The Monster: Frankenstein’s Creation

Frankenstein’s Monster is one of the most enduring figures in literature and popular culture, born from Mary Shelley’s groundbreaking Gothic novel. Created by Victor Frankenstein, a young scientist obsessed with unlocking the secrets of life, the Monster is a tragic figure—both a victim of circumstance and a perpetrator of violence. Let’s dive into his story, characteristics, and legacy.

Origins in the NovelIn

Shelley’s tale, Victor Frankenstein, driven by ambition and a desire to transcend human limitations, assembles a creature from scavenged body parts and animates it using an unspecified scientific method (often interpreted as involving electricity in later adaptations). The creature stands 8 feet tall, with a grotesque yet powerful form: yellow, watery eyes, shriveled skin barely covering his veins, black lips, and a muscular frame. Victor, horrified by his creation’s appearance, abandons it immediately after bringing it to life.Left alone, the Monster wanders into the world, initially innocent and curious, with the mind of a newborn despite his imposing physique. He learns to speak, read, and reason by observing a peasant family, the De Laceys, from hiding. Through stolen books—like Milton’s Paradise Lost—he grapples with his identity, comparing himself to both Adam (a created being) and Satan (a rejected outcast). His attempts to connect with humanity are met with fear and violence due to his appearance, driving him to despair and, eventually, vengeance against his creator.

The Monster’s Journey Is Marked By Key Events:

He saves a girl from drowning, only to be shot by her father, who misjudges his intent.Enraged, he seeks Victor, killing his younger brother William and framing Justine Moritz, a family servant, leading to her execution.Confronting Victor in the Alps, he demands a female companion, promising to vanish from humanity if his loneliness is eased. Victor begins but destroys the second creature, fearing a race of monsters.In retaliation, the Monster murders Victor’s friend Henry Clerval and his bride Elizabeth, spiraling Victor into a relentless pursuit that ends with his death in the Arctic. The Monster, grieving his creator’s demise, vows to end his own life and disappears into the icy wilderness.

Character Complexity

The Monster is not a mindless beast but a deeply emotional and intelligent being. He embodies the tension between nature and nurture: born with potential for goodness, he’s warped by rejection and isolation. His eloquence—far removed from the grunting figure of some adaptations—reveals a soul tormented by his own existence. He’s both sympathetic and terrifying, a mirror to Victor’s hubris and humanity’s cruelty. Scholar Joseph Carroll notes that the Monster occupies a “border territory” between protagonist and antagonist. He’s a villain by action—murdering innocents—but a victim by circumstance, abandoned by the one who should have cared for him. This duality makes him a timeless figure, reflecting questions of responsibility, identity, and the ethics of creation.