A
The central idea is the ethical responsibility of scientists for the results of their discoveries. The novel discusses other essential themes. They comprise creation, revenge, nature, isolation, family, and love.
Detailed answer:
The book describes the life and works of Victor Frankenstein. The scientist intends to reveal the secret of life origin. He looks for a method to revive the dead. Frankenstein creates an artificial person from parts of corpses. But later, horrified by the fruits of his work, he renounces his creation. As a result, the monster begins to pursue its creator and destroy his life.
- Creation. The author raises the universal theme of creation. The responsibility for it lies in its author. A young scientist creates a monster and inspires life in it. Doctor Frankenstein plays God or strives for becoming equal in strength. But his ambitious plans fail. He admits, “How can I describe my emotions at this catastrophe, or how delineate the wretch whom with such infinite pains and care I had endeavored to form?”
- Love. One of the most critical themes of the novel is love. Search for love is the fundamental driver of the monster’s actions. Thus, it plays a significant role in shaping the narration. The monster confesses to Frankenstein that the first time when he encounters love was when he meets the family in the cottage, saying, “They loved and sympathized with one another.” The search for a person who would love him prompts the monster to make Frankenstein create a woman for him. The same aspirations and desires are present in Victor’s actions, including his relationship with Elizabeth.
- Isolation. The novel investigates the matter of isolation. First of all, Victor cuts off all the ties with society. He chooses alienation since he realizes that it was the only way to reach his aim. The same lifestyle is typical for other characters, including Victor’s creature and Robert Wolton. He is an ambitious sea captain and Arctic explorer. Wolton chooses isolation because of his expedition but longs for companionship. He sought his sister’s love, writing her numerous warm letters.
- Revenge. The theme of revenge is secondary in the novel. It serves as a by-product of the unsatisfied desires of the main characters. For instance, when Frankenstein refuses to create a woman for the monster, the creature murders Victor’s relatives. He wanted to make Frankenstein feel the pain of loneliness. Experiencing the bitterness of the relatives’ deaths, Frankenstein chases the creature for revenge. But during the pursuit, he dies.
- Natural Laws. Nature is not an apparent theme in the novel. It resides in the issue of natural laws. In particular, the law of “life and death” keeps the balance on earth. Suffering and crises appear when imperfect men disturb the primordial laws of nature. His vicious attempt to manipulate the power of nature destroys his life and the well-being of his family.