Theme Of Parenting In Frankenstein

Frankenstein and the Problem in Parenting Ever since Mary Shelley published the novel Frankenstein in 1818, many philosophers have debated its significance and the underlying meanings. While some suggest that racism is the most important theme, others believe that the 1931 movie rendition of Frankenstein more clearly shows that parenting is the key focus. When one considers how Dr. Frankenstein’s creation, the main character, reacts to the world around him, most people would likely be surprised that his actions almost always reflected those of a child. It can be seen in many different occasions how the monster approaches people with trust and good intentions, only to be rejected by them, causing him to retaliate negatively. Clearly, through a close textual analysis of the events within Frankenstein, the realization is that parenting is very influential on children. In the scenes surrounding the monsters “birth”, there are indications where parenting can be visually perceived. Dr.Frankenstein and his assistant, Fritz, accumulated different body parts from different corpses to make the “perfect” creation. Before the creature becomes animated, Dr.Frankenstein and Fritz were arranging the laboratory for his arrival. This is similar to how parents prepare their abode before the …show more content…
The movie also displays many distinct scenes in which parenting can be observed. One scene that clearly shows the theme of parenting is when the monster meets the little girl. She invites him to come and play by the water with her. This shows that children aren't born to discriminate or judge another based off of appearance, but rather that they are taught to hate by their parents and society. Looking at the story, it can be seen that the creature never tried to hurt the girl but rather was the cause of her death only because it had not possessed the knowledge to know