Comparing Victor Frankenstein And His Creature By Mary Shelley

Can fear make one assume throughout their life? Fear is described as, “an unpleasant, often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger” (Merriam Webster Dictionary). Fear is inescapable and can cause several different feelings such as the following: anger, sorrow, and anxiety. The emotion, fear, is shown in Mary Shelley’s classic novel, Frankenstein. The novel is based on two characters, Victor Frankenstein and his Creature. Victor created this Creature by dead organisms and his knowledge about forming life. Interestingly enough, he fears his own creation and runs from it. Meanwhile, the creature feels abandoned and goes throughout his life frightening people and himself. Both of these characters fear almost identical ideas.

Both Victor and the Creature feared the thoughts of loneliness because it was a feeling of betrayal and rejection. For instance, the Creature felt lonely because of his past experiences with Victor and the rest of human-kind. Specifically when Victor retreated after forcing his creation alive, thus leaving the Creature alone. At this point in time, the Creature, like a child, had no idea what to do and felt abandoned. The feeling of abandonment lead him to the feeling of loneliness and assuming the worst of humans and Victor. Then again, The Creature felt as if, humans “deserted him, anger returned,” (140). Soon his loneliness turned into anger and he feared of being lonely and rejected by humankind. On the other end of the spectrum, Victor Frankenstein feared loneliness when he loses his wife, Elizabeth. When Victor found Elizabeth lifeless he questioned, “How could I behold this, and live? Alas!” (199). Elizabeth dying made him assume that his life would not be full and complete without her. Victor feared being alone because he was unsettled by the fact he was living by himself. He feared being loneliness and the fact his Creature might want more

Victor and his Creature both fear the image of revenge. They look back on their pasts and assume the other character is going to find them and hurt them in some way. Victor is terrified of his Creature because he knows what he is physically capable of and the knowledge he had gained. Victor believes his Creature wants revenge because of the way he treated him in the past such as, abandoning him and not making a companion. When Victor shoots down the idea of making the Creature a companion the Creature says, “If I cannot inspire love, I will cause fear” (173). Thus, leaving Victor fearful and assuming the Creature want revenge. From the Creature’s point of view, he was afraid that Victor wanted revenge on him. In the beginning of the novel, the Creature was abandoned and believed Victor did not want him. The Creature was terrified that he did not impress his master. The Creature read Victor’s journal stating, it was a “Hateful day when he received life!” (133) leading to him assuming Victor wanting revenge for creating him. The Creature was filled with fear because he wanted to be loved and cared for, instead he was betrayed and assumed Victor wanted revenge for creating him. Both of the Character feared each other’s’ revenge. Thus, leaving a broken relationship unable to repair in the