Creators Faults In The Creation Essay Research

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The Creator’s Faults in the Creation

Often the actions of children are reflective of the attitudes of those who raise them. In the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelly, Dr. Victor Frankenstein is the sole being that can take responsibility for the actions of the creature that he creates. He is the only person that takes part in the creation of the creature. Even though the crimes are committed by the creature, their cause can be traced back to the creator.

Many of Frankenstein’s faults are evident in the appearance of his creation. It is described as having ?yellow skin? watery eyes? dun-white sockets? shrivelled complexion and straight black lips (Shelly 35). Frankenstein, having chosen the parts for his creature, is the only person to blame for its appearance. Clearly it is Frankenstein’s lack of foresight in the creation process that causes Frankenstein to say, ?breathless horror and disgust filled my heart” (Shelly 35), because he had ?selected his features as beautiful? (Shelly 35). Even though Frankenstein had a originally thought the individual parts where beautiful, when combined, they became hideous. He overlooks the seemingly obvious fact that ugliness is the natural result when something is made from parts of different corpses. Another physical aspect of the monster which shows a fault in Frankenstein is its immense size. The reason that Frankenstein gives for creating so large a creature is his own haste. He states, “As the minuteness of the parts formed a great hindrance to my speed, I resolved, contrary to my first intention, to make a being gigantic in stature…” (Shelly 32). Frankenstein is not only under pressure to complete his project in a timely manner, but he is also obsessed with the fact that he will be the only person ever to have created a living thing. Frankenstein states, “A new species would bless me as its creator and source; many happy and excellent natures would owe their being to me” (Shelly 32). Frankenstein seems obsessed with being the father of this new race, so he makes the creature large in order to assure its dominance.

The more important defect within Frankenstein is not so much shown in the appearance that he gives his creation, but the manner in which he responds to it. Frankenstein? is appalled at the appearance of his creature upon activation. Frankenstein states, ?How can I describe my emotions at this catastrophe? (Shelly 35). Frankenstein sees the creature’s physical appearance only, not attempting to acknowledge its mental nature. Frankenstein is so disgusted by his creation that he ?rush[es] out of the room, and continu[es] a long time traversing [his] bedchamber, unable to compose [his] mind to sleep? (Shelly 35) It is due to this abandonment that the monster develops the murderous tendencies displayed later in the novel. Even when the creature is shown to be naturally good, its physical form never allows it acceptance. The creature?s good intentions are displayed by gathering much needed firewood for the De Laceys. However, once the creature is seen he is immediately shunned and outcast. Even after being beaten by Felix the creature does not react violently, but with great sorrow and disappointment. The creature states, ?I could have torn him from limb to limb, as the lion rends the antelope. But my heart sunk within me as with bitter sickness, and I refrained? (Shelly 97). This proves that the creature has intentions of being anything but cruel. He wants be loved so therefore he shows love to the people around him. The creature also shows signs of being a loving creature when the little girl in the woods ?falls into the rapid stream? (Shelly 101). Instead of being rewarded for his kind-hearted reaction the creature is shot. He says, ?This was then the reward of my benevolence! I had saved a human being from destruction, and as a recompense I now writhed under miserable pain of a wound which shattered the flesh and bone (Shelly 101).

It is only upon being repeatedly rejected because of his appearance that the creature becomes the monster that Frankenstein sees. When the creature meets the young boy in the woods the creature originally does not ?intend to hurt him? (Shelly 102). However, once the creature discovers that the boy is the son of Frankenstein, the creature murders the boy in order to seek revenge on his creator. The creature says, ?Frankenstein! You belong then to my enemy?to him towards whom I have sworn eternal revenge; you shall be my first victim? (Shelly 102). The creature only turns violent in order to avenge his creator. He wishes for his creator to ?carry despair?and a thousand other miseries [that] torment and destroy him? (Shelly 102). Because of his rejection by humans and by the man that should love him the most he becomes a murderer.

Mary Shelly creates Victor Frankenstein as an overly ambitious character. His faults in his creation lead to his demise. The lesson to be learned by the reader is that everyone creates their own destiny by the life that they lead.

Bibliography

Shelly, Mary. Frankenstein. New York: Dover Publications, 1994.