The Real Monster in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein was first published in 1818, narrating the tales of Victor Frankenstein, an idiosyncratic scientist, his grotesque and “wretched” creation, and the disastrous events that befall. As the novel unfolds one question remains unanswered, who is the real monster? Many ponder if the “wretched” creation of Victor Frankenstein, who has murdered innocent people, is the real monster? Or is it Victor himself, for creating and than abandoning his creation? The answer is neither. When examining the text closely, the real monster becomes evident, the monster of prejudice. Prejudice is one of mankind's most unrelenting and destructive flaws. Prejudice is defined as the prejudgment, or a preconceived opinion, not based on reason or actual experience. Prejudice is a recurring theme throughout Frankenstein and is symbolized as a force parallel to that of a physical monster. In Frankenstein the theme of prejudice is found in the language, character descriptions, and character developments of the two main characters, Victor Frankenstein and his creation.

The theme of prejudice initially becomes evident through the use of language describing Frankenstein’s creation. Frankenstein’s creation is introduced and continuously described through the use of defamatory terms, epithets, and belittling characterizations. “How can I describe my emotions at this catastrophe, or delineate the wretch whom with such infinite pains and care I had endeavoured to form?” (Shelley, Page 35). From the beginning, the creation is introduced as a “wretch” and a product of an adversity. The epithet “wretch”, given to the creation, is the projected prejudice thought of Frankenstein, and the first indication of the theme, prejudice. Although Frankenste...

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...e corpse” (Shelley, Page 126). After charged with murder, Frankenstein is thrown in jail, despite the lack of any concrete evidence against him: “in two months, I found myself… in a prison, stretched on a wretched bed, surrounded by gaolers” (Shelley, Page 127). As months pass, Frankenstein remains imprisoned but the prejudice against him does not diminish. Frankenstein’s Irish nurse is even as bold to say: “I believe it would be better for you if you were dead… but you will be hung when the next sessions come on” (Shelley, Page 128). Just as his creation before him has done, Frankenstein allows for the extreme prejudice to convince him that even death would be better than suffering from prejudice: “I am, by a course of strange events, become the most miserable of mortals. Persecuted and tortured as I am and have been, can death be evil to me?” (Shelley, Page 128).