Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Sally Zhang

Journal Entry 2

10/29/2015

In the novel Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, I believe that the protagonist is the monster. Although the monster was created out of evil, the monster was never taught those ways. He was in awe of all that the world has to offer, things such as berries, fire, the moon, and books. He continued to try and find a new home, but along the way he was chased out of a town because of his appearance.  He was new to the world and knew nothing of it, but he was compassionate and caring. The reader sees the monster as a vile creature throughout the first half of the book because it is all described through Frankenstein’s eyes. In chapter 11, the monster becomes the narrator and it is clear that he is not just some mindless murder. The monster describes to Frankenstein the state of confusion he was in when he was created. “It was dark when I awoke; I felt cold also and half frightened, as it were, instinctively, finding myself so desolate” (105). In chapter 12, the monster tells the readers about his encounters with humans. They often flee at the sight of his hideousness. Also he describes a feeling of true guilt from stealing food from a poor family. “ (He) saw no causes for their unhappiness; but (he) was deeply affected by it” (113). He did not mean to do the terrible thins he had done, he simply had no other means of getting his point across because no one would give him the chance. Trying to survive, he steals some of the cottager’s food, however, later on he realized that his inflicted pain on them so he stopped. He decided to gather wood and leaves at their doorstep to make up his mistakes. When the monster realizes that the young man, Felix, spends a lot of time gathering wood to make fire, he decides to help out. “(He) found that they spent a great part of each day in collecting wood for the family fire; and, during the night (he) often took his tools, the use of which I quickly discovered, and brought home firing sufficient for the consumption of several days” (114). This was very kind of the monster to help the family out even though he didn’t really know them, and that is why I believe the protagonist of Frankenstein is the monster.

I believed that Victor Frankenstein is the real monster, or antagonist, in this novel, because the monster is innocent and is truly a misunderstood creature whose creator abandons him. The monster does not mean to do the terrible things he does, like murder and framing another. He is a creature who people cower from because they refuse to accept him simply due to his looks. It is not his fault that his looks are frightening or that people judge him to be a monster when really he is a kind-hearted, innocent being. He works hard to get people to accept him, including his creator. The monster tells Victor that he is a “fallen angel, whom thou drives from joy for no misdeed. Everywhere I see bliss, from which I alone am irrevocably excluded. I was benevolent and good; misery made me a fiend. Make me happy, and I shall again be virtuous” (103). The monster murders as a result of the hatred Victor towards him, the fear society has, and the fact that he is banished. The monster is not the true villain because he is merely Victor’s creation and his character is molded from society’s corrupt ways. He wished to enjoy life, and stop the torment he was caused. Victor has the power to change things but he is filled with hatred and only wishes to kill the monster. Frankenstein blames the monster for ruining his life and all the hate and depression he experiences, but actually he, himself, is the one that ruins the monster’s life and doesn’t show any respect toward it. The monster is deeply upset about how his life has turned out because of the mistreatment of Frankenstein that led him to murder a young boy.

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