Inhumane In Frankenstein

“Mary Shelley 's “Frankenstein” is a text which has ever since it was first published, influenced social and cultural debates over the relationship between human beings [...]” (Allen 117). There are multiple texts that deal with the question of who the real monster is. The name 'Frankenstein ' is often related to the monster by people who have not read the book (Heesel 3). This essay, however, tries to explain why the reader might think of Frankenstein as a monstrous, inhumane being in the first place. People usually sympathize with the protagonist and his actions. Therefore, this essay argues that it is Frankenstein 's behavior and his characteristic traits that make him an unlikable character, unfit to be a protagonist and hence more easily

His interest in “the structure of the human frame” (Shelley 31) is what led to his research and hence to the creation of the monster. While this is the first time that he does something due to his own interest it is also the first time that he does not act when he should have. He himself states that “no mortal could support the horror of that countenance” (Shelley 36) that he had “so miserably given life” (Shelley 36). It is already at this point in the story that Frankenstein should have taken responsibility, and upon realizing that it was a mistake to reanimate an inanimate object, should have ended the existence of the monster. Instead, he leaves the scene and is relieved when he later comes back and discovers that his “apartment was empty” (Shelley 38) and that the monster “had indeed fled” (Shelley 38). This shows that despite taking action at the beginning of the story, there are too many occasions where Victor remains indifferent and does not do anything, or simply reacts, which is not enough to make a good

Not in the sense that he does not care for those around him. It is quite the opposite, he often expresses that the fate of his loved ones greatly affect him. He even ends up being in some sort of depression after each and every murder. But the point is, that even though he knows what happened or what is going to happen, he continues to be inactive, instead of finally starting to act and trying to prevent any of the unfortunate happenings. Although, he should actually be the one getting involved, as all of this is his fault for creating the monster. All this makes him unfit to be a round character, “one that is filled out, that is believable as the characterization of a real person” (Turco 49). And regardless of the fact that, “the protagonist sometimes exhibits the opposite characteristic of a hero; such a persona is called antihero[...]. This term is not to be confused with antagonist” (Turco 47) it is exactly that what might happen. Hence, the reader is unable to see Frankenstein as a stereotypical, protagonist, so the reader might think of him as the antagonist, the opposing - most times evil -