Good Example Of Research Paper On Frankenstein

Frankenstein is one of the most stirring novels in the history of English literature. The author, Mary Shelly, goes on to delve very deep into the intricacies of human nature in comparison to what people call monstrous. The novel is essentially an exploration into the mind of the protagonist and his creation- the monster, and it describes the gradual change of psyche of the monster. The novel raises ethical questions with regard to scientific discovery by portraying the condition and experiences of the monster. The characters of Victor Frankenstein and the creature are the driving force of this novel, and their final outcomes leave the avid readers stirred to the very core of their hearts. Although the monster behaves viciously and murders several people, he is not inherently evil or malicious.
Victor Frankenstein had embarked upon the mission of creating life out of inanimate objects so that his name could go down in the history of mankind. All through the novel, Victor tries to establish how great he was as a scientist, and how fate had made him fall from his paramount position. It was Victor who finally succeeded in creating a monster from body parts. Just as the Almighty instills life in human beings, Victor gave life to the monster. It was his moral and ethical duty to guide the creature to live and adapt to the ways of the human world. He should have become the guardian to the monster as it was he who worked day in and day out for creating the creature.
However, Victor chose to abandon his creation, and went on with his own life. His rejection of the monster was one of the most horrid things done by him. It was totally inhuman on his part to leave the creature that was new in the world to struggle on his own as a lonely being. The monster was not a being sans emotions. It went through the pain of rejection by his creator whom he had expectations from. His emotional response to the act of being deserted by his creator cannot be judged harshly. His mind was like that of a child being poisoned by the vices of the human world. The monster was disowned, not supported, not guided- something that led the adverse effect on its emotions and mind that sparked off the thirst for revenge on his creator.
The monster could be very well compared to an abandoned or orphaned child. His mind was not matured with the experiences and guidance of a guardian. The hardships and vices that he faced in his life killed his innocence as a creature as he came to know that the world was not as beautiful as it seemed to be.
The monster went on to wander in the woods, all alone and confused. There was nobody around to help him in his survival or even guide him about what was to be done next. His struggle for survival was not only against the odds of beings a loner, but he also needed to find food and fire so that he could nurture himself. He went on to seek shelter from the natural elements of the milieu. This was a phase in the monster’s life that made him see the impediments of living from close quarters. All of this happened as Victor was selfish and brutal enough not to give shelter and guidance to his very own creation- something that he had longed so much for before the discovery.
After some time, the monster tried to fit into the human society. He came back from the wood with the wish to be accepted by the humans. He was still not a blood thirsty being that aimed to kill and live as an animalistic creature. However, his endeavor was thwarted with paramount impetus as he faced another rejection from the humans.
As the peasant goes on to flee from the monster, he understands that he would never be accepted by humans. Although he wished to be placed among humans so that he can live normally, the world was too insensitive to his desires and ambitions. All that the monster wanted was acceptance and guidance from Victor and humans. But, as the events unfold in the course of the novel, the monster gets isolated from the human society- something that is like a nail in the coffin for him.
The monster comes to realize that he is taken to be very repulsive by the humans of the society. Hence, he opts to be away where he would not face such reactions. He prefers to hide in the forests where he could be far away from the people. The monster now realizes that he is ugly, and could never be loved by any mortal being in the world owing to his abominable looks. Sadly, the avid readers can very well realize that it was the failure on the part of the human society for not being able to accept the being as it was.
The benevolent nature of the monster is also evident in the course of the novel. This goes on to testify the fact that the monster was not evil or malicious in nature, but it was the bitter experiences of his life that made him turn into a being that was thirsty for revenge. The monster was someone who admired the De Lacey family a lot. This kind of emotion can only be expected from a being that had intricate personality traits and emotions. The creature’s anonymous acts of kindness toward the family are other examples that show that he was not evil in nature.
