Mary Shelly's Frankenstein

Monsters, Apes, and Nightmares

The Real Monster

        Society is the real monster in Mary Shelly’s “Frankenstein”. Without society, what makes up the world in all its being, would not be what it really is. It is an odd dynamic but one that somehow works. Society needs an overhaul, a makeover. It will always be there as something good and something bad. Society puts labels on everything and everyone, regardless of who, what, or where. These labels are at times appropriate but most of the times they are just misunderstandings and society does not have enough heart to try to figure out the truth.  

In the novel, it is clear that society is in the wrong in several instances. An example of this is the way it looks down upon the Frankenstein family. Society sees them as lower class because they have to literally work for their food since they cannot afford it. While the family does not have much, they are good hearted people because they do not complain about what they do not have rather, they cherish what they do have. The children do what is required of them without whining or crying about it. The old man does his part to keep everyone in good spirits by singing and playing music. Society’s view of them does not stop them from being who they are and from being positive. The expectation is that society is good and the protector in all of this but the reality is that society is ignorant and oblivious to the good of people.

        In regards to the monster itself, society treats the monster in a bad manner only on the basis that he is a monster. They attack and shun the monster because of his physical appearance and the excuse given by society is the way the monsters comes off. The monster does nothing but society is fearful of just that. They do not know how to act around something that is different from them that simply does nothing. Justine’s blood is also on society’s hands for assuming she is the only one that could have killed William when in fact, the monster kills William in the woods to get back at Victor for abandoning him. Society did not look at the facts of this murder because they wanted an easy way out and executed Justine instead. This is direct proof that society is the monster in this novel. It is bigger than the monster than Victor created. It is far more complex and not something someone can just kill. It is funny how Victor and the monster are portrayed as Victor seemed more to be a monster than the monster itself. Victor is on different spectrum, he is careless and stubborn whereas the monster is more decent earlier in the novel. Victor brings his creation to life and immediately regrets it. Does not care for it in any way. All the monsters wanted was some love and companionship. Even with such drastic measures taken by the monster; killing William, Victor distances himself from the monster even more. It was not until the monster killed his bride that Victor decided to kill him. This goes to show how society itself in some way lays the law of the land. It has unspoken rules that people must abide by to be perceived in a certain way.