A monster being more human than a human is the intriguing and bold concept that Mary Shelley successfully conveys throughout Frankenstein. As the story progresses a clear shift of protagonists is crafted creating a fascinating yet subtle paradox, that allows the reader to empathise with the monster. This subtle paradox seems to be one of the guiding plotlines that makes this story an excellent reflection of human arrogance. While it may seem difficult to empathize with a hideous murderous monster, the reader is constantly reminded that he was built to be loving and exactly like a human. However, after constantly being corrupted and morally tested by human thinking the monster is led to become aggressive.
Victor’s mother passed away when he was young, and from that moment, he knew he needed to find a way to cure death. Victor attended college and found a way to make his dream reality. After he created the creature is when everything went downhill. The monster was angry at victor and killed all of his loved ones and victor wanted to get revenge and destroy the creature. While reading the book I always asked myself who really is the monster is it Victor or the creature?
The monster learned of his creator’s humanity and became the physical embodiments of man’s sins; greed, envy, anger, lust, and pride. In the beginnning of the novel the monster was like an innocent child, but as the novel progressed, the monster mentally transitioned into manhood and adopted many of man’s sins without a God-like Victor to guide him.
The creature murdered many innocent people knowing his in this pursuit of righteousness how it would so harshly effect Victor. “My own vampire, my own spirit let loose from the grave, and forced to destroy all that was dear to me” (Clemit). The creature as shown, was Victor’s own ugliness created into a horrid being; destroying all that made him happy in the world. “Shelly could be using the monster as a symbol for our own ugliness or the animal side of man’s nature. Although the monster appears to be the cause of fear and prejudice, he might stand for our ugly and violent reaction to something unknown and different” (Skuola.net).
Many people think he only wants to haunt his creator and make him suffer. However, the creature is only a product of terrible circumstances. The creature’s creator, Victor, obsessed over science and still struck with grief over his mother 's death, wanted to give life to the dead. However, his obsession clouded his thoughts, leading him to overlook the possible scenarios he could find himself in. He only thought of all "wonderful" things he would be doing for the world.
When raising a child, it is imperative that the child receives care and affection to develop proper emotional skills. The monster did not receive that. As soon as he was created, he was immediately rejected by Victor. Victor's lack of empathy and mental state made him completely unable to connect with the monster. Victor did not even give him a name, which is the most fundamental aspect of humans identity.
In the relevant debate topic of Nature vs. Nurture, the Monster’s character in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is heavily influenced toward the nurture side of the argument. The Monster’s nurture is how he was raised. The Monster wasn't raised by anyone or anything, and had no experience with loving and affection. The Monster was the depressed creation of Victor Frankenstein. Pleased with his accomplishment, Victor states, “No one can conceive the variety of feelings which bore me onwards, like a hurricane, in the first enthusiasm of success…..”(50).
Victor said that the creature was “more hideous than belongs to humanity” and called him a “filthy demon” (Shelley 60). The creation’s creator felt that the creature was too ugly to exist in the presence of human kind. When a creator criticizes his creation in such a way, it afflicts the creature and pesters at his soul. By neglecting and shunning people with socially unacceptable appearances of behaviors, mass murders are created. Society judges on looks, therefore, society described him as a monster.
What did you think about Victor? To me, Victor was a stupid person. He did whatever he wanted, but he didn’t think about what will happen later in the future. The monster was created by Victor is very lonely because of Victor. He created the monster and he had the responsibility to take care of the monster.
Victor regrets his action so turns the creature lose to the world and closes himself in his abysm of thoughts. The creature toughly discovers the world on his own and declares war on humanity. Frankenstein’s act as God conducts his life and his creation’s into a series of terrific events. As the novel progresses, Victor and his monster vie for the role or protagonist. At simple site, readers think the monster and Victor are two completely different people, but in fact they share the same desires.