Victor Frankenstein and the Creature

In "Frankenstein", Mary Shelley's artful development of the two main characters appears to paint a contrasting picture of good vs. evil. However; upon closer examination the reader can see the parallel traits that Shelly has emphasised in each character. This use of character development demonstrates that neither character is black and white but rather shades of grey that are blended in to create a picture of two characters that not only parallel and contrast with each other, but provide for each other necessary qualities in a sort of symbiotic relationship.

The novel opens with a series of letters written by Captain R. Walton, a sea captain off on an adventure in the frigid, cold Arctic. It is in these letters written to his sister that the reader gets a pre-emptive glimpse into the character of Victor Frankenstein, an intelligent, scholarly, genteel victim rescued from his near certain icy grave. "His limbs were nearly frozen, and his body dreadfully emaciated by fatigue and suffering. I never saw a man in so wretched a condition." (F.25) Captain Walton continues to describe his precursory impression of Frankenstein to be "a noble creature in his better days, being even now in wreck so attractive and amiable."(F.27) and continuing the positive affirmation of character stating "yet I have found a man who, before his spirit had been broken by misery, I should have been happy to have possessed as the brother of my heart" (F.27).

Frankenstein has turned to be a breakthrough work as it was the forerunner of two literary categories: science fiction and horror fiction. It is also a combination of both Romantic and Gothic elements. For nearly 200 years the name Frankenstein has struck fear in the hearts of adults and children alike. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is a far cry from the motion picture treatment of it. Many people think that the monster is named Frankenstein, but in fact, it had no name. But who is the real monster? Victor Frankenstein succeeded in illustrating his own dark consciousness, which throughout the story stays, indeed, masked behind his noble birth and curious human form, where the real monster that thinks only of himself is lying wounded, by giving life to his creature, ready to be revealed. But Victor Frankenstein is a blind man, who scarcely notices this and suffers, while following his zeal and trying to satisfy that curiosity of his.

Letter IV, dated August 5th, 17-, introduces Frankenstein as an interesting, sweet man with frequent bouts of depressive behaviour "I never saw a more interesting creature" and "he is generally melancholy and despairing; and sometimes gnashes his teeth, as if impatient of the weight of the woes that oppresses him."(F.25. Captain Walton continues his description of this "man on the brink of destruction", as a well mannered, silent, uneasy and grievous soul who is being "destroyed by misery" but is not "utterly occupied" by it.

Foreshadowing the possible demise of Frankenstein, Captain Walton continues to positively represent Frankenstein by predicting that he will ...