In Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein was an aspiring scientist who wanted to play the hand of God and create life. Through Frankenstein's obsession to create life he begins to seclude himself from the world to focus on his work. While he did successfully bring to life the dead, he is horrified by his creation and immediately rejects the creature. Victor lives his life as an outcast because of the monsters acts against him and the people dearest to him. While the Monster comes into the world with a loving heart, he is rejected by all and believes that all humans are terrible, and he seeks revenge on all who hurt him. By the acts of everyone he encounters and Victors, he too becomes secluded and an outcast. Appearance, personality, and placement of events- all are reasons that society shuns the Outcast. Thus creating the archetype of the Outcast, which both Victor and the Monster portray. By Shelley using this archetype, the reader can relate to the characters of Victor and the Monster and better understand the work as a whole.
