Victor Frankenstein Sympathy Essay

Within the heart of Victor Frankenstein, there was an insatiable thirst for scientific fame. His quest for scientific greatness birthed a creature that yearned for connection, only to be met with a chilling void where compassion should have resided. As the novel unfolds, the absence of sympathy becomes a repeating theme. Although the creature was seen as a monster, Victor Frankenstein was the true monster that lacked sympathy for the creature, making Victor less sympathetic than the creature. This was evident when considering Victor was motivated by selfish ambition and pride to create life, Victor abandoned his creation out of disgust and fear, and Victor refused to acknowledge the creature's humanity. To begin, Victor, driven by selfish

The creature desired sympathy and understanding, but Victor felt nothing but hatred and regret toward the creature. When the creature came to life, it extended its hand, resembling a child longing for their mother's affection. However, unlike a child, the creature was denied the touch of its creator and faced rejection. The creature also talked about how “Adam was allowed to converse with and acquire knowledge from beings of a superior nature” (Shelley 154). But unlike Adam, the creature “was wretched, helpless, and alone” (Shelley 154) since his creator, Victor, abandoned him. The creature’s abandonment caused him to have many questions like “What did this mean? Who was I? What was I? Whence did I come? What was my destination? … but [the creature] was unable to solve them” (Shelley 152-153). The creature was left all alone to fend for itself. The creature’s abandonment led to resentment and “in the bitterness of [his] heart [he] cursed” (Shelley 156), his creator, Victor. The curse against Victor set into motion a series of tragic events that led to the deaths of Victor’s loved ones. In his quest for vengeance, the creature unleashed a cascade of destruction that forced Victor to confront the consequences of his actions. Victor’s lack of sympathy was instrumental in driving the creature further into

The creature repeatedly demonstrated that he was not evil. The creature saved a girl from drowning and secretly helped the De Laceys by gathering firewood, clearing snow from their path, and restoring their ruined garden. The creature was pleased with his actions when he “observed, with pleasure, that [Felix] did not go to the forest that day, but spent it in repairing the cottage and cultivating the garden” (Shelley 130). The creature demonstrated his humanity through his actions and understood that his actions have consequences, something Victor failed to realize. Yet, Victor continued to call the creature a “demoniacal corpse” (Shelley 60), a “wretch” (Shelley 60), and a “miserable monster” (Shelley 59), among other degrading names, showing his contempt and unwavering hatred for his creation, even after the creature vulnerably shared his heartfelt story with Victor. The creature stated that he is “malicious because [he is] miserable” (Shelley 174). The creature merely wanted someone to accompany him throughout his life who did not hate him. Hence, the creature asked Victor to “create a female for [him] with whom [he] can live in the interchange of those sympathies necessary for [his] being” (Shelley 174). However, Victor refused and stated, “Begone! I do break my promise; never will I create another like yourself, equal in