Physiognomy In Frankenstein

In Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein (The Modern Prometheus), there is a creature that gains life after its creator, Victor Frankenstein, creates him with the purpose to gain fame by discovering the secrets of life and death. Horrified by the looks of his creation, Victor would abandon his project leaving the creature susceptible to the threats of the world. The creature becomes victim to society’s belief in physiognomy, belief in which a person’s character traits are determined by one’s physical appearance. These quick criticisms by society including its own creator would leave the creature abandoned, attacked, and neglected from happiness. During the creation of the creature, Victor deprives himself of rest and health in an attempt to contribute

Due to its physical appearance, the creature would suffer various attacks from society in which he encounters during his trek. While on its journey to search for his creator that abandoned him, the creature recollects, “I had hardly placed my foot within the door, before the children shrieked, and one of the women fainted. The whole village was roused; some fled, some attacked me, until, grievously bruised by stones…miserable from the barbarity of man.” (Shelley 90). After receiving an unreasonable attack from the community, the creature felt “miserable from the barbarity of man” (Shelley 90) when it had meant no harm and just wanted to scavenge for food to please its hunger. Continuing his search for his creator, the victim would encounter a woman who had fallen into a river quick to follow his good willed heart, he would jump into the river and attempt to restore life to the woman that lost conscious. During his attempt to bring animate the woman back to life he would be interrupted by a man who had followed right behind, and the man only judging the creature by its superficial appearance would pull out a gun and shoot the kind hearted creature. With great pain the creature states that “This was then the reward of my benevolence! I had saved a human being from destruction, and, as a recompense, I now writhed under the miserable pain of a wounds, which shattered the flesh and bone.” (Shelley 121). People are quick to judge based on appearance and do not give him the opportunity to introduce himself or explain his intentions. Once again, victim of being mistreatment and rejection only because of his ugly