Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, first published in 1818, is often regarded as one of the earliest examples of science fiction, but it is also a profound meditation on the nature of creation, the consequences of playing God, and the moral responsibilities of creators. This novel, a blend of Gothic horror and philosophical reflection, centers on the tragic tale of Victor Frankenstein, a young scientist who becomes obsessed with defying the natural order. It explores the clash between ambition and ethics, the quest for knowledge, and the perils of overreaching.
Victor Frankenstein: The Ambitious Scientist
The story opens with a series of letters from Captain Robert Walton, who is on an expedition to the Arctic, to his sister Margaret. Walton’s letters describe his journey and his desire to conquer nature’s mysteries, already setting the tone for a narrative steeped in the thirst for discovery. It is on this journey that Walton encounters Victor Frankenstein, a broken man, drifting on the ice in pursuit of a mysterious figure. Once Walton brings Victor aboard his ship, Victor begins to recount his harrowing life story, which forms the core of the novel.
Victor was born into a wealthy Swiss family in Geneva. From an early age, he displays an insatiable curiosity and a desire to understand the deepest mysteries of the world. Fascinated by the works of ancient alchemists and later, modern science, he becomes obsessed with the idea of creating life. As he grows older and begins his studies at the University of Ingolstadt, his passion for science deepens. It is here that Victor crosses the moral line. He discovers a way to animate lifeless matter and create a living being.
The Creation: A Monster Brought to Life
Driven by hubris, Victor gathers materials and labors in secret, working feverishly to bring his creation to life. But when his experiment succeeds, it doesn’t fill him with pride or joy. Instead, he is horrified by the grotesque appearance of the being he has brought into existence. Standing at eight feet tall, with yellow eyes and patchwork skin, the creature’s unnatural appearance fills Victor with disgust and regret. He flees from his laboratory in terror, abandoning his creation to fend for itself.
This is one of the novel’s key turning points: the rejection of the creature by its own creator. Victor’s horror and immediate revulsion set the tone for the rest of the story, emphasizing the theme of abandonment. While Victor recoils in fear, the creature is left alone, like a newborn with no guidance, no understanding of the world, and no means to integrate into society.
The Creature’s Lonely Existence
In the creature’s own words, he describes his suffering and the slow realization of his isolation. Initially, the creature seeks kindness and understanding. He wanders through forests and fields, surviving on berries and water, and watching humans from afar. Eventually, he takes refuge in a hovel near a small cottage, where he observes a family living in poverty. He watches them for months, secretly helping by gathering firewood for them at night, and through his observations, he learns to speak and read.
The family, unaware of his presence, becomes his sole connection to humanity. The creature yearns for acceptance, for the chance to be part of a community, and this family becomes his ideal. However, when he eventually reveals himself to them, their reaction is one of fear and rejection, just like his creator’s. This pivotal moment shatters the creature’s hope for companionship, turning his growing sorrow into anger and despair. He begins to realize that his monstrous appearance makes it impossible for him to be part of the world, no matter how pure his intentions might be.
The Creature’s Appeal to His Creator
The creature’s pain and isolation drive him to seek out Victor, whom he considers the cause of his suffering. The two finally meet in the mountains, where the creature confronts Victor with the truth of his existence. He demands an explanation for why he was brought into a world that refuses to accept him. Despite his horrific appearance, the creature proves to be eloquent and intelligent, a reflection of his creator’s brilliance. He is not born evil, but his circumstances—the constant rejection and cruelty he faces—have embittered him.
The creature makes a desperate plea: he asks Victor to create a companion for him, a female creature who would share his experience of isolation and offer him the companionship he craves. The creature promises that if Victor agrees, he will leave humanity alone and live in seclusion with his mate. This moment introduces a profound ethical dilemma for Victor. Should he take responsibility for his creation and alleviate its suffering by giving it what it desires, or should he deny the creature’s request, knowing the potential consequences of creating another being?
Victor’s Guilt and Moral Responsibility
Victor agrees to the creature’s request, though he is deeply conflicted. He travels to a remote location to begin the process of creating a second creature, but as he works, he is consumed by the fear that this new creation might be even more dangerous than the first. He imagines a world where the two creatures breed and bring ruin to the human race. His anxiety and guilt overwhelm him, and in a moment of panic, he destroys his work, breaking his promise to the creature.
This act of betrayal sets off a chain of tragic events. The creature, enraged by Victor’s refusal to provide him with a companion, vows to make Victor’s life as miserable as his own. He declares that he will be with Victor on his wedding night, a chilling threat that hangs over the rest of the novel. Victor, now consumed by dread, becomes the creature’s prey, constantly fearing for the lives of his loved ones.
The Pursuit of Vengeance
The second half of the novel is marked by a cycle of vengeance between creator and creation. The creature, now fully aware of his power over Victor, systematically destroys the people Victor loves, leaving him in a state of constant grief and terror. The theme of justice and revenge becomes central as both Victor and the creature spiral into an obsession with making each other suffer. Victor’s initial crime—playing God by creating life—leads to an unending cycle of misery and death.
As the deaths mount, Victor becomes increasingly isolated, just as his creature once was. His mental and physical health deteriorates as he is consumed by the pursuit of the creature, who remains elusive but always one step ahead. Victor’s transformation from a passionate, ambitious scientist to a broken man seeking vengeance mirrors the creature’s own transformation from an innocent being into a monster driven by hatred.
The Arctic Chase and Themes of Isolation
The novel culminates in the Arctic, where Victor’s obsessive hunt for the creature leads him to the ends of the earth. This frozen, desolate landscape becomes a powerful symbol of the loneliness and desolation that both Victor and the creature have experienced throughout the novel. It also serves as a metaphor for the ultimate futility of their pursuits—just as the icy wilderness offers no hope of life, their quest for vengeance offers no resolution or redemption.
Throughout the novel, Shelley explores the theme of isolation in both a physical and emotional sense. Victor isolates himself from his family and friends in his quest to create life, and the creature is isolated from humanity by his appearance. Both characters are trapped in their own forms of exile, cut off from the warmth of human relationships. The novel suggests that this isolation is both a cause and a consequence of their downfall.
Scientific Responsibility and the Limits of Knowledge
One of the central themes of Frankenstein is the moral responsibility that comes with scientific discovery. Victor’s pursuit of knowledge leads him to push beyond the limits of what is ethically acceptable. His desire to create life, while initially motivated by a desire to benefit humanity, ultimately leads to destruction because he fails to consider the consequences of his actions. The novel raises questions about the role of the scientist in society and the responsibilities that come with the power of creation.
Shelley’s novel also reflects the anxieties of the early 19th century, when rapid advancements in science and technology were challenging traditional notions of nature and humanity. The story warns of the dangers of unchecked ambition and the hubris of believing that humans can control nature without repercussions.
Conclusion: A Timeless Tale of Ambition and Regret
Though Frankenstein was written over two centuries ago, its themes remain strikingly relevant today. The novel’s exploration of the ethical implications of scientific discovery, the consequences of abandonment, and the destructive power of revenge resonates with modern concerns about technology, bioengineering, and the responsibilities that come with knowledge.
Without spoiling the ending, I can say that the novel closes with a sense of tragic inevitability. Both Victor and the creature are driven to extremes by their mutual hatred and suffering, and the novel asks the reader to consider who the real monster is: the creature, who was born innocent but turned to violence after being abandoned, or Victor, whose ambition unleashed a force he could not control.
Ultimately, Frankenstein is a story about the limits of human ambition and the consequences of playing God. It serves as a timeless reminder that creation, whether of life or knowledge, comes with profound responsibilities that cannot be ignored.