Society and the Monster

    In Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein, I was particularly interested in the idea of the monster and monstrosity. In my opinion, the monster’s future was in the hands of his creator, Victor, and in the environment and people of society. It was when Victor abandoned the man that the decline toward evil was initiated. It mutated and presented itself when the monster was scorned society. When the monster was created, his mind hadn’t learned any knowledge. Meaning he could grow to be good or evil. The monster was almost like a small child living inside a grown mans body. Anyone who saw him or encountered him observed the monster as a grown man rather than a vulnerable child. The people he encountered had control over the situation but almost all of them showed fear to him, which they received in return. The monster observes the nice family in the forest, so the monster believes he’ll receive love from them, like a small child would think. The monster watches his effects as the family shows him they’re horrified (137). Also, the boy who runs to the monster, shields his eyes after witnessing the sight of the monster (144).

   The monster cries out that he indeed loves or once loved, “If I cannot inspire love, I will cause fear (148).” This is an example of the monsters childish tendencies as well an expression of how sad he’s become. This sadness due to the life he’s living, “I am malicious because I am miserable (147).” Since there’s no one around him that looks or thinks the same, he’s left miserable and alone.

   In the films, the monster is portrayed as monstrous. The films frame the monster as the outcast. For instance, assigning menacing music, giving the monster grotesque features, and withholding the creature’s inner struggles. He’s presented as the thing to fear rather than highlighting his own unique voice of struggle.