The Victim of Victor Frankenstein's Persistent Curiosity

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Recommended: Ethics theme in Frankenstein

In Victor Frankenstein’s pursuit to discover “the cause of generation and life”, he creates something that becomes the victim of his self-absorption and irrational manner (Segal). Following some insight on the creation of life, scientist Victor Frankenstein decides to take science into his own hands and create a creature out of human cadavers. It is not until the creature comes to life that Victor ponders the perplexing appearance of the creature that is before him. As Victor looks upon the creature he has created, he wonders “Why, in that instant, did I not extinguish the spark of existence” (Shelley 138). With the recognition that the creature truly looks like a monster, Victor abandons the creature and leaves him to the harsh assumptions of society. Although the creature employs a genuinely empathetic and compassionate manner, society refuses to acknowledge him because of his beastly appearance making him the victim of Victor’s persistent curiosity.

The violent behavior the creature portrays never allows him to achieve the sympathy he seeks and therefore never attain the mutual affection he so badly desires. The creature states, “For while I destroyed his hopes, I did not satisfy my own desires. They were forever ardent and craving; still I desired love and fellowship, and I was still spurned” (Shelley 224). Despite the fact that the creature is compelled to commit violent acts, his violence causes Victor and Walton to believe he is not trustworthy. Therefore, Victor Frankenstein decides against the idea of making the creature a mate and states: "have you not already shewn a degree of malice that should reasonably make me distrust you"" (149). Compassion is almost roused in Walton: "I was at first touched by the expression o...

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... to give him this affection, he feels as though he needs to search for it himself. He is never given the opportunity to relate to another being, even if it was another creature such as himself. Despite his efforts to achieve a sense of affection, he fails to do so; therefore, the creature becomes the victim of this novel.

Works Cited

Bernatchez, Josh. "Monstrosity, Suffering, Subjectivity, and Sympathetic Community in Frankenstein and "The Structure of Torture"" Science Fiction Studies 36.2 (2009): 205-16. Rpt. in 205-16. Academic Search Complete. Web.

Segal, Howard. "Victor and Victim." Victor and Victim 412.6850 (2001): 861. Rpt. in Nature. Academic Search Complete. Web.

Yadav, Sachdev. "Human Cloning: Perspectives, Ethical Issues and Legal Implications." International Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences 2.1 (2011): 28-41. Academic Search Complete. Web.

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