What Is a Monster and Its Definition

One can argue that the definition of a monster is a thing that is inhuman, has no regard for life, or anything of good nature. In most literature, the term 'monster' is used to describe men who have committed crimes such as murder and rape. Nowadays, when one thinks of a monster, they immediately think of a scary-looking creature or ugly costume. However, the true meaning of a monster is a person that is evil, inhumane, and lacks empathy or remorse, that an otherwise 'normal' person would.

Mary Shelley's Frankenstein refers to Victor Frankenstein's creation as the 'monster,' however, it is obvious that the real monster in the novel is not the creature, but the creator himself.

Although the novel refers to the creature as the monster, as the novel progresses, the reader comes to realize that the creature is actually full of compassion, and morality. The reason the creature is first named to be the monster is solely due to his appearance.

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“His yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath: his hair was of a lustrous black, and flowing; his teeth of a pearly whiteness; but these luxuriance’s only formed a more horrid contrast with his watery eyes, that seemed almost of the same color as the dun white sockets in which they were set, his shriveled complexion and straight black lips” (Shelley, 2002, page 35). The description Shelley uses in regards to the creature already gives the reader the imagery that the creature is inhumane, ugly, and scary.

Right off the bat, the readers are led to believe that the creature is a monster before it is even given the opportunity to present its true nature.

Tabula rasa is the notion made popular by John Locke in that 'the human mind receives knowledge and forms itself based on the experience alone, without any pre-existing innate ideas that would serve as a starting point.' Hence, every living person is born with a 'blank slate' and their identity is formed by their experiences and perceptions of the outside world. Thus, the creature was born innocent, and society and Victor labeled him before he could even form a coherent opinion of himself. It is this judgment and consistent rejection that lead him to react as any normal person would, by striking out, and rid himself of that which initially caused him harm. Victor's creature is not a monster. He is a merrily a product of societies inability to deal with the consequences of science, and something different than the norm (Rosenberger, 2013). His existence alone, is a direct consequence of Victor's greed for fame. Victor, himself, should be the one labeled as a monster since he shows clear monster-like characteristics.

He is a monster for being the scientist that created an outcast in society. He tried to imitate God by bringing back the dead, which is unnatural. As soon as he lays eyes on the creature he created, he is immediately hateful and hostile. He expressed no compassion for his creature. He is in turn responsible for the murder of William, and the rest of his family. Society is wrong in placing its fear on creations that are unnatural, and instead place its fear on the one that created them. The death of William is used as a device to show that Victor is in fact a selfish monster. Victor knows that his creation has murdered William, yet he does not confess. Victor withheld knowledge that could have spared Justine's life. 'Justine also was a girl of merit and possessed qualities which promised to render her life happy; now all was to be obliterated in an ignominious grave, and I was the cause!” (Page 54). Although Victor thinks that he is at fault for creating the creature, not for withholding important information that could have saved Justine because he is selfish and his pride was worth more than the life of an innocent young girl.

Victor's close friends and family have to unfortunately face the consequences of the hatred of Victor's creature because they are the only ones Victor shares a close relationship with, but Victor is unnatural in his relationship with them. Victor only has one friend and seems to have a difficult time keeping close relationships with others. Victor marries Elizabeth who is his step sister. This, alone, is unnatural, and his relationship with her seems to be based on his possession of her instead of one based on love. Victor says, 'No word, no expression could body forth the kind of relation in which she stood to me--my more than sister, since till death she was to be mine only' (Page 18). Victor does not believe in mutual relationships, as most of his relationships are based off his own selfishness. Frankenstein is also unnatural in his quest to become Godlike. He is driven through his own greed and selfishness to gain the answer to immortality (Rosenberger, 2013). Through his quest for immortality, he creates a creature that will never be able to live a normal life and experience love. Victor hoped to gain fame from society through his creation, however once he realized his creation would only bring him public shame, he is quick to abandon it since he is 'unable to endure the aspect of the being I created' (Page 35).

When Victor sinks in a deep depression, he points the finger at the creature for not allowing him any peace. When Victor confronts the creature in the Alps, his first thought was to end him. Victor's slight compassion comes to a halt when he tells himself, 'when I looked upon him, when I saw the filthy mass that moved and talked, my heart sickened and my feelings were altered to those of horror and hatred' (Page 106). Victor can not get past his view of the creature, and in the end Victor demolishes the creature's only chance for companionship when he tears apart his second attempt at animation. Victor says, 'Begone! I do break my promise; never will I create another like yourself, equal in deformity and wickedness' (Page 104).

In addition, although one can argue that Victor is not directly responsible for the deaths in the novel, it is true that Victor is the one that created the creature to be the way he is. If it was not for Victor's selfishness, greed, and pride, all of the characters would still be alive. The creature is a being that has been misguided and shunned by society. Someone newly born can not be evil. Babies are the purest and innocent out of all human kind. Like a baby, oblivious to any evil or wrongdoings, the creature shares this sort of innocence. It is his father, per say, Victor, that led to the series of unfortunate events. The creature, is rejected by society, and because of society, and most importantly, Victor's perception of him, that he lives up to what people view him as. The readers, are shown the creature's true side when he performs many helpful deeds for the De Lacey's. He is extremely compassionate and cares for others. He longs for acceptance and a soul mate.

His one chance of having a soul mate was brutally taken away by Victor. The creature watched as his one and only shot at true happiness was demolished by Victor. When he destroys the creatures companion, the creature ultimately reaches his breaking point. He has never known a kind gesture or friendship. This would make any person reach insanity. Victor stole the creature's only love, which in turn led the creature to steal Victor's only love. The ultimate confirmation that the creature is not the monster comes at the end, at Victor's deathbed. Although Victor would have loved nothing more than to watch his creature die and perish, the creature does not return this feeling. Rather, at Victor's deathbed, the creature weeps because he can not bring himself to see Victor suffer and sees that there is no triumph or peace of mind to be found. Once Victor dies, the creature goes off to die after he realizes that there is no joy in Victor's death. He only feels agony in the death of the one person he felt he had a connection with, and comes to terms that he will never be accepted by anyone.

In conclusion, Mary Shelley calls the readers to keep in mind the spiritual development in the quest for scientific discoveries. By painting this false misconception of the creature, Shelley is telling her readers to stick true to their moral values, and the dead should remain dead. She stresses the fact that every action has a consequence for himself, or loved ones. The creature simply fell victim to Victor's scientific thirst and his quests have converted Victor, himself, into the real monster of the novel.