A Theme of Responsibility in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein

In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein’s creation of his monster has disastrous effects for himself, in terms of family and the relationship of the people with the monster. It completely changes his life into a nightmare. As global citizens, we must focus not only on our immediate family and culture but also on the world culture. This is like a parent not taking care of their child, which Victor does in this novel. Victor Frankenstein’s biggest flaw after his creation of the monster is accepting responsibility for its actions and well being.    

Victor Frankenstein’s refusal of bearing the responsibility of the monster. Victor Frankenstein does not bear any responsibility for his actions, that is what great people should do. This responsibility can be as simple as taking care of children to much bigger issues, such as climate change. He could not even imagine which consequences will entail his fatal flaw. Victor’s first word, after he creates the monster, and seeing what he created. Lying as a corpse and idea was a miracle, but as soon as he gives it life, he is horrified. Victor says: “Unable to endure the aspect of the being I had created, I rushed out of the room.”   

Only after the problem arises, in the face of the monster, Victor understands the danger of his enterprise, but it is too late. He also wants to keep it a secret so, that nobody will ever figure out what he did.. Victor causes chaos by his scientific curiosity. He creates monster only because of selfishness, it does bring glory to him. Victor is totally careless about the troubles he has created, his solution is just to run away from problems. This is similar to how people or corporations run away from their problems. Many times in life people do something they are not proud of, but they have to bear the responsibility of their actions and understand its implications.    

After creating the monster, Victor does not consider the implications of his creation. At first, he does not understand the consequences of the creation, he can not imagine that he would regret it and what would be the effects for the future. He has not got any awareness of the problem, that could help him to avoid the implications. As the monster is struggling with the rejection of society and how Victor left him to learn on his own. The monster says: 'Cursed, cursed creator! Why did I live? Why, in that instant, did I not extinguish the spark of existence which you had so wantonly bestowed? I know not; despair had not yet taken possession of me; my feelings were those of rage and revenge. I could with pleasure have destroyed the cottage and its inhabitants and have glutted myself with their shrieks and misery.' In this quote, the monster is sad about what is he become, but in actuality, it is Victor’s fault for abandoning him to the world. As the monster learns about the cruelty of humans and how he can accomplish his own plans. It was born with a kind heart, but after the rejection of Victor and other people because of its ugliness and deformity, the monster has no other choice but to seek revenge. The monster is a unique being in this world and is met with all types of abuse, which Victor does not foresee. Understanding and implementing his creation to the world was Victor’s role as a parent and not considering what will happen with his creation in society he did not consider the society and most importantly the monster.    

After the creation of the monster, Victor does not consider others, but understands everything only after the death of his brother and the destruction of his family, because of his creation, he also doesn’t teach the monster right and wrong. He decides to do something with monster. The monster is not given any rights because of his appearance. As Victor looks at his creation he thinks of Dante’s Inferno and speaks of his monster “Oh! No mortal could support the horror of that countenance. A mummy again endued with animation could not be so hideous as that wretch. I had gazed on him while unfinished; he was ugly then, but when those muscles and joints were rendered capable of motion, it became a thing such as even Dante could not have conceived.” Although believing earlier that the monster was beautiful, as the monster has come to life, Victor sees the horror he has created. A being that will be unacceptable to the world because of his appearance. People often have their own Frankenstein, but in this case, there are many people who have physical ailments that make their appearance frightening. Unfortunately, society also has a certain idea of beauty, such as tall, and skinny, with blonde hair for example, and not people fit into this mold. People make the first view about a person, looking at their appearance. Even in the case of the monster, he has learned a lot about humans and the ability to communicate, as in society if somebody looks different they are often ostracized for this. This message is probably the strongest today with advancements in technology and the false ideas of what is beautiful.    

What is Mary Shelley’s message in Frankenstein? The main idea that an exorbitant curiosity and ambitions can cause the loss of the control and provide irreversible consequences. Frankenstein does not take any responsibility for his creature. He is too arrogant to recognize his fault, so he just decides to run from his problems. In today’s world as I have stated it has to care about each other, be responsible for our actions, and accept beauty in all forms. All of these are important, because as the world becomes smaller because of globalization and other aspects. Companies and individuals must step up to beacons of hope for people so that people always feel welcome and safe anywhere they may go. 

Works Cited:

• Responsible Global Citizenship'. Earthville Network, 2019, https://earthville.org/resources/responsible-global-citizenship/.
• Haydon, Ian. 'Bioengineers Today Emphasize The Crucial Ingredient Dr. Frankenstein Forgot – Responsibility'. The Conversation, 2019, https://theconversation.com/bioengineers-today-emphasize-the-crucialingredient-dr-frankenstein-forgot-responsibility-91735.
• Israel, Ron. 'What Does It Mean To Be A Global Citizen? - Global Action Plan'. Global Action Plan, 2019, https://globalactionplan.ie/schools-education/meanglobal-citizen/.
• Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. 2019, https://www.planetebook.com/freeebooks/frankenstein.pdf. Norton & Co., 2012.