Mary Shelley's Frankenstein: Who Is The Monster?

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Who is the Monster? In many novels that are about a monster, the title is the name of the monster. Like Dracula by Bram Stoker, King Kong by Edgar Wallace, and Godzilla by Marc Cerasini. In the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelly, the creature that the main character, Victor Frankenstein, creates is mistakenly referred to as Frankenstein. This common error suggests an interesting argument. Is Victor Frankenstein the monster, or is his creation the monster? In my opinion the true monster of the novel Frankenstein is Victor Frankenstein. Background of the creator Victor Frankenstein is the protagonist in the story. He becomes obsessed with science and knowledge. He uses the knowledge he gains to give unanimated object life. In this case he creates…show more content…
Mary Shelly wrote the novel, Frankenstein, using the form of writing called epistolary writing. Epistolary writing is considered a frame story because it is a story within a story, within a story, within a story, and on and on. Shelly used this type of writing to tell the creature’s story to Victor, who tells Walton both his and the creature’s stories, who writes the stories to his sister, Mrs. Margaret Saville. “You have read this strange and terrific story…” (Shelly, 1921, 176). Shelly also uses the ideas of the Enlightenment Era as well as the Romanticism Era. “Natural philosophy is the genius that has regulated my fate; I desire, therefore, in this narration, to state those facts…” (Shelly, 1921, 31). This is the point of the novel where Victor Frankenstein begins his journey of gaining knowledge. Gaining knowledge was one of many main ideas during the Enlightenment Era. “He was deeply read in books of chivalry and romance. He composed heroic songs, and began to write many a tale of enchantment and knightly adventure…” (Shelly, 1921, 30). In this quote, the reader receives a description of Henry Clerval who is described exactly like a person during the Romanticism Era would have been described. Henry portrays the Romanticism Era throughout the story. The reason(s). Victor Frankenstein diabolically created a creature using the knowledge he attained. He did not think about the consequences, he just created it. He selfishly created this creature and then abandoned it. Because it was ugly?!”... but now that I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished...” (Shelly, 1921, 47). He wasted years to give this object life to leave it behind. This poor orphan had to learn everything on its own. The orphan wanted to be part of society, but he could not because of his looks. The looks that his creator gave him! The creature became upset and angered towards Victor, forcing him
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