Parenting: Father Figure In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

Parenting: Father figures in Frankenstein Perceiving the novel, Frankenstein through the lens of parenting lends the creature a more sympathetic reaction from the reader. The creature, unnamed and rejected is subject to the harsh realities of living without the support and love of a parent. Even after identifying Victor as his “father”, he refers to him solely as creator or god. From the beginning of his tragic existence he is abandoned and left to learn about the world on his own. Parenting or the lack of it eliminates so many possibilities in his life and sets him up for his revenge and ultimately murder. The importance of nurture is widely acknowledged in a child’s upbringing. When Victor as a father discards his son he demonstrates

When he is born his father ceases to work and he “devoted himself to the education of his children” (Shelley 64). Victor writes of his childhood “no creature could have more tender parents than mine” (64). His parents treated him with love and affection they provided an education for him, he lacked for nothing. His advantages in life indicated for him a promising career and position that was all due to the care that his parents supplied for him. In essence, according to Victor he was raised with the attention and tenderness of his parents. And still his parents can be seen as the catalyst to his foray into science. He places criticism and accountability on his father for neglecting to inform him of Agrippa’s work. It can also be explained that his mother’s death affected him and ignited his interest in reincarnation and death. When he loses his mother he recovers quickly at one point he learns “to think ourselves fortunate, whilst one remains whom the spoiler has not seized” (73). This is a critical point in his youth, he views death as an evil thing, the living are glorious but the dead are spoiled. Creating life and defeating death may be linked in Victor’s mind this reaction to death is a

When Walton first catches sight of the creature his reaction is very interesting because it is colored by the information Frankenstein has given him of the creature. “I was at first touched by the expression of his misery; yet I called to mind what Frankenstein had said of his powers of eloquence and persuasion” (241,242). This reception to the creature is compelling, Walton had been listening to Victor exceedingly castigate the creature yet when he comes face to face with him he recognizes the creatures intelligence and emotional agony. If Victor had shown any compassion for the creature he would have reported it to Walton. As a father his description of his son lacked love, understanding, or even blame for his own actions in abandoning the creature. The creature’s reaction to Walton is amazement, “he paused looking at me with wonder” (240). Walton cannot help having the same reaction to the creature as everyone else, disgust and a need to look away from something so “loathsome” (240). The creature is aware that Walton knows of his crimes yet he also knows how Frankenstein would have reported it to him. “you seem to have a knowledge of my crimes…..he could not sum up the hours and months of misery I endured”