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gstinnett707
gstinnett707
Student
High School - 11th Grade

In the novel Frankenstein, what is Victor most guilty of?

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Posted by gstinnett707 on Thursday March 27, 2008 at 7:22 PM and tagged with frankenstein, guilty, victor frankenstein.

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  1. merehughes Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    I think what Victor is most guilty of in the novel Frankenstein is vanity.  He gets carried away with the ideas of science and takes on a role that is essentially one that God plays, namely the creation of man.  He is vain in thinking that he can use science to create man. 

    Once he has done this, he refuses to take any responsibility towards his monster and runs away. In the end after the painful confrontation between Victor and the monster, Victor still refuses to take full responsibility for his actions. He is seemingly incapable of showing much remorse. In fact, his disregard for the monster in general is strongly evidenced by his refusal to even listen to the monster.  

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/frankenstein/themes

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    Posted by merehughes on Friday March 28, 2008 at 1:52 AM


  2. amy-lepore Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    Excellent question!  Victor is ambitious to a fault.  His grandiose goals include becoming famous for something that no one else has ever done.  He begins with the idea of being able to save those we love from certain death--a nice thought if it meant we wouldn't have population problems, etc. later on down the road.  Victor fails to think things through carefully--the consequences are never considered--he just goes at his ideas and goals like he's killing snakes.  He wants to create life, and he does.  He never once considers who and how it will be cared for or what's do be done with it afterward.  In fact, he never thinks of it as ugly until it breathes life.   

    His irresponsibility coupled with the ambition gets my vote for his greatest fault.  Had he considered anyone other than himself and how others would be effected by his actions and inventions, the book would have been a very different read.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/frankenstein

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    Posted by amy-lepore on Friday March 28, 2008 at 8:40 AM