When Frankenstein abandons the creature and it escapes, it is out of disgust for its physical repulsiveness; he never stops to consider the creature’s emotions or how it will survive by itself. By doing this Frankenstein condemns the creature to a life of loneliness and hatred. The creature’s violent acts are not an inherent part of his character as he explains, “I was benevolent and good: misery made me a fiend. Make me happy, and I shall again be virtuous.”
Frankenstein knew that he would have to deal with the consequences of what his creation might do, but he never imagined that it would murder his brother. When Frankenstein receives news of his brother William’s death and that the prime suspect was Justine Morits, a family friend, he goes out trying to prove Justine’s innocence and find his creation. However Justine was found guilty and sentenced to death and Frankenstein was left without his creature.
Finally, upon their meeting in the mountains several years after the tragic events, Frankenstein and his creature have a chance to discuss what happened. The creation tells it’s creator of the horrors of the outside world and how it had been rejected from society. The creature explains, “I was a poor, helpless, miserable wretch; I knew, and could distinguish nothing.”
Shelley uses this as a definitive turning point in the story to finally show that Frankenstein is the real monster. In this climatic sequence the creature describes how it did not know right from wrong and that it was only giving society back what it had given him, misery. The creature was made to feel miserable by being rejected for looking different and he had his revenge by murdering and pillaging from the villagers. Shelley once again plays upon the beliefs of the 18th Century readers by using this as a biblical reference to the Ten Commandments and by playing upon the unwritten rule of “treat others as you wish to be treated yourself.” In this section of the novel the creation basically explains to Frankenstein that if he had of been taught rules and laws then he would’ve followed them like any other living being, and this pulls on the strings of Frankenstein’s heart, making him feel guilty and wondering what he can now do to help the creature.
When the creature realises that Frankenstein is feeling sorry for his actions he pleads with him to acknowledge his responsibilities as a creator and offer sympathy. Selfishly Victor also realises this is his chance to redeem himself from his past mistakes and offer the creature compassion, and he states, “ For the first time… I felt what the duties of a creator towards his creature were and that I ought to tender him happy before I complained of his wickedness.”
The creature explains his current situation to Frankenstein and tells him that he only wants to feel loved and wanted by someone who can understand his predicament and also be in the same situation as he is. He says to Frankenstein that the way to remedy the situation is to give him a companion that looks feels and acts exactly like him, as he states, “Our lives will not be happy but they will be harmless, and free from the misery I feel now. Oh! My creator make me happy; let me feel gratitude towards you for one benefit! Let me see that I excited the sympathy of some existing thing; do not deny me of my request!” The creature also makes the promise that if his requests are not met he will be with them on their wedding night as an unwanted and uninvited guest.
Once again Frankenstein sets out to create another creature as a mate for the original creation. Consequently this time his conscience kicks in and he stops creating as he realises that the creatures could now quite possibly do twice the damage. In doing this he denies his responsibility to his creature, breaks a promise and in fact, when he overhears someone labelling him as a bad conscience, he laments that his actions have hurt his loved ones, but once again he never shows regret toward the creature that he doomed to walk the earth in a life of misery.
Upon destroying the creatures mate, Frankenstein dooms himself and all of his loved ones as the creature carries out its revenge on his creator who destroyed his well being and value for life. The creatures sees that by killing Elizabeth, and sticking to his promise that he would escort them on their wedding night, he condemns Frankenstein to a fate worse than death, a fate very much the same as the creature’s
Having done all that it can, the creature quickly escapes to the ice caps with Victor in tow- vowing that he will bring an end to his creation, or die trying. However he dies on his journey, but his death is not in the hands of the creature, it is of (almost) natural causes.
Once again Shelley plays upon the belief in God and higher forces, and shows that Victor’s death could be nature’s revenge for trying to play God and creating a living being, but getting wrong. In the 18th Century this would’ve created a genuine horror to the reader and enforce their beliefs in God and the Ten Commandments.
However harsh the creature may seem, it is immediately seized with remorse upon seeing Frankenstein’s death, and cries, “Oh, Frankenstein! Generous and self devoted being! What does it avail that I now ask thee to pardon me? I, who irretrievably destroyed thee by destroying thee lovedst.”
Despite the fact that the creature was rejected by Frankenstein, who also broke his promise, the creature is overcome with compassion, sympathy and regret. Perhaps this does not erase his image as a monster but it does show that he has a level of humanity that Victor did not. On the other hand Victor maintained his lack of care and understanding till the very end, and to Walton he states; “…I feel myself justified in desiring the death of my adversary. During these last days I have been occupied in examining my past conduct; nor do I find it blameable.”
Overall Shelley uses the character of Frankenstein to develop the theme of loneliness by allowing Frankenstein’s own solitude as the main causes of the novels main conflict. In his quest to create a companion for himself Victor accidentally creates a “monster”, which in his own ignorance becomes a threat to Frankenstein himself, as well as to the rest of society. Due to Frankenstein’s feeling of loneliness after giving life to such a creature he feels as if the only way to right his wrong would be to unleash it into the open world. Victor states, “ Oh! No mortal could support the horror of that countenance… it became a thing such as even Dante could not have conceived.” This “monster” then proceeds to kill whoever it meets and it forces Frankenstein to analyse his loneliness, realising that his family were companions enough. Shelley incorporates this to teach audiences to value the finer things in life and to be grateful for what they have. If Frankenstein had of taken this advice then many of the problems that arise could’ve easily been avoided.
Also in the novel is that character of Frankenstein’s unnamed creation which is included to convey another form of loneliness to help understand the character further. The creature’s loneliness causes him to perform horrible deeds because it too desires a companion. In order to obtain a companion the creature kills whoever it meets until it finds Victor, so that it can demand another creation. Although the creature seems to be a victim of its own ignorance, it does express human emotion and feels its troubles will be over when it finds a mate.
Although the creature does things which are horrifying he is much less monstrous than Frankenstein- who is the ultimate monster. Victor acts with indifference to society and hatred towards his creation. While the creature cannot be to blame for the deaths of Frankenstein’s family, as it was not taught right from wrong, it was Victor who brought it about through his monstrous treatment of the creature. It is actions that reveal if a person is truly a monster (rather than physical appearance) and Victor’s selfishness and lack of compassion definitely place him as the true monster of the novel. Victor also withholds sympathy form the being he formed and in the process denies his moral obligation, all the while refusing to point an accusing finger at himself, making Victor more of a monster than the creature could ever be.
