Inhumanly Cruel And Evil In Frankenstein

What is a monster? Is a monster “an inhumanly cruel or wicked person” or is it a “creature that is typically large, ugly, and frightening” (Merriam Webster)? Both characters in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein are the definition of a monster. Frankenstein’s creation is a creature that is large, ugly, and frightening. Victor Frankenstein is an inhumanly cruel and wicked person. Both characters have flaws that make them monsters; however, one of these characters is the true monster of the novel. This character has more blood on their hands and is far more cruel and wicked. Victor is the true monster because he is selfish, hostile, and merciless.
Being hostile towards the creature makes Victor the true monster. Face to face with the benevolent creature,
victor calls the creature a “wretched devil” in order to ruffle the creature’s feathers (Shelley 68). He does this to feel no remorse so he can “extinguish the spark” that he so “negligently bestowed” (Shelley 68). After abandoning the creature, victor proves to be a monster by trying to end the life of the benevolent creature. Ending the life of an innocent creature is an act that is unethical and immoral. Other than trying to end the life of the creature, Victor enforced a malicious trait onto his creation. Because of Victor’s hostility, the creature acquired the trait that caused him to become a monster like his creator. This trait changed the benevolent creature into a monster that swears “eternal revenge”; however, the creature is not at fault for this but his creator that bestowed this trait onto him (Shelley 102). Forcing this trait onto his own creation through hostility proves victor to be the true monster; however, this is not the only way Victor shows his wickedness.
By being merciless towards his creation, Victor is the true monster. Immediately after giving life to the creature Victor’s heart filled with “disgust” and without hesitation, he bestowed no mercy on his progeny (Shelley 35). Swiftly and ruthlessly, he abandoned his offspring. What is more cruel than abandoning one’s own child because of their appearance? One can see the irresponsible and ruthless actions victor took against the creature that he, himself, had created. Understanding the wrongful rejection cast upon him, the creature “cursed him” “in the bitterness” of his heart (Shelley 94). Even the creature can comprehend that Victor made unethical and immoral actions. His actions resulted in the creature becoming “miserably alone” which made his soul no longer glow “with love and humanity” (Shelley 69). Shunning the creature shows how ruthless and remorseless Victor is because he does not care for the creature’s needs. The result of being merciless against his creation started with his own selfish desires gone wrong.
Through his selfish actions, Victor proves to be a true monster. Instead of dreaming to help others, Victor dreamt of selfish desires. Wishing that “a new species would bless” him “as its creature and source”, Victor showed his true colors (Shelley 32). By wanting to become a god to a whole species, victor’s selfishness is shown. Selfishness is a trait that all monsters own. They only look after themselves, and they wish for the best for themselves only which is what Victor does. Dreaming of being a god to a whole species proves that victor is “the most wretched of human beings” (Shelley 49). Yet again, his egotistical nature makes him a horrendous monster. What makes someone a monster other than being egotistical?