This essay will examine the character Victor Frankenstein from before and after creating the monster to gain an understanding of his motives and the responsibility he has burdened himself with within the text of the well-known book Frankenstein by the acclaimed novelist, Mary Shelley. In the story, the reader is introduced to Robert Walton, a seemingly parallel character to that of Victor Frankenstein foreshadowing what is to come of him for his expedition to the North Pole and the reasons for Victor's attempt to stop him by retelling his life story. Mary Shelley does this to show his perspective on the sequence of events that have unfolded upon him because of his actions that allow for the reader to sympathize with. Victor Frankenstein who is shown to have a passion for science and discovers he can give life to inanimate objects. He proceeds blindly to make his own creation to advance humanity but didn’t realize the extent of what he had done until he actually saw it in action. Mary Shelley tells us this story to reflect on humanity as a whole to partake what it means to play as a god.
This essay investigates the question, to what extent does Mary Shelley utilize Victor Frankenstein’s perspective to create sympathy for his motivations? I chose this research question to demonstrate the sympathy one has for Victor Frankenstein as he retells his life story we see his life change and end in tragedy because of his naive venture for discovery. I have obtained my research by reading the book Frankenstein by Mary Shelley; focusing on how and why Shelley portrays Victor Frankenstein through the use of perspective while taking notes through the use of post-it notes to mark each quotation for evidence.
Reader's perspective on Victor Frankenstein
In the beginning, Mary Shelley has instated Frankenstein as the ruins of an old man by the perspective of the expeditions Walton, “kindness towards him or does him the most trifling service, his whole countenance is lighted up...he is generally melancholy and despairing, and sometimes he gnashes his teeth, as if impatient of the weight of ...woes that oppresses him” (16). The reader is seeing Frankenstein by the description Walton gives us of what he sees and thinks of Frankenstein. Mary Shelley tells us this through the eyes of Walton to represent what the audience sees of Frankenstein, which reveals to the reader and signifies Frankenstein’s state of mentality. This sets the base for understanding Frankenstein’s state of mind before Mary Shelley will reveal his past encounters that lead to this moment. This is an important realization as it means the end is in the beginning of the story where the outcome is inevitable in the opening moment and every moment in between.
Mary Shelley shows us Frankenstein’s perspective on social relations is starting to diminish which is what keeps him sane.“I loved my brothers, Elizabeth, and Clerval; these were ‘old familiar faces,’ but I believed myself totally unfit for the company of strangers. Such were my reflections as I commenced my journey; but as I proceeded, my spirits and hopes rose. I ardently desired the acquisition of knowledge.” (42). We are introduced to Frankenstein and his old world before his long trench to Ingolstadt, Germany for his four-year study into his new world that will crumble his old world. Mary Shelley brings up this piece of information to suggest a change of mind in the way he sees people as of no importance. In Frankenstein's old world, he isolates himself to only committing himself to know his relatives and caring for them and by going through this journey he will have nothing but the desire for knowledge to unknowingly create a “monster” that will ultimately be his demise.
As a scientist in Ingolstadt, Frankenstein has good intentions in creating a being of great stature, but the result is more devastating than he could imagine.“I should first break through, and pour a torrent of light into our dark world. A new species would bless me as its creator and source; many happy and excellent natures would owe their being to me. No father could claim the gratitude of his child so completely as I should deserve theirs. Pursuing these reflections, I thought that if I could bestow animation upon lifeless matter, I might in process of time (although I now found it impossible) renew life where death had apparently devoted the body to corruption.” (54). His passion in the field of metaphysical sciences drives him to help humanity in this dark array of life by creating a new form of life. He believes he will bring humanity closer to a utopia where he will lay the foundation for through his creation. Given that he is telling this to Walton, who represents the reader in the story, Frankenstein is judging his past actions as being naive in what he thinks will accomplish. Mary Shelley uses parentheses in “although I now found it impossible” to hide Frankenstein's realization in how he will accomplish this insurmountable endeavor. The reader sees Frankenstein's uncertainty and ambivalence as he reveals his mission to the reader and in response, we see the good intentions he had in the past but feel fretful in his present state.
