Discuss the Significance of Father Figures in Frankenstein

Discuss the significance of father-figures in Frankenstein Frankenstein is a story of science gone dreadfully amiss. Shelley offers depth and meaning to Frankenstein by presenting (sometimes covertly so) insinuations of failed father and son relationships littered throughout the story. The most obvious relationship in this story is that between Victor Frankenstein and his monster, however, there are other characters in the story that present themselves as father-figures. In this essay, I will endeavour to discuss not only the significance of the familial relationship between Victor Frankenstein and his creature, but that of Victor and Alphonso Frankenstein, Henry Clerval and his father amongst others. As Allen notes, the most obvious†¦show more content†¦Compassion and obligation urges Victor to sympathise with the creature and even render him happy like a father should a son; although even so, he makes no attempt to satisfy the monsters needs (Claridge, Parent-Child Tensions in Frankenstein: The Search for Communion, p.20). Victor can understand the feelings of compassion or fatherly care that stir within him but he is unable to sustain those feelings of concern: I compassionated him, and sometimes felt a wish to console him; but when I looked upon him Â…my feelings were altered to those of horror and hatred (p.121). He continues to fail his creature, swearing him into exile, then creating another like him before destroying it (and thus any chance of happiness for the creature), and then hunting him down. Victor is never able to perceive the monsters tormented psyche leading to his exclamation Let the cursed and hellish monster drink deep of agony; let him feel the despair that now torments me(p.172). The irony is Victors creation already feels this, but Victors anger and lack of insight causes him to oversee it (Claridge, Parent-Child Tensions in Frankenstein: The Search for Communion, p.20). There is a slippage of identity between Victor and his creature causing a constant shifting between the controller and the victim (Morris, TheShow MoreRelatedFrankensteins Origin: Assessing Thompsons Argument for the Creatures Literary Ancestors 1443 Words   |  6 PagesThe greatest modern stories often hail from ancient myths, and Mary Shelleys novel, Frankenstein, proves no exception to this claim. 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