In Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, the main character, Victor Frankensteins, creative imagination becomes distorted and corrupt. In his early days, Victor wanted to learn as much as possible about science and make a positive contribution to the scientific world. When he goes to school at Ingolstadt University, he realizes his ambition to create life from nonliving matter. This ambition goes against the Romantic belief that scientists should stay within the bounds of nature and not try to overreach those bounds. Throughout the novel, the corruption and distortion of Frankensteins imagination is shown through the realization of his true ambition and through his reaction to the creature he created.
Throughout the story of Frankenstein, Victors imagination and ambitions become distorted and corrupt. When Frankenstein began his studies, his main goal was to help man fight disease and live longer. This goal of Frankensteins is shown when he expresses, I could banish disease from the human frame and render man invulnerable to any but a violent death! (pg. 26) When Frankenstein starts off, his goal is noble and would be very beneficial to mankind. However, as he studies more at the university, he becomes obsessed with the idea of bestowing life to dead matter. When he realizes his true goal he exclaims,
A new species would bless me as its creator and source; many happy and excellent natures would owe their being to me. No father could claim the gratitude of his child so completely as I should deserve theirsI thought that if I could bestow animation upon lifeless matter, I might in process of time, renew life where death had apparently devoted the body to corruption. (pg39)
Frankensteins new goal is to create life where it doesnt exist. This goes beyond the bounds of nature and is overreaching his role in it. Victor wants to become god-like by creating life and he wants creatures to hail him as their creator. Eventually, he becomes so deeply in involved in this obsession that he becomes pale and emaciated, looses touch with his family and friends, and stops appreciating nature. He explains his neglect of his family and nature by stating,
Never did the fields bestow a more plentiful harvest or the vines yield a more luxuriant vintage, but my eyes were insensible to the charms of nature. And the same feelings which had made me neglect the scenes around me also caused me to forget those friends who were so many miles absent, and whom I had not seen for so long a time.(pg40)
Frankenstein becomes so engrossed in his experiment that he does not notice the beauty of natures seasons and forgets about his family and friends. Although it is the most beautiful of seasons, Frankenstein doesnt even notice. He is determined to complete his project and will let nothing get in the way, not even family. Victor also neglects to take care of himself and becomes very ill. His physical degradation is described when he depicts his condition,
Every night I was oppressed by a slow fever, and I became nervous to a most painful degree; the fall of a leaf startled me, and I shunned my fellow creatures as if I had been guilty of a crime. (pg41)
Frankenstein spends all of his time creating his monster and neglects to take care of himself. His lack of concern for his own health causes him to become very sick and paranoid. He feels guilty about what he is doing and even the fall of a leaf frightens him. Frankensteins deep determination to succeed in his experiment causes him to neglect his health and he begins to deteriorate mentally and physically. He becomes so absorbed in his ambitions to be god-like and create life cause him to forget his family and friends and also neglect his own health.
Frankensteins distorted and corrupt aspirations are reflected in the creature he creates. Victor expects his creature to beautiful and god-like, but when he sees it he is terrified and exclaims,
His yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath; his hair was of lustrous black, and flowing; his teeth of pearly whiteness; but these luxuriances only formed a more horrid contrast with his watery eyes, that seemed almost the same color as the dun- white sockets in which they were set, his shriveled complexion and straight black lips.(pg42)
The corruption of Frankensteins imagination is mirrored in the appearance of the monster he created. Frankenstein desires to be god-like and wants he creature to be a beautiful reflection of that, however, his creation looks like a demon and is a reflection of his corrupt ambitions. Victors reaction to the creature is terror, regret, and disappointment. He rejects the monster and runs away in horror. When Frankenstein encounters his monster again he screams,
Devil! Do you dare approach me? And do you not fear the fierce vengeance of my arm wreaked on your miserable head? Begone, vile insect! Or rather, stay, that in might trample you to dust! And, oh! That I could with the extinction of you miserable existence, restore those victims whom you have so diabolically murdered!(pg83)
Frankenstein regrets creating the monster and hates him for murdering William. The corruption of Frankensteins imagination is shown through his desire to destroy his own creation. He worked on this creature for almost two years and all he wants to do now is destroy it. The monster reacts to Frankensteins hateful words by saying,
Yet you, my creator, detest and spurn me, thy creature, to whom thou art bound by ties only dissoluble by the annihilation of one of us. You purpose to kill me. How dare you sport thus with life?
The creature responds to Frankensteins rage by questioning how he could try to act like God and play with life, only to take it away again. The monster asks how Frankenstein could put forth so much time and effort to create something only to hate it and want it to be destroyed. The creature then states that Frankenstein must do his duty or he will, glut the maw of death, until it be satiated with the blood of your remaining friends. This statement shows, again, how Frankensteins corruption is mirrored in the action of the creature he created. The monster vows to wreak havoc upon Frankensteins family and friends until he fixes the monsters problem. Frankensteins corrupt ambitions have led to his monster seeking revenge on mankind just as Frankenstein seeks revenge for the murder of William. Frankensteins corrupt imagination and ambitions lead to the creation of a corrupt and monstrous demon that embodies the destructive qualities of Frankenstein.
Throughout the course of the novel, Frankensteins ambitions become distorted and corrupt. The distortion of his ambitions is shown through his mental and physical deterioration, such as the way he rejects his family and becomes very ill. The corruption of his imagination is mirrored in the appearance and actions of the monster he creates. Frankensteins distorted and corrupt ambitions ultimately lead to the creation of a monstrous demon that causes his downfall.
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