The monster’s appreciation of literature and music is on major aspect of his personality that testifies to the fact that he had deep emotions and aesthetic sense that is the quintessential ability of any human being. Thus, one can very well understand that the monster was a being that had high intelligence and subtlety of thoughts and emotions.
The monster also endeavored to communicate with M. De Lacey in a hope to find a place among the humans of the society. He wished to find companionship from the father. Thus, one can comprehend that the monster was seeking a father figure whom he could look up to for companionship and guidance. The monster never wanted a stray life for him. Moreover, when Felix attacks him, the monster experiences desolate feelings rather than being enraged by the attack.
The monster’s first violent act that was in response to rejection from the human community was seen when he went on to burn down the cottage after De Laceys move out of the place. The monster’s emotions of sadness and longing to find companionship was not getting transformed into his frustration and hatred toward the humans for not accepting him or giving him a chance to fit in.
One needs to remember the fact that the relationship of the monster with Frankenstein was not amiable at all. Victor was appalled by his own creation, and he had run out of his place just after he had created the monster. Victor was irresponsible enough not to give any support of guidance to the monster whose mind was innocent in the beginning. The monster only got negativity from his creator- the person from whom the creature had the most expectations.
Since Victor was like the “father” of the monster, having given him life with his own hands, it was extremely selfish and insensitive on Victor’s part for not being present for the monster in the time of his need. Instead of focusing on the monstrous look and repulsive stature of the monster, his creator could have very well seen him as a loving creation that needed to be nurtured just like a child needed to be trained and guided by his or her parent.
One can comprehend how desolate and depressed the monster would have felt after being disowned by his creator. He had no one else whom he could look up to. There was nobody in this world that would take him normally, or understand him. He did not know how to survive, what to do in life. Thus, it was the selfish abandonment of his creator that had rendered the haplessness and struggle for existence that the monster was subjected to face in the course of time.
When the monster came to discover the identity of his creator, Victor, he experienced true rage. He said, “Cursed, cursed creator! Why did I live? Why, in that instant, did I not extinguish the spark of existence which you had so wantonly bestowed?” (Shelly) He realized that his hardships and pain were caused due to the selfishness and irresponsibility of his creator. The monster knew that Victor had wronged him, and hence he needed to be punished for his cruel act. The monster kills William, Victor’s younger brother, in order to quench his thirst for vengeance on Victor.
He tracked down Victor and literally begs him to create a female monster of his kind so that he would not feel desolate and lonely in his life. He further promised Victor that he would not harm anyone else in his life, if his wish was granted by his creator. However, Victor did not keep his word, and destroys the female monster before instilling life in it. This enraged the monster even more, and as revenge he kills Victor’s friend, and later, Elizabeth- Victor’s wife, on the night of their wedding. The monster had warned Victor saying, “It is well. I go; but remember, I shall be with you on your wedding-night.” (Shelly)
Finally, when Victor died, the monster was found to be weeping by the side of the deceased body. He expressed his grief, loneliness, and depression. He opined, “I, the miserable and the abandoned, am an abortion, to be spurned at, and kicked, and trampled on.” (Shelly) The monster now embarked upon the journey to northernmost ice so that he could die. Thus, the readers can understand that the monster is not the villainous character, but he is the one who becomes the victim of the selfishness and cruelty of human nature. Ironically, it was the monster that showed human-like emotions, in spite of being perceived to be monstrously repulsive by the humans.

Works Cited

Allan, Graham. Shelly’s Frankenstein. New York: Continuum International Publishing Group,
2008. Print.
Bann, Stephen. Frankenstein, Creation and Monstrosity. London: Reaktion Books Ltd., 1994.
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Cracuin, Adriana. “Writing the Disaster: Franklin and Frankenstein.” Nineteenth-century
Literature, 65, (2011): 433-480. Web. 5 April 2015.
Levine, George, and Knoepflmacher, U.C., eds. The Endurance of Frankenstein: Essays on
Mary Shelley's Novel. London: University of California Press, 1979. Print.
Shelly, Mary. Frankenstein. London: Lackington, Hughes, Harding, Mavor & Jones, 1818. Print.
Storment, Suzanna. “Frankenstein: The Man and the Monster.” public.wsu.edu, 2002. Web. 5
April 2015.