Some of the greatest novels in history tell tales of the most heroic individuals the human mind could conjure. Usually, the hero of the novel sets out on a quest to defeat an evil villain, sacrificing a great amount along the way. Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein is an exception. The novel is centered around Victor Frankenstein, young scientist who sets out to create life, but in the process, he accidentally creates a “monster.” A large part of this novel is based on the theme of perception. Many people, over the years, have argued over who Shelley’s intended hero or villain is. Most argue that Frankenstein was the real monster for creating and then abandoning the creature which leads to the many crimes the creature commits; however, the …show more content…
Readers feel bad for him because they believe that his actions are justifiable after Victor abandons him, but instead of just going after Victor, the creature goes as far as to threaten the entire world to get what he wants. In an attempt to force Victor to listen to him speak, the monster declares, “Yet it is in your power to recompense me, and deliver them from and evil which it only remains for you to make so great that not only you and your family, but thousands of others, shall be swallowed up in whirlwinds of his rage” (Shelley 84). This vicious ultimatum frames the issue in a way that makes it seem like it is only Victor’s obligation to save his fellow humans, when really the monster has full control over how he responds to Victor’s unkindness. The monster is selfish; he cares more about his own happiness than the life of every other being on the planet. Not only does the monster kill a child, he decides to blame Justine for his crime. He proclaims, “[N]ot I, but she shall suffer: the murder I have committed because I am forever robbed of all that she could give me, she shall atone. The crime had its source in her: be hers the punishment!” (Shelley 122). Instead of taking responsibility for his actions the monster blames all he has done on his inability to receive love from someone like Justine and commits yet another villainous crime by framing Justine because of this delusional belief that all of his actions can be blamed on his lack of human connection. While harm may have been done to the creature in the past, he still has the choice to refrain from doing harm to others. Some may argue that he is technically age equivalent to a toddler, but his intelligence is far beyond that. Even with the knowledge of right and wrong, the creature chooses to do villainous things. His absence of morality is what makes him a