A principal topic in Frankenstein is prejudice and it is exceptionally conspicuous all through the book. Bias intends to pre-judge an individual and sadly the monster is dependably pre-judged adversely. The creature understands this himself and says to the group of onlookers, “unfortunately, they are are prejudiced against me.” (Shelley 179). This demonstrates to me that he comprehends that he is not acknowledged into society but rather doesn't really know why.
This rejection that Victor placed upon him makes him feel miserable. Naturally a parent is suppose to love their child and accept any image the child gives off and the child will give love and affection back. But there is a lack of this relationship between the creation and the scientist which causes anger within the creature. Furthermore, the author italicized “you” to emphasize how the creature places the blame on Victor for his countenance and abandonment, highlighting these two key concepts. Also, he compares himself to Satan, and feels as if they both associate as the worse.
The monster sees himself as both Adam and Satan, because like Adam, he was created and set free. Yet he feels like Satan because of how society treats him. While Adam has a companion, the creature longs for one and begins to threaten Victor that if he does not create one, he will harm those around him. In comparison, Victor also feels like characters from Paradise Lost. Victor assumes that role of Satan.
In some aspects, Frankenstein is similar to The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. In both novels, playing God plays a key role in the storylines and has a significant impact on the characters. In Frankenstein, Victor tries to play God by creating life. However, this action winds up hurting him, since his abandoned creation seeks revenge on him for the injustice he causes in the monster's life. It is clear that Victor can not handle the responsibility of playing God, since shortly after finally creating the monster, “breathless horror and disgust filled my heart” and he is “unable to endure the aspect of the being” he creates.
We are made aware of the inequality that the monster previously experiences during his reunion with Frankenstein. Instead of being welcomed in the warmth of open arms, the monster is greeted with much disdain from his own creator. With much animosity, Frankenstein goes on to refer to the monster as, “devil”, “wretch”, “monster”, “daemon” and even a “vile insect” which can further indicate the amount of disgust he holds against the monster, as well as the superiority that he holds over his creation. The monster pleas for Frankenstein to listen to the story of his developmental journey before taking any actions based on assumptions. With much deliberation, Frankenstein agrees to do so.
Victor Frankenstein worked for two long years to create life from a lifeless form, which, before obtaining life, he believed to be beautiful. However, once he saw the monster's eyes open, he began to see the hideousness of the monster. After this, he fled his operating room and paced wildly in his bedroom, trying to think of what to do. “For this I had deprived myself of rest and health. I had desired it with an ardour that far exceeded moderation; but now that I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart”(Chapter 5 pg 42).
Thus, the creature’s questions “Who was I? What was I? Whence did I come? What was my destination?”
David Collings corroborates this view in his Psychoanalytic criticism of Frankenstein by acknowledging that the monster wants to “enter the social world, belong to a family, converse, and have a sexual parOne clearly identifiable human feelings that the monster experiences throughout the novel is remorse for the actions he has taken. This becomes more notable as the story progresses especially when the monster states that his “heart was poisoned with remorse” (Shelley 186). In this vital statement said by the monster, his intense regret for his murders is clearly conveyed. He even goes to the extent to metaphorically hyperbolize his feelings of remorse by stating that they have “poisoned” his heart. He adds on by saying
This quote shows that isolation causes dangerous behavior. Mentally, Frankenstein is damaged, which is evident when he states that he feels no right to share experiences and converse with his family. Secondly, while in isolation, Frankenstein created a monster. The isolation drove him to create this monster because nobody could help him with his decisions, which presented Frankenstein with awful consequences. Indirectly, Frankenstein’s isolation caused physical destruction to his family because it made him ignorant of the repercussions of his creation.
In the protection of his image of self, which is a direct result of a god complex, Victor Frankenstein rationalizes his arguably terrible choices to combat the guilt that stems from his involvement with William and Justine’s
Victor Frankenstein, who is one of the major characters, is introduced in the novel as he is found floating in the sea half-frozen. He lives with his parents Alphonse Frankenstein and Caroline Frankenstein as well as his adopted sister, Elizabeth Lavenza, in Geneva. Caroline received the scarlet fever whom she got from Elizabeth while caring for her and later passes away. Frankenstein and Elizabeth loved and looked up to Caroline, but shortly after her death they began to look up to their father as a parental figure. “A new light seemed to dawn upon my mind; and, bounding with joy, I communicated my discovery to my father.