. Krempe detesting against Victor’s studies and therefore representing how society would react with knowledge of Victor’s experiments with life from death. Victor dismisses these disapproving comments, forming a conflict between him and society’s view.

“In a solitary chamber, or rather cell, at the top of the house, and separated from all the other apartments by a gallery and staircase, I kept my workshop of filthy creation; my eyeballs were starting from their sockets in attending to the details of my employment.”  Victor chooses to hide from the sights of man by remaining in a solitary chamber whilst working on his creation in order to avoid disapproval and judgement of society, therefore trying to avoid conflict.

“I perceived the crowd rapidly increase. Their faces expressed a mixture of curiosity and anger, which annoyed and in some degree alarmed me. I inquired the way to the inn, but no one replied.” This quote gives Victor a brief experience of how the creature is treated by society, due to being faced with a crowd of disapproving and angry fellow creatures.

“The scene was perfectly solitary; a few boats were returning towards land, but I sailed away from them. I felt as if I was about the commission of a dreadful crime and avoided with shuddering anxiety any encounter with my fellow creatures.” After being accused of murdering Clerval, Victor decides to avoid society as he had whilst working on his creation. He knows that society thinks he is guilty of a crime and therefore is in conflict, wishing not to encounter any negative encounters with his fellow creatures, similar to the creature.

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About Lucas

"Writing gives you freedom to create your own world, your rules, your characters and your imagination"

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Writing