Frankenstein

What qualifies a creature to be a monster? When the movie Frankenstein came out, monsters were usually big and scary animals that terrified everyone that walked in their path. They were creatures that generally behaved monstrously, doing things that were against society norms and had no consideration for the safety of others. Perhaps looking beyond the physical appearance of a “monster” and just looking at their actions one might see Dr. Frankenstein as a monster himself. Frankenstein was a story about a man who created an individual which led his life to failure and death, because of his desire to play which nature, and attempting the role of God.

The movie Frankenstein explores the consequences of what happens when man tries to play God and chases his ambition blindly. Victor Frankenstein became very involved in his work to create a being out of dead body parts. The doctor had the desire to achieve something that no scientist has ever done before: to give life to a being through science, not human nature. With this pursuit of knowledge, not only did Victor isolate himself from society but also from those who loved him, such as his fiancйe Elizabeth and his father. However, it is with this knowledge and ambition, that winds up destroying him and those closest to him. His project he felt would better human kind and possibly make a name for himself, which is ironic because he brought only evil to society and death to his name. Frankenstein is so caught up in his work and his yearning to be remembered for all time that he does not think about what will happen after life is breathed into this being. After his creation comes to life, he refuses to accept his obligation as the creator to his creation. He does not care for it, shelter it, provide it with food or love, nor teaches the creation.

When realizing how to actually make his creation work he found out just how evil and strong his “monster” truly was. By bringing this creation to life; a destructive being that he had no control over, he doomed his own life and his intentions. Dr. Frankenstein was blinded by the fact that he was unable to foresee the effects that a creature could never be fully accepted into the human race. He was ultimately haunted by his own creation. Yet is it his monster’s fault that he doesn’t know right from wrong, or is it Dr. Frankenstein’s fault? Frankenstein is called the creator throughout the movie, both because of his relationship with his monster, and to establish a comparison between him and God. He is therefore responsible for his creation and all of the actions that his monster commits.

In the long lived debate between nature verses nurture, Dr. Frankenstein’s

creation is a prime example of nature. Frankenstein's greatest flaws in his

attempt to create a being, is that he does not even nurture his creation as a parent would for his own child. Frankenstein himself grew up in a loving family who was still concerned about his actions till the end. Yet Frankenstein decides that he doesn't like the monster after he had completed it. He rejects the monster, and in turn the monster rejects him. Frankenstein sees the creature's physical appearance only, not attempting to look beyond his looks. The monster is treated as though he is an animal and not a living human being, and because of this he is shown no love or affection from his creator and society as a whole. Making the monster feel isolated and hated, causing him to seek vengeance over his creator. The monster therefore becomes Frankenstein’s shadow. Initially, the monster was not filled with the hate and rage that he would exhibit later in the movie. It was in many ways a helpless baby, only wanting someone to love him and teach him. However,