Fate Vs Free Will Frankenstein Research Paper

For centuries, scholars and philosophers have debated whether chance governs our lives, or our choices rule our destiny. History provides a multitude of stories of protagonists following the stars as well as others who decide their future. Beowulf battles enormous monsters, knowing his future is predetermined to win. Whether it be fate or free will, the main character always needs the guiding hand of a wiser individual. In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, the monster’s crimes are a direct result of his horrid circumstances. In the story, Dr. Frankenstein works feverishly to create life after death. However, Frankenstein fails to realize he does not possess the divine hand of God. He exclaims his disgust and is “unable to endure the aspect of

(Shelley 131)

Furthermore, the monster reveals to Victor “I am malicious because I am miserable” (Shelley 192). From the beginning, Frankenstein’s monster survives with his harsh reality alone. His creator abandons him; he leaves no moral, civil, or maternal values to live by. It is parallel to the absence of parents in one’s youth, especially in a world where loss of innocence runs rampant. As a result, the monster ultimately curses his maker for enduring misery without a guiding

Progressing through the story, the monster, led by hunger, stumbles on a village. His naïve delight causes him to “…enter [a cottage], but I had hardly placed my foot within the door before the children shrieked, and one of the women fainted… some attacked me, until, grievously bruised by stones… I fearfully took refuge in a low hovel…” (Shelley 136). Even as the creature shows the best intentions, the residents reprimand with hostility. He had done no harm, yet the villagers perceive him as a convict of terrible offenses. Hiding in the hovel, he proves his benevolence with the De Lacy family and “found that the youth [Felix] spent a great part of each day in collecting wood for the family fire, and during the night I… brought home firing sufficient for the consumption of several days” (Shelley 144). If one sees the effect of his actions, yet is oblivious to his form, he would agree these were the works of a charitable and benign human. The epitome of one who can see the monster’s true colors is, ironically, the blind and old De Lacey. He expresses the utmost respect and decency to the creature when no one else did. The monster declares, “They [humans] are kind—they are the most excellent creatures in the world; but, unfortunately, they are prejudiced against me… and where they ought to see a feeling and kind friend, they behold only a