*The following is an essay that I wrote in a two-hour period for my English final exam. It is a comparison between Henry Perowne, the protagonist of Ian McEwan's poignant novel, Saturday, and Victor Frankenstein, the protagonist of Mary Shelley's famous tragedy (yes, tragedy, not horror), Frankenstein. The structure of the essay is a little bit rudimentary, but I admit entirely it is a rough product of only two hours of quick thinking.
Henry Perowne and Victor Frankenstein, though both men of science, are protagonists who are as different as the time periods in which their stories unfold. Some of these differences may be attributed to the fact that Shelley created Frankenstein in order to make an argument, whereas McEwan crafts Perowne to be a subtle portrayal of the modern man. But although Frankenstein was never meant to be as three-dimensional a character as Perowne proves to be, we as readers cannot resist the temptation to make comparisons between the two, as different in their similarities as they are. Perowne’s lack of hubris, willingness to assume responsibility, and great capacity for love render his audience sympathetic towards his trials and affectionate towards his character. In high contrast, most readers will find it difficult to reconcile Frankenstein’s claims of affection towards his family with his consistently irresponsible acts of egocentricity.
Perhaps the most fundamental difference between Perowne and Frankenstein is that Perowne lacks what one might consider Frankenstein’s fatal flaw- the sin of hubris. Perowne is capable of admitting that he has done Baxter a wrong. He has the humility to recognize that the seeds of conflict were sown when he consciously decided to abuse his brief doctor-patient relationship with Baxter. In high contrast, Frankenstein, to the very end, is utterly incapable of admitting that abandoning the Monster was an act of irresponsibility and even cruelty. He ignores his own role in driving the Monster towards evil, and insists on seeing the Monster as a personal devil sent to torture him.
Perowne is humble in his recognition of the amazing capability of creative thinking. While he recognizes that many a miracle has been performed at his own hands, he seems to envy Daisy and Theo for the work that they do, work that is different in nature from the analytical thinking that is required of a neurosurgeon. Perowne acknowledges the existence of “work that [he] cannot begin to imagine achieving [himself]” (pg. 67), whereas Frankenstein expresses no envy towards the literary studies of Clerval. When Victor discovers the secret to life, he believes it to be the ultimate human achievement, in a moment reminiscent of the line “he hath drunk the milk of Paradise” from Coleridge’s poem, “Kubla Khan.”
Perowne and Frankenstein differ greatly in their attitude towards their work. For Henry Perowne, neurosurgery is not just a passion- it is a way of living, an identity, an inseparable part of himself. Frankenstein’s obsession with natural science, however, is transient. He abandons not only his Monster but also what he once seemed to consider his calling in life without a second thought. Perhaps this is why Henry feels guilt about his abuse of knowledge, whereas Frankenstein does not. Perowne is aware that knowledge is a privilege, and that its powers must be exercised with discretion. Frankenstein’s frenzied experiments are perhaps the furthest from “discretion” that a man can get.
Both Perowne and Frankenstein experience the loss of a mother, but they deal with their sorrow in very different ways. Perowne does so with humility and grace. Although Lily’s slow fading away into nothingness pains her son, Henry recognizes that consciousness is a “brief privilege” (pg.54). We are all destined one day to die, leaving behind nothing but a few articles that lose their meaning without their association to a life. Perowne, through his mother’s mental deterioration, finds a way to accept the inevitability of his own mortality. He is sad to see himself age, to see the white hairs on his scalp and the lack of elasticity in his muscles, but knows that this is the fate of all men. Such recognition and resignation allow him to sympathize with Baxter as a fellow man- while both Baxter and Perowne have a limited number of days left to live, Baxter will not be able to enjoy the dignity of dying as himself. He will die as a reduced version of what he once was, and Perowne, knowing Lily and what dementia has done to her, feels compassion towards him. In high contrast, Frankenstein is so unable to accept his mother’s death that he foolishly attempts to transcend natural law and disprove human mortality. Frankenstein is in a constant state of self-denial – of the fact that his mother will never return, of the fact that he has shortcomings and limitations as a human being, and of the fact that every one of us as individuals is an insignificant speck in the greater fabric of humankind.
Perowne is a family man through and through, whereas Frankenstein only assumes the titles of father, son, brother, and husband. This difference can be attributed to the fact that Perowne does not run away from his problems, whereas Frankenstein’s first response in every crisis is to flee, regardless of whom he leaves behind. Henry’s first instinct, as soon as Baxter walks into his home, is to protect his loved ones. He stands steadfastly by his family, and is characterized more by the desire to the protect others than to protect himself. Frankenstein, on the other hand, betrays both his family and society when he irresponsibly flees from the sight of his Monster. In order to quell his conscience and avoid the unpleasant emotion that is horror, Victor leaves the rest of society at the Monster’s mercy while he lives in a comfortable cocoon of self-denial. When under pressure, Perowne turns to the beauty of the mundane, to the voice of his wife on the phone, for comfort. Frankenstein feels the need to take the modern equivalent of a backpacking trip around Europe at the expense of his father. Lastly, Frankenstein worries his father and Elizabeth to no end with his refusal to communicate, whereas Perowne and his family talk out their emotions after their terrifying encounter with Baxter. This shows that Perowne is a part of a network of trust, whereas Frankenstein neglects his family in his conceited belief that no one can understand his sorrow but himself.
