Free Writing About Frankenstein

The ending of this tragic tale could be my favorite part of the story. Such an unhappy close seems so very unconventional, especially in our world of flowery, motivational films and novels. Something that I find unique about Shelley's work is that neither the protagonist nor the antagonist find a happy end in the novel. Victor Frankenstein meets an untimely demise after witnessing the death of all he loves while the monster condemns himself to an unhappy existence in the polar icecaps, never to achieve the happiness for which he so longed.

Overall, the monster strikes me as something to be pitied. Given, it is hard to feel pity for the monster, as there is no justification for his actions, but cannot the reader feel a sense of anger toward the wretched humans who brought him to that point of madness? After all, is he not more than an innocent child made hideous by the ways of the world? It seems, then, that the novel is driven mostly by way of exploitation of human nature's innate flaws. Frankenstein's lust for achievement led to the birth of the monster, while his and the De Laceys' shallow perceptions drove the monster to commit his heinous crimes.

Each time I read this story, there will always exist that element of frustration that wishes it knew what would have happened had Victor been more compassionate.