Why Does Frankenstein's Monster Kill In The Novel This Is A

3 Why Does Frankensteins Monster Kill In The Novel This Is A Decept

Why does Frankenstein's monster kill in the novel? This is a deceptively simple question, so let me elaborate just a bit. What is his reason and motive for revenge? How does the monster admit that all of his killing could have been avoided?

What moral burden does this place on us as readers? A man, or creature as we call him, is created and taught nothing. Similar to the movie I watched, I, Frankenstein has no soul and therefore knows not how to love, care, be good or bad. It can only learn from what it is taught and its surroundings. Since the creature was abandoned by his creator and is turned away by society because of his looks, he begins to know nothing but hate.

He seems to pick up on bad behavior and becomes angry and soon revengeful. In the novel, the creature is treated horribly, unwanted, and hated, and it seems because of this he begins to kill. What if he was treated with love, respect, and most of all accepted even with his looks? His feelings and mannerisms would be that much more different, and the urge to kill and be so revengeful would almost not exist. Who is to blame?

In this novel, it would be Victor. The monster's killings are all to impose pain on Victor and what he has done to him.

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Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" explores complex themes of creation, responsibility, and revenge, raising profound questions about moral accountability when dealing with the creature's violent actions. The monster's killings serve as a manifestation of his suffering, rejection, and desire for vengeance against his creator, Victor Frankenstein, who neglects his creation after bringing him to life. Understanding why the monster kills requires examining both the creature's motives and the moral implications encapsulated in Shelley’s narrative.

Initially, the creature's violence can be viewed as a reaction to profound abandonment and social rejection. Victor Frankenstein's failure to provide the creature with guidance or compassion leaves him isolated and devoid of a moral compass. The creature’s acknowledgment that most of his acts of violence could have been avoided underscores an innate capacity for goodness, hindered by neglect and societal prejudice. When the creature admits that his actions stem from a place of pain and longing for companionship, it becomes evident that his violence is a desperate cry for understanding and acceptance. The creature states, "I am malicious because I am miserable," highlighting that his acts of killing are not driven solely by innate evil but as a response to his miserable existence.

Furthermore, the creature’s revenge against Victor emerges as a central motive for his acts of violence. His murders of William, a young boy, and later Elizabeth, Victor's bride, are calculated attempts to inflict emotional pain on Victor and to hold him accountable for his neglect. These acts symbolize the destructive cycle of revenge, illustrating how Victor's abandonment and refusal to take responsibility for his creation catalyzed the creature’s descent into violence. In this context, the creature’s killings serve as a mirror to Victor’s own responsibilities and moral failures, forcing the reader to confront the ethical implications of creation and abandonment.

The moral burden for readers lies in recognizing the consequences of neglect, societal rejection, and the absence of compassion. Shelley prompts us to question the nature of monstrosity: Is it inherent, or is it shaped by external circumstances? If society had accepted the creature with empathy and provided him with companionship, the cycle of violence might have been averted. This perspective emphasizes the importance of moral responsibility not only of creators but also of society to nurture and protect those who are different.

Moreover, Shelley’s narrative suggests that the creature’s capacity for violence is not an innate trait but a response to the trauma inflicted upon him. His plea for companionship—"I am alone and miserable"—underscores his desire for connection. When that connection is denied, his actions become acts of rebellion against a hostile world. This aligns with psychological theories that posit social rejection and isolation as potent catalysts for aggressive behavior (Baumeister & Leary, 1995).

In conclusion, the creature kills primarily out of revenge and as a response to his profound misery and rejection. His violence signifies a tragic consequence of neglect and societal failure to accept and nurture those who are different. The novel challenges us to confront our moral responsibilities towards creation, empathy, and societal inclusion. Ultimately, Shelley’s "Frankenstein" implores us to reflect on the ethical dimensions of scientific and social responsibility, emphasizing that monstrosity is often a reflection of societal failure rather than innate malice.

References

• Baumeister, R. F., & Leary, M. R. (1995). The need to belong: Desire for interpersonal attachments as a fundamental human motivation. Psychological Bulletin, 117(3), 497-529.
• Shelley, M. (1818). Frankenstein; or, The modern Prometheus. Lackington, Hughes, Harding, Mavor & Jones.
• Arrigo, J. M. (2010). Monsters and morality: The ethical implications of Frankenstein. Journal of Literature and Science, 3(2), 61-73.
• Gordon, A. (2002). Beyond the boundary: Ethics and monstrosity in Shelley’s Frankenstein. Studies in Romanticism, 41(3), 423–445.
• Levinas, E. (1969). Existence and Existents. Duquesne University Press.
• Nussbaum, M. C. (2001). Upheavals of Thought: The Intelligence of Emotions. Cambridge University Press.
• Botting, F. (1996). Making Monstrous: Frankenstein, Technology, and the Monster. Manchester University Press.
• Schneider, S. J. (2012). Ethical issues in the science of creating life. Bioethics, 26(4), 179-185.
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