Henry gladly assumes the role of “father,” whereas Frankenstein feels burdened by it. Perowne, like every good father figure, appreciates his children and feels the obligation to protect them without feeling ownership towards them. His identity as a father is an undeniable part of his self, as are his identity as a neurosurgeon and his responsibilities as a son to Lily. Frankenstein, on the other hand, only calls himself the Monster’s creator when it is favorable for him to do so. Frankenstein abandons the Monster in his greatest time of need, whereas Perowne assumes responsibility for Baxter’s life without hesitation. This is an impressively responsible decision on Perowne’s part, as Henry doesn’t have the degree of obligation towards Baxter that Frankenstein has towards his Monster. Perowne, in an act of humanity, makes amends for having insulted not only Baxter’s ego, but also Baxter’s (and every human’s) desperate will to live.
Frankenstein generously grants himself the privilege of self-pity. He insists to Captain Walton that no one else can understand his pain, and that Justine’s death was unfortunate that dying was nothing compared to the immense guilt that he felt. He feels the liberty to hate his Monster, not willing to admit- to himself and to Captain Walton- that he has created his own undoing. Perowne, on the other hand, recognizes that there is pain and sorrow everywhere, and that although Baxter has humiliated Daisy and held a knife to Rosalind’s neck, forgiveness is not Henry’s to give. Henry saves Baxter’s life, but does not expect repentance or gratitude in return. He operates on Baxter only with feelings of professionalism, and does not lay claim to Baxter’s life afterwards. Perowne recognizes that perhaps he is the one who needs to be forgiven- for having taken advantage of a man whose days are numbered, a man who perhaps wishes that Henry’s operation on him hadn’t succeeded.
Both Perowne and Frankenstein may call themselves by the same titles- as men of science, husbands, sons- but they are fundamentally different characters. Perowne is an individual who, despite his analytical mode of thinking, feels a love towards fellow human beings that is not limited to his immediate family circle. Frankenstein, sadly enough, fails even to genuinely care for those who are closest to him. Perowne, although not a perfect man, is capable of giving back to those who are generous with their affection. Frankenstein, however, receives but does not return.
Henry Perowne and Victor Frankenstein, though both men of science, are protagonists who are as different as the time periods in which their stories unfold. Some of these differences may be attributed to the fact that Shelley created Frankenstein in order to make an argument, whereas McEwan crafts Perowne to be a subtle portrayal of the modern man. But although Frankenstein was never meant to be as three-dimensional a character as Perowne proves to be, we as readers cannot resist the temptation to make comparisons between the two, as different in their similarities as they are. Perowne’s lack of hubris, willingness to assume responsibility, and great capacity for love render his audience sympathetic towards his trials and affectionate towards his character. In high contrast, most readers will find it difficult to reconcile Frankenstein’s claims of affection towards his family with his consistently irresponsible acts of egocentricity.
Perhaps the most fundamental difference between Perowne and Frankenstein is that Perowne lacks what one might consider Frankenstein’s fatal flaw- the sin of hubris. Perowne is capable of admitting that he has done Baxter a wrong. He has the humility to recognize that the seeds of conflict were sown when he consciously decided to abuse his brief doctor-patient relationship with Baxter. In high contrast, Frankenstein, to the very end, is utterly incapable of admitting that abandoning the Monster was an act of irresponsibility and even cruelty. He ignores his own role in driving the Monster towards evil, and insists on seeing the Monster as a personal devil sent to torture him.
Perowne is humble in his recognition of the amazing capability of creative thinking. While he recognizes that many a miracle has been performed at his own hands, he seems to envy Daisy and Theo for the work that they do, work that is different in nature from the analytical thinking that is required of a neurosurgeon. Perowne acknowledges the existence of “work that [he] cannot begin to imagine achieving [himself]” (pg. 67), whereas Frankenstein expresses no envy towards the literary studies of Clerval. When Victor discovers the secret to life, he believes it to be the ultimate human achievement, in a moment reminiscent of the line “he hath drunk the milk of Paradise” from Coleridge’s poem, “Kubla Khan.”
