How do you respond to the view that the Monster is Frankenstein’s double, representing the evil side of his character? The theme of the double is a particularly common feature in nineteenth century Gothic Literature. As an externalization of a part of the self it is often used to demonstrate the tension between the laws of society and the desires of the individual and to give voice to that which has been silenced by rational discourse. It can be argued that the Monster is Frankenstein’s double representing the evil side of his character as when Victor refers to the monster as ‘my own spirit’ he provides the clearest expression of the notion that he and the monster may be doubles, with the monster acting out Victor’s own aggressions. Victor says that the monster is ‘my own vampire, my own spirit let loose from the grave and forced to destroy all that was dear to me’.
This “monster” with grotesque features and actions ends up killing every one close to his maker out of hatred and vengeance. With extensive analysis of the novel I have encountered with sufficient evidence that led me into thinking otherwise. Such evidence will be presented throughout this essay. Victor Frankenstein, we may say that actually is the incarnation of all human evilness and misdeeds while the so-called "monster” is merely a victim of Victor's mad, selfish, and egocentric state of mind. First of all, I am going to state how Victor resembles more of a monster than the creation itself.
As exemplified by both Dr. Frankenstein and his monster, prolonged estrangement from society essentially rips the lid off Pandora’s notorious Box, prompting self-destruction and magnifying the human tendency to harbor resentments towards a society that has become foreign to them. Our gruesome adventure begins
He even sees beauty in the rotten corpses that he studies. When Victor creates the monster however, his power reaches its peak and he loses control over himself. Where he once was able to see beauty and goodness, in his family, nature and the corpses, Victor now sees only ugliness. What was once his life’s passion, the creation of the monster, is now evil to Victor. Victor’s immense powers become too much for him to handle, costing him his self-control.
During the novel Frankenstein creates the Monster and when he realizes what he has created he almost instantly regrets the idea. “I had desired it with an ardour that far exceeds moderations; but now that I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart,” (Shelley p.58). The feeling of remorse for creating something that grotesque remains with Frankenstein till his death. That same feeling of remorse can be seen in the Monster when he realizes that he had killed and destroyed everything he came in contact with, killing his creator and everyone close to him. This was the result of the love he never felt and in the end the Monster living with the burden of this remorse.
In sum, isolation becomes the worst imaginable fate throughout the novel, which leads to violence, rage and disaster. Knowledge, social responsibility, society's view of beauty, and secrecy are the major themes that were presented in this gothic novel. Shelley identifies the most hideous of human characteristics in Victor and his monster, and she focuses on how obsession can be a very dangerous and blinding force that leads to various disasters. Frankenstein and his monster represent the good and the bad through the reckless pursuit of knowledge. Both of these characters were afraid of rejection.
Finally, the monster’s passage of narration is located in the ‘innermost circle’. By structuring her novel in this way, Mary Shelley portrays ‘the humans’ as the most monstrous; as they appear to hold the monster captive and restrict the opportunities he has to narrate and relay his point of view. However, by forming her novel using a ‘dual narrative’ Shelley allows both the humans and the monster the chance to give their viewpoints on the other. If anything, this dual narration makes the humans and the monster as monstrous as each other, as both of them use their piece of narration in order to plot revenge upon the other. In fact, one factor supporting the idea that the monster is more monstrous than the humans is the monster’s reaction to murdering William Frankenstein.
By definition, “Frankenstein” means monstrous creation. Typically, the term monster brings me the figure of hideous monster, who is full of hatred and does nothing but eating or killing people. In contrast, the horrific appearance is similar to the monster in Frankenstein by Mary Shelly. However, the monster in this novels is actually a creature with a desire to learn and to be loved. This example of situational irony is only one of many found in Frankenstein.
His arm stretched out seemingly to detain me, but I escaped.” – Victor "Frankenstein! you belong then to my enemy--to him towards whom I have sworn eternal revenge; you shall be my first victim." - The Monster “I was benevolent; my soul glowed with love and humanity; but am I not alone, miserably alone?” - The Monster call it murder”- The Monster "Accursed creator! Why did you form a monster so hideous that even you turned from me in disgust? “ A pair of star crossed lovers take their life” “ My only love sprung from my only hate” ” Away, begone , the sport is at the best” O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?
Only after being treated so poorly and outcast by every human he comes in contact with is Frankenstein’s monster driven to rage and vengeance. Victor Frankenstein’s actions throughout the novel prove