Prejudice And Hatred In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

A society without prejudice would be one filled with love and compassion. However, biased judgments are often used to determine one’s goodness. In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, the creature is alienated and rejected by society simply based on his looks. Abandoned at birth by his own father-like figure, rejected by seemingly loving people, and misunderstood his whole life, the creature is pulled on a preventable pathway to becoming a monster. Born with an untainted heart, Victor Frankenstein’s creation is twisted into a monster by society. Throughout the novel Shelley shows that prejudice and hate can cause people to do unthinkable deeds that turn them into what society initially thought of them. In the creature’s case, his alienation starts …show more content…
However, instead of having support to overcome his differences the monster is judged and left to fend for himself. Regardless of how hard he tires to be nice to others, he is rejected. Because of this, he realizes that man-kind is short-sighted. He realizes that people tend to look at what is in front of their eyes and make judgements, whether they be correct or not, despite leaning more and thinking of their consequences. The violence and hatred which the creature is drowned are what is causing him to take on the role of a monster: “[he] was benevolent and good; [his] soul glowed with love and humanity” (Ch.10.13), but the misery that he endures molds him into a monster. None the less, the desolation that he suffers is not a justifiable reason for him seeking revenge and spreading violence. Murdering innocent people such as his creator’s family members and scaring those who have never affected him is not acceptable. Though he does not know this as he has no father figure to guide him. It is “the companions of [peoples’] childhood[s] [that] [always] possess a certain power over [their] minds which hardly any later friend can obtain” (Ch.24 part 2.9), and since the monster has only had experiences with ‘enemies’ and violence in his ‘childhood’ that is what has power over him. It is violence that posses him. Despite his pure intentions, the creature …show more content…
Through his alienation from society, due to his looks, not character, he becomes a monster. However, if he had been accepted for who he is and had someone support him along the way he still may be undamaged. Damaged, aborted at birth, and mistreated the creature is led to seek revenge in the only wat he knows – violence. Through Shelley’s words it is seen that although society is quick to judge and label someone as a monster, society itself has monster like morals. It is because of the critics received from society and a lack of support that the creature becomes who he is. Society does not realize that self-destruction and going down the wrong path is preventable though only with support. As it is often said, point one finger and three point