Mary Shelly wrote the Gothic tale Frankenstein. In the novel, who isthe true villain, the Monster or Victor Frankenstein? Which characterdo you have the most sympathy for?
Mary Shelly wrote the novel “Frankenstein” using gothic techniques.Nearly 200 years after the book was first published in 1818 thereaders still debate about the real villain of the story.
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Victor Frankenstein could be the hero of the story; the readersympathises with him when he suffers the loss of his mother, hisbrother William, wife Elizabeth, his father and friend Clerval. Thisextreme suffering that Victor goes through is a characteristic ofromantic heroes. Also as Victor is narrating it emphasises thesuffering that he goes through. We also feel sorry for Victor when he“had worked hard for nearly two years,” he deprived himself of restand health and now that he had finished, “the beauty of the dreamvanished, and breathless horror and disgust,” filled his heart. Fortwo years Victor slaved to create the monster but at the end theoutcome was disappointing, as creature was ugly. Victor could also bethe hero because he is very admirable as he strives to learn. Also hetries to stop death which is also very commendable because it wouldbenefit mankind. As well as that Victor pushes himself to the limittrying to stop the monster. This is very heroic as the monster couldhave easily killed him.
On the other hand the monster could also be the hero because he isabandoned and is like a child. He educates himself learning to use hislimbs and senses, he also learns to talk and understand speech;however this makes him more miserable because he learns about love andfamily life but he realised that he doesn’t have any of tho…
…ing vengeance against Victor.
In conclusion I believe that Victor is the true villain because heabandons the monster, his child, then is very abusive towards him andhe does all this without even giving the monster a chance. As well asthat he is prejudice towards the monster because of his looks.However, the monster may have done some bad things but they arejustifiable. He may have killed most of Victor’s friends and familybut he has been rejected so many times that he becomes angry and feelshurt so he wants people to feel the way he is, so he makes them sufferso that they too feel his pain. Also when he threatens Victor that hewill, “Glut the maw of death,” he is provoked by Victor who threatensand insults him first. Therefore I think that Victor is the villain asthe monster is provoked in his actions, however Victor does it out offree will.
