Essay, Research Paper: Frankenstein's Monster

The book Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, has aroused great controversy about the actions its two main characters, Victor and his creature. Victor's alienation from society is what formed his creation. His creator left him to be rejected by the rest of society. Victor judged the creature for his immoral actions when the world had not taught any better. The creature's desire for revenge is roused by his rejection. The creature is not the monster, rather is the creator.

Frankenstein's own alienation is what lead to creation of the creature. The heartless pursuit of science buried Victor's conscience and humanity. His scientific obsession did not allow him to realize the consequences of creating life. He thinks not of the life, but of the scientific conquest. While working to bring animation to inanimate matter, he states: "I wished, as it were, to procrastinate all related feelings of affection until the great object, which swallowed up every habit of my nature, should be completed." No human ever cared for the creature, as no loving man cares for alienation.

Victor's rejection forces the creature to seek people that were unknowing of his situation. Like a child, the world was new to him. Humanity's unexplained rejection deeply confused and hurt the creature. He had no loving care of parents or childhood experiences. During his story, the creature explains his confusion: "But where were my friends and relations? No father watched my infant days, no mother had blessed me with smiles and caresses." The creature lovingly attempted to adopt a family of his own, but, despite his kindness, He horrified the family. The creature's expulsion from society confused him, and so he sought the understanding of his creator.

Once anger became the creature's driving force, he had no desire for morality. Victor assumed his creation was heartless because of William's brutal murder. This preconception prompted Victor while creating a companion for the creature. He considered that his creatures would want to have children, and so, " ... a race of devils would be propagated upon the earth who might make the very existence of the species of man a condition precarious and full of terror." The creature's only hope for companionship is destroyed. Victor's epiphany about morality comes too late, and this is the cause of the creature's inflamed anger. Thus, the creature was motivated toward its vengeful fate.

The creature wanted revenge for the pain man had brought to him. During his story, the creature states: "You can blast my other passions, but revenge remains - revenge, henceforth dearer than light or food! ... Man, you shall repent of the injuries you inflict.", (Page 153). Victor was a selfish man during the creature's creation. Never in his lifetime was he prepared to deal with his wrongdoings. He never in his life felt guilty for the rejection of his creation. From this trait of Frankenstein the creature learned to resist remorse.

The creature was inherently good until ostracized by his creator and the rest of human kind. He became alienated as his creator had been. Frankenstein believed his creation was entirely evil after William's death, and used it as rational for destroying its possible companion. Through Victor's actions the creature learned to deny morality and seek revenge. The actions of Victor and his creature are built on the actions of Frankenstein himself.