Let’s hear it for procrastination.
Frankenstein is full of duplicity and ambiguity. How do we approach this story? Do we cheer for Victor, hope he succeeds in his life and his endeavors, and sympathize with his losses? Or do we identify with the creature, understand it’s pain, and hope for it’s redemption? Neither one is a clear answer. Both are what I would consider to be antiheroes, possessing both good and bad traits. There is no clear-cut protagonist in Frankenstein, which is part of its ability to tell such a complicated story. The very book itself is about the blurring of lines between good and evil, morality and scientific discovery. It only makes sense that all of its main characters suffer from the same ambiguity.
However, I find it interesting that these characters are so antiheroic. They remind me greatly of a Byronic hero, a hopelessly flawed hero. It is also interesting to note that the Byronic hero was introduced in Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage, which was written from 1812-1818. As we know, Frankenstein was first published in 1818, and that the two families were close associates. It seems obvious that even indirectly, Byron had great influence on the creation of Mary’s characters. Also, many scholars trace the conception of the modern antihero back to Milton’s Lucifer in Paradise Lost, further tightening the circle of influence between Shelley, Byron, and Milton.
Also, Mary conveys her father’s philosophy with the creature. Godwin’s theories that all men are born inherently good and are warped into evil creatures by society and humanity is obviously played out in Frankenstein’s creation. His creature is an innocent, a newborn that is capable of immense love and virtue. It is not until his repeated rejection by humanity, and their violence towards him, that he bends his great virtues towards the pursuit of evil deeds.
Victor himself I have little patience for. Not only is he the original ‘deadbeat’ dad as we have described, but he is patently unable to take responsibility for his actions. Throughout the book, it seems to be Victor proclaiming ‘Woe is me!’ to anyone and everyone who will listen and yet is unable to take any action. He complains about how he has created a murderer, how he indirectly is the murderer, and yet he takes no steps to alleviate this. He refuses to admit the truth to anyone, allows an innocent woman to take the fall for him, and it is not until the creature has killed off everyone important to him that he finally decides to take a proactive stance. There was nothing previously that prevented Victor from hunting down his creation, from killing it himself or actively recruiting assistance to do so. However, he seems more content to stand on the sidelines with much weeping and hand-wringing and gnashing of teeth.
One thing that I have not quite figured out: what is the monster’s motive in framing Justine for the murder of William? In theory, since no one knows of the existence of the monster, there is no way that he could be blamed for William’s murder. It would simply remain an unsolved mystery…so what prompts this compounding of sin committed here? Why was it not enough to kill William, who’s murder was explained in the context of his reminding the creature of Frankenstein, but the creature also has to implicate an innocent? The creature is not even aware of the connection between Justine and the Frankenstein family, I don’t believe. This to me is the cruelest of all acts the monster performs, the most senseless.
EXCELLENT post Holli. A lot of important points and questions you raise here.
You’re right to raise the influences of Byron and Godwin here. Don’t forget Percy, too, who very much wanted to mold himself in his father-in-law’s image.
You also do well to bring up Victor’s cowardice and impotence. Here’s a man capable of the impossible who is equally incapable of the imperative. These character and plot points you raise at the end of your post are also echoed by literary critic Harold Bloom, so you’re in good company there.
Thanks again for your thoughtful contributions both here and in class. I’m always going to be interested in reading/listening to what you have to say, and I know others will benefit.