A Transformation from Gracious to Malicious

Most people are kind at heart, but society’s negative perceptions changes them. Mary Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein, portrays this concept. Frankenstein’s monster treats humans kindly - refuting the stereotype that all monsters are evil. In this novel, the monster is kind towards mankind until society criticizes him and turns him into a malicious creature. The monster that Frankenstein creates has kind-hearted morals, but because society harms him based on his hideous appearance. Because of his treatment, he transforms into a murderous monster, pointing to the destructive power of societal criticism.

Society rapidly judges the monster and forms opinions based on his outside appearance rather than his internal intentions. After creating the monster, Victor reflects on his work: “How can I describe my emotions at this catastrophe...His yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath...formed a more horrid contrast with his watery eyes, that seemed almost of the same colour as the dun-white sockets in which they were set, his shriveled complexion and straight black lips” (Shelley 55-56). Victor’s description of his monster takes on a negative perspective. He uses words such as “horrid” and “catastrophe” to portray his vengeance towards the monster. After he creates the monster, he flees due to his horridness. Soon after, he returns and he “stepped fearfully in: the apartment was empty, and [his] bedroom was also freed from its hideous guest. [He] could hardly believe that so great a good fortune could have befallen [him]” (Shelley 60). Even the monster’s own creator, Victor Frankenstein, quickly considers him to be villainous. Despite that the monster is his own creation and he does not know the monster’s morals...

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... monster, who originally has kind intentions, turns into a vengeful monster due to society’s harsh discrimination and prejudice against it. The monster originally has a caring heart, but society negatively judges the monster by its first impression rather than the monster’s kind notions As a result, the monster seeks revenge on both his creator and humanity. The monster composes of human body parts and has human emotions, but his appearance is not human due to society’s criticism of him. The monster is not the true cruel being; the people who harshly criticize the creature are the true devils.

Works Cited

Lesser, Wendy. “A Fable for All Times: Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.” The Threepenny Review 49 (Spring 1992): 17-19.

Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. New York: Simon & Schuster Paperbacks, 2004.

Stuprich, Michael. Horror. San Diego, CA: Greenhaven Press, 2001.