Analysis Relevancy of Frankenstein: Victor Frankenstein's Selfish Nature

Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" is a classic that’s still relevant today. It looks at what happens when scientific ambition goes too far and the ethical issues that come with it. One big theme in the book is how selfish Victor Frankenstein, the main character, really is. By looking at some key quotes, we can see that Victor’s actions are mostly about what he wants and not about the well-being of others. This essay will explore why Frankenstein's selfishness matters to the story. It’ll point out several times where Victor puts his own goals ahead of everyone else’s needs.

Victor's selfishness shows up right from the start. He’s obsessed with creating life and doesn’t care about what might go wrong. As Victor says, "Life and death appeared to me ideal bounds, which I should first break through, and pour a torrent of light into our dark world" (Shelley, 34). This quote shows he doesn’t respect the natural order of things and wants to play God. He’s so focused on gaining knowledge that he ignores the risks and moral questions his experiment brings up.

When Victor finally creates the creature, he just abandons it, showing his selfish side even more. He’s disgusted by what he made and doesn’t take responsibility for it. Victor admits, "I had deprived myself of rest and health. I had desired it with an ardor that far exceeded moderation" (Shelley, 36). This quote shows that Victor’s ambition made him neglect his own health, and he doesn’t care for the creature he made. He leaves it alone to deal with the world by itself.

Victor’s selfishness gets worse when he wants revenge more than caring for his loved ones. After his younger brother William is killed by the creature, Victor is all about getting even and doesn’t think about keeping others safe. He says, "My own vampire, my own spirit let loose from the grave, and forced to destroy all that was dear to me" (Shelley, 78). This quote highlights how Victor is only thinking about his own pain and not the danger his revenge might bring to his family and friends.

You can also see Victor’s selfishness in his endless search for knowledge, no matter the cost. He wants to understand life and death so badly that he forgets about the people around him. Victor says, "Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge" (Shelley, 31). This quote shows that Victor knows how dangerous his ambition is, but it also shows he put his curiosity above everything else.

In the end, "Frankenstein" is a warning about what can happen if ambition goes unchecked and people act selfishly. By looking at key quotes, it's clear that Victor Frankenstein is driven by his own wants and doesn’t care much about others. His obsession with creating life, abandoning his creation, focusing on revenge, and chasing knowledge all show how selfish he is. Shelley’s portrayal of Victor as someone consumed by ambition reminds us of the dangers of being too selfish. It makes us think about the consequences of our actions and how they affect those around us.

Bibliography:

Shelley, Mary. "Frankenstein." Penguin Classics, 2003.