Frankenstein

Victor claims that he was motivated to create the monster for reasons having to do with philanthropy and personal glory (“A new species would bless me as its creator and source…”(82)), but in class we have discussed how his motivations appear to be more complex than he realizes or articulates, and we discussed how they might have something to do with his relationship with his father, his mother, and/or Elizabeth. For example, we noted that Victor’s dream immediately after the monster comes to life (85) suggestively links the monster to Elizabeth and his mother. We also noted passages in which Victor’s interactions with his father suggest a more troubled relationship than Victor acknowledges. Paying close attention to both the literal and the implied relationships between Victor and another character or characters, analyze their potential impact on Victor’s behavior. As you formulate your thoughts, you may find it useful to consult Freud’s An Outline of Psycho-Analysis and/or McGilchrist’s Ways of Attending, though it’s not necessary you do so.