argumentative essay of frankenstein

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley: Critical Essay

A Critical Essay on Frankenstein by Mary Shelley: A Balance of Spheres

Mary Shelley explores the contrast between isolation and society throughout her novel, Frankenstein. This stark dichotomy revolves around the concept of friendship and how characters treat their friends. By juxtaposing Captain Robert Walton and Victor Frankenstein, Shelley critiques isolationism and promotes companionship as vital to humanity’s prosperity. Her message condemns gender roles within Romantic society and ultimately provides a paradigm for the malign consequences of isolation.

The characters of Walton and Frankenstein are almost entirely alike. Unbeknownst to each other, both men share a strikingly similar childhood. In letters to his sister, Mrs. Saville, Walton recounts, “I am self-educated: for the first fourteen years of my life I ran wild on a common and read nothing but our Uncle Thomas’ books of voyages… I was passionately fond of reading. These volumes were my study day and night” (19, 16). Later in the novel, Frankenstein recalls, “I was, to a great degree, self-taught with regard to my favourite studies… I read and studied the wild fancies of… writers with delight” (41). Almost identical, these self educations gave rise to similar curiosities. While Frankenstein “desire[s] to divine…the secrets of heaven and earth,” Walton desires to “ascertain the secret of the magnet” (38, 16). These ambitions to scientifically probe nature are driven by a common thirst for glory. Walton affirms to Mrs. Saville, “I prefer glory to every enticement that wealth place[s] in my path” (17). Unaware of this statement, Frankenstein later describes his youthful mentality: “Wealth was an inferior object, but what glory would attend the discovery if I could banish disease…” (42). Rather than a monetary reward, zealous curiosity and desire for glory motivate both men to set out on an enterprise; Frankenstein attempts to animate a man while Walton attempts to discover passage routes through the Arctic. It becomes clear , Shelley’s deliberate parallels between both male protagonists characterize them as practically the same man .

Shelley differentiates Walton and Frankenstein by only one character trait: their treatment of friends. Throughout the novel, Victor Frankenstein increasingly rejects his friendships and isolates himself. The first stage in this process occurs after months of intellectual stimulation at college in Ingolstadt. He recalls “ the unremitting ardour … which made me neglect the scenes around me caused me to forget those friends who were so many miles absent, and whom I had not seen for so long a time” (55 , 56). Frankenstein altogether loses contact with his domestic relationships as he becomes more engrossed in working on his creation: “I wished, as it were, to procrastinate all that related to my feelings of affection… I shunned my fellow-creatures” (56, 57). Upon William’s death, he reaffirms this emotional and geographical detachment: “At first I wished to hurry on, for I longed to console and sympathise with my loved and sorrowing friends; but when I drew near my native town, I slackened my progress” (76). After his incredible inability to seek or provide consolation during William’s funeral and Justine’s death, Frankenstein severely deteriorates all social connections. In their first dialogue, Victor yells at his creature, “Begone! I will not hear you. There can be no community between you and me; we are enemies” (103). Shortly thereafter, he ventures to Scotland with Henry Clerval and delays Elizabeth’s desire for marriage and his father’s desire for his homecoming. Frankenstein’s message to Clerval, “do not interfere with my motions, I entreat you: leave me to peace and solitude,” and his retreat to the remote Orkney Islands represents the final act in his self-extrication from society. This act of isolation precipitates the creation’s murder of Clerval, Frankenstein’s closest friend, and drives him to lament, “on the whole earth there is no comfort which I am capable of receiving” (183). At this point, Frankenstein irrevocably loses the ability to seek consolation in human society, as demonstrated by his secrecy toward Elizabeth before her murder on their wedding night. In rejecting Walton’s hand in friendship, Frankenstein reaffirms this fateful inability for social connection: “you speak of new ties, and fresh affections… such is not my destiny” (215). In these final words, Frankenstein hints that in blindly pursuing his enterprise, he sacrificed his position in society forever.

Walton, on the other hand, seeks friendship, cares for his companions, and finds consolation in human society. After writing to his beloved sister, Mrs. Saville, “I desire the company of a man,” he encounters a gaunt, grotesque Victor Frankenstein (19). Shelley deliberately compares Walton’s revival of Frankenstein to Frankenstein’s own creation of a man:

I never saw a man in so wretched a condition… We… restored him to animation… As soon as he showed signs of life we wrapped him up in blankets and placed him near the chimney of the kitchen stove. By slow degrees he recovered and ate a little soup, which restored him wonderfully… I removed him to my own cabin and attended on him as much as my duty would permit. I never saw a more interesting creature…I would not allow him to be tormented by [the shipmates’] idle curiosity, in a state of body and mind whose restoration evidently depended upon entire repose. (26–27)

Shelley immediately likens Frankenstein to his own creation through the word “wretched,” and, in doing so, present an irony. Frankenstein deserts his “wretched” creation, who then becomes hungry and harassed by society. But when the roles are reversed, and Frankenstein is described as “wretched,” he is given “soup,” shelter, and protection from being “tormented.” Through this uncanny juxtaposition, Shelley presents Walton as far more friendly and empathetic than Frankenstein. In actively “attend[ing] on the man he animates, Walton, unlike Frankenstein, feels emotional attachment: “I begin to love him as a brother; and his constant and deep grief fills me with sympathy and compassion” (29). Another stark juxtaposition lies at the end of the novel when Walton’s ship is frozen into an ice sheet. He often expresses to Mrs. Saville a deep concern for the welfare of others: “Be assured that for my own sake, as well as yours, I will not rashly encounter danger,” and “I shall do nothing rashly: you know me sufficiently to confide in my prudence and considerateness whenever the safety of others is committed to my care” (22, 23). Accordingly, he consents to his crew’s request that the enterprise turn back toward England: “in justice, I could not refuse” (216). Though Frankenstein declares, “Do not return to your families with the stigma of disgrace marked on your brows. Return as heroes,” Walton feels a social duty which overcomes his thirst for glory (217). He reaffirms this value to Mrs. Saville: “I have lost my hopes of utility and glory… I am wafted towards England, and towards you, I will not despond… I may there find consolation” (219, 220). Expressly deeply pained by his failed enterprise, Walton retains the ability to find solace in human communion.

