Frankenstein Theme Essay, Research Paper

There are many different themes expressed in Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein. They

vary with each reader but basically never change. These themes deal with the

education that each character posses, the relationships formed or not formed in

the novel, and the responsibility for ones own actions. This novel even with the

age still has ideas that can be reasoned with even today. Each character has

their own educational background, which in turn has a large effect to the way

they react and deal with the issues that face them. One example of this is

Victor Frankenstein; he took his education into his own hands. When he went to

the University of Inglostaldt he intoxicated himself with the sciences so deeply

that he never imagined the morality of what he was doing. He stayed so involved

and focused on his experiments that he did not take into mind what could happen

because of the size of the creature. Victor said: Although I possessed the

capacity of bestowing animation, yet to prepare a frame for the reception of it,

with all its intricacies of fibres, muscles and veins, still remained a work of

inconceivable difficulty? As the minuteness of the parts formed a great

hindrance to my speed, I resolved, contrary to my first intention, to make the

being of a gigantic stature; that is to say about eight feet in height, and

proportionately large. (52) But when he finished the science that brought him

there has also scared him away. On page 56 Victor tells about the creation and

what it meant to him and what happened when life filled the body: 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 ardour that far exceeded moderation; but now that I had finished, the

beauty of the dream vanished and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart.

(56) Victor’s education has leaded him to be able to create a monster but not

let him fully think out the havoc that might be unleashed. His education only

let him create a monster but never taught him how to care for it; this ends up

resulting in the loss of innocent lives. This theme is also present when looking

at the creation’s education. He received most of his education hands on, by

himself, and by the observation of others, especially the De Laceys. "A

strange multiplicity of sensations seized me, and I saw felt, heard, and smelt,

at the same time; and it was indeed, a long time before I learned to distinguish

between my operations of my various senses" (98). He watched the De Laceys

and learned how to talk, read, and how to love. He read about the creation of

Adam and compared himself to the story of the fallen angel. This education may

not be the deepest or most rational but it does connect deep into the minds of

the reader. Though education in this novel helps to form some of the bonds

between characters the bonds that do not form play an important role in

Frankenstein. The most prevalent relationship that does not ever truly form is

that between the Victor and his creation. Victor, during his making of the

creature, is so proud and infatuated with the idea of what he is bringing to the

world; but when life flows through the veins of the creature Victor is terrified

and abandons him. He could not stand to see the wretch of a being that he

created. Before the creature was alive he was beautiful to Victor. This

abandonment set the relationship out on thin ice in the beginning. Victor had no

one to tell him how to handle the problem and take care of the creature so in

turn he ran from the creature. This situation is like that of a parent but

Victor’s idea was more of possession, ownership, and success of the creation

itself. Victor’s character was not one that could cope with what he has done.

The reader empathizes with the "child", in this case the monster. The

reader through the creature’s story feels for the abandonment that he must have

felt. The creature never formed a relationship with anyone in the novel. He only

for a brief period of time had someone to really communicate with when he met

Mr. De Lacey, but the children ran him off and again he was left alone, unloved

and unwanted. The creation told Victor his feelings when he said, "Satan

had his companions, fellow devils, to admire and encourage him, but I am

solitary and abhorred"(125). The creation felt so alone that he asked

Victor to make him a companion just as horrid as he is, but Victor would not

recreate what he has already done. The monster got so upset that he vowed

revenge until the very end of Victor’s of his won life. If the creature had a

friend or a companion he might have never went into his murderous rage. Since

the relationship between Victor and his creation was like that of a parent and a

child, when Victor abandons the creature he leaves all of the responsibility of

what he has done. Victor has a great desire to receive the success and

recognition of what he has to offer to society, but what he does not think about

is what could happen if he is successful in bringing life to a dead object. When

he flees from the creature this leads the creature to his wrath of fury and

vengeance. Victor is so involved in thinking how his discoveries can help

mankind but not how the monster could be a burden to society. When the creature

talks to Victor, he starts to see the responsibility that he owes the creature.

Victor agrees to start a companion for the creature but finally thinks about

what could happen with the two creations together. He tears up the second

creation. This shows that he is taking some of the responsibility to the

society: ?For the first time, the wickedness of my promise burst upon me; I

shuddered to think that the future ages might curse me as their pest, whose

selfishness had not hesitated to bury its own peace at the price, perhaps, of

the existence of the whole human race. (159) Victor realizes he is truly

responsible towards society and by tearing up the second creation upholds that

responsibility. The novel points out to the reader that education,

relationships, and responsibility are important traits to posses, even to the

people in the 1800’s to present day. Frankenstein is a classic novel that will

live on for centuries to come as well as the message deep inside.