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 monster is the true protagonist in this novel. The reader sees the monster as a vile creature throughout the first half of the book because it is all described through Frankenstein’s eyes. In Chapter 11, the monster becomes the narrator and it is clear that he is not just some mindless murderer. The monster describes to Frankenstein the state of confusion he was in when he was created. “It was dark when I awoke; I felt cold also, and half frightened, as it were, instinctively, finding myself so desolate” (71). In Chapter 12, the monster tells the readers about his encounters with humans. They often flee at the sight of his hideousness. He describes a feeling of true guilt from stealing food from a poor family. “[He] saw no cause for their unhappiness; but [he] was deeply affected by it” and he decided to gather wood and leave at their doorstep (77). The monster shows compassion unlike Frankenstein. One is also able to see that the monster has a true longing for family when he becomes attached toward the man and woman he watches. I believe he is innocent and is very misunderstood.

Although it may seem that Dr. Frankenstein is the protagonist, the protagonist is the monster. He is the good guy of this section of text. The monster "had been accustomed, during the night, to steal a part of their store for my own consumption, but when I found that in doing this I inflicted pain on the cottagers, I abstained and satisfied myself with berries, nuts, and roots" (p. 172). The monster was new to the world and knew nothing of it, but he was compassionate and caring. It was the mistreatment of his creator that led him to murder a young boy. Frankenstein abandoned the monster creating problems for himself; it was not the monster's fault Frankenstein had bad things happen in his life.

The monster of Frankenstein is misunderstood like many of us. He had started off loving humanity in general, but grew miserable upon the realization of the cruelty of humanity “ ‘ Believe me, Frankenstein: I was benevolent; my soul glowed with love and humanity; but I am not alone, miserably alone?’”(pg.69) . People have been judged many times in life. Whether or not you have realized it the words and the actions you display affect the others around you. The monster is the protagonist. The reader has felt the emotions of loneliness and abandonment before. The monster also has the progression of understanding which each of us has had before. When we grow up we each eventually learnt to understand the words and actions of those around us. This is what happens to the monster as he inhabits the hovel “My thoughts now became more active, and I longed to discover the motives and feelings of these lovely creatures”(pg.80). It is hard to ignore the curiosity the monster has much like that of an infant.

I believe that the monster that Victor Frankenstein created is the protagonist of chapters 10-12. Although it is unexpected, Shelly makes the monster an intelligent, sympathetic creature. The monster tells Victor that he is a "fallen angel, whom thou drivest from joy for no misdeed. Everywhere I see bliss, from which I alone am irrevocably excluded. I was benevolent and good; misery made me a fiend. Make me happy, and I shall again be virtuous" (pg. 69). The monster murders as a result of the hatred Victor feels towards him, the fear society has, and the fact that he is banished. The monster is not the true villain because he is merely Victor's creation and his character is molded from society's corrupt ways. He wishes to enjoy life, and stop the torment he has caused. Victor has the power to change things but he is filled with hatred and only wishes to kill the monster.

The human Frankenstein creates is the protagonist of this story. He is what Frankenstein calls a “monster” though he is truly a misunderstood creature whose father/creator abandons him. He does not mean to do the terrible things he does, like murder and framing another. He is a creature who people cower from because they refuse to accept him simply due to his looks. The creature states that his soul “glowed with love and humanity.” He did not mean to do the terrible things he had done, he simply had no other means of getting his point across because no one would give him the chance. He works hard to get people to accept him, including his creator, but his is unable because he looks so different from everyone else. Frankenstein set this “monster” up for failure by abandoning him.

I think that the monster is the protagonist of this story. He has not done anything wrong that we know of so far. It is not his fault that his looks are frightening or that people judge him to be a monster when really he is a kind-hearted, innocent being. He does not want to harm anyone. Trying to survive, he steals some of the cottagers food. However, later on he realizes that this inflicted pain on them so he stopped. "When I found that in doing this I inflicted pain on the cottagers, I abstained, and satisfied myself with berries, nuts, and roots, which I gathered from a neighboring wood." When the monster realizes that the young man, Felix, spends a lot of time gathering wood to make fire, he decides to help out. "I found that they spent a great part of each day in collecting wood for the family fire; and, during the night I often took his tools, the use of which I quickly discovered, and brought home firing sufficient for the consumption of several days." This was very kind of the monster to help the family out even though he didn't really know them. The monster is the protagonist.