Though both men are similar in identity and enterprise, their treatment of friends precipitates starkly different fates; Walton survives to reconnect with society while Frankenstein meets a lonely demise. This pattern can be symbolized by yin-yang, ancient symbols which depict the relationship of opposing forces. In the context of Shelley’s novel, black represents isolation while white represents companionship. Frankenstein is consumed by isolation; his companionship with society is all but obliterated by the close of the story. Walton, on the other hand, represents the perfect balance of isolation and companionship. Though he does pursue an enterprise, he does not become wholly consumed by his isolationist ambition. Indeed, he strikes a compromise between isolation and society which ultimately forfeits his enterprise. This, Shelley contends, is necessary to humanity. For if enterprise goes unchecked and man isolates himself, both become an all consuming and destructive force — almost like the black hole of Frankenstein’s yin yang. The rationale behind her proposition is expressed by Walton in an early letter to Mrs. Saville: “I bitterly feel the want of a friend. I have no one near me… to approve or amend my plans. How would such a friend repair the faults of your poor brother!” (19). The Captain desires companionship to counterbalance the “faults” of his zealous, isolationist ambition. Ironically, he seeks to become friends with Frankenstein, a man who has cast away all of his friends in favor of his enterprise. Forced together by chance, the sole communion between these two men leaves an indelible mark on Walton, teaching him the potential catastrophe of his unchecked ambition. This recognition is focal to Shelley’s ultimate message that isolation elicits humanity’s vices and social connection is humanity’s best protection against itself.

Elegantly woven into Frankenstein ’s story, this critique of isolationism is a diatribe against Shelley’s contemporary society. At the height of the Romantic Era, she lived in a climate of stark gender separation. Often only joining for breakfast and dinner, man and woman were isolated in different social spheres. The “woman sphere” consisted of domestic life — cleaning, cooking, and child rearing. The “man sphere” consisted of professional life — studies, politics, and business. This separation was apparent in her own household: “Not once did [Percy Shelley] help with domestic obligations. As the resident genius, he wandered in and out of the house at any time of day or night” ( Gordon) . Though Mary Shelley was a working author, a rare and unusual position for a woman, she felt this divide between herself and her husband. Through the guise of Victor Frankenstein, Shelley professed the danger of such gender isolation:

“I am now convinced that… if no man allowed any pursuit whatsoever to interfere with the tranquility of his domestic affections, Greece had not been enslaved, Caesar would have spared his country, Americavwould have been discovered more gradually, and the empires of Mexico and Peru had not been destroyed” (5 6 ).

In other words, Shelley conveyed that isolation from “domestic affections,” or the sphere of woman, inevitably leads to violence and destruction . Just as Frankenstein professes this understanding to Walton, a man whose fate could potentially mirror his own, Shelley attempts to warn her peers and the younger generation to learn from the errors of earlier societies. In this respect, Frankenstein “provid[ed] a cultural warning… [as it] subvert[ed] the exclusivity of the masculine voice, revealing it to be monstrously destructive”( Davis). Shelley affirmed that like the ambition of Victor Frankenstein, man’s sphere becomes dangerous when isolated from that of woman’s sphere. Like Walton’s yin yang, an intertwining balance was necessary between the two entities. Indeed, Shelley contended, the spheres must merge to achieve a harmonious society. Shelley’s Frankenstein is truly a monstrous tale as it holds up a mirror to humanity and calls attention to our own foibles. In this moment of national anxiety, our fate lies in our ability to learn from monsters.

Works Cited

Davis, James P. “Frankenstein and the Subversion of the Masculine Voice.” Women’s Studies ,

vol. 21, Routledge, June 1992, pp. 307–322, Academic Search Complete , search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=19604089&site=ehost-live.

Gordon, Charlotte. “Mary Shelley: Marlow and London [1817–1818].” Romantic Outlaws: the Extraordinary Lives of Mary Wollstonecraft and Her Daughter Mary Shelley , Random House, New York, 2015, p. 247.

“Too Much Yin.” Redbubble , ih1.redbubble.net/image.11132141.7775/fc,800x800,white.jpg. “Yin Yang.” All Free Download , Clipart, images.all-free-download.com/images/graphiclarge/yin_yang_clip_art_26469.jpg.

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10 Interesting Topics for a Killer Frankenstein Essay

“Nothing is so painful to the human mind as a great and sudden change.”   —Mary Shelley

If you’re a math major enrolled in a required literature course, the painful and sudden change you might be experiencing right now is the fact that you have to write a paper about Frankenstein .

There’s no need to be fearful, though. Whether you’re a math major struggling through an English course or a lit major happy to analyze any piece of literature the prof throws your way, I have 10 interesting topics to help inspire your Frankenstein essay.

Frankenstein is a decent-sized novel, so there are about a gazillion different topics you could write about. You could write about the genre, characters, writing style, themes, symbols , and/or  imagery .

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There are just about as many different types of papers you could write about it too. Your options include an argumentative essay , compare and contrast essay , literary analysis , or a character analysis , among others

I can’t possibly cover every topic and essay type here, but I have included 10 topics to help you get started on your Frankenstein essay.

I’ve divided the topics into three categories—characters, themes, and literary devices. I’ve also included a few essay ideas and links to example essays for added inspiration.

Writing about characters

1. Victor Frankenstein

It’s Victor Frankenstein who creates the monster. Throughout the novel, readers see Frankenstein’s character develop from mad scientist (who plays God by creating life) to a broken man, full of guilt for creating such a monster.

If you’re writing about Victor Frankenstein, you might choose to write a character analysis to examine Frankenstein’s character as it develops throughout the novel.

Need an example to see what a character analysis essay might look like? Read 2 Character Analysis Essay Examples With Character .

2. The monster

Created from a handful of spare parts, the monster comes to life unaware of his situation. He doesn’t know why he was abandoned and shunned by his creator. Nor does he realize he has a horrific appearance.

Even though the monster is intelligent and articulate, he’s feared and beaten, primarily due to his appearance. He ultimately seeks revenge, but he’s still tormented and remorseful.

Check out An Analysis of the Monster in Frankenstein by Mary Shelley to read an example analysis essay.

3. Robert Walton

Robert Walton is a sea captain who picks up Victor Frankenstein (who’s weak and emaciated from searching for the monster). The reader learns part of Frankenstein’s story as he tells his story to Walton. Walton then writes letters to his sister to share the extraordinary tale.

If you choose Walton as the focus of your paper, consider how Walton’s narration affects the story and how it affects your interpretation of characters and events.

Take a look at this example essay to see how one writer tackles the topic.

Writing about themes

4. Appearances

As the old saying goes, “beauty is only skin deep.” The monster, however, is continually judged based on his grotesque appearance.

The theme of appearances is prevalent in many pieces of literature, including The Hunchback of Notre Dame and The Picture of Dorian Gray. You might compare and contrast the theme of appearances in Frankenstein to the same theme in other literary works.

5. Fate/destiny

Throughout the novel, Victor Frankenstein states that he had no choice, that he was destined, that it was fate that he created the monster. Were his actions really a matter of fate? Or is he simply using fate as an excuse for his actions?

Here, you might write a persuasive essay or a more formal argumentative essay about fate and destiny in Frankenstein.

6. Forgiveness and compassion

Everyone seems to be seeking revenge in this novel. But if you look closely, the theme of forgiveness and compassion also runs through the storyline.

Victor Frankenstein feels compassion for the monster he created. And readers are fully aware that he’s guilt-ridden and wants forgiveness for his deeds. (Frankenstein feels he was the cause of his brother’s death as he created the monster that killed his brother.)

