Victor Frankenstein Conflict Analysis

In a story, the character that receives the most focus is more than likely one that attempts to surpass the achievements that are expected of them or those of their peers. However, there is also a problem or a conflict that goes along with that role. One who carries the main role usually has a set mindset or a goal that they wish to fulfill throughout the course of the novel. Mary Shelley’s, “Frankenstein” is one to hold true to these values that a story withholds. Victor Frankenstein plays the main role and was always very curious about the world around him. Through his curiosity, he attempted to gain a higher understanding of the world around him and thus created a monster whom he owed his misery and misfortune to.
The monster in “Frankenstein” …show more content…
For a while, he attributed the monster to his illness and believed for it all to have been part of his imagination. This proved to not be true when many conflicts took place in his life following the sickness that he endured during this time. The first, was the tragic loss of his brother which made him realize that the monster was in fact very real. “Nothing in human shape could have destroyed the fair child. He was the murderer! I could not doubt it” (Page 83). The second was the death of Justine Mortiz, whom he took credibility for, after being falsely accused of being the murderer due to evidence that showed her innocence was not credible. ”Justine died, she rested, and I was alive. The blood flowed freely in my veins, but a weight of despair and remorse pressed on my heart which nothing could remove” (Page 101). The third was the death of his friend, which Victor himself was tried as being guilty. “He had vowed *to be with me on my wedding-night*, yet he did not consider that threat as binding him to peace in the meantime, for as if to show me that he was not yet satiated with blood, he had murdered Clerval immediately after the enunciation of his threats” (Page 232-233). Lastly, the murder of his wife on their wedding night impacted the course of his life. “The death of William, the execution of Justine, the murder of Clerval, and lastly of my wife; even at that …show more content…
He was a very knowledgeable man who always craved for his knowledge in any subject to increase. The pride that he had only seemed to increase and his desirewant to be right did as well. He seeked power and to understand that which most did not and this lead him to create something that could be viewed as prohibited or malicious. In his creation, he was prideful of his making until he completed it, but only felt repentment once he saw that there was true potential in the being that he created. What Victor once considered a great and beautiful creature, soon turned to horrid. ”I had worked hard for nearly two years, for the sole purpose of infusing life into an inanimate body. For this I had deprived myself of rest and health. I had desired it with an ardour that far exceeded moderation; but now that I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart” (Page 58-59). He was astonished at his achievement in creating life, but was not satisfied with how the creature reacted. Throughout the story, the focus lies on a creator that does not stop until he is able to reach his true potential. He soon comes to realize that he is able to do much more than he once perceived of making. His knowledge lead to disappointment and disgrace upon Victor's’ life. However, this was inevitable as Victor was always in search of greater knowledge and would not stop until finding it.