In Mary Shelley’s Gothic Novel, Frankenstein

In Mary Shelley’s Gothic Novel, Frankenstein, a mad scientist named Victor Frankenstein becomes very obsessed with creating new life but begins to build chaos by abandoning his creation that is described as a monster. However, the role of the real monster is played by Victor Frankenstein because he abandons his creation, is very egoistic, and rejects on giving the creature a companion.

Victor abandons his creature when he suggests, “Unable to endure the aspect of the being I had created, I rushed out of the room, and continued a long time traversing my bedchamber,” (35) which makes him the true devil for neglecting his attention and time to the creature. In other word, he ran away from being guidance or even a “father” to a monster, created by him, that had no knowledge from his surroundings or experiences. Frankenstein was practically leaving a baby who had no fault for it.

Frankenstein’s actions are done with only one thing in his mind “him and only him” which is why he is a very egoistic character. During the trial Victor does not defend the innocence of Justine because of his concern for being viewed as a crazy man as he proclaims when he questions, “And was I really as mad as the whole world would believe me to be, if I disclose the object of my suspicions?”(52) Frankenstein’s egoistic trait is also demonstrated when he’s creating life and expects to hold great power as he aspires, “A new species would bless me as it creator and source; many happy and excellent natures would owe their being to me.”(32) In the novel Victor never mentions his reasons of his actions for the welfare of someone else other than him.

Victor Frankenstein never admits to his own mistakes, the idea that his destiny was already put in place sets his mind that he had no control over the outcomes or consequences. Frankenstein defends this belief when he claims to Walton, “nothing can alter my destiny; listen to my history, and you will perceive how irrevocably it is determined.”(13) This idea that Victor had keeps him from repairing his mistakes and actually knowing the difference from right to wrong, which makes him the true fiend for always thinking that the wrong was the right.

The true monster of the novel is Victor Frankenstein because as any fiend he was egoist and never admitted to the mistakes he did. He caused destruction in the story for not taking responsibility of his creation and abandoning it. With this true evil character the novel Frankenstein can be categorized as a true gothic novel.

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