The novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley chronicles the journey of Victor Frankenstein as he works to create life out of death. Victors views on his quest to create a monster from the flesh of the dead changes throughout the novel. Initially, Victor is obsessed with the idea of creating life out of death. Victor is driven by the thought of creating a being from the flesh of the dead and works tirelessly to complete his quest. Victor is successful in his pursuits and after finishing his creation, Victor looks at in disgust and shuns the monster after witnessing its hideous appearance. The monster flees and kills William, Victor’s brother, in a furious rage. The death of William leads to the execution of Justine, the Frankenstein family servant.
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Victor’s obsession with creating the monster is a result of his studies prior to entering university as well as due to his studies with Professor Waldman, Victor’s chemistry teacher. Waldman fosters Victor’s obsession with creating life from death by telling him that the philosophers whom he had been studying “...whose hands seem only made to dabble in dirt, and their eyes to pore over the microscope or crucible, have indeed performed miracles. They penetrate into the recesses of nature and show how she works in her hiding places. They ascend into the heavens…” (Shelley 37). Waldman describes how although these philosophers may have been perceived as mad by modern scientists, their work as allowed them to achieve what was once thought to be impossible. Victor hopes to join these scientists in doing the impossible by creating a living being from body parts of the deceased. Victor views life and death as “ideal bounds, which I should first break through, and pour a torrent of light into our dark world” (Shelley 44). Victor sees death as something which can be overcome and hopes to overcome death through the creation of the monster. The monster is a being which defies nature due to the fact that is cheats
Victor’s obsession with creating the monster is a result of his studies prior to entering university as well as due to his studies with Professor Waldman, Victor’s chemistry teacher. Waldman fosters Victor’s obsession with creating life from death by telling him that the philosophers whom he had been studying “...whose hands seem only made to dabble in dirt, and their eyes to pore over the microscope or crucible, have indeed performed miracles. They penetrate into the recesses of nature and show how she works in her hiding places. They ascend into the heavens…” (Shelley 37). Waldman describes how although these philosophers may have been perceived as mad by modern scientists, their work as allowed them to achieve what was once thought to be impossible. Victor hopes to join these scientists in doing the impossible by creating a living being from body parts of the deceased. Victor views life and death as “ideal bounds, which I should first break through, and pour a torrent of light into our dark world” (Shelley 44). Victor sees death as something which can be overcome and hopes to overcome death through the creation of the monster. The monster is a being which defies nature due to the fact that is cheats