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Duality In Frankenstein

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“...-rather let me say such the words of fate, enounced to destroy me” (Shelley 27). Mary Shelley explored many themes throughout the book. Such as technology and science, love and hate, and light and dark. The one theme that I found significant as I read the book is, the duality of Victor’s personal choice but the effects of fate it will have on him and the people around him. People believe that they have the free will to do as they wish, but their fate is the outcome of their free will. Humans can choose what to do but they lack control over their fate. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein illustrates the duality of fate vs. personal choice in order to show the consequences of Victor’s choice to create the creature, rather than considering the …show more content…

“Natural philosophy is the genius that has regulated my fate; I desire, therefore, in this narration, to state those facts which led to my predilection for that science” (Shelly 20). Mary Shelley states that Victor’s interest in particularly the science field of natural philosophy. Victor’s deep admiration and interest in natural philosophy, that includes the philosophy of life and death, was the factor that regulated his fate and destined him to be where he is now. Before creating the monster, Victor was enthusiastic to bring animation to a non living body. He wanted to break the bounds of life and death. “Life and death appeared to me ideal bounds, which should I first break through, and pour a torrent of light into our dark world” (Shelley 32). In this moment, without consideration of his fate. As result of his capability of free will, Victor is deciding on which unknown realm should pour light in first. This choice right here will have deep consequences of fate later on. Most of Victor’s choices are made to satisfy his curiosity and desires. Victor desires his creature to be strong, tall in stature, and brilliant. “ I resolved, contrary to my first intention, to make the being of a gigantic stature; that is to say, about eight feet in height, and proportionably large” (Shelley 32). Again, Victor is caught in the moment and doesn’t stop to realize what fate would bring on him by creating the monster proportionally large. Later, when Victor meets with the monster in the village of Chamounix at the summit of the hills, he tried to fight the monster but he was unable to because of his abhorred look and big stature. “I trembled with rage and horror, resolving to wait his approach, and then close with him in mortal combat” (Shelley 68). Repetitively, Victor is excited to create his creation and lacks to take into consideration what his choices will have on his

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