Frankenstein Essay Example

Addiction, obsession, and judgmental minds are three potentially harmful qualities of the human race. Society fusses over every detail of the human body’s virtue, figure, and how people present themselves. Yet, while outward appearance is important to society, how a person feels on the inside is what really counts. Victor Frankenstein overlooks this when he creates the monster in Mary Shelley's classic novel Frankenstein. By not taking responsibility for the creature and himself, Victor has brought hardship upon himself.

Frankenstein could have made his creation beautiful, but he took shortcuts by using animal parts instead of organs and bones from deceased human bodies. Even though Victor had an opportunity to make his creation appealing to society and himself, he decided to use parts unfit for the creation of a human like organism. As soon as he animated the monster, he was struck with fear and regret as he saw before him an ugly, devilish, ghastly looking being. Even the monster himself is scared when he glimpses himself for the first time as he states, “I had admired the perfect forms of my cottagers—their grace, beauty, and delicate complexions; but how was I terrified when I viewed myself in a transparent pool,” (Shelley 181). It is because of this choice that Frankenstein fled from his responsibilities as a father and unleashed a monstrosity into the world. However, this could have been prevented if Frankenstein had taken the time to use human parts instead of animal part as well.

The creation of the monster was rushed because of Victor’s ambition to create a human life form. As a result, Victor did not stop to think about how the monster would act or what emotions is may feel when it came to life. Victor realizes his flaw after the monster frames Justine, condemning her to death. He takes blame for the death of Justine as he admits, “ A thousand times rather would I have confessed myself guilty of the crime ascribed to Justine… ,” (Shelley 124). If Victor had played out all possible scenarios before hand, he would have been able to take action the moment the monster came to be. By planning ahead, he would then be able to raise the monster like his own child instead of running from the creature in pure terror. Had Frankenstein been courageous enough to stand his ground in the face of fear and take on his responsibilities as a father, there would be no need to take the blame for an inhumane action.

The creature was neglected by Frankenstein even though he was responsible for the monster’s existence. From the moment the creature came to life, he had been abandoned because of his hideous complexion. The monster states, “No father had watched my infant days…,” (Shelley 189), which is entirely accurate as Frankenstein had no presence in his life until they crossed paths. Without Frankenstein as his guide, the monster was left to discover life on his own. The monster is still young and immature by the end of the novel as he had only reached the age of two, despite the fact in that time, he learned French, the way society operates and how emotions work. The creature used this knowledge to cause great harm to Frankenstein. Victor’s own creation dehumanizes him by using his fear to his advantage and killing the ones dear to him because Frankenstein was not there to teach the monster what actions he could do within the laws of man.

Frankenstein failed to disclose his discovery to the public so they would know the monster exists. The monster paralyzed those who beheld his hideous form and received wounds from those who acted out of fear. If Frankenstein would have taken opportunities to share about the monster’s existence, the monster would never received physical wounds from society. After the creature is abandoned, he finds the cottage home of the De Laceys. After viewing himself for the first time, he is scared to show himself and waits for a chance to present himself to the elderly gentleman of the house because he is blind and the monster believes he will listen when he approaches him. When Felix, Agatha and Safie return to the cottage, Felix immediately tries to get the monster away from the gentleman due to the monster’s appearance as he, “dashed me to the ground and struck me violently with a stick,”(Shelley 213). Felix never gives the monster a chance to explain himself as he decided upon beholding the monster, that he had evil intentions. Felix became a monster because of the fear he had of the monster’s intentions. None of this would have occured in Frankenstein would have disclosed his discovery to the public.

Some may say that the monster is responsible for his own actions and that he is the cause of Victor’s hardships. However, Victor had the choice to create the monster in the first place and it was his responsibility to teach the monster the proper way to live life, a responsibility which he neglected. The monster caused Victor to fear him as he threatened him with death to those he loves and that is because of the fear society had shown of him. If Victor had spoken out about the monster’s existence, Victor and the monster would be celebrated and appreciated. Therefore, Victor is the one who brought these troubles upon himself.

Frankenstein has brought hardship upon himself because he failed to take proper care of himself and the monster. Victor neglected the monster which allowed for the monster to learn things on his own instead of through the guidance of a parent. The monster decides to do evil things after he realizes how afraid society is of him and if Victor had been there to guide him, society would have nothing to fear. When the monster condemns Justine, Frankenstein takes the blame for it, but does not vocalize the truth. It is through these failures that Victor has brought hardships upon himself.