The monster also seeks compassion and forgiveness. He’s treated horribly because of his appearance and simply wants to be treated kindly for his actions. Society, however, continually disappoints him.

A discussion of this theme would make a great literary analysis . You can provide a variety of examples to help illustrate forgiveness and compassion throughout the novel.

Stuck on Your Essay? Check out thousands of example essays. Yes! Show me examples.

Writing about literary devices, 7. point of view.

Most stories stick with one narrator. Frankenstein is an exception. Readers learn about the story through Frankenstein’s telling of the story, through the monster’s perspective, through a third-person narrator, and through Walton’s letters to his sister.

Narrators can be unreliable, though. As a reader, then, you can’t be certain which story (if any) is the actual truth. It’s your job as a reader to piece together the events to try to find the truth.

If you’re writing about point of view, consider what the novel would be like if it was narrated by one of the other characters. You could also consider what it would be like if narrated by only Frankenstein or only the monster.

How might the plot or characters change? Would the story have the same impact on you as the reader?

8. Symbolism

Light and fire are the key symbols in the novel. Frankenstein is a scientist who wishes to bring knowledge and life by creating the monster. Light is a symbol of knowledge.

The full title of the novel is Frankenstein, Or The Modern Prometheus. You have to know your Greek mythology to understand the connection here, but Prometheus gave fire to humanity, thus giving them knowledge.

The monster also learns of the power of fire and realizes that it brings not only light but also danger.

Feeling a bit lost trying to figure out how to incorporate a discussion of symbolism into an essay? Read Writing About Literature: 9 Things You Need to Know .

9. Foreshadowing

The thing about foreshadowing is that you sometimes don’t know it’s foreshadowing until the end. After you read the story, though, it’s usually pretty easy to see how the author attempted to let readers know what was coming.

In Frankenstein , pay close attention to the words characters use to tell their stories.

Victor Frankenstein tells his story to Walton and uses words like “fate” and “destiny.” Frankenstein talks of his quest to find “enlightenment” and speaks of the dangers that come with it. All of these word choices hint at the ominous tale that is to come.

Want to make sure you’re using the perfect words for your paper (even if you’re not telling an ominous tale)? Read The Ultimate Guide to the Perfect Word Choice for Your Essay .

The irony of Frankenstein is that Victor Frankenstein is trying to bring enlightenment and to create life. However, although he succeeds in creating life, he also brings destruction through his creation.

Have a few ideas of how you want to incorporate irony into your essay but just can’t seem to get the ball rolling? Try these proven tips to help beat writer’s block .

Taming the Monster

Once you have a few ideas for your killer Frankenstein essay, the thought of actually writing the paper doesn’t seem so scary, does it?

With your topic in place, you can cruise right along through the writing process. Start with a few prewriting strategies (maybe even create an outline ), then draft your essay . Don’t forget the final step: revision .

Not sure if your Frankenstein essay is killer or will end up killing your grade? Send it our way for some expert Kibin editing .

Psst... 98% of Kibin users report better grades! Get inspiration from over 500,000 example essays .

About the Author

Susan M. Inez is a professor of English and writing goddess based out of the Northeast. In addition to a BA in English Education, an MA in Composition, and an MS in Education, Susan has 20 years of experience teaching courses on composition, writing in the professions, literature, and more. She also served as co-director of a campus writing center for 2 years.

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Frankenstein

by Mary Shelley

Critical Survey of Science Fiction and Fantasy Frankenstein Analysis

Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein as part of a friendly ghost story writing competition with her husband, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and friend Lord Byron when she was eighteen years old. The novel has prompted many melodramatic takeoffs in film and much critical interest. It is one of the earliest works of science fiction, and the scientific techniques described in it are shadowy at best, yet they represent adequately the scientific knowledge of the time.

The books subtitle links it to the Prometheus myth, popular in the Romantic era. Both Percy Shelley and Lord Byron wrote Promethean poems. Prometheus, a Titan, stole fire from the gods and gave it to humans, allowing them to thrive and create. Frankenstein’s creature was brought to life through the “fire” of lightning. In both cases, the reader must wonder whether the powers given to humankind are blessings or curses. The novel questions what responsibility humankind has in the face of achievements that can have both good and bad results. Frankensteins suffering clearly shows that he realizes too late that he miscalculated the destructive potential of his discovery.

The novel is filled with imagery of light and dark. The creature, brought to life through the power of lightning, is always in the shadows of darkness, and he commits dark deeds.

The Romantic writers with whom Shelley can be connected wrote in part as a revolt against the Enlightenment assumption that scientific advances and education represent the highest possibilities of humankind. If scientific achievement is paramount to Frankenstein, it comes at the expense of humanity, including the lives of everyone whom Frankenstein loves. Frankenstein offers interesting views of the psyche of man in both Frankenstein and his creature, and of the social damage that can result when love is denied, as it was to the creature, or relegated to low status, as it was by Frankenstein. A psychological inquiry also suggests the idea of the creature being the double, or dark side, of Frankenstein.

One interesting stylistic device in the novel is the lack of a constant or reliable narrator: Robert Walton, Frankenstein, and the creature all tell their own stories. The reader thus is given different points of view from which to judge the story. Another point of interest is the consideration of gender: The novel has a female author, employs stereotyped female characters, and shows contrasts between the typically male and female motives of ambition and love.

Cite this page as follows:

"Frankenstein - Critical Survey of Science Fiction and Fantasy Frankenstein Analysis." Critical Survey of Science Fiction and Fantasy, edited by T. A. Shippey, eNotes.com, Inc., 1996, 1 Sep. 2024 <https://www.enotes.com/topics/frankenstein/critical-essays#critical-essays-analysis>

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Sample Essay Outlines

Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus

88 pages • 2 hours read

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Discussion Questions

How does the creature’s revenge against Frankenstein ultimately lead to Frankenstein becoming like the creature?

Discuss the role of nature in the novel. What causes alienation from nature, and what is the result? How does one reconnect with nature? How does the grandeur of nature simultaneously comfort and alienate one further?

What is the role of women in the novel? Consider Elizabeth, Justine, Safie, Agatha, and even Robert’s sister Margaret. How does their passivity demonstrate 19th-century ideals for women?

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Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Mary Shelley — The Reasons Why the Monster Deserves Sympathy in Frankenstein, a Novel by Mary Shelley

The Reasons Why The Monster Deserves Sympathy in Frankenstein, a Novel by Mary Shelley

• Categories: Frankenstein Literature Review Mary Shelley

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Words: 1384 |

Published: Oct 4, 2018

Words: 1384 | Pages: 3 | 7 min read

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Blame vs. pity: why victor frankenstein’s monster deserves sympathy, why the monster deserves sympathy.

