Analysis Of The Monster In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

Beginning in the Romantic Period and shifting in popularity across many years until finally finding a place in current times, the supernatural has been a recurring interest among people throughout the ages. As a result, many stories of old have surpassed their contemporary time and reside within the eyes of the people as classics. Such is the case of the story Frankenstein written by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley. In spite of its longevity, it appears many still do not understand the true nature of Frankenstein’s monster—as he is referred throughout the novel. Among those who do comprehend the character of the beast is a man named Martin Tropp who wrote a criticism simply titled “The Monster.” Simply put, Frankenstein’s monster is a villainous

Even whilst arguing with Frankenstein, the monster seemingly maintains its composure and a level head, “You are in the wrong, …and instead of threatening I consent to reason with you. I am malicious because I am miserable” (Shelley 174). Eloquent speech, composed thought and mind, these are traits found in the monster that Shelley describes in most of her novel. Nevertheless, the description of the creature is only a page behind from the following statement also expressed by the monster, “I will revenge my injuries; …I will inspire fear, and chiefly towards you my arch enemy… do I swear inextinguishable hatred” (Shelley 175). This response, although it may seem justified, came about because Frankenstein refused to comply to the creature’s

Of the many misguided beliefs pertaining to the creature, this is the one truth: the monster was treated unjustly by humanity. Such a belief is shared by Tropp as he writes in his article “The Monster” on the website, Bloom’s Literature, “If the monster is fully human, then mankind’s treatment of it is criminal.” An example of mistreatment is visible even when the monster saves the life of a drowning woman, finding his recompense to be gunfire. “I had saved a human being from destruction, and as a recompense I now writhed under the miserable pain of a wound” (Shelley 169). Victim as the monster may be to how others treat him, there is nigh an excuse for his actions towards those who have not harmed him. It is with his first crime that the monster steps outside the range of victim and into the territory of the wicked. Marking his passage is the following line, “I too can create desolation; …this death will carry despair to him, and a thousand other miseries shall torment and destroy him” (Shelley 171). Here is where the crux of the argument resides; the issue is not the evidence, rather, it is the form in which the evidence is provided. The story explains the monster’s many evils, but by continuously reminding the reader that the reason behind his actions are the past mistreatment, everyone takes sympathy in the