Frankenstein and themes of science and creation

Mary Shelley's Frankenstein may have caused a horrific reaction from the reading public during her era, but if the same story were published for today's society it would probably engender a more philosophical response from its readers. Throughout the decades since Shelley's Frankenstein was initially presented, a number of critics have written critiques of the story, many of them alluding to the creator-Father role, or the story of Adam from the Bible, or the tale of Adam's son Cain, also from the Bible. Others have noted the allusions to King Arthur in the story, Arthur sired an illegitimate son who then pursues the King in a life-long effort to gain what he cannot ever have due to the circumstances of his birth. One critic states; "scattered throughout Frankenstein are several subtle echoes of the demi-god Hercules - the illegitimate and neglected son of Zeus - who lives a short and unhappy life while struggling in vain to find a niche for himself in a world filled with humans who admire his strength and courage, but fear his unpredictable temper" (Thompson, 2006, p. 81). Dr. Frankenstein's creature finds himself in much the same circumstances, pursuing a crash course with the doctor, haunted by the fact that his creator is so abhorred that he wishes he had never created him. The creature, throughout the entire story seeks to justify his existence through acts of violence directed towards those individuals the doctor loves most. It's ironic that the creature seems to be espousing the principle, 'if you won't love me, you won't get to love anyone else.'

The doctor discovers "For the first time, also, I felt what the duties of a creator towards his creature were" (Shelley, 2003, p. 91). Perhaps the good doctor is discovering that his love seems to be directed at only himself, through the egotistical application of science in at attempt to become like God. On page 173 Frankenstein discovers his new bride murdered by the creature he had created and it is here that he begins to realize that a life can be used to enhance earthly surroundings, or a life can be used to create despair, misery, anger and fear. It is also at this point that he offers his own lamentable life to the creature, calling out, "Alas! Life is obstinate and clings closest where it is most hated" (Shelley, 2003, p. 173). This begs the question, does he truly hate his life, or has he just come to the conclusion that man should not seek a Godlike stature, such arrogance may just backfire in a most despicable way. What is truly interesting is that the doctor initially believes he is doing a good thing by creating another 'human' being, yet the creature, when given the same choice between good and evil, ultimately chooses evil. The story is very similar to the story in the Bible that details the fall of Satan, who is expelled from the heavens after seeking to assume the glory of God. Frankenstein's creature, like Satan after his rejection by his creator, is forever after an angry, bitter individual who blames everyone else for his own choices. Yet, the creature still seeks the glory that eludes him, stating on page 149 "Remember that I have power, you believe yourself miserable, but I can make you so wretched that the light of day will be hateful to you. You are my creator, but I am your master; obey."

Like God, Frankenstein initially believed that his creation will enhance society, will be a boon to natural science and that the rewards for creating such a creature will be the adulation and bended knee of a grateful mankind, but too late he discovers that his creation is just as capable of untold evils as it is capable of gratitude and love. Dr. Frankenstein dreams of the bows of society and all the riches that go with that, 'working feverishly for more than two years day and night' in order to accomplish something no one else had even seriously contemplated. His feverish and obsessive desire to create what no one has ever created leads him into a mindset that becomes a permanent part of his psyche. Much of that psyche has to do with the overwhelming sense of guilt that he has created a being that needs his assistance and guidance in order to achieve what he had most desired for his creation. Even if the reader discounted the allusions to God, and placed instead a failed father-son relationship, it is evident that at times the Doctor is devastated that his creation could have gone so horrifically wrong. The reader cannot easily ascertain that God would have such abhorrence for his own creation, but it is easily recognizable that such abhorrence can easily come from a father to his own son, especially if that son had been the instigator of such horrible deeds as the creature had done. On page 107 the creature discovers why his creator has such abhorrence for him stating; "I saw and heard of none like me. Was I then a monster, a blot upon the earth, from which all men fled, and who all men disowned?'