• Daffron, E. (1999). Male Bonding: Sympathy and Shelley's Frankenstein. Nineteenth Century Contexts, 21(3), 415-435. (https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/08905499908583485?journalCode=gncc20)
• Caldwell, J. M. (1999). Sympathy and Science in Frankenstein. The Ethics in Literature, 262-274. (https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-349-27361-4_16)
• Hatch, J. C. (2008). Disruptive affects: shame, disgust, and sympathy in Frankenstein. European Romantic Review, 19(1), 33-49. (https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Disruptive-affects%3A-shame%2C-disgust%2C-and-sympathy-in-Hatch/dc6b9441f930295fc22789230d3512c3b062a36f)
• Teo, W. L. (2016). Sympathy in Mary Shelley's" Matilda" and Frankenstein (Doctoral dissertation). (https://dr.ntu.edu.sg/handle/10356/69027)
• Britton, J. M. (2009). Novelistic Sympathy in Mary Shelley's" Frankenstein". Studies in romanticism, 48(1), 3-22. (https://www.jstor.org/stable/25602177)

Should follow an “upside down” triangle format, meaning, the writer should start off broad and introduce the text and author or topic being discussed, and then get more specific to the thesis statement.

Provides a foundational overview, outlining the historical context and introducing key information that will be further explored in the essay, setting the stage for the argument to follow.

Cornerstone of the essay, presenting the central argument that will be elaborated upon and supported with evidence and analysis throughout the rest of the paper.

The topic sentence serves as the main point or focus of a paragraph in an essay, summarizing the key idea that will be discussed in that paragraph.

The body of each paragraph builds an argument in support of the topic sentence, citing information from sources as evidence.

After each piece of evidence is provided, the author should explain HOW and WHY the evidence supports the claim.

Should follow a right side up triangle format, meaning, specifics should be mentioned first such as restating the thesis, and then get more broad about the topic at hand. Lastly, leave the reader with something to think about and ponder once they are done reading.

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Argumentative Essay On Frankenstein

In Frankenstein, the most significant lesson gotten from the novel would be that people should be to stop judging off appearance. Shelley is alluding that humans must look beyond the surface when we decide what is ’human’, or the rejection of that creature turns it into a monster. The wholes of the monster’s existence, he was trying to obtain knowledge of humans. The monster made an attempt to learn the ways of nature, and even acting in such a way. In order to tell readers that they should take a chance, Shellely not only shows Frankenstein being ostracized by the village, but also by his father. People would understand feeling like an outsider, so Shelley adds more shock by depicting the disgust Victor had for his own creation. The monster is able to understand the peoples’ feelings but when Victor avoids responsibility for what he …show more content…

In the book creation is described as very intelligent, well-spoken, fast and very strong, but is only called things such as: “monster", "creature", "demon", "devil", "fiend", "wretch", and "it". When Frankenstein converses with the creature in Chapter 10, he addresses it as "vile insect", "abhorred monster", "fiend", "wretched devil", and "abhorred devil". By being called such names, the creation’s perception of the world becomes bad, and realizes hoe humanities are thinking. “Sometimes I allowed my thoughts, unchecked by reason, to ramble in the fields of Paradise, and dared to fancy amiable and lovely creatures sympathizing with my feelings and cheering my gloom; their angelic countenances breathed smiles of consolation. But it was all a dream; no Eve soothed my sorrows nor shared my thoughts; I was alone. I remembered Adam's supplication to his Creator. But where was mine? He had abandoned me, and in the bitterness of my heart I cursed

Frankenstein Compare/Contrast Essay

The novel Frankenstein was written by Mary Shelley in 1818. This gothic romance novel tells the story of a philosopher who discovered how to create life, without the full knowledge that his actions could cause grave consequences. Universal Studios made the film version of this novel in 1931. Unfortunately, the film version of Frankenstein has more differences than similarities to the novel. In the novel, Victor’s mental obsession seems to be more severe than in the film. The character of Victor Frankenstein was portrayed in both the novel and the film as a veriphobe, or one who is afraid of the truth, in this case, the truth of his actions. He

Victor Frankenstein Persuasive Essay

Knowledge is often associated with great discovery, but also with terrible consequences and misadventure. Mary Shelley demonstrates this divide in Frankenstein, mainly in the differences between Victor Frankenstein and his beloved companion Henry Clerval. While Henry attempts to fulfill his curiosity rather innocently, Victor’s pursuit to create life is unethical and corrupt. Eventually, the attempts of both men lead to disaster despite their respective intentions. While successful at actualizing his ambitions, Henry is later murdered at the hands of Victor’s creation. Shortly after the death of his closest friend, Victor himself perishes a lonely and bitter man, just as his monster had hoped. Shelley utilizes the juxtaposition between Henry Clerval and Victor Frankenstein in order to prove how pursuing knowledge in an immoral way can be disastrous. This is demonstrated through their vastly different educational interests, the methods they use to achieve their goals, and their eventual deaths.

Examples Of Juxtaposition In Frankenstein

Victor describes a “sudden” light that breaks upon him in the “midst of darkness,” expecting that his creation will be an event that would advance the studies (47). However, His creation does not mirror the exquisiteness of his family and his childhood, and he is unable to accept the blame for his irreversible mistakes, but it was “fate-- that enounced to destroy” him” (46). Victor is entirely convinced that fate is the reason for his misery and destruction following the creation of the monster, which is because he is appalled that his experiment took a turn for the worst. On the complete flipside, the monster has an immoral upbringing, coming to life and being brought into the world suddenly, in Victor’s apartment. He finds himself “so desolate, ” and darkness had “troubled him, while he was “oppressed by cold” (85).

Essay On Search For Justice In Frankenstein

He believed that his Creature murdered his brother and framed Justine, the Frankenstein’s maid, in order to achieve vengeance for Victor abandoning him, but according to Levine, Victor is the cause for this evil, “...evil is a consequence of maltreatment or injustice,” (Levine 31). Victor’s internal flaws and shortcomings prevent him from revealing the truth about his Creation and therefore he is unable to disclose details of Williams death to save Justine. Victor cowers and stands by as the town unjustly convicts and “executes” Justine, (Shelley 117). The cowardly act committed by Victor shows that he does not possess a strong enough moral compass to do the justified act.

Betrayal In Frankenstein Essay

When the monster is betrayed by Victor the only thing that comforts his hurting is the thought and idea of revenge. The monster goes after Victor's brother, little William. When Victor finds out about his loss, he knows it was the monster which had made him feel devastated about what has occurred. This broke Victor emotionally because the relationship he had with his brother was robust. Victor cared about his brother more than his owned wife Elizabeth. The mindest the monster had was knowledgeably because of the way he knew taking the closest person away from Victor will harm him the most.

Argumentative Essay On Frankenstein Monster

All these years the world has seen the monster in frankenstein as the antagonist in the book. Honestly if you truly look at it and and look at how the monster was treated he was actually not the bad guy. If the monster was treated like everyone else he could've of been a big help but instead was judge how his appearance and how he physically looked instead of how he acted emotionally. All the monster wanted was to fit in but humans would not allow that to happen which brought out his evil side.although the monster was abandoned,not the most attractive person,murdered out of revenge,and he is still not the bad guy but instead is the human their self since they allowed this to happen.

