Essay 2: Frankenstein - By Mary Shelly / Flowers For Algernon in comparison

Just recently in class, Mr. Teo (or Name, for that matter - NO offense, Mr. Teo) has shared with us two Expository Essays: 1 on the 'The Three Africas' and 2 on 'Frankenstein'.

It has been long debated about the issue of 'Frankenstein being a monster - or not?'

Frankenstein's creation's (FC) can be compared with Charlie Gordon (Flowers For Algernon), and we can see that there are many similarities. FC strived for love and friendship, and so did Charlie. And there is something else that they both sought: acceptance, and not rejection by the society.

The reason for their 'creation' is not very much different either: they were both out of good intention. Somebody close to Victor (FC's creator) died, and he was devastated, so he wanted to re-element people. Dr. Strauss and Dr. Nemur conducted the experiment on Charlie Gordon, but the 'good intention' was on Charlie's part. Charlie wanted to become smarter so that he would be accepted by the society, so that he can make friends, so that he would feel love.

The only difference is the action that these two characters took in response to social rejection. FC transformed into a 'monster', a murderer who just wants revenge on the people who hated him. But deep in his heart he is good. He once helped out a blind man, and the moment of happiness he felt when the blind man said that he was the kindest man in the world. But still, he became a murderer who waants revenge. Charlie was different. When he could not find acceptance in society, he tried harder, and harder. He had the motivation to try and keep on trying.

There is another minor difference in their lives because FC was abandoned by his creator upon his creation, but Charlie Gordon was not really abandoned, but he was looked down upon and teased by his friends and other people.

FC was not as 'special' as Charlie in a sense that Charlie had the drive to become intelligent and make friends, but FC could not deal with the problem the hard way, so he chose the 'easy' way out, or the wrong way. He chose to kill.