Physiological Lens Essay On Frankenstein

Victor Frankenstein is a murderer. Though he is a murderer, he is not one in the physical sense. Frankenstein is a horror novel pertaining to a man’s hopes to create life. He creates this life from non-life, and in doing so, destroys himself and all those around him. When examining Frankenstein, written by Mary Shelley, through a physiological lens, many interesting and deeper meanings may be found. Shelley unveils to the reader that Frankenstein's monster is a manifestation of Victor Frankenstein's personality.

Victor Frankenstein becomes lost in his desire to do as he wishes, which starts with the way he is raised. He originally says that it was his parents responsibility to raise him well, saying “The innocent and helpless creature bestowed

His first moments of life are marked with confusion and pain. He is deserted by his creator and left to begin the life of a wayward vagabond. At this point the monster is saddened by his role as a social outcast, which is shown by the simple statement, “I was alone.” (Shelley 120). A key piece in the monster’s journey is his run-in with the cottage family. It is interesting to note how he calls these cottagers his “friends”, though he does not know them. Shelley does this with a dual purpose, to show that the monster has incorrectly grasped the concept of friendship, and, more significantly, that he develops unhealthy attachments, especially to that which he does not have, which is the affection and approval of others. The monster constantly laments his loneliness during these times, stating “Satan had his companions, fellow demons, to admire and encourage him, but I am solitary and abhorred” (Shelley 119). Although the monster is new to this world, he is smarter than he appears, as he makes a very thought out plan to get the cottagers to accept him,

Instead of thanking him, they attack him. This makes him truly realize the injustice of it all, exclaiming, “This was then the reward of my benevolence!” (Shelley 130). At this point, “The creature... realizes that not only has Victor rejected him, the entire race of humankind abhors his image—an image resembling no one else in existence.” (Telgen 187). And now a change overcomes the monster, as sadness becomes anger, and his desire to be accepted becomes bitterness. He gives in to these emotions, beginning to kill to get revenge, and stopping at nothing to bring out the downfall of Victor Frankenstein after he denies him his final chance at acceptance and love. It is his change from innocent and scared to murderous and vengeful, along with his outward actions, that prove that the monster was the manifestation of Victor