Frankenstein Persuasive Essay

: “What have I done my love/ I do not know what has driven me so much to have created that wretched monster that did this to you. Although I know that all of this chaos and havoc it has brought everyone was my fault all I wanted to do was to become one of the great scientists by creating life but instead I betrayed everyone’s trusts and continued to make wrong choices morally and ethically. So the only way to make you understand my choices to you, is to explain them to you so you might forgive me. As for example after William’s death even though creating a monster was the reason I had got into that situation I still agreed with the Monster to make it a bride so it would

Frankenstein Essay

throughout this novel and the movie. The decline is a less gradual one in the novel but a

Frankenstein Vs. God Essay

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In the Bible, the book of Genesis 1:27 states that "God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." Creating both men and women in His image, God is the only person who can do this successfully, giving us unconditional love and never abandoning us throughout our journey in life. On the other hand, Victor Frankenstein, a young scientist creates a life form due to his love of natural sciences. His desire to create this life form only for an experimental purpose unknowingly leads to disastrous outcomes for both Victor Frankenstein and his creation, the monster. In Mary Shelley's novel, Frankenstein, the protagonist, Victor Frankenstein uses his knowledge

Thank you June for sharing your comments! I enjoyed learning many things about Frankenstein. I also enjoyed learning many things about evolution. Yes, science is involved with the laws of nature. Science does involve culture. Culture may be able to affect the society overall. Different cultures have a different way of living. Yes, some people may believe that it is good to earn power. Evolution does deal with organisms. Did you learn anything new while conducting your

Essay On Frankenstein As A Monster

Victor Frankenstein created life, a monster that was born into this world with no purpose, and no one to love. He did not even have a name, he was called a monster from the start. Just like a normal human baby, he came to life not knowing anything, and had to learn from his surroundings. Just like a person, he watched and learned from others, and tried to understand the world and the people in it. From that, the monster understood that he just wants to find a life for himself, and not be viewed as an evil monster, but there are many things that are preventing that. In the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, the author portrays Frankenstein’s monster as a friend through details in his character and his outlook on life.

Byronic Hero In Frankenstein

Victor expresses the misery he feels regarding his actions in relation to the monster with zeal, but his remorse proves to be false when viewed with

Compare And Contrast Essay On Frankenstein

Have you ever been afraid of your own creation? Well Victor and Dev have both been afraid of their own creations. Victor is the creator of Frankenstein he made Frankenstein for just a cool monster that was gonna be this best monster there was.

Frankenstein By Mary Shelley Is One Of The First Books

The lack of connection between Victor and the monster created a tense atmosphere between reality and their excessive needs of attention. The monster did not learn the true meaning behind humanity because everyone showed him disgust instead of love. Moreover, the lack of humanity the monster experienced, shape his future mental understanding on how to being a human.

Descriptive Essay About Frankenstein

I saw myself. Hideous, that 's what I was. People were afraid of me, so I have to hide. A hidden figure in the darkness of the night. I don’t remember why I looked like this therefore, I don’t remember anything , however I remember him. I saw him.

Related Topics

• Frankenstein
• Percy Bysshe Shelley
• English-language films
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“Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley Essay

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A summary of Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein”

“Frankenstein” is a science fiction novel written by Mary Shelley. It revolves around a young boy named Victor Frankenstein who had an obsession with death and through this obsession he was able to create life from nothing. After creating life he is however terrified and disgusted of how it looks and he decides to abandon it without giving it a name as its physical appearance is scary and nothing at all as he expected.

He therefore tries to live a normal life and makes an effort to forget his own creation. Due to the abandonment the monster is left perplexed, annoyed and frightened. After his tiring work of creating human life, Victor falls ill and it takes four months for his youth friend to nurse him back to health. The monster then travels to Geneva and meets a little boy called William in the woods, where he hopes that the young boy who is not yet corrupted by the views of older people and the world will accept him as he is.

The monster is however wrong and when the Frankenstein sees it; he hurls invectives infuriating the monster. The monster however tries its best to talk to the boy but falls on deaf ears, the monster then covers the boy mouth to keep him quiet but this ends in the boy suffocating. Frankenstein receives a letter from his father stating that his younger brother is dead and that he was murdered. Despite the fact that this act was not intended, the monster took this as the first act of revenge towards his creator.

He places a necklace the boy was wearing on a sleeping girl, the nanny to the boy. Justine the boys nanny was tried and found guilty fro the murder and executed. When Frankenstein arrives he saw the creature in the woods and knew that the monster had killed his brother and placed his mother’s locket on the sleeping nanny.

Frankenstein, troubled and heavily burdened by anguish and self reproach for creating the monster that caused so much devastation, he flees to the mountains to find peace. After a while alone, the monster approaches Frankenstein, who tries to kill it. But the monster being physically bigger, stronger and more alert than his creator gets away and gives Frankenstein some time to cool off and compose himself.

The monster tells Frankenstein of its encounters with humans and how terrified it was of them. He spend a year observing a family from a cabin he was living in, this gave him more knowledge and self conscience concluding that his physical appearance was very different from the humans he was observing.

On revealing himself however, the humans rejected him and were horror struck by his appearance and reacted ferociously, a reaction that made the monster angrier and he seeks vengeance on his creator.

The monster demanded that Frankenstein create a female companion for him as it had the right to be happy. The monster promises that they will vanish into the wilderness and not bother any more about humans. Frankenstein however does not create a companion for the monster and destroys all the work he was doing.

The monster witnesses Frankenstein destroying his creation and vows to revenge on it. The monster murders Clerval and implicates Frankenstein. Frankenstein is acquitted and he returns home to marry his cousin Elizabeth, who is murdered on their wedding night by the monster as part of the monsters revenge.

Frankenstein father dies after this tragedy as he could not handle the tremendous loss of William, Justine, Clerval, and Elizabeth. Frankenstein vows to go after the monster and destroy it. They chase each other for several months and they end up in the North Pole where Frankenstein dies form illness and the monster mourns for Frankenstein justifying its revenge and expressing remorse. Afterwards, the monster travels further towards the pole to destroy itself so that nobody never finds out of it existence.

Comparing Shelley’s portrayal of the natural sciences in “Frankenstein” to her portrayal of other types of knowledge in that novel

According to Shelley, Frankenstein believed more in science than he did in humanity. His obsession with death from the time he was a young boy made him believe that he could eliminate death through science. This passion led him to pursue chemistry which became almost his sole purpose in life to use chemistry to create life and eliminate death. In the university, Frankenstein attempts to create life from nothing and he surprisingly manages to do so.

The only thing is his creation turns out not differently than he expected, the creature if gigantic and it horrifies him to look at. He sees it as an eyesore, a disgrace and the creature escape into the society leaving it at the mercy of humanity. The point at which the creature escapes brings in the humanity aspect in the novel (55-56).

