Frankenstein Essay, Research Paper

Frankenstein – The Question of Morality in the Novel

Morality. It has been questioned by people, honored by people

and revered since the beginning of time. Yet even today not one

person can say what is morally right. It is a matter of opinion. It

was Dr. Victor Frankenstein’s opinion that it was alright to create a

“monster”. Frankenstein’s creation needed a companion. Knowing that

his first creation was evil should the doctor make a second? With the

knowledge at hand, to Dr. Frankenstein, it is not at all morally

correct to bring another monster into the world.

Looking at this probelm with his family in mind, the doctor

begins his work on the second monster. The first monster threatened

Frankenstein and even his family. The monster angrily said to

Frankenstein, “I can make you so wretched.” (pg. 162) Trying to scare

Frankenstein for not creating his mate the monster resorted to

threats. If the good doctor does create a companion for his first

creation he may be endangering others. “The miserable monster whom I

had created,” (pg.152) says Victor upon looking back at his work. If

there is another monster there will be twice the power and possibly

twice the evil, which could hurt or kill his family. When and if

Frankenstein commits the moral sin of creating another monster he may

be rid of both monsters forever. “With the companion you bestow I

will quit the neighbourhood of man,”(pg 142) promises the morally

corrupt monster to the doctor upon the completion of his partner.

When the doctor, if and when he, finished his first creation’s mate

there is a chance that the monsters will not keep their promise and

stay in Europe envoking fear into townfolk.

The good doctor, trying to act morally, destroys the monster

for the good of the world. The monsters can potentially take over

whatever they please. “A race of devils would be propegated,”(pg.

163) thinks Frankenstein to himself in his study. The monsters, if

powerful enough, could possibly take over Europe. Frankenstein

realizes that he can not possibly doom the world to benefit himself.

“Shall I, in coold blood, set loose upon the earth a daemon..”(pg.

162) argues Frankenstein with his creation. It is not morally right

for one person to unleash such a terror on the world to benefit only

himself and his family. Frankenstein will not let any example

change his mind on the point that the monster is and will always be

morally corupt. Continuing on his point that the monster was too evil

to duplicate, Frankenstein says, “Your threats cannot move me to do an

act of wickedness; but they confirm me in determination of not

creating you a companion in vice.”( pg. 163) Frankenstein will not

sacrifice his morallity because of persuation from a monster.

Although beholding the threat of death and misery Frankenstein held

his ground and did not sacrifice his moral.

When and if Frankenstein creates another monster he can not

feel as if he has done the morally right thing. From creating the

monster Frankenstein will some how be making people other than himself

unhappy. ” I consent to your demand, on your solem oath to quite

Europe forever, and every other place in the neighbourhood of

man,”(pg. 143) says Frankenstein as he sees the power that the two

could possibly possess. The good doctor sees that with his own hands

he could possibly scar the world forever. The doctor wants, if

anyone, himself to be unhappy instead of all of man kind. “Begone! I

do break my promise,” (pg. 162) states the doctor angrily. Not

thinking about himself but the world unselfishly breaks his promise to

the monster. Possessing such a great mind the doctor is able to

realize that a greater evil will be realesed upon the earth then upon

himself. “Your threats cannot move me to do an act of

wickedness,”(pg. 162) says the doctor as he argues his point with his

creation. The doctor sees that a greater and more horrible result can

come from him making the second monster than not.

With the knowledge at hand, to Dr.Frankenstein, it is not at

all morally correct to bring another monster into the world. On the

one hand if the second monster was created Frankenstein’s family would

be saved. By the same token the rest of the world could be forced to

bow before two hideous monsters. The problem, making or not making

the second monster, played heavily on Frankenstein’s mind, possibly

caused his brief lapse into the realm of the insane. Even though

Frankenstein began his work for the good of man his experiment ended

up hurting himself and his family.