Comparing Victor And The Creature In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

The main character trait between Victor and the creature is their love of nature. For example, “My country, my beloved country! Who but a native can tell the delight I took in again beholding thy streams, thy mountains, and, more than all, thy lovely lake” (Shelley 52). Even though Victor is grieving over William’s death, he still finds peace and tranquility through nature. The creature also indulges in the beauty of nature and he also finds peace. “Soon a gentle light stole over the heavens, and gave me a sensation on pleasure” (Shelly 75). When Victor left the creature right after he created him, the creature had no one to care for him so he fled to woods and found that nature enlightens him just as it does for his creator. “The sky became clouded; but the air was pure, although chilled by the north-east breeze that was then rising. But it refreshed me, and filled me with such agreeable sensations…” (Shelly 134). When Victor through the female creature in
the lake he still found fulfillment in nature. Even though both characters are selfish in their own ways, they both have a gentle side when it comes to nature.
One difference between the two characters is that Victor was raised in an environment full of love and compassion.
The creature was left to die when created and had no one that loved him. Humans would run at the sight of him or try to hurt him. Even though the creature only wants companionship with other human beings. “ he aimed a gun, which he carried, at my body, and fired.” (Shelly 108). The creature saves a little girl from drowning and yet her father rewards him with a bullet. Another difference is that Victor has everyone in his life yet values none of them while the creature has no one in his life, but values everyone. “Let him live with me in the interchange of kindness, and, instead of injury, I would bestow every benefit upon him with tears of gratitude at his acceptance.” (Shelley 111). The creature just wants to be accepted by society. However, another similarity between the two is that they are both very intelligent. Except, Victor attend Ingolstadt and the creature had no background of
education.
Both Victor and the creature are selfish. Victor is selfish for creating the creature in the first place then leaving him to fend for himself and basically to die. “I did not dare return to the apartment which I inhabited, but felt impelled to hurry on” (Shelley 38). Victor leaves the creature and hopes to forget about him. The creature is selfish because he kills all of the people that closest to his creator, Victor. They both are fueled by destroying one another. “I will work at your destruction, nor finish until I desolate your hear, so that you curse the hour of your birth.” (Shelly 111). The creature threatens Victor if he does not make him a female companion. Victor enraged by the fact that he let the creature loose on society and he has taken everyone that he loves from him. “ I thought of him, and desired and ardently prayed that I might have him with within my grasp to wreak a great and signal revenge on his cursed head.” (Shelly 156). Both characters die at the hands of their own selfishness. I believe both characters deserved what they got. In the defense of the creature, he did try to show compassion towards humans, but they judged on what was on the outside. Victor gave up everything that was important just to create a monster. He never told his loved ones that a raging monster was after him. In my mind that makes Victor the bad guy.