However, after escaping into the society the creature is met with human hostility and feels rejected. The rejection forces the creature to vow revenge on his creator by killing all his close and loved ones (97). The creature carries out its vengeance on Frankenstein by killing his brother William, his friend Clerval and his wife Elizabeth (116).

The creature also mourns for Frankenstein after his death showing that it has a sensitive human side and then it goes of to kill itself as it terms and takes responsibility for causing the death of its creator. This shows that science and humanity came together in the creation and shaping of the creature. Science was used to bring the creature to life while humanity was used to shape how the creature interacted with people and how it handled its feelings and emotions. (173)

In Shelley’s view, science and humanities are separated by how they are carried out and how one comes into contact with them. Humanities take root when the creature observes a family from the woods learning to speak and also develop emotionally. If the creature had not observed the family then nurturing of the creature may have not taken place.

Science is preserved and maintained in the laboratory to make life from scratch while the humanities come into play as soon as the creature comes to life. Humanities take centre stage when the creature is first of all rejected by its creator and all other people follow suit.

This makes the creature feel as if he is not good enough and that it is its destiny to be alone without any companionship for eternity. This humanity in the creature forces it to go back to his creator to demand that he creates a companion but this turns out badly as Frankenstein does not go through with it (114). Humanity in this novel is also seen when Frankenstein experiences death of his loved ones that eventually pushed him to the scientific notion of creating life.

Frankenstein’s mother’s death and his father’s professor rebuking him fro reading trash which was in essence lightning that had destroyed a tree, pushed him to learn more about science becoming obsessed with it. If these events had not taken place maybe the creation of the creature would not have taken place leaving a very different story in its place.

In reference to Shelley, sciences have an effect on the people who study them. This is simply because the book shows us how one person’s irresponsibility and ambition can harm other people who are not directly involved on eh science project. Science made Victor Frankenstein create a monster and on realizing that the creature did not turn out to be how he expected, he abandoned and rejected it (73).

This rejection made the creature go on a rampage and kill innocent people related to the creator. The innocent people did not have to die but they lost their lives because of one Victor Frankenstein’s obsession and ambition to create life. Life is scared and surely to attempt to create it from dead body parts of other human beings is most likely than not expected to bring havoc and misery on unsuspecting individuals.

The main point in this book is every person should take responsibility of their actions and not expect other people to pay for their shortcomings. Science is something that every person who practices it should be aware that there is a probability of an experiment going wrong and therefore amply and adequately prepare for the outcomes of the experiment whether good or bad.

Humanities on the other hand are portrayed as how one builds his own personal character among the people around him and the people he encounters. In this novel, humanity is depicted in the loss of loved ones that makes Victor Frankenstein to be obsessed with death and try to find a cure for it.

Humanity is also seen whereby Frankenstein is anguished by the death of his brother, friend, Justine and Elizabeth that he vows to kill or be killed by the monster (Shelley 86). This shows that however much Victor was obsessed with science he also had strong feelings for the people around him and it tore him apart when the creature he created killed them.

Humanity in the creature is shown when he feels dejected by his creator and very other human who sets eyes on him and when he observes a family from a distance learns how to speak and develops emotionally.

The fact that everyone showed a hostile human side to the creature made the creature vulnerable and it went on a rampage killing innocent people (Shelley 208). In this novel the creature displays humanity when he demands for a companion to be created so as he can have someone to share his life with and also when he mourns over the death of his creator and implicates himself as the cause of the death of his creator.

In her novel Shelley portrays the knowledge of humanity more as compared to the knowledge of science. This is seen when she portrays that young Victor Frankenstein got an interest in science after experiencing the trauma of losing his mother. This loss made Frankenstein obsessed with death and he tried to find a cure for death.

Through his quest and ambition to cure death he created the Frankenstein monster from dead decomposing body parts of other human beings that were sewn together and brought to life with the help of science (Shelley 73). Humanities is shown as more valuable and ethical as it forms the basis of how one will be portrayed by the society and how one will react to different things and people in society.

Humanity is portrayed as better than science in this novel as it shows different relationships between different people and how actions of one person adversely affect other people. For example, the decision by Victor Frankenstein to create life from dead body parts that brought for the creature termed as a monster brings serious effects and consequences to his family members not to mention the monster itself.

Humanity allowed the creature to develop emotionally and learn how to speak trough observation and experience kindness from a blind man and while saving a young girl form drowning, however in both instances the creature was reprimanded and driven off as people were not welcoming enough. Science only creates that creature but it is humanity that the creature has to deal with and understand why humans are so hostile towards him.

Similarities between science and humanities in this novel are brought out in that both concepts are interdependent and both of these concepts aim to bring improvements to the society as a whole and reduce human misery. The fact that humanity pushed Frankenstein to look for scientific ways to eliminate death from the society after his other loved ones died shows that these two concepts are correlated and work hand in hand with each other to make the society a better place to live in.

The differences on the other hand are that ethics or the pillars of humanities while blind innovation and creativity is the pillar of science. This is to say that scientists do not take into consideration the effects and consequences of their experiments that at times may have a negative effect in humanity.

This is seen when Frankenstein’s ambition makes him create a monster that is much bigger than the human race that caused havoc and misery among human kind. Humanity is seen when Frankenstein is haunted by his conscience after the monster goes on a rampage killing his loved ones. This shows that humanity has consequences and that people should take intro consideration the feelings of other people before they make decisions.

In conclusion, “Frankenstein” tells of a young boy named Frankenstein who attempted to create life, though he succeeded the experiment turned out to be scary and wrecked havoc.

The novel shows as much as science is innovative and interrelated with humanity, ethical issues should also be taken into consideration for most so that innocent people do not suffer. One man’s decision caused the death of three individuals this is not justified. If Victor Frankenstein had thought of the ethical issues of his creation a lot of suffering, misery and death would have been avoided.

Works Cited

Shelley, Marry. Frankenstein . New York: Norton, 1996. Print.

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The Whole Collection of Frankenstein Essay Topics

The history of “Frankenstein” refers to those stories about which everyone has heard, but what is the essence? We often do not actually know. For example, many, referring to the story of Mary Shelley, think that Frankenstein is a fairy monster, while others believe that he is the creator of a monster. In fact, the story of Mary Shelley is just a sad omen of what is happening in the twentieth century.

“Frankenstein” is a popular novel and usually students are assigned to write essays on it. If you face this problem, then we are here to help you by providing “Frankenstein” essay topics. These topics can be used to write an essay or any other academic paper, and you can read them through and come up with your own ideas.

