Victor Frankenstein, the Swiss chemist who creates the monster, is the protagonist of the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelly. The character plays a crucial role in the development of the novel as every action that happens in the novel is the outcome of what Victor has been working. Widely recognized as the modern Prometheus, Victor, who had been obsessed with the idea of creating life at the death of his mother, works hard to realize the goal and the creation of the monster is of great significance to the entire story of the novel. “Victor Frankenstein pursues knowledge in an obsessive manner that blinds him to the possible effects.
Victor Frankenstein is the primary cause of his creature’s desolation. Indeed, Victor Frankenstein is at fault for the creature’s isolation and malformation, which causes the creature to feel rejected, lonely, and determined to seek revenge.” (Shelly 2006). Therefore, the role of the scientist, which many of the readers along with the character itself neglect, is of great significance. It is primarily because all the actions, events, and characters in the novel are in one way or other linked to or determined by the thoughts and deeds of Victor, the scientist.
The decision of the scientist, a mere human, to intervene in the divine duty of creation in creating a monster, along with his many other obsessions leads the entire action of the novel forward and it is based on this determining role of Victor that the entire novel is marked and appreciated. Victor Frankenstein is “a scientist who dared to defy nature and as a result, lost all those dear to him, as well as his mind,” and based on the role played by this character, it is possible also to analyze the morality of science treated in the novel. (Need a Research Paper on a Specific Topic. 2005).
To rightly understand the significance of the protagonist of the novel, Victor Frankenstein, the scientist who plays God by creating the “monster”, let it be noted that every character in the novel is linked to him if we attempt a character map of the novel. First of all, is Victor who tells the entire story to Robert Walton who in turn records the tale in letters to his sister Mrs. Margaret Saville. More importantly, he is the creator of Monster which murders Henry Clerval, the protagonist traveling companion and best friend, Elizabeth Lavenza, Victor’s spouse, and William Frankenstein, the youngest brother of Victor and the first one to be murdered. (About the Novel. 2008).
Every action and character in the novel, in this manner, is linked to and affected by the role of the scientist protagonist Victor Frankenstein. He “is at fault for the creature’s isolation and malformation, which causes the creature to feel rejected, lonely, and determined to seek revenge.” (Shelley 2006). No other justification is needed for the reason why Mary Shelley, the novelist chose the title of the novel to be Frankenstein.
The influence of the scientist on the novel, other characters, and events, etc are very much evident. In the same way, the role of this character is of great significance to the readers as well. Therefore, it is important that we pay attention to the advice of Victor who tells, “Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow.” (Shelley 2000, p 31).
Works cited
About the Novel. Character Map. Cliffnotes. 2008. Web.
Need an Research Paper on a Specific Topic? Free research papers. 2005. Web.
Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. Signet Classics. P. 31. 2000.
Shelley, Mary. Summary. Cause and Effect of Victor Frankenstein. Bookrags. 2006. Web.