We are shown the early aspects of Victor Frankenstein and generally, they are perfect that he even says so himself,“No human being could have passed a happier childhood than me. My parents were possessed by the very spirit of kindness and indulgence.” It is true that he has lived a great life in the sense that he is from a prosperous family who cares for him, is educated and is sent to the University of Ingolstadt.
'So much has been done, exclaimed the soul of Frankenstein—more, far more, will I achieve; treading in the steps already marked, I will pioneer a new way, explore unknown powers, and unfold to the world the deepest mysteries of creation.' (46) Victor Frankenstein tells Walton about his desire for knowledge of life that has been directed by his professor, M Waldman. In the text, Victor states that if he were to follow the same path as every other student he would not be able to excel with his intellect.
Consequences of his quest
“The different accidents of life are not so changeable as the feelings of human nature. I had worked hard for nearly two years, for the sole purpose of infusing life into an inanimate body. For this I had deprived myself of rest and health. I had desired it with an ardor that far exceeded moderation; but now that I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart” (44)
“As I heard it, the whole truth rushed into my mind, my arms dropped, the motion of every muscle and fiber was suspended; I could feel the blood trickling in my veins and tingling in the extremities of my limbs. This state lasted but for an instant; the scream was repeated, and I rushed into the room. Great God! Why did I not then expire? Why am I here to relate the destruction of the best hope and the purest creature on earth? She was there, lifeless and inanimate, thrown across the bed, her head hanging down and her pale and distorted features half covered by her hair. Everywhere I turn I see the same figure— her bloodless arms and relaxed form flung by the murderer on its bridal bier. Could I behold this and live? Alas! Life is obstinate and clings closest where it is most hated. For a moment only did I lose recollection; I fell senseless on the ground.” (241) The last source of happiness of Frankenstein is lost which reflects how his creation feels when Frankenstein mutilated his future happiness. The consequences of creating a monster in this quest for knowledge has affected the creator and the creation to be in despair and live with this burden of despair to never truly feel happiness.
Sympathize through Victor's actions
“You may easily perceive, Captain Walton, that I have suffered great and unparalleled misfortunes. I had determined at one time that the memory of these evils should die with me, but you have won me to alter my determination. You seek for knowledge and wisdom, as I once did; and I ardently hope that the gratification of your wishes may not be a serpent to sting you, as mine has been.” (17) Victor Frankenstein sees himself in Walton, a young determined man for the “greater purpose”
“In this manner, I distributed my occupations when I first arrived, but as I proceeded in my labor, it became every day more horrible and irksome to me. Sometimes I could not prevail on myself to enter my laboratory for several days, and at other times I toiled day and night in order to complete my work. It was, indeed, a filthy process in which I was engaged. During my first experiment, a kind of enthusiastic frenzy had blinded me to the horror of my employment; my mind was intently fixed on the consummation of my labor, and my eyes were shut to the horror of my proceedings. But now I went to it in cold blood, and my heart often sickened at the work of my hands.” (150) Frankenstein is contemplating to whether continue with this project and feels sick when he is around lab equipment that reflects his first creation.
“sympathies for which the daemon thirsted would be children, and a race of devils would be propagated upon the earth who might make the very existence of the species of man a condition precarious and full of terror. Had I right, for my own benefit, to inflict this curse upon everlasting generations? I had before been moved by the sophisms of the being I had created; I had been struck senseless by his fiendish threats; but now, for the first time, the wickedness of my promise burst upon me; I shuddered to think that future ages might curse me as their pest, whose selfishness had not hesitated to buy its own peace at the price, perhaps, of the existence of the whole human race. I trembled and my heart failed within me, when, on looking up, I saw by the light of the moon the daemon at the casement.” (151) Frankenstein is fearful that for what he has created can spread throughout the lands and is seen to take responsibility for his past actions to prevent any more harm. Frankenstein is taking responsibility for his past actions in creating a new species and does not want to continue to do so and has a difficult process in what he should do although mutilating a body seems evil.
Victor Frankenstein is seen to be the protagonist but through Mary Shelley's techniques, we get a better understanding of his character and the motives that has burdened him with his creation. Brings into light the ethical consideration of what