for their own destiny within their own lives.
This includes fortune, as well as misfortune. Victor Frankenstein of Geneva is responsible for his own downfall and death in Mary Shelleys work, Frankenstein. It can be argued that Victor is a victim of the Creations vengeance and rage upon Victor for his own tragic life, but several factors prove that Victor brought his own tragedy upon himself. His passion and quest for knowledge as well as fame set him apart from other members of society. Victor also contained a large desire to surpass modern medicine and technology to give himself an immortal name that would be remembered throughout the ages for the advancements he made in science. His final decision that leads to his downfall is his choice to pursue the Creation after the death of Elizabeth on her wedding night to Victor.
The Creation longs to fit onto society, but because of his deformities bestowed upon him because of the gruesome details of his animation, the Creation becomes an outcast. He orders Frankenstein to create a mate for himself, so she could understand what he is going through, and vice-versa. They would ostracize themselves from humanity, and live on their own as promised by the Creation. Victor refused, and the Creations unfulfilled desire released an anger that was violently disposed of upon Victors family. Slave, I before reasoned with you, but you have proved yourself unworthy of my condescension. Remember that I have power; you believe yourself miserable, but I can make you so wretched that the light of day will be hateful to you.
You are my creator, but I am your master; obey!(Shelley, 152)The Creation claimed that he didnt want to do it and that he didnt want to kill, but he relishes in the taking of Williams life because William is related to Victor. He knew that this would destroy a part of Victor, and willing does so. The Creation is aware Victor will seek vengeance for this, and still commits murder. He brings it upon himself. He seeks revenge as Victor seeks knowledge. Ever since Victor Frankenstein was a young boy, he had a strong inclination to further his knowledge in how the world around him works.
His fascination with the chance of having the power to create life preoccupies Victor, and works himself to illness. But his whole theory was Wealth was an inferior object, but what glory would attend the discovery if I could banish disease from the human frame and render man invulnerable to any but a violent death! (Shelley, 26) Victor doesnt want anyone to die, and that is led back to when he lost his mother. It is the loss of Victors mother that creates the base for his desire to find a way to prolong life so no one need ever to die. Victors desire to surpass modern medicine and technology in the field of science is another tragic flaw that adds to his own responsibility for his tragic downfall.
He idealizes the prospect of becoming something greater than history has known. He proves his wanton desire when he states: So much has been done, exclaimed the soul of Frankenstein- more, far more will I achieve(Shelley, 33) If Victor did not posses this burning passion, he wouldnt have obsessed himself with the torment of grave robbing and the mutilation of corpses in order to create a being that would result in an abomination. M. Krempe warns Victor that his studies are dangerous, and Victors predecessors have gained nothing through their experiments. Have you, he said, really spent your time is studying such nonsense? I replied in the affirmative.
Every minute, continues M. Krempe with warmth, every instant that you have wasted on those books is entirely lost. (Shelley, 31)Mary Shelleys novel, Frankenstein raises the question of who is ultimately responsible for their own downfall, the Creation or Victor. Although the Creation sought to fulfill his own desire, it is Victors experiment that produces the Creation which turns out to be his nemesis andCreates all of Victors problems.
Victors desire to surpass modern medicine and technology is one of the elements that leads to his decline, and his choice to pursue the Creation after its murder of Elizabeth on her wedding night is the final element that Victor undertakes, leading to his own self-destruction. The endeavor to create life, is Victor Frankensteins kamikaze mission.
