Compare/Contrast Dr. Frankenstein and "The Monster".

Isaac Atayero

Sir John Campion

Advanced Placement English Language

05/07/12

Compare/Contrast Dr. Frankenstein and "The Monster"

  Frankenstein is one of the more brilliantly written horror stories in all of English literature. Mary Shelley’s novel about the man made monster has not ceased to impress and compel reader all over  for centuries . The novel tells the tale of the very ambitious Dr. Frankenstein, who creates  a  distorted human - like monster but fails to care for him . Doctor Frankenstein’s neglection of the monster highlights the different personalities of the Doctor and the monster. Doctor Frankenstein’s monster is a lonely creature that is rejected and despised by his own creator. Doctor Frankenstein , on the other hand, is a very driven man who appears to be very selfish and inconsiderate .

     The dynamics of both characters in the story accents their obvious differences without drawing away attention from the individuality of both the protagonist and the antagonist . The Protagonist, Doctor Frankenstein’s Monster, is misunderstood not only by the world around him but also by his own maker. The monster’s grotesque features causes him to be seen as menacing and terrifying. All of these qualities and more are wrongfully assigned to the monster by no fault of his own . The reaction of society to him causes the monster to evolve into the being that the people around him had prejudicially presumed him to be . The monster in actuality is really a romantic man who turns evil due to the circumstances that surround him .

    Doctor Frankenstein is the self loving antagonist who takes on the role of God but refuses to show love  or compassion towards his own creation . Doctor Frankenstein aspiration drives him to create the monster , which is why he chooses not to identify with the monster. In the novel, it is clear that the egoistic mannerisms of self - seeking Doctor Frankenstein cause him to be the true villain .This can be seen best when he considers the experimentation of the human - like existence . Doctor Frankenstein considers neither the emotions nor  the livelihood of the entity he was bringing into life . He creates the monster without giving a thought to either the mental or emotional state of the monster .

    Every evil that is inflicted on the monster throughout the novel is a direct consequence of the Doctor’s failure to think beyond the success and fame that the being would bring him. The  affectionate monster is justified in every way to revolt against his egocentric generator . Unlike Doctor Frankenstein , the monster is rejected by all but still has god in him . Throughout the novel the monster exhibits selfless behavior that separates him from the egotistical schmuck  that is Doctor Frankenstein. While both the monster and Doctor Frankenstein have a tendency to want to show love but unlike Doctor Frankenstein, the monster’s affection is never ever reciprocated .

    Instead of respect, the monster’s loving affectations are always met with disdain, disgust, despise, scorn and slight . Doctor Victor Frankenstein has been accustomed to love and mutual respect nearly all of life .This is not the same for Frankenstein , who has never really experienced friendship since he was created till he commits suicide. Dr. Victor Frankenstein is a villain for many reasons especially for not reciprocating the same love he has been privileged to experience to the monster . Doctor Victor has a duty as a creator to nourish his very own chef-d'oeuvre and his inability to nurture his creation proves to be the true moral of the story. God is the ultimate exemplary of a creator because of his ability to give and show love to his creation .

    Mary Shelley has been showing her readers why man is  not God and why God is not man for decades.  The relationship between Doctor Victor Frankenstein and his monster is meant to show the readers how unjust and cruel humanity can really be. The vile nature of the self centered creator and the child like nature of the helpless creation in Mary Shelley’s master piece Frankenstein helps contribrutes to the efficacy of the theme that Ms. Shelley  brilliantly presents in the novel .At the end of the day the real monster is Doctor Victor Frankenstein, the perfect allegory for mankind .