Frankenstein Empathy Essay

As a student, Victor Frankenstein’s interests were deeply rooted in science, chemistry and the balance between life and death. While attending university, Frankenstein became obsessed with the idea of restoring life to the deceased. Victor believed that he was doing mankind a favour but it can be argued that he was motivated by a God complex. However, once Victor had succeeded in creating life by animating his “monster”, he abandoned his creation out of fear, leaving it to die. After seeing the way that Victor Frankenstein reacts to his own creation and reading the creature’s point of view, should we feel empathy for the so called abomination?

In the monster’s narration, he explains how he felt when he discovered that his creator was horrified by his existence. He was overwhelmed by sadness at the realization of his position in the world. The misfortune of his existence was that he felt human on the inside, with emotions, dreams and need for affection; however, his hideous appearance spread fear to all with whom he came into contact, dooming him

Although, the monster would not have lived if it were not for Victor, it is Victor’s folly in creating and then abandoning the creation that led him to be homicidal. The creation longs for his creator to love him, or at least to show some affection or acceptance of his existence. Victor’s complete rejection of his creation is so hurtful, that the monster swears, “I will revenge my injuries; if I cannot inspire love, I will cause fear, and chiefly towards you my archenemy, because my creator, do I swear inextinguishable hatred. Have a care; I will work at your destruction, nor finish until I desolate your heart, so that you shall curse the hour of your birth."