Frankenstein: themes and literary analysis

Frankenstein

Although there are many different and related themes in Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein, one of the most important themes is that of revenge. The relationship between the title doctor and his creation is a complex one. Dr. Frankenstein created the creature, and so he is like his father. However, this father later abandons the creature. The abandonment causes the creature to dedicate his life to exacting revenge on his "father." When the creature learns that all human beings find him ugly, he starts to want to take revenge on all of humanity. Yet the human beings in the novel are also interested in revenge. Dr. Frankenstein especially wants revenge on the creature for killing several people. Therefore, revenge is a complex and significant theme in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Revenge is the common ground between the creature and the human beings.

Instead of being angry at himself for animating a corpse without a long-term plan for it, Dr. Frankenstein feels an intense revenge against his creature. Therefore, Dr. Frankenstein's feeling of vengeance is misplaced anger that should be directed against himself. Dr. Frankenstein seems to know that his revenge is dangerous, and that he is the one who has been acting destructively. For example, he states, "When I reflected on his crimes and malice, my hatred and revenge burst all bounds of moderation," (Chapter 9, paragraph 6). This line shows that Dr. Frankenstein understands that the "bounds of moderation" have been broken. Dr. Frankenstein does not acknowledge that he is ultimately responsible for the murders that the creature committed. If Dr. Frankenstein had not animated a corpse, then his brother and the love of his life would still be alive. He blames the creature, instead.

Likewise, the creature blames Dr. Frankenstein for his woes and therefore seeks revenge. The creature is rightfully angry. He had no control over the circumstances of his birth. Dr. Frankenstein abandoned the creature, leaving him alone and defenseless, in a world that viewed him as a monster. Because he was viewed as a monster, the creature ends up killing people. Gradually, the creature kills out of revenge on Dr. Frankenstein as well as the rest of humanity. He kills people who are close to Dr. Frankenstein, like his brother William and later, Elizabeth. Killing people closest to Dr. Frankenstein shows that the monster is directly seeking revenge. For example, at the end of the novel, the creature deliberately shows Dr. Frankenstein that he killed Elizabeth. The creature is furious that Dr. Frankenstein promised a female mate, and never created one. Going back on his promise was something that the creature could not tolerate, and thus, he took revenge. The creature also took revenge on the family in the woods for not loving him, just because he was ugly. "My feelings were those of rage and revenge. I could with pleasure have destroyed the cottage and its inhabitants and have glutted myself with their shrieks and misery," (Chapter 16, paragraph 1).

Both human beings and the creature can therefore become consumed by revenge, rather than taking a step back to reflect on the possible consequences of their actions. After the creature burns down the cottage in the woods, he realizes that revenge is his only purpose in living. He needs to teach Dr. Frankenstein a lesson, as well as the rest of humanity. He states, "I did not strive to control them, but allowing myself to be borne away by the stream, I bent my mind towards injury and death, (Chapter 16, paragraph 12). Dr. Frankenstein likewise allows himself to place revenge above reason. "I burned with rage to pursue the murderer of my peace and precipitate him into the ocean," (Chapter 20, paragraph 16). Here, Dr. Frankenstein becomes obsessed with the idea of destroying the creature at the same time as the creature is obsessed with tormenting the creator. Interestingly, neither the creator nor the created can destroy each other because there is some type of love or at least pity beneath their feelings of revenge toward one another.