Examples Of Foils In Frankenstein

A common misconception is that Frankenstein is the name of the monster. However, throughout Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, the monster is unnamed. Instead, Frankenstein refers to the creator of the creature, Victor Frankenstein. Although Frankenstein describes the creature as a “filthy daemon,” the creature retells his story to be a miserable life, where he constantly strives to be good and benevolent (61). Both of them lead to many deaths. Since Frankenstein’s moral character is worse than that of the creature, Frankenstein, just as the misconception believes, is the monster in the novel. In Frankenstein, Shelley uses the creature as a foil to Frankenstein to emphasize that Frankenstein’s faults are from his character, in contrast to the creature, characterizing Frankenstein as the true villain in the novel.

When Frankenstein retells his childhood, he describes the positivity with, “My mother’s tender caresses and my father’s smile of benevolent pleasure” (20). Frankenstein enjoys an idyllic childhood, filled with support and care. In contrast, as the creature retells his story, he laments, “No father had watched my infant days, no mother had blessed me with smiles and caresses” (104). The “mother’s caresses” that Frankenstein relishes sharply differs from the creature’s “no father” and “no mother.” This contrast develops the personality of both characters. The creature thinks of Frankenstein to be an “Unfeeling, heartless creator” (121). After punished from helping a young girl, the creature declares, “This was then the reward of my benevolence!” (123). Although Frankenstein grows up surrounded by care, he develops to provide none. And although the creature never receives care, he strives to be benevolent. The creature’s misery contrasts Frankenstein’s joyful childhood; the benevolent creature is a foil to the selfish