The Monster Is The Most Sympathetic Character In Frankenstein

In Mary Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein, the audience views the monster as the most sympathetic character as Shelley utilizes a basic understanding of human nature in order to emphasize the innocence of the monster and force the reader into siding with the underdog. Additionally, Shelley furthers her position on why the monster is the most sympathetic by alluding to and referencing John Milton’s Paradise Lost as well as the relationship between God and man. Through this, Shelley forces the reader to abandon the conventional narrative that the monster is evil simply because he inflicted death upon others by looking at the motives that drove their actions. Shelley’s novel follows the life of Victor Franikenstein, an aspiring scientist who is fascinated

As the wretch approaches Victor, Victor begins verbally assaulting him calling him names such as “abhorred monster” and “wretched devil” claiming how he could, “with the extinction of your miserable existence, restore those victims whom you have so diabolically murdered!” (Shelley 72). However, though the monster could easily dominate Victor physically, he reasons with him. He understands that “he that overcomes by force hath overcome but half his foe” (Milton) and in this way, he knows threatening Victor will not get him what he wants. He knows he must reason with Victor in order for them to come to an agreement. From this place of understanding, the monster meets this reaction in an extremely calm way stating how he “expected this reaction” (Shelley 72). He begins to speak to Victor by relating his situation to Creation saying: “remember, that I am thy creature: I ought to be thy Adam; but I am rather the fallen angel, whom thou drivest from joy for no misdeed” (Shelley 72). In this statement, the creature is explaining to Victor why he has become a “monster”. He is saying how because he is Victor’s creation, Victor is God and he should be like Adam. He is also implying that because Victor is like God, he has a responsibility to provide and care for the monster. However, because Victor has failed to play his role as God, the monster has become satan who is just another fallen