In Frankenstein, Mary Shelley illustrates how society plays a large role in shaping
an individual's personality and behavior. Victor Frankenstein's creation is continually
regarded by society as a monster because of his appearance. Though the being has the
physical characteristics of a monster, he has a tender attitude towards humanity in the
beginning of the tragic tale. It is only after he is repeatedly rejected by society that he
takes on the personality and behavior of a monster. Percy Bysshe Shelley remarks that
"his mind was...affectionate and full of moral stability, yet the circumstances of his
existence are so monstrous and uncommon, that,...his original goodness was gradually
turned into inextinguishable misanthropy and revenge" (14:248). Because society expects
him to be a monster, they treat him as such; thus, they create a monster out of Victor's
The being is considered unnatural from the very beginning--his creation. He is a
construction of corpses' body parts sewn together. Because of this, his appearance is
repulsive. Though all of his features are of man, they are at a level of deformity. He has a
gigantic stature that furthers his unnatural appearance. Even Victor, his creator, remarks
that "a mummy again endued with animation could not be so hideous as that wretch"
(Shelley 40). Victor completely abandons his creation because he cannot endure the
creature's appearance. The being asks Victor, "why did you form a monster so hideous
that even you turned from me in disgust?" (Shelley 105). With the Victor's response to
the sight of his creation, it can be expected that an unprepared society's response would
After Victor abandons him, the creature leaves and wanders into a village. He is
initially delighted by the sight of the village, but immediately:
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