Examples Of Ambiguity In Frankenstein

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Often, things are not always what they seem. In Mary Shelley’s morally questionable novel, Frankenstein, Shelley employs ambiguity in its characters thoughts and actions, allowing the reader to overlook many socially and ethically problematic situations that might otherwise provoke concern. Victor Frankenstein’s creation is morally ambiguous, as seen through conflicting sides of the monster’s character: one of innocent sincerity and one of confused violence. Together, these conflicting sides portray Victor’s creation as morally ambiguous. From the moment Victor brought his creation to life, the creation’s life has been one of rejection and exile, not only from villagers, but also from his creator. Understanding of Frankenstein’s first experiences, …show more content…

Once the creature finally meets his maker, Victor, he uses his new skills to express his troubles to Victor, commenting, “Yet you, my creator, detest and spurn me, they creature, to whom thou art bound by ties only dissoluble by the annihilation of one of us.” (Shelley 970) This comment, among others, shows the relationship between the Created and the Creator. Victor, the creator, is disgusted and ashamed of the Created, the creature, whom is sad and isolated from society. Their relationship is a crucial motivator for the creatures many controversial actions. For example, once the monster meets William in the woods and learns of his relation to Victor Frankenstein, the creature kills William through strangling. Upon first reading, the audience may view the murder as morally wrong, but the way in which Shelley displays the situation, the farther in the book the reader gets, the more leniency is given to the creature. As more knowledge is given of the monster’s sad life, the greater the audience sympathizes with the monster, thus taking away from the initial effect Williams murder had. When the creature kills again, Shelley ensures that the audience is provided with

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