Frankenstein: Letters - Ch. 3

Walton wants to be a poet or discoverer. Victor wants to achieve greatness through the discoveries of science. Despite these differences both men are "artists" in the romantic sense.

"Frankenstein" is a novel about why people should not meddle in those things God does not want him to. It is also an exploration of why we are so interested in human secrets. It is certainly an analysis of Victor. The 1831 version of "Frankenstein," it explores more of Victor's obsession with human secrets and he also says that he was "fated" to do this and be ruined. However, this is not Shelley letting Victor off the hook, but Victor trying to take the blame off of himself. It is in sentences like this that show the author's viewpoint behind the text by the way that it's said. We are looking for the places where Shelley contradicts Victor's self-acclaimed "fate."

Victor's childhood was heavenly, it was filled with love, family, friends, attention, education, etcetera. He states that no "creature" could have more tender parents than his. "Creature is the word he uses to describe his monster, and considers himself as a creature of his family. He says that the alchemists were the fatal impulse of his ruin. He meets Waldman at the university, who introduces him to chemistry and teaches him about the modern sciences. His desire to be famous, like the alchemists overtakes his being though in his quest to make such a discovery.

In creating the monster, Victor becomes crazed, obsessive and insane. He develops a god complex, as shown he he states "a new species would bless me as its creator and source; many happy and excellent natures would owe their being to me. No father could claim the gratitude of his child so completely as I should deserve their's" (34). He wants them to know that he is great and the reason for their existence, he wants to be absolutely worshiped. Yet he never considers that something might go wrong. He is too driven to see the flaw in his plans.

His process of creation is basically locking himself up and letting it consume his existence until it is completed. His self confidence keeps him driving forward despite his failing health. He feels exalted, and never doubts his success. He's obsessive compulsive about it, and does not feel as though it is within his control to do it, as shown when he states "I appeared rather like on doomed by slavery to toil in the mines, or any other unwholesome trade" (36). It is interesting that in giving life to the monster he is actually losing his own. Typically if your job is life-sucking its not the right job for you. However, he is not thinking should I, but only can I.