I think that the antagonist in this story is Victor Frankenstein. He is irresponsible and inconsiderate. He created a monster and then abandoned it to run freely. This is extremely irresponsible because, at this point, he does not know what the monster is capable of. He is afraid of it, so he runs away, freeing it to scare other people. He also doesn't take care of the being. He created life and left it to fend for itself. This is similar to having a baby and then leaving it on the street to fend for itself. "Remember, that I am thy creature; I ought to be thy Adam, but I am rather the fallen angel, whom thou drivest from joy for no misdeed." exclaims the monster to Frankenstein. "Believe me, Frankenstein: I was benevolent; my soul glowed with love and humanity; but am I not alone, miserably alone?? You, my creator, abhor me; what hope can I gather from your fellow-creatures, who owe me nothing?" The monster is deeply upset about how his life has turned out, and it is all Frankenstein's fault for creating him.

I believe that the protagonist in the book is the monster. I think this because he tries to be a good person even though he hits a few speed bumps along the way. For example in chapter 10 the monster says, "do your duty to me and I will do mine to you and the rest of mankind." in saying this you can see that the monster is trying to do what is right, he just needs a little help.

I do not believe that Victor Frankenstein is the protagonist in the book. Victor does not have any consideration toward this "monster" that he created. The reader can clearly see this in chapter 10 when the monster speaks to Victor and says "Remember, thou hast made me more powerful than myself...Remember, I am thy creature...whom thou drivest from joy for no misdeed". This makes Frankenstein look like the "bad guy" for putting his creature through so much pain and sadness.

I believe that the monster is the protagonist because he is more of a human being than any of the characters. He feels more and has more emotions. His emotions are shown when he collects wood for the poverty filled people at the cottage. Also he realizes that he is ugly, so he doesn’t want to be like the other people when they judge about what they see; he has an open mind and doesn’t judge appearances. Also the monster realizes when he sees his reflection that he suffers since birth, like he is cursed. Unlike the rest of the people, they create their own downfall by making mistakes. Therefore the monster shows that he is a bigger person and doesn’t follow what society does. Page 78 “I found that in doing this I inflicted pain on the cottagers, I abstained, and satisfied myself with berries, buts, and roots, which I gathered from a neighboring wood”. Page 78 “I was enabled to assist their labours. I found that the youth spent a great part of each day in collecting wood for the family fire; and during the night I often took his tools, the use of which I quickly discovered, and brought home firing sufficient for the consumption of several days”.

I believe that the antagonist of the novel is Victor Frankenstein because he blames the monster for ruining his life and all the hate and depression he experiences. But actually he himself is the one that ruins his life for he created the monster and doesn't show any respect towards it. Page 68, "Devil", I exclaimed, "do you dare approach me?"

In this section the monster appears to be the protagonist. While viewing an emotional moment that is expressed through the brother and sister of the cottage, the monster possesses sympathy for them. “The young man and his companion often went apart, and appeared to weep. I saw no cause for their unhappiness; but I was deeply affected by it.”(pg. 77) This indicates that the monster cares for others’ well beings as well as his. However, Frankenstein dismissed the monster for selfish reasons, to protect his security. Nevertheless, at this point in time, Frankenstein did not realize the power the monster had to hurt him and others that he cared about.

I have reason to believe that the monster is the protagonist in this story of Frankenstein. Although Victor had created the monster to be something beautiful, it did not turn out that way. The monster became something hideous in the eyes of Victor. However, the monster was rational with his feelings. He had educated himself about the basic and good fundamentals of life. On page 68 Victor calls the monster a "devil" and one who would incur his wrath. The monster says that he "expected this reception" from Victor. He scold Victor asking "How dare you thus sport with life?" pg 68. The monster identifies himself as a "fallen angel". One who was made by man and is lower than man. The monster is right to bring vengeance against Victor. He is left to be alone. He is left in complete isolation with none to feel the way that he feels. Yet, he reads and understands with such a sound rationale that Victor does not have for himself.