The True Monster In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

There are different perspective and opinions of what a monster is. A common definition of a monster is “[a] large, ugly, and frightening imaginary creature” (Oxford Dictionary of English, 2014). However, there is a more realistic and human description of it. A monster is a secretive being who acts in the purpose of their own selfishness and in that process destroys other people’s feelings or lives. In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, the main character Victor Frankenstein clearly embodies this definition of a monster. Most of the book is set in the late 1700’s and follows Frankenstein’s life. He is a young scientist who studies in a famous university. When his mother died, he wanted create the “...elixir of life…” (Shelley, Ch.2, p.47). In the span of his life he had made horrible decisions that he made voluntarily and selfishly. In the middle of the book he reanimated a being that terrorized his family. There are many loved ones in his life. His intentions of creating such a being, actions towards his own creation, and keeping all of his wrongdoings a secret and never confess to them makes him a true monster.

No benevolent person will ever have the idea to reanimate a corpse and practice it. However, he wanted to create a being that would survive anything, even “...a violent death…” …show more content…
His creation murdered his little brother William because he “...belong [] to [the creature’s] enemy…” (Ch.16, p.163). Justine, a helper in the family, was framed for William’s murder and she was sentenced to death “...as a murderess!” (Ch.8, p.103). With two lives in his hands there is no evidence of him confessing to anyone that he created a creature who murdered William. Although he felt as they are “...hapless victims…” of his creation, he did not admit to his mistakes (Ch.8, p.103). This made him more of a monster as he let more and more innocent people die. However, some people do not believe that he is a