book review of Frankenstein

Mary Shelley’s book of the Doctor Frankenstein and his creature is considered to be a classic for many reasons.  This is something that is studied in classes and gone back to constantly because of the exploration of humanity.  The ideas of what it is to be human and alive are continually sought out by Frankenstein and his Creature. 

Frankenstein is someone that has always been looking for more.  There must be more to life and death and they must be something to be overcome.  He is a dramatic and serious character who sees the world as black and white, but fancies to see it in grey. On page 92 Victor states towards his feeling of the Creature, “For the first time, also, I felt what the duties of a creator towards his creature were, and that I ought to render him happy before I complain of his wickedness.”  He begins to see himself as a father which would imply that he saw what he did as a bad thing in the same regard that any parent who bears a serial killer would feel.  His humanity is confirmed in his love for the monstrosity that he should have never created. 

The Creature, who is never named, is the most human character.  His arc is one that is inevitable.  There was only one way that a creature such as himself would be perceived in the world and of that time.  He starts much like Frankenstein, someone who wants knowledge. On page 108 the Creature speaks of the family and what he learned from their conversations, “To be a great and virtuous man appeared the highest honour that can befall a sensitive being; to be base and vicious, as many on record had been, appeared the lowest degradation, a condition more abject than that of the blind mole or harmless worm.”  He later craves companionship once he learns more of the world by family within the cottage.  The feeling of love is awakened with them, especially when the old man plays his violin. 

The good feelings are overshadowed by the bad eventually when he is rejected.  Like all children he must find his way and react according to his true nature.  It is revealed that his nature is to be wrathful.  The Creature like a fallen angel begins to embrace the darkness that he sees all around him and that has been hiding within himself on page 129, “I too can create desolation; my enemy is not invulnerable; this death will carry despair to him, and a thousand other miseries shall torment and destroy him.”  The Creature knows only wrath and scorn the same as his depressed father/creator.