本論文旨在分析瑪麗·雪萊 (Mary Shelley, 1797-1851)於1818年所出版的科幻小說《科學怪人》中，兩位重要角色包含維多·法蘭克斯坦和他所創造出來的怪物。由於小說誕生在英國浪漫時期，當時的社會氛圍受到工業革命及相關文明思潮的影響之下，各種機械的發明及林立的工廠造成了城市的髒汙亂象，而思想方面的革新在動盪的時代下也很大程度的改變了人們的宗教信仰，使人們逐漸尋求資本及其他慰藉方式。
第一章介紹作者當時的寫作背景、複雜的家庭組合方式，以及其極具文壇影響力的家族成員，特別是其父(William Godwin, 1756-1836)母(Mary Wollstonecraft, 1759-1797)和配偶(Percy Bysshe Shelley, 1792-1822)皆是文學界的泰斗，使讀者們對於本論文所選擇的文本有更為深刻的認識。第二章是以表象和真實這一角度來分析怪物，並且研究其劇烈變化的心路歷程和對於社會/人生的感悟，是如何被怪物可怕的外表徹底地影響的。第三章主要是藉知識和人性這兩個在文本中互相衝突的要素，來剖析法蘭克斯坦的人生追求如何改變其人生軌跡，並且造成了一個不可挽回的悲劇。第四章由於能力和責任與兩位角色具有相當高的關聯性。他們一個身為創造者，一個作為被造者，其中的因果關係將會被同時檢視，以了解他們之間能力轉移的過程。
最後，結尾的章節會將以上所述之各章節的重點做個總結，並且重申本論文的主旨:透過三對互補又對立的元素來重新探討兩位主角盤根錯節的關係。這些不同的要素，包含表象和真實、知識和人性、能力和責任，來一一檢視法蘭克斯坦和他的怪物，以及彼此之間有什麼樣深遠的影響。讀者們也能藉此以另一種新鮮的視角，重新閱讀這本文學經典並且從中獲得別樣的啟發。

This thesis aims to study the two main characters, Frankenstein and the monster, in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein in terms of three different pairs of forces and how those complementary and contrasting elements affect the two characters profoundly. Before jumping into the three main chapters analyzing Frankenstein and the monster, in my first chapter, I will give an introduction to the author, her significant family members, and the cultural and historical background of the story, which may help the readers understand the novel from a wider perspective.
In Chapters II, the contradictions of appearance and reality will be closely examined to show how they influence the monster and his perception of life throughout his journey. Also, some paragraphs will be quoted to explain the gradual process of the monster’s tragedy. The next chapter will show the components of knowledge and humanity that are highly related to Frankenstein himself. Thus, I will study their association with Frankenstein and how they have a huge impact on his life. In Chapter IV, the opposition of power and responsibility will be connected to both characters for their creator-creature relationship, and the shift of power relationship, from Frankenstein to the monster, is irreversible. I will try to discuss how this usurping of power takes place.
In the last chapter, I will conclude this thesis and search for a fresh approach to read this story with variant forces between Frankenstein and the monster—from the angles of appearance and reality, knowledge and humanity, and lastly power and responsibility. In other words, it wishes to provide readers with some new perspective for reading this novel.

Abstract………………………………………………………………………………...i
Chinese Abstract…………………………………………………………………........ii
Acknowledgements…………………………………………………………………...iii
Chapter I Introduction…………………………………………………………………1
Chapter II The Monster: Appearance and Reality……………………………………11
Chapter III Frankenstein: Knowledge and Humanity……………………….……….31
Chapter IV Frankenstein and The Monster: Power and Responsibility.......................45
Chapter V Conclusion…………………………………………………………..........58
Works Cited…………………………………………………………………………..66

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