Victor's Decisions In Frankenstein Essay

Can one decision alter one’s life forever? In the book Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, can Victor Frankenstein be considered guilty for the actions caused by the monster he created? Victor created a living being that destroyed the lives of his loved ones. He did not take responsibility for his creation; instead he abandoned the monster that needed careful guidance in order for it to live a healthy life, not a murderous one. By keeping the monsters existence a secret he determined his loved ones fates. In Frankenstein, the character Victor is responsible for his and the creature's actions that ultimately led to all his family perishing. Victor’s obsession with the mystery of creation of life began to occupy his life at an early age. He isolated

The decision to keep the monster a secret eventually led to the destruction of his family. Victor’s brother William was the monster’s first victim. A few months after the monster was created Victor’s brother was found strangled to death in a field. Even though he was a small child, the monster felt no sympathy because he was related to the creator whom he hated. Justine, a family friend, was accused of the murder and suffered death after evidence, that the creature placed upon her, suggested that she committed the crime. Victor Frankenstein knew who the murderer was when he reported “A being whom I myself had formed, and endued with life, had met me at midnight among the precipices of an inaccessible mountain” (Shelley 64). Victor watched as his experiment disappeared into the mountains and still kept quiet during Justine’s trial that ultimately led to her death. Victor only mentioned “I believed in her innocence; I knew it. Could the demon who had (I did not for a minute doubt) murdered my brother also in his hellish sport have betrayed the innocent death and ignominy?” (Shelley

He was deserted in a time when he needed one the most. He was created then abandoned with no one to provide him with support and guidance. When he tried desperately to communicate with others no one would give him the time because they were fearful when they first laid eyes on his figure. Because the townspeople were frightful they would run away or try to kill him. During his time of isolation he noticed a girl that was drowning and when he saved her the people immediately thought that he was her attacker; he then was shot as he tried to escape. He supplied the De Lacey family with firewood day-to-day, and they even considered him as a “good spirit”, but when they saw the creature they abandoned their house, and never returned. The monster mentioned that when Felix entered the cottage “he dashed me to the ground and struck me violently with a stick” (Shelley 124). He was beaten and shot at just because of his looks. His rejection was not caused by his actions, but by his appearance, a physical burden that he couldn’t change. The monster clearly didn’t choose to be deformed; Victor unfortunately created him that way. So, Victor is primarily responsible for the creatures misfortunes and