Examples Of Evil In Frankenstein

Brody Pennington

Mrs. Holloman

ENG1113

28 March 2023

Society: The True Evil Society is the center of life. Without a formal society, there would be no unity between ethnic groups and identities. American philosopher, George Herbert Mead, once said, “Society is unity in diversity.” Is it possible that even when society relies on such unity, there can be social rejects? Are they rejected by race, creed, origin, or simply how their face looks? Is it possible that society can judge someone baselessly on their aspirations? Mary Shelley shows a way for such outcasts to exist in society with her novel Frankenstein. Frankenstein and his creature are victims of such a society where isolation and loneliness are common, responsibility is a rarity, and

Victor states, "I had worked hard for nearly two years, for the sole purpose of infusing life into an inanimate body. For this, I had deprived myself of rest and health" (Shelley 47). Victor arduously slaves over creating his life form. Other than the lifeless body, he is isolated in his lab. He sacrifices his time with his family, and ultimately his sanity over the scientific feat. Pressure to lay down what he is pursuing from his professors and peers led him to this point of isolationism. The creature experiences a similar form of loneliness. In an altercation with Victor, the creature states, "I am alone and miserable; man will not associate with me; but one as deformed and horrible as myself would not deny herself to me” (Shelley 123). The creature goes on to request that Victor create him a mate because society makes it where he cannot find a woman to love due to his appearance. His desperation for said mate is profound and evidence of his loneliness that drives him to want to cause harm against society. Society causes both Victor and his creature to be lonely for two different

Society must be responsible for what it produces. Shelley shows this through the power dynamic of Victor and his creature. In a fight with Victor, the creature proclaims, "You are my creator, but I am your master; obey!” (Shelley 143). Victor’s lack of responsibility for his creation, and desire for scientific advancement, leads to the creature’s violent and vengeful behavior. Scientific advancements are what society strives for, but when such advancements go south, no one is around to take responsibility. As for Victor, society abandons him as well when it comes to the same scientific advancements. His professors disregard his passion, leading him to want to pursue it at a higher level. While reflecting on his passion and what it brought him to do, he states, “I felt as if I had committed some great crime, the consciousness of which haunted me. I was guiltless” (Shelley 138). Some could argue that Victor was the monster based off of how he was guiltless for the crimes he committed. The point is that Victor feels the pressure of society for scientific advancement, but when said advancement is produced, no one is here to take responsibility for its actions. Society is the reason for the monster’s actions, but ultimately, Victor is on the receiving end of the