Truly, the monster was born as a gentle being, yet the reasons in which he was created were sinful. Frankenstein created the being out of selfishness and pride. Although, the creator’s wish of creating life was granted, the creation did not live up to the expectations. Frankenstein was unhappy with his child and decided to leave him out to fend for himself. Without a fatherly figure to guide the being into one who knows from moral and immoral and good and evil, the monster was doomed to fail. I believe that all that happened to Frankenstein was in turn his own fault. Frankenstein was faced with thousands of opportunities to admit the truth, to tell his family that he had given life to a monster. Even so, Frankenstein lied to his loved ones and they died. When the monster realized that he was alone, he asked Frankenstein to cure his sorrows. Frankenstein was demanded to “create a female for [the monster]”(104). This was to only request the monster formally made to his master, and when he was denied happiness the only thing that made sense for him to do was retaliate. At the end of the novel, Frankenstein died and left his creation alone. The monster was denied happiness again, for he took joy in seeing his master chase him. When Walton confronted the monster, telling him his is a wretched demon, the monster responded: “Am I thought to be the only criminal, when all human kind sinned against me? . . . I, the miserable and abandoned, am an abortion, to be spurned at, and kicked, and trampled on. . . You hate me; but your abhorrence cannot equal that with which I regard myself”(165). The monster just wanted what every human being craves, love. The monster wanted to feel the warmth of someone smiling at him and the comfort of knowing you have a shoulder to lean on. It was in his nature to want this, but he was nurtured to be a monster. I think that the monster deserves humanity’s sympathy, for it was our lack of sympathy that transformed him into a monster.

The monster, at first, was naïve and knew nothing about the world. He saw beauty in the simplest of things, but was soon altered by society. The monster learned about kingdoms, laws, customs, and murder. When he came across the latter, he proclaimed on page 84 “I could not conceive how one man could go forth to murder.” However, after society and his friends repeatedly rejected him because of his appearance, the being turned into a true monster. The monster knew what he was doing was wrong. He knew that killing poor William would destroy Frankenstein, and he even admitted that after killing Herval he was “heartbroken and overcome” (164). “When I run over the frightful catalogue of my sins, I cannot believe that I am the same creature whose thoughts were once filled with sublime and transcendent visions of the beauty and the majesty of goodness” (165). While at first the monster was a gentle soul, the fact that he was destined to never be happy urged the monster to destroy the innocent lives of William, Justine, Henry, and Elizabeth.

While many people would disagree, I believe that the protagonist of Frankenstein is the monster. The monster embarks on a journey of discovery. Although the monster was created out of evil, the monster was never taught those ways. He was in awe of all that the world has to offer, things such as berries, fire, the moon, and books. He continued to try and find a new home, but along the way he was chased out of a town because of his appearance. However, when he resided in the kennel he noticed a family that expressed emotions that he had never witnessed before. “I beheld a young creature, with a pail on her head, passing before my hovel. The girl was young and of gentle demeanor, unlike what I have since found” (74-75). Curious, the monster, continued to observe the De Lacey family. He noticed that they were not entirely happy, due to “poverty” (77). The good hearted being decided to help the family, “and during the night [the monster] often took [the boy’s] tools, the use of which [the monster] quickly discovered, and brought home firing sufficient for the consumption of several days” (78). While the monster’s continued help with labors around the cottage aided the De Lacey’s he noticed that the family was still unhappy. Although the monster wanted to come out and meet the family, he knew they would not take to his appearance. He thought that no one would be expected to love him when he did not even love himself. For when he saw his reflection for the first time, he saw that “in reality the monster [he] was” (80). So instead of ambushing the De Lacey’s, the monster decided to learn their language so that he could help. He thought “it might be in [his] power to restore happiness to these deserving people” (81). The monster escaped Frankenstein’s greed, and found love and friendship in the De Lacey family.