Perowne and Frankenstein differ greatly in their attitude towards their work. For Henry Perowne, neurosurgery is not just a passion- it is a way of living, an identity, an inseparable part of himself. Frankenstein’s obsession with natural science, however, is transient. He abandons not only his Monster but also what he once seemed to consider his calling in life without a second thought. Perhaps this is why Henry feels guilt about his abuse of knowledge, whereas Frankenstein does not. Perowne is aware that knowledge is a privilege, and that its powers must be exercised with discretion. Frankenstein’s frenzied experiments are perhaps the furthest from “discretion” that a man can get.
Both Perowne and Frankenstein experience the loss of a mother, but they deal with their sorrow in very different ways. Perowne does so with humility and grace. Although Lily’s slow fading away into nothingness pains her son, Henry recognizes that consciousness is a “brief privilege” (pg.54). We are all destined one day to die, leaving behind nothing but a few articles that lose their meaning without their association to a life. Perowne, through his mother’s mental deterioration, finds a way to accept the inevitability of his own mortality. He is sad to see himself age, to see the white hairs on his scalp and the lack of elasticity in his muscles, but knows that this is the fate of all men. Such recognition and resignation allow him to sympathize with Baxter as a fellow man- while both Baxter and Perowne have a limited number of days left to live, Baxter will not be able to enjoy the dignity of dying as himself. He will die as a reduced version of what he once was, and Perowne, knowing Lily and what dementia has done to her, feels compassion towards him. In high contrast, Frankenstein is so unable to accept his mother’s death that he foolishly attempts to transcend natural law and disprove human mortality. Frankenstein is in a constant state of self-denial – of the fact that his mother will never return, of the fact that he has shortcomings and limitations as a human being, and of the fact that every one of us as individuals is an insignificant speck in the greater fabric of humankind.
Perowne is a family man through and through, whereas Frankenstein only assumes the titles of father, son, brother, and husband. This difference can be attributed to the fact that Perowne does not run away from his problems, whereas Frankenstein’s first response in every crisis is to flee, regardless of whom he leaves behind. Henry’s first instinct, as soon as Baxter walks into his home, is to protect his loved ones. He stands steadfastly by his family, and is characterized more by the desire to the protect others than to protect himself. Frankenstein, on the other hand, betrays both his family and society when he irresponsibly flees from the sight of his Monster. In order to quell his conscience and avoid the unpleasant emotion that is horror, Victor leaves the rest of society at the Monster’s mercy while he lives in a comfortable cocoon of self-denial. When under pressure, Perowne turns to the beauty of the mundane, to the voice of his wife on the phone, for comfort. Frankenstein feels the need to take the modern equivalent of a backpacking trip around Europe at the expense of his father. Lastly, Frankenstein worries his father and Elizabeth to no end with his refusal to communicate, whereas Perowne and his family talk out their emotions after their terrifying encounter with Baxter. This shows that Perowne is a part of a network of trust, whereas Frankenstein neglects his family in his conceited belief that no one can understand his sorrow but himself.
Henry gladly assumes the role of “father,” whereas Frankenstein feels burdened by it. Perowne, like every good father figure, appreciates his children and feels the obligation to protect them without feeling ownership towards them. His identity as a father is an undeniable part of his self, as are his identity as a neurosurgeon and his responsibilities as a son to Lily. Frankenstein, on the other hand, only calls himself the Monster’s creator when it is favorable for him to do so. Frankenstein abandons the Monster in his greatest time of need, whereas Perowne assumes responsibility for Baxter’s life without hesitation. This is an impressively responsible decision on Perowne’s part, as Henry doesn’t have the degree of obligation towards Baxter that Frankenstein has towards his Monster. Perowne, in an act of humanity, makes amends for having insulted not only Baxter’s ego, but also Baxter’s (and every human’s) desperate will to live.
Frankenstein generously grants himself the privilege of self-pity. He insists to Captain Walton that no one else can understand his pain, and that Justine’s death was unfortunate that dying was nothing compared to the immense guilt that he felt. He feels the liberty to hate his Monster, not willing to admit- to himself and to Captain Walton- that he has created his own undoing. Perowne, on the other hand, recognizes that there is pain and sorrow everywhere, and that although Baxter has humiliated Daisy and held a knife to Rosalind’s neck, forgiveness is not Henry’s to give. Henry saves Baxter’s life, but does not expect repentance or gratitude in return. He operates on Baxter only with feelings of professionalism, and does not lay claim to Baxter’s life afterwards. Perowne recognizes that perhaps he is the one who needs to be forgiven- for having taken advantage of a man whose days are numbered, a man who perhaps wishes that Henry’s operation on him hadn’t succeeded.
Both Perowne and Frankenstein may call themselves by the same titles- as men of science, husbands, sons- but they are fundamentally different characters. Perowne is an individual who, despite his analytical mode of thinking, feels a love towards fellow human beings that is not limited to his immediate family circle. Frankenstein, sadly enough, fails even to genuinely care for those who are closest to him. Perowne, although not a perfect man, is capable of giving back to those who are generous with their affection. Frankenstein, however, receives but does not return.