Fear In Frankenstein

In Western society, fear is displayed through mass media and inculcated into the mind of the individual and the community. A notable example of fear inculcation with a directed response occurred following the September 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Center in New York City. Following this event, the “War On Terror” began, and Congress passed the Homeland Security Act. Ultimately, the September 11 attacks led to a reawakening of racially motivated hostility and racial profiling. Thus, fear is no longer directed merely toward violent radicals, but also toward senseless violence within communities, racism and intolerance, and hatred and despair. Fear presses in on all sides and created a new monster—a human monster. However, arguably, the

One notable example is Victor Frankenstein, the main protagonist. Victor was born in Geneva, Switzerland, with supervision from Caroline and Alphonse Frankenstein, Victor’s parents. During his teen years, Victor becomes fascinated by natural philosophy, specifically the work of Cornelius Agrippa, an alchemist specializing in the occult sciences. However, his interest is shortly dismissed by Alphonse, who claims the outdated works of Agrippa are “sad trash.” This severely affected Victor, who originally respected and appreciated Alphonse’s character and intelligence. However, with this perceived harassment and mistreatment, Victor begins to resent humanity, a situation Don Weatherburn, author of the article “What Causes Crime,” warns toward society. Weatherburn claims that children who are mistreated or neglected are prone to criminal behavior, perceiving society as cruel and hostile (Weatherburn 4). Thus, to prevent monstrosity within individuals, guardians should respect and support their children. Promoting optimism will encourage children to exhibit chivalrous manners and reinforce their

Unfortunately, this ambition fails when a child, later revealed as William Frankenstein, simultaneously threatens it and calls the Monster a disgusting wretch: “Hideous monster! Let me go. My papa is a syndic—he is M. Frankenstein—he will punish you. You dare not keep me” (Shelley 171). This is the catalyst where the Monster surrenders and loses control of its feelings of bitterness and mistreatment. The Monster affirms eternal revenge against its creator, and William Frankenstein becomes its first victim. In addition, with jealousy, the Monster burns a random cottage and takes delight in the destruction: “I placed a variety of combustibles around the cottage, and after having destroyed every vestige of cultivation in the garden, I waited with forced impatience. As soon as I was convinced that no assistance could save any part of the habitation, I quitted the scene, and sought for refuge in the woods” (Shelley 165). As suggested by Manuel Eisner, author of the article “What Causes Large-Scale Variation in Homicide Rates,” “High social inequality and jealousy are robust predictors of high homicide rates” (Eisner 15). In other words, individuals become inhumane and more likely to commit irrational acts when experiencing jealousy, similarly to the Monster. Thus, to reduce monstrosity within