The creature in Mary Shelley's novel undergoes a transformation that drives the emotional core of the story. Readers often ask what truly happens to the monster in Frankenstein as the plot unfolds and each character reacts to his presence.
His evolution from a desperate observer to a hardened avenger shapes the novel's exploration of responsibility, alienation, and justice. The following sections map key moments, narrative functions, and symbolic meanings tied to his fate.
| Life Phase | Key Actions | Emotional State | Impact on Plot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Creation | Animated by Victor; abandoned immediately | Confusion, curiosity | Establishes origin of suffering |
| Observation | Watches De Lacey family; learns language | Hope, empathy | Develops self-awareness and moral sense |
| Rejection | Exposed and driven away; cottage attacked | Anger, betrayal | Triggers turn toward vengeance |
| Confrontation | Kills William; frames Justine | Resentment, calculation | Escalates Victor's guilt and pursuit |
| Final Fate | Disappears into ice after Victor's death | Ambiguous, possibly empty | Leaves unresolved moral question |
The Creature's Psychological Evolution
From Innocence to Awareness
Immediately after his animation, the monster possesses no malice, only a childlike need for connection. His rapid learning and sensitivity to beauty highlight a longing for acceptance rather than a natural impulse to destroy.
Hurt Feelings and Moral Reasoning
When the De Laceys flee and he is shot, his psychological shift accelerates. He begins to link his own suffering with human injustice, which Shelley uses to question how society shapes ethics in the monster in Frankenstein.
Key Plot Events and Turning Points
The Murder of William
The killing of William Frankenstein is less spontaneous rage and more a calculated assertion of power. By placing the locket on Justine, the monster forces Victor to confront the consequences of his abandonment.
The Confrontation on the Glacier
Victor and the monster meet in the mountains, where the creature articulates his suffering and demands a mate. This scene reframes him from monster to narrator of his own pain, complicating the reader's judgment.
The Symbolic Role of the Monster
Alienation and Otherness
His grotesque appearance mirrors social exclusion experienced by outsiders, including women and the poor in Shelley's era. The monster embodies fears about scientific overreach and the ethics of creating life without responsibility.
Reflection of Victor's Conscience
The creature functions as Victor's moral double, exposing suppressed guilt and ambition. Every step the monster takes away from humanity reflects the distance Victor travels in逃避 responsibility.
Narrative Function and Legacy
- Examines the consequences of unchecked scientific ambition
- Challenges readers to see humanity in the monstrous "other"
- Serves as a critique of social neglect and class division
- Establishes a template for morally complex antagonists in literature
FAQ
Reader questions
Does the monster die at the end of the novel?
No, he vanishes into the ice after Victor dies, leaving his final physical state uncertain.
Why does the monster kill William instead of Victor directly? He targets William to inflict psychological harm on Victor and demonstrate how his suffering creates new victims. What happens to the monster after Victor dies?
He disappears into the frozen wilderness, suggesting a lonely but self-determined end without Victor's shadow.
Can the monster be considered a tragic hero?
Yes, his capacity for empathy, his suffering caused by rejection, and his ultimate isolation support a tragic interpretation.