Deconstructing Frankenstein: Exploring the Complexities of Creator-Creation Dynamics

Name Professor Course Code Date Argumentative Essay: Mary Shelly’s novel Frankenstein Mary Shelley was a prolific novel writer who wrote the science novel, Frankenstein, making it the mother of science fiction. The book was first published in 1818 and has since then gained tremendous attention in the literature. Shelley tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a young, ambitious man who ventures into science to perform experiments using various dead body parts to create unnatural life. Victor is an ambitious man and creates this creature to discover the secrets of life and death. He is desperate to renew life since he is still grieving the loss of his mother. Victor is confronted with the obnoxious appearance of the creature and decides to abandon it; the creature is confronted with the cruelty of society and decided vengeance on Victor leading to total obstruction of his family. Isolation prompts the creature to detest the human race. Furthermore, Mary Shelley addresses the creations of men through science and technology as the source of atrocities throughout the text. It addresses education, science, history, imagery, language, symbols, and various themes, including; revenge, alienation, isolation, ambition, injustice, creation, sublime nature, secrecy, the pursuit of dangerous knowledge, and monstrosity. Mary Shelley tells the untold story of unrestricted science. Deconstruction is one of the most controversial literary theories manifested in Frankenstein. The relationship between Victor and the monster is complicated, and there exist many controversies revolving around their relationship. The author uses the deconstructive approach in the destruction of binaries between good and evil, acceptance and alienation, the creator and the created, master and slave, and life and death. The binaries aim is to define the relationship between Frankenstein and his creator. The deconstructive approach is manifested in the creator and created binary where Frankenstein assumes the position of a creator while the monster is the created being. Frankenstein wanted to be glorified through his work. He laments that “A new species would bless me as a creator and its source; many happy and excellent natures would owe their being to me” (57). He faces a crisis when the creature fails to subdue him and takes charge of him. The binaries of good and evil also form the basis of the discussion between the monster and Frankenstein. The novel discusses deconstruction concerning the alteration of the master-slave relationship where Frankenstein has the authority as the creator. Still, surprisingly, the creator is physically stronger than him. The aftermath is the slave taking power, and Frankenstein becomes slavery throughout his life. Life and death are seen as a form of deconstruction following the creation of a life, which eventually leads to Frankenstein’s death while the monster becomes less vulnerable to death. Deconstruction also arises when Frankenstein fails to accept the creature as her mother and teaches him the basics and morals but alienates him immediately after creation. This paper argues on the obsession and overambition of dangerous scientific knowledge that is damaging yet fatal. Responsibility is an essentiality for humanity to prevail. The novel Frankenstein is a manifestation of failed responsibility that permeates atrocities of misery and pangs of death. Victor lived a good childhood and received attention and love from the parents. “My mother’s tender caresses and my father’s smile of benevolent pleasure while regarding me are my first recollections. I was their plaything, and their idol and something better -- their child, the innocent and helpless monster bestowed on them by Heaven” (Shelley 40). This sentiment appreciates Victor's responsible parents but foreshadows Victor’s aftermath while seeking his ambitions, ending up in a traumatizing yet painful situation. He wanted to integrate his education into real-life situations, and he became overambitious. He had a narrow perspective of what he was doing; he did not look at the bigger picture while creating the creature; “responsibility.” He only wanted to be glorified and acknowledged as the creator but not responsibilities. He says,” A new species wou