Jack Brereton IOP

How can Victor Frankensteins monster be

seen as a physical representation of the
human condition
Introduction
Mary Shelleys classic novel Frankenstein is an intriguing and
emotionally intense novel that provides a deep exploration into a variety
of characters and themes. Victor Frankenstein, a Swiss scientist who was
born and raised in Geneva, creates a destructive monster which kills in
numbers whilst on a quest for revenge. At first glance, Victor
Frankensteins monster is no more than a horrific creature whose sole aim
is to kill anyone who crosses its path. It is not surprising that more recent
and popular interpretations of the monster (invariably and incorrectly
referred to as Frankenstein) show him to be devoid of feeling and thought.
However, a deeper look into the monsters character shows him to be a
complex, emotional and sophisticated being. Shelleys has created a
character which, whilst not human, does portray and represent various
aspects of the human condition.
What is the human condition? There are many things that make us who
we are. Three such aspects are:
1. The need to survive and to feel safe
2. The need for love and companionship
3. The need to have a relationship with ones creator
All of these elements are manifested in Victor Frankensteins monster. By
examining the novel carefully, it can be shown that the monster is a
physical representation of at least these three aspects of the human
condition.
Lets start with the very basic need to survive and feel safe
When researching human motivation, the American Psychologist Abraham
Maslow developed a hierarchy of human needs. He maintained that a
human is only motivated if their higher level needs are met and this will
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not happen unless all the lower level needs are first met. If lower level
needs are not met then feelings of anxiousness and tenseness will result.
Despite the extremely unconventional way in which he came to be,
Frankensteins monster still requires the basic lower order human needs
that Maslow identified. More specifically, physiological needs and safety
needs.
These needs are made clear in the early stages of the monsters life,
described in chapter 11, as we see him search for shelter and protection:
It was dark when I awoke; I felt cold also, and half-frightened, as it
were instinctively, finding myself so desolate. Before I had quitted
your apartment, on a sensation of cold, I had covered myself with
some clothes; but these were insufficient to secure me from the
dews of night. I was a poor, helpless, miserable wretch; I knew, and
could distinguish, nothing; but feeling pain invade me on all sides, I
sat down and wept. (put this quote on screen and have transition effect to only
show line below)

After leaving his creators laboratory in Ingolstadt, the monster has nothing
more than a single set of thin, worn out clothes that provides minimal
protection from his surroundings. In this powerful excerpt we see that the
monster realises his lack of protection from the surrounding environment
and he is aware of the sensation of cold and the pain that it causes. As
the monsters basic needs are not being met, he begins to feel weak and
vulnerable. Shelley uses direct quotation and the multiple use of commas
and semi colons to slow the pace of the passage - I was a poor, helpless,
miserable wretch; I knew, and could distinguish, nothing. You can feel
the deep emotion in the monsters words and the intensity of his
vulnerability as a result of his basic needs the needs of the human
condition not being met.
In his search to fulfil his safety needs, the monster eventually stumbles
across a small wooden shack adjoining what is described as a neat and
pleasant cottage. Although the shack was so low that I could with
difficulty sit upright in it, the monster is content with the shelter because
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he understands the necessity to have something to protect him from the

