The novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley.

Frankenstein: A Haunting Exploration of Science, Ethics, and Humanity

About the author:

Mary Shelley, born in 1797, was the daughter of the political philosopher William Godwin and the famed feminist Mary Wollstonecraft. Growing up in an intellectually stimulating environment, Shelley was exposed to radical ideas about politics, science, and society from a young age. Her personal life was as dramatic as her fiction; she eloped with the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley at just 16, and the couple endured a life filled with tragedy and financial struggle.

Frankenstein, written in 1818 when Mary was only 18 years old, was conceived during a summer spent in Geneva with Percy Shelley, Lord Byron, and John Polidori. The novel emerged from a ghost story competition the group held, but Shelley’s work was far more than a simple horror tale. It became one of the first and most important works of science fiction, blending Gothic sensibilities with profound questions about humanity, creation, and responsibility. Shelley’s novel remains a staple of both literary and ethical discussions, particularly in today’s world where scientific progress continues to push ethical boundaries.

Plotline of the novel Frankenstein.

"The world was to me a secret which I desired to divine."

The novel begins with Victor Frankenstein, a gifted young scientist, who becomes obsessed with the idea of creating life. After years of studying chemistry and the mysteries of the natural world, he constructs a being from the remains of corpses and successfully brings it to life. However, upon seeing the creature animated, Victor is horrified by its grotesque appearance and flees, abandoning his creation to fend for itself.

The creature, left alone and rejected, tries to find a place in society but is met with hostility at every turn due to its terrifying appearance. Initially kind-hearted and eager to learn, the creature becomes embittered after repeated rejection, eventually turning to violence to get back at his creator. His first act of revenge is the murder of Victor's younger brother, William. This marks the beginning of a series of tragic events as the creature's rage drives him to murder Victor's best friend, Clerval, and later, his fiancée, Elizabeth.

Haunted by guilt and loss, Victor dedicates his life to destroying the creature, chasing it to the ends of the earth. But in the end, both creator and creation are destroyed by the relentless pursuit of vengeance, leaving the reader to question who the true villain is—Victor or the creature?

1. Who is the Real Monster?

"I am alone and miserable; man will not associate with me; but one as miserable as myself would fan my misery."

On the surface, the creature appears to be the obvious monster. His hideous appearance and acts of violence, including the cold-blooded murder of Victor’s loved ones, seem to mark him as the villain of the story. However, Shelley complicates this picture by portraying the creature as deeply misunderstood and profoundly human in his desire for companionship and acceptance. When the creature first comes to life, he is innocent, curious, and eager for connection, but it is society’s cruel rejection that hardens him into the vengeful being he becomes.

Victor Frankenstein, on the other hand, could be seen as the real monster. His act of creation is not in itself wrong, but his immediate rejection of the creature, his refusal to take responsibility for what he has made, and his selfish obsession with his own suffering make him morally culpable. Victor’s lack of empathy, not just for the creature but for everyone around him, leads to the destruction of all he holds dear.

Ultimately, Frankenstein blurs the lines between creator and creation, forcing us to consider whether monstrosity is truly in the eye of the beholder. Victor's cold abandonment of his creation and failure to act with compassion suggests that he may be the true "monster" of the novel.

2. The Search for Knowledge: Dangerous and Destructive?

"You are my creator, but I am your master; obey!"

Shelley’s novel can be read as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unbridled ambition and the pursuit of knowledge without consideration for its consequences. Victor Frankenstein’s desire to uncover the secrets of life drives him to trespass into forbidden realms, manipulating the forces of nature to create life. But in doing so, he unleashes forces that spiral out of his control, resulting in destruction and misery.

This theme of knowledge as both dangerous and destructive is particularly resonant today, as modern scientific advancements—from artificial intelligence to genetic engineering raise similar ethical concerns. The lesson of Frankenstein is not that knowledge itself is evil, but that the pursuit of knowledge without moral consideration can have disastrous consequences. Victor’s tragedy stems not from his desire to know, but from his failure to foresee the responsibilities and potential dangers of his discovery.

