Will the True Monster Please Stand How can a monster be recognized? Many describe such a creature by appearance; a monster is “typically large, ugly, and frightening” (Merriam-Webster). But what if the evidence is not physically apparent? In Mary Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein is a scientist who is determined to cheat death. His ego fuels his ambition to create a “creature” that would admire him like a god. However, when that creature falls short of meeting Victor’s expectations, Victor rejects him. The creature is referred to as a monster due to his appearance, because his “yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries…his hair was of a lustrous black…his teeth of a pearly whiteness...a horrid contrast with his watery eyes…his shriveled complexion and straight
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His quest for knowledge consumes him, nothing else matters. This narcissism is what guides his motivation. He willingly admits that he has “lost all soul or sensation but for this one pursuit” (49). Though Frankenstein often declares his love for his family, it appears to be love for self rather than others. He ignores his father’s request for frequent communication and he takes Elizabeth’s affection for granted. He assumes she will wait for him. Frankenstein treats Elizabeth like a prize. “For myself, there was one reward I promised myself from my detested toils - one consolation for my unparalleled sufferings; it was the prospect of that day when... I might claim Elizabeth” (149). He only sees people for what they can do for him. His ultimate act of selfishness is seen when his younger brother is killed by his creature and Frankenstein is unwilling to confess his knowledge in order to spare Justine’s life. Here the real monster is revealed through his apathy for humanity. Frankenstein puts his ego above human
His quest for knowledge consumes him, nothing else matters. This narcissism is what guides his motivation. He willingly admits that he has “lost all soul or sensation but for this one pursuit” (49). Though Frankenstein often declares his love for his family, it appears to be love for self rather than others. He ignores his father’s request for frequent communication and he takes Elizabeth’s affection for granted. He assumes she will wait for him. Frankenstein treats Elizabeth like a prize. “For myself, there was one reward I promised myself from my detested toils - one consolation for my unparalleled sufferings; it was the prospect of that day when... I might claim Elizabeth” (149). He only sees people for what they can do for him. His ultimate act of selfishness is seen when his younger brother is killed by his creature and Frankenstein is unwilling to confess his knowledge in order to spare Justine’s life. Here the real monster is revealed through his apathy for humanity. Frankenstein puts his ego above human