extremities of the environment. He says;
Here then I retreated, and lay down happy to have found a shelter,
however miserable, from the inclemency of the season, and still
more from the barbarity of man.
As he temporarily satisfies some physiological and safety needs, the
monster finally feels happy. This is despite the fact the shelter itself is
miserable. Shelley juxtaposes these two strongly contrasting emotions
to suggest that Frankensteins monster needs more than a small wooden
shack to adequately meet the needs of the human condition.
A second important aspect of the human condition
is the need for love and companionship. For human beings, having
someone who loves and cares for them and having someone to love and
care for, is a major source of motivation and happiness. Frankensteins
monster soon learns this. As he resides in the small shack adjacent to a
familys cottage, he watches an elderly couple through an opening the
window. He watches the loving interactions between the couple and is
overwhelmed with a range of intense emotions.
He raised her, and smiled with such kindness and affection that I
felt sensations of a peculiar and over-powering nature: they were a
mixture of pain and pleasure, such as I had never before
experienced I withdrew from the window, unable to bear these
emotions.
Shelley enables her readers to navigate through the mind of the monster
as he observes the powerful nature of love. A number of synonymic
couplets of very emotive language are used to enhance the thoughts and
feelings of the monster kindness and affection and peculiar and overpowering. The monster is clearly beginning to feel envious of the loving
relationship of the elderly couple. This feeling of envy is again highlighted
with the use of a classic juxtaposition pain and pleasure. The monster
feels pleasure - in that he can see a potential for him to feel the same
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happiness of which he is observing, by finding his own partner, but also pain as he does not yet have access to this happiness.
The monsters desire for companionship is made blatantly clear when he
demands that VF create the same repugnant creature that he is, but of
the opposite sex.
What I ask of is reasonable and moderate; I demand a creature of
another sex, but as hideous as myself; the gratification is small, but
it is all that I can receive, and it shall content me
Oh! my
creator, make me happy; let me feel gratitude towards you for one
benefit! Let me see that I excite the sympathy of some existing
thing; do not deny me my request!"
Shelley uses a pleading, yet demanding tone to demonstrate the
monsters desire for a companion. The monster intuitively knows that a
companion will be enough to make him happy. Although the gratification
is small, it shall content me. The monster must see companionship
and love as a fundamental; otherwise he would not see his request as
being reasonable and moderate. The monster concludes with a forceful
and demanding tone when he says do not deny me of my request! . The
monster is not playing around, he knows that having a companion in his
life is essential, and he will not rest until he has one. Victor Frankensteins
monster is clearly a physical representation of the human condition that
seeks companionship and love.
A third and final aspect of the human condition is the
relationship between a parent and child. Mary Shelley explores this
relationship and in particular uses the monster to demonstrate the
devastating affects of a dislocated relationship with ones creator. I will
again be referring to Maslows hierarchy of human needs, in particular, a
humans need for a sense of belonging. The need for love and sense of
belonging comes only just above the need for health and safety,
indicating how fundamental this need is.

When the monster was first brought into the world he was casted away
and abandoned by his creator. After spending years of his life, risking his
health and safety, Victor is distraught at the sight of his creation.
How can I describe my emotions at this catastrophe, or how
delineate the wretch whom with such infinite pains and care I had
endeavoured to form?
Victor describes his monster as a catastrophe, a strong emotive term
with extremely negative connotations, and shows the sheer anguish that
Victor is experience. He flees from his home, unable to bear the sight of
the monster, with the hope that when he returns, the monster will be
gone.
The monster, having been born with the brain of a newborn, only much
later understands the void in his life, the void that is a loving relationship
with his creator. He soon begins stalking Victor, and murdering those who
are close to him, the great tension comes to a climax in Chapter 10 of the
novel, where the two confront each other in the land of ice. The intense
dialogue elucidates the disturbing affects of a torn relationship between
creation and creator. Frankenstein is filled with distain for the monster,
constantly referring to him to things such as; an abhorred monster and
a vile insect, dark, emotive language. Whilst also in a state of rage, the
monster continues to try to make amends with his creator, but with little
success. As I read the dialogue of the monster, try to really feel the
anguish in his words, also take note of the powerful affects of the sinister
and demanding tone:
"you, my creator, detest and spurn me, thy creature, to whom
thou art bound by ties only dissoluble by the annihilation of one of
us. You purpose to kill me. How dare you sport thus with life? Do
your duty towards me, and I will do mine towards you and the rest
of mankind. If you will comply with my conditions, I will leave them
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and you at peace; but if you refuse, I will glut the maw of death,
until it be satiated with the blood of your remaining friends."
The monster has been overwhelmed with the lack of acceptance in his life,
and in a final attempt to ameliorate his relationship with his creator, the
monster provides Frankenstein with a choice - comply with my conditions,
or the ones closest to you will be killed.