In the novel, Shelley urges caution and humility in the face of scientific discovery. Knowledge, while powerful, must be pursued with an awareness of the moral and ethical implications it carries.

3. Was the Creature Inherently Evil or Shaped by Society?

Shelley’s portrayal of the creature challenges the notion that he is inherently evil. When the creature is first "born," he is a blank slate innocent, curious, and full of longing for human connection. He teaches himself to speak, read, and even experience emotions by observing a family from a distance, showing a capacity for empathy and learning that belies his terrifying appearance.

However, the repeated rejection he faces from humans, including his creator, Victor, gradually twists his once hopeful and gentle nature into one filled with bitterness and hatred. His violent actions are not the result of inherent evil but a desperate response to the cruelty he experiences from society. The creature’s demand for a companion is an expression of his profound loneliness, and his violence stems from his increasing sense of isolation and betrayal.

Shelley seems to suggest that the creature becomes a monster not because of his nature, but because society treats him as one. His monstrosity is a reflection of the world’s failure to accept him, rather than something intrinsic to his being. This raises profound questions about how individuals are shaped by the way they are treated by others, and whether society can create monsters through neglect, abuse, and rejection.

4. Should There Be Limits on Scientific Exploration?

The ethical dilemma of scientific exploration is central to Frankenstein. Victor’s creation of life is a monumental achievement, but it is also a reckless one. His ambition blinds him to the potential consequences of his actions, and he never considers the responsibilities that come with creating new life. In this way, Frankenstein warns against scientific endeavors that proceed without ethical consideration.

In our modern world, where science and technology have the power to shape the future of humanity in unprecedented ways, Shelley’s warning feels particularly relevant. There is no question that science should continue to explore and push the boundaries of what is possible. However, as Frankenstein shows, there must also be limits guided by ethics, responsibility, and compassion.

The novel asks not just what scientists can do, but what they should do. Victor’s downfall serves as a cautionary reminder that the pursuit of knowledge without moral boundaries can lead to destruction, not progress.

A Unique Perspective: The Emotional Cost of  the Creation.

One aspect of Frankenstein that often goes unexamined is the emotional toll that creation can have on the creator. While much of the novel focuses on the creature’s suffering, Victor also experiences a profound emotional breakdown as a result of his actions. His obsession with scientific discovery leads him to neglect his own humanity, pushing away the people who care about him and ultimately driving him into isolation and madness.

Shelley highlights the emotional consequences of creation both for the creator and the created. Victor’s emotional detachment from his creation is one of his greatest failures, and it is this lack of compassion and empathy that allows the situation to spiral out of control. Had Victor shown even a fraction of the emotional care he gave to his scientific experiments to the creature itself, the tragedies that followed might have been avoided.

In this way, Shelley suggests that emotional intelligence is just as important as scientific knowledge. The ability to empathize, to understand the emotional impact of one’s actions, is crucial in the process of creation whether in science or in life.

Conclusion: The Enduring Legacy of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

"You are my creator, but I am your master; obey!"

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein remains the timeless exploration of the ethical, emotional, and philosophical questions surrounding creation, knowledge, and responsibility. Through Victor’s tragic fall and the creature’s painful journey, Shelley invites readers to reflect on the consequences of scientific ambition and societal rejection.

The questions raised in the novel about who the true monster is, the limits of scientific exploration, and the impact of societal mistreatment are just as relevant today as they were when Shelley first penned her masterpiece. But beyond these themes, Frankenstein serves as a reminder of the emotional costs of creation, and the importance of compassion in both science and life.

As we continue to push the boundaries of what is possible, Shelley’s cautionary tale remains a vital touchstone, urging us to balance our pursuit of knowledge with empathy, responsibility, and humanity.

References:

For the image of monster:

https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0071519/mediaviewer/rm2896248320/?ref_=tt_ov_i

For the image of Victor Frankenstein's creation:

https://theasc.com/articles/the-story-behind-the-filming-of-young-frankenstein