Different Perspective on the Meaning of Life-Based on Frankenstein - Essay Example

This was pronounced by Shelley in Frankenstein saying “Nothing could exceed the love and respect which the younger cottagers exhibited towards their venerable companion. They performed towards him every little office of affection and duty with gentleness, and he rewarded them by his benevolent smiles” (Shelley 82).

Opposite to love is also the feeling of desolation due to Frankenstein's monstrous appearance as he was a mere creation of man. This was evident with this line “cursed, cursed creator! Why did I live? Why, in that instant, did I not extinguish the spark of existence that you had so wantonly bestowed? I know not; despair had not yet taken possession of me; my feelings were those of rage and revenge. . . when night came I quitted my retreat and wandered in the wood; and now, no longer restrained by the fear of discovery, I gave vent to my anguish in fearful howlings” (Shelley 103).

Probably, Frankenstein was Shelley’s attempt put a face on man’s ugliest character. Victor’s creation Frankenstein embodied all things that are ugly, wretched, vindictive, hateful, and murderous which is the ugly nature of man. All this pain was not of the monster’s doing but the sin of its father which is Victor who has brought him “pain that nothing could alleviate” (57).

Frankenstein also explored the bitter aspect of loving and losing someone. This happened to Victor when the monster killed his brother and he too became a figurative monster because he was consumed by vengeance and shared the monster’s desolation. In the monster’s confession, he told how desolate he felt by being alienated from society; that he “killed the boy out of revenge” (Shelley 41). The monster further confessed how miserable it feels to be alone and miserable because of his monster physique that even the family of cottagers who sheltered him gave him hope for compassion and even drove him away.

Corollary to this, the novel also explored the folly in man’s life. Victor would not have suffered the same desolation when his brother and wife were killed by the monster had he granted the simple request of the monster to regain his sense of humanity. Frankenstein would like Victor to create him a female partner to regain his chance to reconnect with his humanity as a partner will no longer make him feel desolate and miserable. Victor agreed to create the monster a partner but did not make good on his promise and this triggered the tragedy in his life. It would have been a “new way” that unfolds the “deepest mysteries of creation” (Shelley 30).

My philosophy in life based on Frankenstein is to live life happily and not to trample and cause pain to others because it will eventually return to me. As the saying goes, “what goes around, goes around”

Finally, creating life is never a man’s prerogative but God’s. The moment man meddles with nature he already created a problem waiting to occur. Especially when Victor toyed with the feeling of his creation when he did not make good on his promise to create him a partner. So never toy with nature and other people’s feelings for us to live a harmonious and happy life. Read More