I believe that the true antagonist in the novel is not the monster everyone seems to hate but Victor Frankenstein. Frankenstein created this monster and let him loose on the world. He does not even reveal the truth of the murderer of his dear brother, William, and Justine Moritz. While, Frankenstein allows himself to keep this horrid secret, there is no excuse that he provides that can save his soul. During chapters 10 through 12, Frankenstein tries to cope with the evil deeds he has committed. He goes to the mountains and uses nature as a soothing drug. However, even in the outmost scenes, his past catches up to him. His creature meets him while Frankenstein was crossing an iced river. The moment that Frankenstein saw that “wretch,” he gave no time for the poor monster to speak. Frankenstein had no hard evidence to prove that the monster was the murderer, nothing but speculation, and the monster knew that his master would approve of his absence. On pages 68 through 70, the altercations that took place in between the master and invention reveal that the true protagonist is indeed the lunatic inventor. “All men hate the wretched; how, then, must I be hated, who am miserable beyond all living things! Yet you my creator detest and spurn me, thy creature, to whom thou art bound ties only dissoluble by the annihilation of one of us . . .” The monster tells Frankenstein that he has not taken responsibility in providing the creature with what he needs, and because of that these omens have occurred by the hand of someone else. All the monster asks is that Frankenstein: “You accuse me of murder, and yet you would, with a satisfied conscience, destroy your own creature. Yet I ask you not to spare me: listen to me” (69). Although this evidence provides that Frankenstein is the true monster, the latter information in chapters 11 and 12 prove that the monster created had no intention of evil doings. The monster had been born into the world without any knowledge or teachings from his creator. Even so, he learns to be caring and nurturing to a family he comes across, and all he hope to do for that family was to “restore happiness to these deserving people” (81). Frankenstein and all of society believe that the monster is a demon cast upon the world. The sad part of this view on the monster is the fact that the monster feels the same way. When faced with his own reflection, the monster could not believe how horrid he appeared. “At first I started back, unable to believe that it was indeed I who was reflected in the mirror; and when I became fully convince that I was in reality the monster that I am, I was filled with the bitterest sensations of despondence and mortification”’ (80).

*Frankenstein. The createdebate.com changes words when I transfer my arguments from Microsoft Word

Frankenstein in these chapters contradicts himself. I feel that he fell from one end of a spectrum to the other. He swiftly began to create life from this inanimate body and expected this creation to solve all of his problems. He completely blocked everyone out of his life and assumed that by creating life he would find all the answers to everything. I think this mindset was originally instilled in Frankenstein when he was young. He was overly curious about the natural sciences and how things came to be in the beginning of time. He was then shifted when his mother died. I believe that Frankenstein was like a glass full of water about to spill over, and his mother’s death was the last drop that resulted in an overflow. Frankenstein loses it! When his creation first awoke, he was in awe “Beautiful! – Great God!” (Page 35) However when the monster’s reality set in Frankenstein’s mind he was afraid of what he had given life to. “Unable to endure the aspect of the being I had created, I rushed out of the room” (Page 35). Frankenstein’s encounter with Clerval also proved that he had lost his priorities in life.

I believe Frankenstein’s fate aligns with the theme of be careful of what you wish for. Frankenstein wished for this creation to have life and that is what he got. Nevertheless, as soon as he received his wish the unthinkable happened. His monster turned against him. There were also omens that added to the consequences of his “wish.” For instances his father is ill (“your father’s health is vigorous” pg. 40), Ernest wants to be a “soldier,” Justine had lost all of her family, etc.

Last sentence: The monster that Frankenstein longed to create ended up turning from a thing of desire to a fear of the night.

Frankensteininnl in Chapters 5 and 6 appears out of nowhere during Victor Frankenstein’s breakdown. The true values and morals of Clerval are revealed through his actions. Clerval gives Frankenstein a rush of comfort and brings Frankenstein back down to earth. On page 37, Frankenstein’s excitement for Clerval’s arrival can be seen: “Nothing could equal my delight on seeing Clerval; his presence brought back to my thoughts my father, Elizabeth, and all those scenes of home so dear to my recollection.” While Frankenstein does not entrust the secret of the monster in Clerval, Clerval and Frankenstein are the best of friends. Clerval reveals his commitment to the relationship when he cares for Frankenstein during his illness. On page 38, Frankenstein describes Clerval’s actions of tender care: “During all that time Henry was my only nurse. . . He knew that I could not have a more kind and attentive nurse than himself . . . he performed the kindest action that he could.” Clerval also tries to rekindle the relationship between Frankenstein and his family away back home. Clerval’s personality and actions reveal that even in Frankenstein’s darkest hours that a friend will help one in need.

Frankenstein and Clerval differ on the personality level, but they do share some similarities. For instances they both take pleasure in education. On page 44 one can see Clerval’s urge to learn, “He came to the university with the design of making himself complete master of the Oriental languages, as thus he should open a field for the plan of life he had marked out for himself.” This similarity amongst very different people shows the drive of people in general for one common goal. This coincides with the theme of the dangers of chasing knowledge. For Frankenstein the danger, consequence, of seeking knowledge about the natural sciences was his monster. The monster that he so longed to create ended up turning from a thing of desire to a fear of the night.