How Does Society Create Evil In Frankenstein

An American Singer, Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi’s song Up Up and Away lyrics state “in the end they'll judge me any way so whatever.” That “whatever” at the end is what society creates. People start acting the way that society perceives them to be because they are so irked of being criticized for actions they aren’t responsible of performing. In the book Frankenstein, the society had created an image for the Creature, calling him a monster, even though he wasn’t, but eventually he became what the society thought of him to be because “whatever.” Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein, using the Creature and his tragic story, portrays the theme that society creates evil by encompassing the idea that society sets standards, then judges people
that don’t fit the standard, and then eventually isolates them, causing them to become harmful.
Society creates certain standards that people abide and follow, and if a person doesn’t meet the requirements of that standard he is looked down upon. Society creates such standards where it is only understandable for a person to talk to someone of their class, or someone of a good appearance. In the beginning of the book, Walton expresses his thoughts in a letter, and in those he says that none of the shipmen are worthy of him, but as soon as Victor is aboard, Walton is admiring him due to his attractiveness. Walton states “He must have been a noble creature in his better days, being now in wreck so amiable and attractive” (12). Victor is worthy of Walton because of his looks and also Victor seems to be someone of upper class. The book starts of clearly by showing the set standards of society. Victor Frankenstein has been brought up with these societal norms, where a person is based on how he or she looks from the outside. The Creature wasn’t born evil, but the
societal standards caused him to be looked down upon. Be it strangers or be it Victor, everyone feared the Creature and kept a distance from him, without knowing the reality of Creature. Due to societal standards, Victor rejects the monster at first sight. After Victor completes his project of creating life, he should’ve been happy, but due to the ugliness of the monster, all he feels is disgust. As Victors says “the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart” (42). Only if Victor and the society hadn’t used society’s standards, but rather the inner beauty, the Creature wouldn’t have committed a crime. If there was no such standard, Victor or the people had nothing to judge the Creature off , so Victor would’ve accepted the creature, therefore the society’s standard is one reason why creature turned evil.
After the society views a person not suitable for its standards, they judge him and create misconceptions.
In the book, people not only looked down upon Creature, they also labeled him as a monster. Creature isn’t born a monster, he is so innocent that to a point, he doesn’t realize why is he being labeled and judged. While sharing his tale with Victor, the Creature refers to his times in the village, “I remembered the treatment I had suffered the night before from the barbarous villagers… endeavouring to discover the motive which influenced their action.” (91). Victor and the society never gave Creature a chance, just because Creature didn’t meet their appearance standards, they announced him to be a monster. Creature’s first murder of Victor’s brother isn’t even intended. Creature is only curious to talk to William, but William yells out harsh judgmental words, and in the process of silencing the boy, Creature accidentally kills him. William would’ve been alive, if he hadn’t labeled and stated “monster! Ugly wretch! You wish to eat me and tear me to pieces,” (122). After this, the Creature goes on a killing spree, but only if the society hadn’t labeled him, the story would’ve been completely different. The Creature was tagged and blamed as a monster, and the society wouldn’t even give him a chance to prove himself, so he didn’t even bother trying to be good. If society hadn’t frustrated the Creature with all the misconceptions they created of him,and gave him one
chance to show his true self, he wouldn’t have never killed anyone or became corrupt, hence again making society the cause of evil.
Society not only judges the person, but they completely isolate them, leaving them alone with only their thoughts. In the book, Creature was not only labeled as a monster, he was also expected to live by himself. For a long time, the creature did live by himself, but eventually he like any other human would, felt the need of a companion. After discovering life, and learning about people, he finally realizes that he was an outcast in the society. The creature states while expressing his feelings to De Lancey, the old blind man, "I am an unfortunate and deserted creature; I look around and I have no relation or friend upon earth., These amiable people to whom I go have never seen me and know little of me. I am full of fears, for if I fail there, I am an outcast in the world forever." (113). Although the blind man approves of Victor to stay with them, the rest of the family runs away, leaving the Creature in despair. The Creature was not only left in despair, his right to a companion was also taken away after Victor breaks his promise. The Creature would’ve ended the killing after William, if Victor wouldn’t have left him isolated, and gave him some sort of companionship. After Victor had broken his promise, the Creature becomes destructive, and threatens Victor by saying “ It is well. I go; but remember, I shall be with you on your wedding-night.” (147). Victor and the society were selfish for leaving a person isolated, and the consequences of their actions were seen in the murders that the Creature had caused. In those lonely nights, one can only think of the wrong being done to him, and will eventually want to avenge that. If the Creature had some support and wasn't completely isolated, he wouldn't have turned into a monster, showing the society to be the culprit again.