“It is not only for what we do that we are held responsible, but also for what we do not do.” Said by Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, a famous playwright, and actor.” Many people can often associate this quote with Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. In this book, a young scientist–Victor Frankenstein–gives life upon nonliving matter. He created something he would later deeply regret, a creature. He is disgusted upon perceiving his creation and abandons it. The creature seeks love and friendship but he wad rejected by society. Throughout the story, the creature starts to become intolerant of humans, especially his creator. He then starts to seek retribution to be inflicted upon his creator. As a result, he kills many of Victor’s loved ones. Many may ask ‘who is ultimately responsible for the crimes the creature commits?’. It is not just one entity but everyone: Victor Frankenstein, society, the creature. Everyone is at fault. Initially, Frankenstein creates the creature and was horrified by its looks. He then leaves the creature wandering on its own. The creature is born innocent without any malicious intent and just wants someone he could talk to. In the book, the creature finds a cottage and a hovel he can live in. He peeks out of the hovel to see the family that lives there. He was fascinated by their language and their love. He then attempts to befriend the old man when the rest of the family is gone since he is blind and is not aware of the creature's appearance. “...’...You and your family are the friends whom I seek….’” (122) The creature was shown desperate to be accepted by humans. This is not malicious in any way. Instead, he is hurt and rejected by Bolanos 2 society’s norms. These are one of the things that make the creature despise humanity. As a result, he ends up killing his creator’s loved ones. Although this wasn’t what ultimately made him hate society, the last straw was when he saved a young girl from a river and he was recompensed by getting shot. “...he aimed a gun, which he carried, at my body, and fired….I vowed eternal hatred and vengeance to all mankind….” (129) At this point the creature’s priority is not to find a companion but to torment his creator. He no longer will sympathize with humans and realizes he will never be accepted by society. This is society’s contribution to the crimes the creature will later commit. Additionally, Frankenstein is also at fault for the creature’s crimes because without the influence of a parent-like figure–someone can become very corrupt. If it were for Victor to take care of his creation and give him positive human contact, He would’ve been accepted into society. However, he just abandoned the creature. Ironically, Victor agrees with the concept of parental responsibility. As a matter of fact, it was his philosophy. “...according as they fulfilled their duties towards me. With this deep consciousness of what they owed towards the being to which they have given life…”. Frankenstein feels strongly of a parent’s responsibility to their child. The same should apply to him and the creature. The creature was
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Victor provided none of these to his creation and he should have done so. This leads the creature to feel unloved even to his creator. This is Victor Frankenstein's contribution to the crimes the creature will later commit.
Finally, the creature is to blame, not entirely but mostly. It is his decision to commit these crimes. He has learned his own morals through books and by watching other people. He is fully aware of the man-made concept ‘good and evil’. For example, when he murders William–Victor’s brother–he decides to kill him after learning he is Victor’s brother. “The child still struggled, and loaded me with epithets which carried despair to my heart; I grasped his throat to silence him, and in a moment he lay dead at my feet.” (130) The way the creature describes the act of murder is so detailed that it makes it most likely the creature is aware of the pain he is inflicting on William. He knows what he is doing is wrong. It is ultimately the creature’s decision to kill him and to seek vengeance on Victor. His creator and society’s rejection led to the creature committing his crimes, But it was the creatures choice whether or not to sought after
Victor provided none of these to his creation and he should have done so. This leads the creature to feel unloved even to his creator. This is Victor Frankenstein's contribution to the crimes the creature will later commit.
Finally, the creature is to blame, not entirely but mostly. It is his decision to commit these crimes. He has learned his own morals through books and by watching other people. He is fully aware of the man-made concept ‘good and evil’. For example, when he murders William–Victor’s brother–he decides to kill him after learning he is Victor’s brother. “The child still struggled, and loaded me with epithets which carried despair to my heart; I grasped his throat to silence him, and in a moment he lay dead at my feet.” (130) The way the creature describes the act of murder is so detailed that it makes it most likely the creature is aware of the pain he is inflicting on William. He knows what he is doing is wrong. It is ultimately the creature’s decision to kill him and to seek vengeance on Victor. His creator and society’s rejection led to the creature committing his crimes, But it was the creatures choice whether or not to sought after