Both the poem The Cry of Children by Elizabeth Barrett Browning and the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley describe acts of cruelty in an attempt to elicit pity from readers. Victims in each case feel bitter self-pity and respond with resentment toward those who harmed them. The working class children in the poem and the Monster in Frankenstein are pitiful characters in how they are treated, but they are not entirely helpless. They can still exercise free will and choose how to react to their treatment. There is a big difference in their outward dispositions, even if their initial feelings are similar. Both authors create characters who suffer injustice and desire pity, but their characters' responses to their challenges determine whether or not they deserve readers' sympathy. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The children in Browning's poem feel pain and general despair about their lives. They look forward to death, saying, “It's good when it happens” (Browning, line 51). Children are brave about something that is universally feared. Browning uses the unexpected perspective of children to show how they cope with difficulties. They say to those who suggest they leave work and play in the country: "Leave us... from your beautiful and beautiful pleasures!" (Browning, lines 63-64). The work never seems to end, as Browning points out by using the phrase “all day” three times between lines 73 to 77. Browning highlights the misery of children by showing how they don't even want to think about running and playing: “If we take care of some meadow, it would simply be/to throw yourself down there and sleep” (Browning, lines 67-68). Children resent those who don't sympathize with them, but they don't dwell on things they can't have. In contrast, the Monster in Shelley's novel allows himself to be consumed by his grief until it turns into anger. At the beginning of the story, he is similar to the children in Browning's poem. When he is alone and cold in the forest, he sits and cries (Shelley 68). However, after being rejected by his family, he tries to make friends, he says: “Despair had not yet taken possession of me; my feelings were those of anger and revenge” (Shelley 92). The family rejects the monster, but does not impose further hardship on him. His pain is justifiable, but his anger is not. The Monster goes on to say, “I didn't try to control them; but, letting myself be carried away by the stream, I turned my mind to harm and death” (Shelley 93). The Monster willingly increases the hatred in his heart. Shelley erases the pity the audience may feel for the Monster by slowly revealing his cruelty. Meanwhile, in Browning's poem, children's response to the injustices they face is that they lack goodness, not that they should embrace evil. They have no faith, because they have received no religious instruction, as is shown in verse 10 when they say they know only two words of a single prayer. They also lack faith in God's benevolence. They say, "sorrow has made us unbelieving" (Browning, line 131). Browning's readers would have seen unfaithful children as a tragedy. Browning, however, shows why his young protagonists think God doesn't listen to them. They say: "the human creatures near us / Pass by, without hearing, or answering a word." (Browning, lines 107-108). It is their simple reasoning that makes them doubt God, rather than any kind of innate cruelty. The Monster's reasoning is selfish and partial. He tries to present himself as innocent and eager for good, but contradicts himself on several occasions. He states that he “felt it growing upwithin me the greatest ardor for virtue and horror for vice" (Shelley 87). However, he also admits to feeling a “bitter gall of envy” (Shelley 87) when he sees the happiness of the family he observes. entitled to participate in their happiness. He sees the scientist, Frankenstein, as a God-like figure for having created him, but curses the man for leaving him alone (Shelley 88). emotional pain, but feels offended because he sees pleasures in the world that he cannot access. Even the children in Browning's poem do not claim the right to happiness or curse God for their misery. All the children desire is peace Monster is able to support himself without aid and may be free from oppression, but he could not be content with this kind of life he observes, he says, “my heart longed to be known and loved by these lovely creatures” (Shelley 89). ). The monster's desire for love is not a crime, but the resulting anger and plans for revenge make him guilty. He imposes himself on others and gets angry when they reject him. Like the Monster, the children feel that their Creator does not love them, if he exists (Browning, lines 125-135). Their reaction, however, is only tears. The Monster soon determines that Frankenstein is his enemy, referring to him as "he to whom I have sworn eternal vengeance" (Shelley 97). He blames Frankenstein for all the suffering he experiences. Frankenstein, meanwhile, is not guilty of directly harming the Monster. It's true that he doesn't love or care for the Monster, but this ties directly into the hatred the Monster feels towards him. When the Monster captures a boy and discovers that he is related to Frankenstein, he strangles him out of hatred for Frankenstein. He even relishes this murderous act, saying that “my heart swelled with exultation and hellish triumph” (Shelley 97). The Monster believes he is justified in seeking revenge due to his unfulfilling existence. He says, “I am malicious because I am miserable” (Shelley 98), implying that misery is sufficient justification for murder. He speaks as if he were the victim of injustices far greater than those he suffered. He states that he will not subject himself to “abject slavery” (Shelley 98), yet there is no one who wishes to enslave him in any way. He demonstrates that he is capable of deep thought, but persists in trying to justify his crimes in ways that far surpass those committed against him. Unlike the Monster, children are forced to work in conditions of slavery. They are oppressed and suffer much greater physical hardship than being unloved. Yet, even as young children, they have more strength of character and tolerance than the Monster. They resent their pain; “the sob of the child in silence curses more profoundly / Than that of the strong man in his anger” (Browning, lines 159 -160). Even in this state, they harbor no thoughts of revenge and murder. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Browning wrote his poetry to arouse pity in his audience. His characters maintain a certain level of virtue despite their youth and the cruelty they experience, and would therefore win over his readers. Shelley's monster inspires pity at first, but soon turns to disgust. Shelley's work is deeper because it is more than a tragedy or a horror story. It is an example of behaviorism. The Monster tries to assert that his actions are the result of his surroundings and the actions of others; “Should I respect man when he despises me?” (Shelley 98). He ruins his chances of pity or sympathy by choosing to inflict.