The Monster in Frankenstein

The Monster in Frankenstein

The first thought that comes to mind in regards to the word “monster” is a large, ugly, and frightening creature. In Mary Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein, Frankenstein’s creation fits into this definition perfectly. However, a monster isn’t just a large, ugly, frightening creature. Instead, a monster can be defined as something of unnatural or extreme ugliness, deformity, wickedness, or cruelty. With this definition in mind, instead of Victor’s creation being the monster, Victor Frankenstein himself is the true monster of Frankenstein from his inhuman nature.

To begin, Victor’s extreme selfishness goes far beyond what is normally acceptable. The extents that he goes to in order to serve himself are drastic. For example, when he could have saved Justine’s life, he purposely withholds information in order to not face any punishments. He even acknowledges it, as he says “Justine also was a girl of merit and possessed qualities which promised to render her life happy; now all was to be obliterated in an ignominious grave, and I was the cause!”(Shelley 66). This lack of empathy and care for the life of another human show’s Victor’s inhuman nature, one befitting of the label monster.

In addition to his great selfishness, Victor possesses an abnormal amount of hostility and cruelty towards his creation. Instead of treating him as his creation, he treats him with a disgusting amount of cruelty. This unnerving behavior can be seen whenever Victor describes the monster. For example, when Victor confronts him in the Alps, he states “when [he] looked upon him, when [he] saw the filthy mass that moved and talked, [his] heart sickened and [his] feelings were altered to those of horror and hatred” (Shelley 126). Victor’s lack of compassion and vile hatred towards the creature are downright