Accountability In Frankenstein

In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, people are often too quick to pin all the blame on the monster that was created by Victor when it comes to who is responsible for all the unfortunate events that take place in this novel. There are several different things to take into account to help give insight into why the monster is the way he is. Victor along with the issues of society all play huge roles in the series of events that take place. Concepts such as actions having consequences, society’s role in the development of someone, and needing to take accountability for one’s actions/decisions, are all recurring themes in the novel that could also be found in real-world scenarios. The first thing that needs to be addressed is Victor’s involvement

As previously stated, Victor is the one who created this monster. However, he abandons this monster leaving it alone to be confused and alone. Throughout the novel, it is clear that the monster is struggling with finding a purpose, and a reason to live. “Cursed, cursed creator! Why did I live? Why, in that instant, did I not extinguish the spark of existence which you had so wantonly bestowed? I know not; despair had not yet taken possession of me; my feelings were those of rage and revenge, ” (Shelley 146). It is also clear that the Monster starts developing feelings and emotions that he doesn't know how to handle. He is extremely angry at Victor Frankenstein for not only creating him but abandoning him to go through this cruel world all alone. The monster ends up asking Victor to create a mate that would be able to keep him company. Victor agrees but ends up not going through with it. This causes the Monster to reach his breaking point. He wants to seek revenge against Victor in hopes to show how much pain and anguish he has so selfishly caused. Although Victor isn’t the one who kills his loved ones, he still feels responsible. “I called myself the murderer of William, of Justine, and of Clerval. Sometimes I entreated my attendants to assist me in the destruction of the fiend by whom I was tormented; and, at others, I felt the fingers of the monster already grasping my neck, and screamed aloud with agony and terror,” (Shelley 191). As seen in the quote, it becomes quite evident that Victor is feeling a tremendous amount of guilt for the deaths of his loved ones. In the novel as well as in real life, not taking accountability for one’s actions and trying to run away from problems only causes these issues to worsen. Victor is a prime example of this. He is the main cause of his demise. In this case, Victor runs away from the monster/his problems instead of taking