Frankenstein: Who is the Real Monster

Frankenstein: Who is the real monster? In the popular novel Frankenstein, which was written by Mary Shelley, there a few characters that play the role of a monster and have illogical ways of thinking. Society itself shows that it can be the monster throughout the story based on how it treats the creature. Also, the monster that is created obviously possesses traits of a monster because of the rejection that he has from society. Even though society and the monster can be brutal about particular situations, the person who is the real monster in Frankenstein, is Victor Frankenstein. As the creator of the monster, Victor proves to be the true monster many times throughout the novel. As the creature enters life, he is immediately rejected by society. After being abandoned by his creator, the monster tries to find a place to live. He discovers a small hovel and this happens to be near a nice home that is occupied by a family and many villagers. The monster is able to teach himself how to speak, read, and write by watching the daily routines of the DeLacy’s. Soon the monster is able to understand emotions like happiness, sadness, and pain. “They often, I believe, suffered the pangs of hunger very poignantly” (99). The monster becomes sympathetic towards the family and then stops stealing from them and decides that he wants to help. “I discovered also another means through which I was enabled to assist their labours […] I often took his tolls, the use of which I brought home firing sufficient for the consumption of several days” (99). At this time when the monster beings to help the family, he feels like he has an obligation and a connection to them. However, he is unable to interact with the family face to face. One day, he decides he will talk to DeLacy when the rest of the family is out because DeLacy is blind. Conversely, the family walks into the cottage and are horrified by the monster’s appearance, and they chase him out of their home. This incident causes a sudden change in the monster and how he outlook on life is forever. Society rejects the monster and makes it difficult for him to ever be accepted. In this way, society is the monster in the novel because it bases opinions on first impressions and other’s appearances. The monster is in a state of distress and despair when he is rejected by the one family who he thought could accept him for the way he is. In order to direct his anger in a better way, the monster destroys inanimate objects so that it is not taken out on something important. He does so because he is still optimistic about life and that he may still have a chance once he can find his creator. The reader sees and intimate side of the monster at this time. He feels hurt and lonely and searches for any opportunity to be accepted. When the incident with the girl by the river occurs, the monster is repaid for his kindness by being shot in the arm. He is outraged and the man who shot him and makes a vow that he will abide by until the end of the story. “Inflamed by pain, I vowed eternal hatred and vengeance to all mankind” (130). From this moment on, the monster feels much hatred towards the human race but especially towards Frankenstein, his creator. He does anything he can to make Frankenstein’s life miserable. As he comes across the younger brother of Frankenstein in the woods, William Frankenstein, he kills him immediately when he discovers who he is. At this moment, the monster starts to act like a true monster. He murders anyone who is in some way related to Frankenstein. He wants Victor to feel what it is like to be lonely just as he does. The monster takes many victims until the end of the novel. He kills Victor’s good friend Henry Clerval, and Victor’s wife Elizabeth. Though the monster becomes a true monster, it was all caused by Frankenstein for creating him in the first place. In many ways, Victor Frankenstein acts like the real monster over any one else. As the creator of the monster, he followed his emotions over logic. Frankenstein does not consider what the consequences of creating the monster will be.