Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is a classic novel that explores the consequences of cruelty, both towards oneself and others. Through the course of the story, the theme of cruelty functions as a crucial motivator and major social and political factor, driving the plot and the development of the characters. This essay will analyze how cruelty functions in the work as a whole, the impact it has on the characters, and what it reveals about the perpetrator/victim relationship. One of the most striking examples of cruelty in the novel is the treatment of the creature by his creator, Victor Frankenstein. After Victor brings the creature to life, he is immediately repulsed by his creation and abandons him. Victor's cruelty towards the creature has far-reaching consequences, setting off a chain of events that ultimately leads to tragedy. This act of cruelty is a powerful motivator for the creature, who seeks revenge against his creator for abandoning him. As the creature explains, "I, the miserable and the abandoned, am an abortion, to be spurned at, and kicked, and trampled on" (Shelley 117). Victor's cruelty towards the creature ultimately leads to the deaths of several innocent people, highlighting the dangers of unchecked ambition and the human desire for power. …show more content…
Despite the creature's attempts to do good deeds and help those in need, he is consistently met with hostility and violence. The creature is subjected to ridicule and scorn, further exacerbating his feelings of isolation and alienation. As the creature notes, "I had no one to guide me or to direct me. I was alone. I remembered Adam's supplication to his Creator. But where was mine?" (Shelley 139). The cruelty of society towards the creature reflects the societal norms and values of the time, highlighting the dangers of conformity and the destructive nature of