Malpractice In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

Often in a novel, an author will make the relationship between a parental figure and a child be one of conflict to emphasize their relationship to each other. However, in the 1818 Gothic Romantic novel Frankenstein, author Mary Shelley uses the father and son relationship between scientist Victor Frankenstein and the creature as a tool to demonstrate that one must take responsibility for their actions and that monsters are not born monsters visualized through Victor’s abandonment of the creature, the monsters reaction to being shunned and Victor’s failure to comply with the creatures request to create a partner.

The novel Frankenstein brings to light many problems and situations that shed light on the faults of mankind. Cruelty was a huge factor in the novel; throughout Frankenstein is cruel to his body and to his creation. When he first makes the creature he runs from it, leaving the creature to fend for himself; even when reuniting with the creature he continues displays cruelty. The creature, in turn exhibits Victor cruelty right back. Within Frankenstein cruelty can be attributed, often affecting both Victor and the creature; serving as a crucial motivator and revealing their anger, pain, frustration till eventually both die.

Guilt can either be an emotion that makes a person feel remorse for his or her’s actions toward another, or can be the conduct involving the executions of such crimes and wrongs. In the novel, “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley, both definitions of guilt were the common theme. However, the main problem was whether the creature or the creator, Victor Frankenstein, were guiltier for their actions. The one presumed to be more guilty was Victor Frankenstein who created the monster in the first place causing his family pain and failed to take responsibility for the monster’s actions. Although he didn’t directly kill his family, the monster is guilty too. Victor Frankenstein caused his own misery and destruction, which is why he is to blame for what

“Remember that I am thy creature; I ought to be they Adam, but I am rather the fallen angel. Whom thou drive from joy for no misdeed. Everywhere I see bliss, from which I alone am irrevocably excluded…” (87)

“I was benevolent and good; misery made me a fiend.” (Shelley 69) Said by Frankenstein’s monster, this quote truly defines him: initially an affectionate, love-seeking creature, he transformed into an enraged killer, angry at humanity for the undeservedly poor way he was treated. Victor Frankenstein is an unique, complex individual who encounters a similar change of nature for similar reasons. The quote—though spoken by the monster—encapsulates the evolution of Victor Frankenstein’s personality; misery—a product of isolation and loneliness—aroused a deterioration of temperament from an initially benevolent Frankenstein.

Science covers numerous viewpoints of everyday life and reality. There are numerous studies that include the study of environment, universe, and animals. Another well known study of science is the study of people and life. In “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley, Victor Frankenstein is an inspiring scientist who researched the dead. Victor hopes to be the first person ever to accomplish the impossible by giving life to the dead. He is so invested in his work that he ignores his personal life. Although, when Victor finally succeeds at achieving his goal, it is not what it seems. Victor’s creation has lead to tragedy and destruction. Hence, Victor Frankenstein is responsible for the outcome of his fate because of his fixation with being god, his disregard to humankind, and his selfishness.

Have you ever been held responsible for the tragedies caused to others? For most the answer is no, however, for some, their actions have led to the misfortune of guiltless lives. In the novel, Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, because of the absence of attention and teaching, the reanimated creation Frankenstein is unstable; Victor Frankenstein is who to blame. Two events that he should be accountable for are not training his creation to know right from wrong and abounding the monster which led to the murder of innocent people.

William Frankenstein’s demise elicits the poignance and tremendous guilt Victor feels for having created the Daemon. Victor questions himself, “ ‘Did anyone indeed exist, except I, the creator, who would believe...in the existence of the living monument...which I had let loose upon the world?’ ” (Ch. 7, 93). Victor realizes that the true murderer of his younger brother is his creation and not the accused Justine Moritz. He contemplates whether anyone one would believe him if he announced the truth, but no one would, As a result, Victor begins to feel deeply contrite since he is the reason for Justine’s execution. This guilt is evident in, “Sleep fled from my eyes..for I had committed deeds of mischief beyond description horrible…” (Ch. 9,

In the Volume III of “Frankenstein”, there is an endless roller coaster of situations in which the reader is exposed to doubts and mystery, and then pure horror. I face that position myself, and when I thought Frankenstein’s life was already tragic, then a pile of deaths turns his life into something beyond tragedy and misery; it is just something I cannot explain. Once Frankenstein destroys the other creature, because he finds himself stuck in the fear of what could happen after this new creation, the Monster comes after him and confront him. He makes sure to remind Frankenstein that he has the ability to make him more wretched than he already is, “Remember that I have power; you believe yourself miserable, but I can make you

The moment Victor Frankenstein successfully infuses life into his creation he is overcome with horror and disgust. Without further examination he is certain to have created a monster, not a human being (Shelley 35-36). However, despite his grotesque appearance, Frankenstein’s creature was not born malicious. During the first stages of his existence, unbeknownst to Frankenstein himself, his acts are motivated by innocence and virtue, which even earns him the title “good spirit” (79). Frankenstein did not create a monster. An unsatisfied need for a sense of belonging transforms Frankenstein’s creature into the monster it ultimately becomes. Therefore, I argue that the predominant theme in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is the need for social belonging

An eye for an eye or the law of retaliation is the principle most people live their lives by. As Gandhi once stated, “an eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind” (Gandhi). For the characters in Frankenstein, this concept is apparent as the main character, Victor, creates a monster and instantly abandons him which sets off the chain of events revolving around revenge. Throughout the novel, the creature and Victor engage in a recurring cycle of vengeance, but these acts of revenge are bittersweet as in the end it destroys both of them. In the novel Frankenstein, Mary Shelley reveals how revenge consumes and destroys those who surrender to it.

heavily pursue knowledge and create his monster, clearly showing that the path that he embarked

Victor is walking around in Geneva and mourning over his dead brother William. While walking he sees “the murderer of [his] brother (63). The only person to blame for William’s death is Victor. If Victor had never made the creation in the first place, then the murder of his brother would have never happened. After Victor's wedding, he and Elizabeth go to their house. Victor comes back and sees “the corpse of [his] wife”(187). Again, another person is killed due to Frankenstein's creation. Elizabeth's death could have been avoided from not making the creation, and if Victor had created a female creation. Therefore, the grief in his life is caused by him. The creation is brought to life after many long months. Realizing just now “[he] deprive[s] [himself] of rest and health” (43). He has no one to criticize other than himself for being sleep deprived and malnourished. Once again, he is his own worst enemy because everything awful in his life, is his own fault. Furthermore, Victor goes beyond the intended knowledge of man, and makes himself his own worst

Morality. It has been questioned, emphasized, and respected since the beginning of time. Yet even today, not one human being can say what is morally right. Rather, morality is a matter of opinion. It was the opinion of Victor Frankenstein which stated that it was alright to create a “monster”. Victor Frankenstein’s creation needed a companion. Knowing that his first creation was evil, should Victor make a second? With the knowledge at hand, to Victor, it is not at all morally correct to bring another monster into the world. And yet, Shelley describes this story as a morality tale throughout the story, bringing up questions such as “What is the right thing to do?” and “Looking back, should I have done what I did?” Two events really stand out

“For while I destroyed his hopes, I did not satisfy my own desires. They were forever ardent and craving; I still desired love and fellowship, and I was still spurned. Was there no injustice in this? Am I to be thought the only criminal, when all human kind sinned against me?” (Chapter 24, 240) In the novel, Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, readers follow the life of scientist Victor Frankenstein and his creation. The accomplishment of creating life is quickly overshadowed by Victor’s lack of responsibility regarding the monster’s needs. Victor doesn’t give it respect or love. Society’s rejection of the monster is responsible for his evil tendencies. Through her story, Mary Shelley makes the point that humankind