Frankenstein essay questions

• What are the moral implications of creating life, and how does Frankenstein prompt a philosophical analysis of the responsibilities of a creator?
• How does Mary Shelley utilize elements of the sublime in Frankenstein to evoke fear and awe in the reader?
• To what extent does the creature’s identification with Satan, influenced by Paradise Lost, contribute to the themes portrayed in Frankenstein?
• How does the historical context of the French Revolution shape the themes of justice and retribution presented in Frankenstein?
• How does Frankenstein engage with questions of God, creation, and the human soul from the scope of religion and spirituality?
• How does Mary Shelley’s novel interpret the themes of rebellion and its consequences seen in the classical Promethean myth in Frankenstein?
• How does gaining new knowledge influence the characters’ perceptions of themselves and the world in Frankenstein?
• What does Frankenstein channel about the dangers of unchecked scientific advancement through its critique of scientific ethics?
• How does Frankenstein engage with the themes of individualism, emotion, and the sublime, characteristic of the Romantic era?
• What commentary does Frankenstein provide on exploiting nature and human beings for personal gain and ambition through the novel’s portrayal of colonialism and imperialism?

Analytical essay topics for Frankenstein

• Analyze the theme of loneliness in the novel “Frankenstein.”
• Analyze the nature of the betrayal and show how it contributes to the meaning of the work as a whole.
• Analyze Mary Shelley’s depiction of women in “Frankenstein.” How does she make them seem passive or submissive?
• Why is Frankenstein’s monster never given a name?
• Analyze how Frankenstein’s monster is responsible for the characters’ deaths.
• How does Mary Shelly write “Frankenstein” as her interpretation of how far humanity has steered away from the righteous path?
• Analyze the historical relevance of “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley focusing upon examples of the ideas concerning the reactions to the historical movements of the enlightenment, industrial revolution, and romanticism. Give examples of all three movements.
• Analyze the romantic elements of “Frankenstein.”
• Analyze philosophy in “Frankenstein.”
• Why does the author describe all women characters passive and self-sacrificing in the novel?
• “Woman has ovaries, a uterus: these peculiarities imprison her in her subjectivity, circumscribe her within the limits of her nature” (quote by Simone de Beauvoir). How can we use this statement, and de Beauvoir’s The Second Sex, more generally in “Frankenstein”?
• Who is more human, the monster or Frankenstein?
• What is revealed through symbolism, setting, and dialogue?
• Analyze motivations of the characters in “Frankenstein.”
• What does light and fire symbolize in the novel?

Compare and contrast Frankenstein paper topics

• It has been suggested in Gothic literature that “obsession leads to destruction.” Compare and contrast Shelley and Wilde’s presentation of Victor in “Frankenstein” and Dorian in “A Picture of Dorian Grey” in light of this view.
• Compare “Frankenstein” and “A Sound of Thunder” and 1 Samuel 28 King James Version (KJV) of the Bible.
• Compare “Frankenstein” and “The Mysteries of Udolpho.”
• Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” and Robert Stevenson’s “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.” Compare and contrast the two novels in relation to this Stephen King quote: “Horror appeals to us because it says, in a symbolic way, things we would be afraid to say right out straight, with the bark still on; it offers us a chance to exercise (that’s right; not exorcise but exercise) emotions which society demands we keep closely in hand.”
• Compare “Frankenstein” and “The Handmaids Tale.”
• Compare the “Frankenstein” film and book.
• Compare “Frankenstein” in artwork and film.
• Compare Victor Frankenstein and the monster. Consider their relationships with nature, desire for family, etc.
• Compare maturity in “Frankenstein,” “Julius Caesar,” and “Beowulf.”
• Compare “Frankenstein” and “Perfume:The Story of a Murderer.”
• Compare the isolation of Frankenstein with Ebeneezer Scrooge in “Christmas Carol.”
• Both Mary Shelley’s novel “Frankenstein” (1818) and H.G. Wells’ novel “The Time Machine” (1895) feature a scientist as the primary protagonist. Discuss the representation of the scientist in both novels.
• Compare and contrast “Frankenstein” (the book by Mary Shelley) psychologically or historically using three scholarly articles (two articles to compare and one article to contrast).
• Compare and contrast the movie “The Martian” with Mary Shelley’s book “Frankenstein.”
• Compare between Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” and Nathaniel Hawthorn’s “The Birthmark.”
• Victor Frankenstein and Beowulf are two protagonists that allowed their ambition to rule them. Discuss the differences and similarities between these two characters, and how their ambitions shaped not only their fate but also the outcome of the stories.

Descriptive essay topics for Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

• Describe how this book could have been considered offensive and not liked by religious folk.
• Describe “Frankenstein” as romanticism.
• Describe feminist theory in “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley.
• Describe the influence “Frankenstein” has had in pop culture and science.
• Describe Victor as the modern Prometheus.
• Describe the idea of exploration in the novel, and how it illuminates characters.
• Describe to what extent Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” inspired James Whale’s 1930s film “Frankenstein.”
• Describe how Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” alludes to the myth of Prometheus?
• Describe how Mary Shelly’s life experiences and the death of family members has shaped the overall story of “Frankenstein.”
• Describe the ethical concerns Victor Frankenstein’s use of animal and human bodies might raise.
• Describe Frankenstein’s creature and the responsibility for his fate.
•  Describe the difference of the term “monstrosity” between Victor Frankenstein and the monster he created.
• Describe the theme of kindness and compassion in “Frankenstein.”
• Describe feminism in “Frankenstein.”
• What is Victor’s greatest fear as he leaves for England? Describe the irony in his decision to continue.

Argumentative Frankenstein topics

• Victor and the creature present radically different perspectives in the events of “Frankenstein.” Explain the primary ways their perspectives and arguments differ. Whose viewpoint do you support? Write an essay in which you support Victor’s argument.
• How has “Frankenweenie,” a Tim Burton film, transformed Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” to appeal to modern audiences?
• To what extent does “Frankenstein” support Mary Wollstonecraft’s claim that women were treated as inferior to men?
• How is “Frankenstein” a romantic and horror novel?
• How does Darwin, “Frankenstein,” and “Splice” characterize gender behavior and emotions from 1871 through today?
• Is the creature’s demand for a female companion a valid request? Examine the pros and cons of Victor’s compliance. Consider evidence provided by both Victor and the creature.
• What evidence suggests Victor feels responsibility for the murders? What evidence illustrates that he still blames the creature?
• How is Victor’s view of the Scottish Orkney a reflection of his emotional state?
• After watching his female companion torn to bits, the creature makes an eloquent defense and vows Victor will “repent of the injuries (he) inflicts.” Is the creature justified in his feelings? Why or why not? What is Shelley’s purpose in his defense?
• After hearing of Clerval’s murder, Victor falls ill once again. In agony, he wonders, “Why did I not die?” What would your answer be? Is there a reason for his continued anguish?
• For Victor and his father, what purpose would a quick marriage to Elizabeth serve? Discuss the impact on Elizabeth. What role does she continue to play? Does her death alter or perpetuate that role?
• Discuss the irony in Victor’s statement to the magistrate: “Man, how ignorant art thou in thy pride of wisdom!”
• What is the motivation behind Victor’s vow to find and destroy his creature? Has he learned any lessons?
• How is Victor the true monster in “Frankenstein”?
• Discuss the “humanity” of the monster in Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein.”

