The Role Of Humanity In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

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What makes a person human? Many people have asked this question after reading Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. In this book, a man named Victor Frankenstein defied the laws of science and created life. Although he chose to create life, he was hoping for a human; when, in fact, he got a monster instead. The monster did countless acts of horrible crimes; many of which were murdering people. Throughout the book it becomes clear that the monster is not human because of these actions. In order to be human, you must be born. The monster, however, was never born. He was created. Victor Frankenstein found old body parts and pieced them together, “His yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath” (Shelley 42). The monster was …show more content…
He knew that what he was doing was wrong and he did have feelings about it afterwards, “...for the string of remorse will not lease to rankle in my wounds until death shall close them forever” (Shelley 198). This was said near the end of the book once Victor Frankenstein had died and the monster had finally completed his mission. Although he may not have shown any guilt while it was happening, the monster did feel bad about it after it happened. Even near the beginning of the book the monster knew that what he was doing was wrong, “... when I found that in doing this I inflicted pain on the cottagers, I abstained and satisfied myself with berries, nuts, roots which I gathered from the neighboring wood” (Shelley 92). The monster did not want to inflict pain on people. He may not have been taught right and wrong, but once he realized …show more content…
When humans are told that something is wrong they do not do it again. The monster knew good and well that what he was doing was wrong, but he continued to do it anyway. He followed Victor until the day he died, “It is well. I go; but remember, I shall be with you on your wedding night” (Shelley 147). The monster was so set on getting revenge that he literally followed Victor to his wedding day so he could kill Elizabeth, Victor’s wife. The monster knew that killing was wrong after his first kill, William. He had no reason to keep killing when he already knew it was wrong. Most people stop trying to do something once it becomes clear that they will not succeed. However, the monster did not, “... thou didst seek my extinction that I might not cause greater wretchedness” (Shelley 194). The monster said this just after Victor Frankenstein died. He literally followed Frankenstein to the ends of the earth in order to kill him. Humans do not engage in the compulsive behavior the monster indulged in. In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, there is much question over whether or not Frankenstein’s monster is, in fact, human. The monster, like a human, has thoughts feelings, and emotions. However, he lacks some of the most necessary components. The monster was never born, and in order to be a human you must be born. The monster acts like an an animal; is an animal considered human? Throughout his actions, the monster
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