What Students Can Learn from Frankenstein

 Frankenstein is an 1818 novel written by Mary Shelley, is a combination of Gothic horror story and science fiction. The book tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, using old experiments by a Scientist, was able to bring a creature made from body parts back to life. Victor then realizes that his creation is very dangerous. The genre is horror and science-fiction. The author, Mary Shelley was able to use this monster as a way to explore the deeper inner workings of man, from the naïve eyes of this creature is gorgeous and inspiring. Her ability to use this being as a tool to proceed into the simplicity of what a man desires and hopes to achieve. Students can learn that they should be grateful for what you have, don’t be selfish and you have to face the consequences for your actions.

You have to be grateful for what you have, and not to resemble Victor Frankenstein. Victor wouldn’t interact with his family and always would be busy doing some sort of work, He was considered a workaholic. “Victor Frankenstein doesn’t value life in the absolute. Instead, he places a higher worth on his reputation. He wants to join the new class of learned men that has replaced the landed gentry as the upper society in Europe” (Lunsford). Victor didn’t take advantage of what he had, which was his family. That ended up in his brother, father, best friend and wife dying with not much time spent with his loved ones. He was obsessed with work which drifted him away from his loved ones. Victor delays to marry Elizabeth since he wanted to go to England for his studies. When he marries Elizabeth, the monster will appear and make a significant move. “It is well. I go; but remember, I shall be with you on your wedding night” (Shelley 123). Elizabeth is strangled by the monster as revenge for not finishing the task, the monster has given to Victor. Victor isn’t grateful for what he “had’, now the chance is gone.

Another way you can teach students is to not be selfish. Victor is completely focused on creating human life and didn’t care about his family and friends. He created the monster to make a name for himself, and out of fame. “Enter the world which of course leads him to practically form his own “friend”, the monster (Lunsford). When he finally finishes creating the creature, he works away and abandons the monster. In reality, he is disgusted by the creature that he made. 

When the monster continuously murders Victor’s family, he doesn’t even take action, he just watches. The monster threatens that he will appear at his wedding, Victor runs off to marry Elizabeth without telling her anything. Eventually, Elizabeth is strangled by the monster. Victor’s self-centered decision derive in the downfall in his life because of his poor choices which put his family at risk. He abandoned the monster because of his looks, if he kept the monster and nurture and patented it, no one would be dead. By keeping the creation of the monster a secret, Victor is putting his family at stake. “8-foot-tall, hideously ugly creation, 
with translucent yellowish skin pulled so taut over the body that it “barely disguised the workings of the arteries and muscles underneath,” watery, glowing eyes, flowing black hair, black lips, and prominent white teeth” (Shelley 35). 

Lastly, you have to face the consequences, Victor didn’t face the consequences which caused multiple problems that scarred multiple lives. When Victor created the monster, he don't think before- hand of the consequences. They were bad and got himself killed also. He could have said that he created the monster and warned his family that the creature will kill them, but Victor, obviously, stayed quiet and paid the price at the end. If you don’t face the consequences for a bad action that you have done, you have to admit it and face it. Victor is naïve and dull for not thinking of the bad things of creating an 8 feet monster with super speed and strength. Victor made the right decision on not creating a female friend for the monster as he thought they would make offspring and take over the world. “Begone! I do break my promise; never will I create another like yourself, equal in deformity and wickedness” (Shelley 122). Again, Victor forcefully faced the consequences, as his newly married wife was killed by the monster.

In conclusion, those are the reasons how students can learn from Frankenstein in the 21st century. You have to be grateful for what you have, don’t be selfish and care for others and to face the consequences for your actions. “Victor builds an eight-foot-tall being simply because larger body parts are easier to work with. He never ponders his creature’s appearance until he brings it to life”(Segal). Victor is a selfish and ignorant person and could have done better. He only cared about himself, not his family and friends and the outcome was everyone is dead.