Victor's Guilt In Frankenstein Essay Sample

In this civil court case, the monster is suing Dr. Victor Frankenstein for negligence and emotional and physical distress. In my opinion, Victor is guilty of abandoning the monster and leaving him alone in a world where everybody thinks he is inferior to them. It is also clear that Victor’s neglect is what causes extreme detriment to the monster’s emotions as well as his physical appearance. Victor’s abandonment of the monster, and the writings in his journal further the argument projected by the monster in this court case. 

Victor spent years trying to make an inanimate object come to life, he “deprived himself of rest and health” but when he saw what his creation looked like he exclaimed, “the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart...unable to endure the aspect of the being I had created, I rushed out of the room” (45). Victor is so horrified at the sight of his creation that he suddenly rushes out of the room. He is guilty of the fact that he created a monster, and he didn’t like how it looked, so he left it. Victor is assuming the monster is violent, without realizing that he might just be misjudging the monster. His reaction to the monster’s appearance is completely illogical, as someone’s looks don’t define who they are as a person. Victor is following in the path of neglecting the monster, he is failing to take proper care of it just because of the way it looks. From deserting the monster solely based on his looks, I believe Victor is in the wrong, as the monster should not have had to deal with neglectance from his creator. 

Furthermore, Victor is being sued for causing the monster emotional distress. The monster compares himself to Adam from the bible, and notices how he is perfect and is a creature of God. During this realization, the monster proclaims, “he had come forth from the hands of God a perfect creature, happy and prosperous… but I was wretched, helpless, and alone” (90). The monster is grasping the similarities between him and Adam, but noticing how Adam is far more superior as he is prosperous, happy, and perfect. From comparing himself to Adam, he degrades himself and believes he is “wretched, helpless, and alone.” Victor caused this feeling of emotional distress, as he created the monster, but then left him alone in a world where no one accepts him. The monster does not feel worthy of any kindness, and he is so emotionally damaged from loss of companionship. The monster thinks he is inferior to others due to his looks, has no one to turn to when he needs it, and is all alone in his world. This causes him to feel so emotionally distressed, and it is all due to the way Victor treated him. 

Finally, Victor is being sued for causing the monster physical distress. As the monster is telling the readers about Victor’s journal, he reflects on the words that are said about him. He says, “the minutest description of my odious and loathsome person is given, in language which painted your own horrors and rendered mine indelible” (90). This conjecture the monster makes leaves him heartbroken and miserable. Without even reading Victor’s journal, we are able to predict all of the horrible things Victor has said about him. The fact that the monster knows Victor’s journal is only condemning and criticizing his physical appearance hurts him. This furthers my reasoning as to why Victor is guilty. Victor wrote terrible things about the monster, without giving him a chance. 

Ultimately, I side with the monster in this court case. Victor abandoned the monster in a world he knew nothing about, and wrote terrible things about the monster, judging him solely based on his appearance. The claim the monster makes is completely justifiable, Victor clearly neglected him and caused his feelings of emotional and physical distress.