Creature In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

Words: 777
Pages: 4

The value of life is determined differently by all individuals. The value of life can be determined by political status, money, power, family, education, career, just to name a few. There is no right or wrong measure as to how one individual determines their own value. That being said, length of life if not how one usually measures their life value. The significance of one’s life is not measured by their age, but determined by how they lived (Munroe). Victor’s Creature in Frankenstein determines his value of life by the reactions of those around him, including his creator. In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Shelley sufficiently goes into detailed explanation as to why suicide is the only resolve for the creature, given his actions towards several …show more content…
He reasons as to why each person must be murdered, and feels as though with each revenge killing, Victor can feel the same pain that the creature has endured. The creature was never able to fill the void created by social exclusion with his revengeful killings. Though in the end the creature notes that he is filled with unrest and sorrow, and acknowledges he will not find peace except “in death” (Shelley 275). The creature reaches an emotional state of guilt and remorse that causes him to determine the only way for him to find inner peace is through his own …show more content…
When an individual gets to this mental state, suicide seems to become the only answer. Suicide is seldom the product of rational deliberation, the so-called “rational suicide”, but mostly an act of uncontrollable anguish and despair (Burton). Feelings of despair are as real today as they were to the creature. There are regular stories in the news of crimes being committed and the suspect committing suicide. When asked why one commits murder and then commits suicide, retired cop, Tim Dees states, “The act of shooting a large number of people and generally terrorizing everyone is the last great act of revenge and defiance” (Dees).
In conclusion, redemption for the creature was not likely. His actions towards innocent people as revenge would have consumed his mind for eternity. He in turn did what he saw was his only option. While it is unfortunate, with the resources available to society today, such as Therapists and medicines, suicide is the answer for so many. Being that death and suicide will always be an issue, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein will continue to be a novel that can be used to study the value of life, and several reasons for death, by murder or