Victor Frankenstein as a Morally Reprehensive Character

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Victor Frankenstein as a Morally Reprehensive Character

Frankenstein is a book written by Mary Shelley in the 19th century, in

the new gothic genre. At the time when it was published, it was a very

controversial book, raising many moral issues that were seldom talked

about at that time. In this essay I will be trying to find out if

Victor Frankenstein is morally reprehensible.

The title implies that the whole of Victor Frankenstein's character is

immorally blameworthy. This is a narrow-minded statement, as it allows

no room for argument. For example, only certain aspects of Victor

Frankenstein's character could have been seen as immoral. If

Frankenstein is morally reprehensive, it means that he knows he is

responsible for the events that take place and accepts the

responsibility. It is not possible for someone to stay in the same

frame of mind for their whole life, so the title is too definitive a

statement. It suggests that the whole of Victor Frankenstein, past,

present and future, is completely immoral and there are no means of

changing this. People are not only of one point of view the whole

time; they react differently in different situations and also change

with time. People can be regretful one time, then completely fine the

next, I think this is what Victor Frankenstein is like throughout the

book. If Frankenstein was morally reprehensive as the title suggests,

his crime would not be creating the monster as he could have taught

him to do great things with his strength and intelligence. I think the

crime would be neglecting the creature when he needed him the most. He

left it the day it was made; to fend for itself and wish...

... middle of paper ...

... he would never have developed a passion for saving life

and would never have discovered that creating life was possible. He

only had himself to blame for the destruction caused by the creature;

not only to himself but to those he loved. Frankenstein never really

admitted the responsibility, he said that God gave him the power, 'I

found such astonishing power placed upon my hands, I hesitated a long

time concerning the manner in which I should employ it' and though he

did take a long time to think about what to do, he reached never

realised the full outcome of his decision. Although he realised his

mistake at the end, and tried to put someone off making the same one,

he never admitted the responsibility out loud. So, in conclusion to

the title, I'd say that Victor Frankenstein is a very morally

reprehensible character.

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