Frankenstein s Monster and the Conflict in Creation

¶ … Shelley's Frankenstein and show why the monster identifies with Milton's Satan (i.e., why there is such conflict at the heart of creation).

While Victor Frankenstein's transformation from ambitious and proud scientist to humble hunter of the monster -- his creation -- reflects his character's arc and how knowledge of himself is only gained after the tragic consequences of his actions are realized, the fact that he never catches nor destroys the monster supports the argument that the mystery of sin remains deeply embedded in the story's overall arc. This mystery is best represented by the monster who is the 19th century incarnation of Milton's Satan -- a creature who longs for understanding and sympathy and lashes out against his creator when he cannot have it.

I thought of this idea after reading the novel and feeling that it bore the same trajectory as many other tragedies: it starts with a flawed protagonist, who arrogantly dismisses those around him. Frankenstein is consumed with his passion and does not realize that his passion is unhealthy. When his creation turns out to be hungry for love yet unlovable in his creator's eyes, the two are put at odds, just as Milton's Satan is at odds with his Creator (an analogy that is used by Shelley in the novel). It takes the monster seeking revenge against Frankenstein for the latter to begin to realize what a mistake it was to try to "play God" and only after everything he cared for is taken from him does Frankenstein realize the monster's violence is his fault and that he alone must take matters into his own hands as he pursues the monster into the Arctic.