Persuasive essay topics

• Is the creature in “Frankenstein” a zombie?
• Examine the relationship between Victor Frankenstein and his monster. How do they interact and communicate with each other? What qualities do the characters have in common, or not?
• How does “Frankenstein” rely on the ideas, beliefs, or issues circulated in other texts?
• How does the creature of “Frankenstein” form the archetypal monster/horror character?
• Why does Frankenstein create his creature?
• How is “Frankenstein” both a romantic novel and a Gothic horror novel?
• “Victor Frankenstein and the monster share the same personality: like father, like son.” Defend or attack this statement.
• Does Frankenstein succeed in creating a “human” life form very much like God does?
• Does Victor choose to be alienated because of his desire for knowledge?
• Does “Frankenstein” present the value of the domestic circle?
• Does Victor’s act of creation result in the destruction of everyone dear to him?
• Does “Frankenstein” show that human beings are deeply ambitious?
• How does the monster turn to revenge after it is abandoned and mistreated?
• Do in the crises and suffering in “Frankenstein” result when imperfect men disturb nature’s perfection?
• How is the power of nature depicted in “Frankenstein”?

If you are writing an essay on “Frankenstein” for the first time, then our “Frankenstein” essay topics will be a great help for you. If you paid attention to our topics, you can get a perfect theme for your essay, or even research paper or term paper. If you don’t even have a hint on how to write your paper, check out our blog for guides that describe how to write different types of papers in detail. Or hire an essay writer to help you with writing a unique paper.

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Good Argumentative Essay On Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

Type of paper: Argumentative Essay

Topic: Literature , Monster , Frankenstein , Mary Shelley , Novel , Parents , Life , Family

Words: 1000

Published: 04/01/2020

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It is a well-known fact that Mary Shelley’s family relationships were beset by difficulties, and she somehow ended up reflecting on them in her novel, Frankenstein. There are quite a few essays that prove the point that Mary Shelly expressed her own life into her fictional novel. However, an underlying subject in the novel has somehow evaded the critical eyes of critics, until Susan Coulter wrote about it in her essay “‘Frankenstein’ – a cautionary tale of bad parenting,” which is posted on Mary Shelley’s website. Through her essay, Frankenstein’ – a cautionary tale of bad parenting” and despite the use of limited out references, Susan Coulter manages to accurately bring to light the fact that an underlying subject in Shelley’s novel is the inability of human beings to be good parents. Susan Coulter’s is insightful but simple enough to locate her thesis. Coulter is apparently attempting to add substance to the notion that in her novel, Mary Shelley is “telling [her readers] about parenting, child development, and education” through the experiences of Victor Frankenstein and the monster, the two main characters Coulter examines in her essay. It can be assumed that what led Coulter to come up with such a thesis was probably her realization that when Shelly writes in the novel’s preface that “the amiableness of domestic [or parental] affection” is her primary concern, she is actually more concerned about the absence of it, and how this absence may compromise or hinder a person’s ability to be virtuous. Based on the above alone, Susan Coulter’s thesis is agreeable enough. Domesticity and virtue are indeed two primary concerns in Shelley’s novel, which is something that many readers agree upon. However, the manner in which Shelley emphasizes on these two can definitely be perceived as Shelley’s attempt to distract potential critics, so that they may not straightforwardly criticize that the various implications in the novel are actually stemming from “bad parenting.” Of course, as intentional as this may have been, it did not stop readers or a critic like Susan Coulter shedding light on this underlying subject in Shelley’s novel. Moreover, in “Mary Shelley's Frankenstein: Tracing the Myth,” Christopher Small mentions Shelley’s mother’s death soon after giving birth to her and Shelley’s father’s negative attitude towards infants, regarding them “as mere parcels” (Small) is reflected in Victor’s own attitude towards the monster, all of which is covered in Coulter’s essay. It is true that Susan Coulter’s thesis makes a strong case, a case that is not too foreign, but it is also true that her essay mainly relies upon Mary Shelley’s novel itself to add this strength to her thesis, along with referring to Maslow’s “Hierarchy of Needs” at one point. However, despite this lack of a decent number of outside references, it is arguable that her essay/thesis is not pointless, and the examples and references from Shelley’s novel that she presents are valid. Love for one’s family is an important theme in Mary Shelley’s novel and the from the very beginning of her essay, when Coulter recounts Victor’s feelings towards his father and mother, she is pointing out that the love that Victor is certainly exaggerating the love that he apparently had for his parents, which suggests that Victor’s familial life was not very adequate, and thus, Victor has a problem with attachment. In other words, the picture of a happy home that Victor attempts to paint is nothing but a myth, as Kate Ellis writes in “The Endurance of Frankenstein.” Indeed, Susan Coulter mentions how Victor “tells Walton that his mother and father felt that they, "owed" something to him because they had given him life,” which is something that good parents would not feel about their children. Even if it is true that Victor’s parents did love him, it cannot be denied that they were indifferent towards him, which Susan Coulter refers to as a lack of guidance “discipline and guidance,” thus, his childhood may as well have been more of a nightmare, and he brings it to life by creating the monster (Bettelheim). By referring to Maslow’s “Hierarchy of Needs,” Susan Coulter emphasizes the fact that just like Victor’s parents were not able to fulfill his needs, in a similar manner, Victor was not able to fulfill the creature’s needs, since Victor was somewhat of a parent to the monster. If Victor was taking out the anger that he felt at his parents for their lack of guidance, the monster too takes out his anger on Victor, for his lack of guidance, by killing people. Thus, based on Mary Shelley’s familial background, the preface of her novel, Victor’s familial background, his relationship with the monster, the monster’s actions, and the above mentioned supporting evidence, Susan Coulter’s thesis and the whole of her essay makes quite sense. One of Susan Coulter’s statements that is a bit contradictory is that she claims that Victor lacked “true sense of responsibility for his actions.” Although that was initially true, he ultimately admits that “[He] was the true murderer” (Shelley), referring to the monster’s murders. In a sense, Victor’s confession sums up the fact that lack of guidance from his parents that led Victor to creating the monster was passed on by him, and the results were certainly not positive.

Works Cited

Bettelheim, Bruno. The Uses of Enchantment: The Meaning and Importance of Fairy Tales. 1st ed. New York: Vintage Books, 2010. Print. Coulter, Susan. "‘Frankenstein’ – a cautionary tale of bad parenting." Mary Shelley and Frankenstein. Mary Shelley and Frankenstein. Web. 29 Mar 2014. <http://www.marywshelley.com/essays/frankenstein-cautionary-tale-bad-parenting/>. Ellis, Kate. "Monsters in the Garden: Mary Shelley and the Bourgeois Family." Trans. Array The Endurance of Frankenstein: Essays on Mary Shelle'ys Novel. U. C. Knoepflmacher, Print. Small, Christopher. Mary Shelle'ys Frankenstein: tracing the myth. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1972. Print.

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