Father And Son Relationship In Frankenstein

From Son to Satan: Parenting in the 17th century
Often in a novel, an author will make the relationship between a parental figure and a child be one of conflict to emphasize their relationship to each other. However, in the 1818 Gothic Romantic novel Frankenstein, author Mary Shelley uses the father and son relationship between scientist Victor Frankenstein and the creature as a tool to demonstrate that one must take responsibility for their actions and that monsters are not born monsters visualized through Victor’s abandonment of the creature, the monsters reaction to being shunned and Victor’s failure to comply with the creatures request to create a partner. The inception of the conflict between the two characters began when Victor became

This much is true for Victor’s failure to take responsibility for not only teaching his creation about life but also failure to take responsibility for the actions of his creation. “Frankenstein! You belong then to my enemy… you shall be my first victim” (153). Victor’s knows that he is responsible for the death of William because he abandoned his creation and made the monster learn the hard way that he would not be accepted into society. But he has no choice but to let Justine take the fall for the death of his brother because he fears being seen as a madman. Later when Victor is told by his monster that he would leave to South America if Victor makes a second creation, he agrees until he selfishly destroys the second creation. “You have destroyed the work which you began...Do you dare to break your promise?” (181). Victor knew the consequences. He failed his parental duty to take care of his child and his needs and as a result he got Elizabeth killed. Finally, Victor learns that he has been in the wrong the entire time so he pledges to end his creation even if its the death of him. “I, who irretrievably destroyed thee by destroying all thou lovedst. Alas! He is cold, he cannot answer me” (237). Victor dies failing to fulfill his pledge and his only son was there to mourn him. All the monster wanted has to be accepted by someone. When Victor didn’t he looked to