Compare & Contrast Frankerstien with The Elephant Man - Essay Example

Comparison between Frankenstein and The Elephant Man Introduction The creation of an abnormal product becomes a cause of problem both for the creator and the created. Marry Shelley’s Frankenstein and the movie The Elephant Man present a comparison and contrast of God-made and man-made creation. God’s creation turns into an abnormal human being who becomes a but of ridicule for his fellow beings. On the other hand man’s creation turns against him and makes his life hell. There is no room for abnormal creations on earth.

Neither Elephant Man nor Frankestein is allowed a normal existence among humans. They remain outcasts. Their existence puts a question mark on the creative genius of their creators. In the given lines, we will observe the similarities and dissimilarities between the above mentions works of art.God-made and man-made creationsThe Elephant man, John Merrick, is the product of nature or God. He symbolizes either imperfection of creation or hints to some scheme on the part of the creator by creating such abnormal creatures.

Frankenstein is created by Victor who wants to show that he possesses God like powers. Kerman(1991) observes that the relationship between Victor and the monster can be compared with myth of Prometheus where creation tried to outwit the creator. In The Elephant Man God’s creation becomes a toy in the hands of its fellows who though have some sort of sympathy for it, yet they plan to use it for their own purpose. Man’s creation unfortunately becomes an ugly monster who is not even accepted by its creator.

Victor vs TreveseThe relationship between creator and the creation has been emphasized through the characters of Victor Frankestein and surgeon Fredrik Treves. Though Merrick is not the direct creation of Trevese, yet the relationship between Merrick and Treves is same as the connection between Victor and his creation. Merrick has been introduced as a proud discovery of the surgeon and this relationship further disturbs Merrikc’s life. Both Victor and Treves bear sympathy towards the freaks but Victor is somewhat afraid of it due to the threats of the monster.

Acceptance of misfitsThe monster is even disowned by its creator. Victor seeing the outcome of his creation is terrified and in order to save his life from the monster hides in many places. The cruel acts of the monster also make him an unacceptable being. The monster wishes to have an identity and wants to live a normal life but the creator is unwilling to grant his wish as he thinks that if he creates a wife for the monster, they will further do bad things. Hence, the solution is to do away with it.

Similarly the Elephant man (Merrick) is also denied a normal life. Treves, Carr-Gomm and Alexandra show sympathy for him but keep him aloof from fellow humans. The unfortunate creature is only for show-of. According to Dimmer (2011), the sign over the shop front “SEE THE ELEPHANT MAN, ONLY TWO PENCE” clearly explains how Merrick was treated by his fellow men (ch. 2).ConclusionWe can find many similarities and dissimilarities between the two works of art. Though both belong to two different categories: Frankestein is a literary work and The Elephant man is a movie, yet the common threads in the theme make these works highly comparable.

The comparison could be made on the ground of plight of abnormal creations and the issues of their acceptance by their fellows. The contrastive element hints towards inability of man to imitate God’s creation in the case of Frankenstein.Works CitedKerman, Judith. Retrofitting Blade Runner: Issues in Ridley Scotts Blade Runner and Philip K.Dicks Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?Bowling Green, Ohio: Bowling Green State University Popular Press, 1991. Print. Drimmer, Frederick. The Elephant Man.

Lanham, MD: Garrett County Press, 2011. Internet resource.