Mary Shelley's Frankenstein: The Code Of Hammurabi

Throughout the progress of humanity, the social phenomenon of revenge has been prevalent in every society. The Code of Hammurabi, written by King Hammurabi of Babylon in around 1750 B.C.E. and considered the earliest written legal code, outlines an ancient precept now quoted as “an eye for an eye.” The law essentially states that if a man were to blind another man, his punishment should be to be blinded himself. Even finding its way into legal codes, revenge has always been a driving force in everyday life, and through many instances of vengeance, one aspect has become clear - the need for revenge causes people to go to great lengths to fulfill it. This idea has also become a popular theme in arts and literature. In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein,

For example, while explaining the process of his monster’s creation, Frankenstein tells Walton, “No father could claim the gratitude of his child so completely as I should deserve their’s” (Shelley 42). Looking back at Victor’s childhood, his parents were indulgent and relaxed, leading him to become overzealous in his pursuits of making the creature. Because of this, his ambitions turn to greed, letting him believe he is rightfully deserving of the worship of a whole race. The creature, however, does not feel the same entitlement to other’s respect, and, as he proposes Frankenstein makes him a companion, he argues, “I am malicious because I am miserable. [...] Let him live with me in the interchange of kindness” (Shelley 136). Unlike Frankenstein, the creature does not have dreams of infamy, only companionship. He is more emotionally aware than Victor, so with his demands, he acknowledges his repulsiveness and how he has affected others. Yet, the aggression in his request indicates abundant greed, much like Frankenstein. Although they have vastly different goals and problems, they approach them in the same manner - with greed and overambition – which leads them to become consumed by these

This is illustrated as Victor describes how he chases the creature throughout the tundra after losing everyone he loves. He tells Walton, “Many times I had stretched my failing limbs upon the sandy plains, and prayed for death. But revenge kept me alive; I dared not die, and leave my adversary in being” (Shelley 195). Because of his obsessive personality, Victor never gives up, even when nearly dead. Still, after watching as he becomes responsible for the deaths of all his family and friends, he never stops blaming others. Frankenstein shows the dangers of revenge and greed by never admitting his faults. Consequently, in the cabin following Frankenstein’s death, the creature admits to Walton, “I have murdered the lovely and the helpless. [...] I have devoted my creator, the specimen of all that is worthy of love and admiration among men, to misery” (Shelley 214-215). Unlike Frankenstein, the creature acknowledges he has gone too far with his revenge yet never regrets it when Victor is still alive. Pursuing vengeance causes the monster to completely change from his emotionally aware self seen in his childhood. His shift fully encompasses how seeking revenge can be detrimental if one takes it too far. Both characters’ overzealous nature causes them to sabotage themselves and each other, proving the prominent