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| Source: espalhafactos.com |
Frankenstein is a well-known novel that has gained popularity through the many film adaptations over the years. Going into this book, I had not seen any of those adaptations, and I knew only two things: there is a monster and he was made through experiments. This book is referenced in so many movies and TV shows that include characters who love to correct others since it is a common misconception that Frankenstein is the monster, when in fact, it’s the name of its creator. Although only a few pages long, Mary Shelley’s 1817 masterpiece has stood the test of time because of its ability to make the reader question what it is to be human.
The book is told in letters and starts with R. Walton informing his sister in England that he was going to take a long voyage with his date of return unknown. When the weather became colder, Walton and his men saw a huge figure riding through the snow and rescued its pursuer, the infamous Victor Frankenstein, the titular protagonist of the story. Frankenstein then told Walton of his journey, which the latter documented in letters to his sister.
The book tells how Frankenstein experimented on dead bodies and had succeeded in making a live being out of them. Upon seeing his creation, however, he ran away from it, wishing to never see it again. Then the murders started, and the two were destined to be each other’s enemy until one of them expires. I love how Shelley was able to give the readers a view from the monster’s perspective. I think it was one of the most beautiful parts of the novel because I was able to forget the monster’s ugliness as I had a glance of how beautiful his heart was.
I now understand why some people pitied the creature despite its looks and the crimes it has committed. When the monster narrated his story of how he found a family whom he got to know through eavesdropping, I couldn’t help but feel happy for him. He was doing his best to contribute to the unfortunate group and wished to be accepted by them. However, when he finally revealed himself, he was aggressively rejected and cast away just because of his appearance.
While many think Frankenstein is a scary book, I believe it is a sad one. The monster was relatable in that he was a being who did not wish or expect to be made and given the heart to feel loneliness, yet he was. Like any other human, he longs for a companion with whom he will spend the rest of his days. And just like any fragile human, he is pained by rejection. The monster was not innately evil. He was a victim of unfortunate circumstances that is wholly Frankenstein’s responsibility. Both of them lost something in the process—for Frankenstein, it was his bride, brother, and friend; and the creature, its longed-for family and its sense of purpose.
Victor was right when he said that he killed all those who had been dead because of the monster. He was fully responsible for his creature’s existence, and so without him, the murders wouldn’t have occurred. He refers to his creation as the demon, showing his abhorrence of the creature he took great pains to make. Some people think that Frankenstein was more monstrous than his creature, but in his defense, he was just a human who has fallen victim to curiosity. Not every scientific discovery leads to something desirable. Others bring misery and death.
This book made me sympathize with a monster for the first time. It has made me realize how important it is to feel loved by someone and to belong to a family. Companionship is a human necessity, and having no one may drive a man to insanity. I don’t know if you are a theist or not, but I pity the monster not just for having no one to be with, but also for not having a God to lean on in times of trouble. Had that been the case, I think he’ll be contented no matter how much man rejects him. Unfortunately, a human being created the monster, and that same creator abandoned its needs. This story tells a lesson that I’ve long known: men will disappoint you in the end.
It's a Ping Thing 